Kodaikanal

By Ramkumar (Terraced farming- Kodaikanal) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Nested in the forested Palani hills, Kodai offers scenic lakes, waterfalls, beautiful valley views and observation points galore.

Some of the must-visit spots include the Berijam Lake (where special permission is required before tourists can visit), the Kodai Lake (for day picnics and boating) and the sprawling Bryant Park.

Getting there: The hill station does not have its own airport or railhead. The closest airports are at Madurai (135 km away), Coimbatore (170 km away) and Trichy (200 km away). By train, travellers can alight at Palani (64 km) or Kodai Road (80 km) and travel on by road.