From the village
Start in the village, then drive out to the lake and the viewpoints. Guna Caves is a viewpoint only. Berijam Lake needs an official forest permit. Tick the places you want and send them on WhatsApp.
A farming village in the Palani hills, about 18 km from Kodaikanal town. Walk the terraced fields and visit the hilltop Murugan temple. This is the home base for our stays. The lanes are narrow, so a small car is easier than a tempo.
A paved walk of about a kilometre on the edge of Kodaikanal town. On a clear day you look down to the plains. Many mornings it sits in cloud. About a 45-minute drive from Poombarai.
Three tall rock columns near a fenced viewpoint, plus a short walk toward the gorge. The road from Poombarai takes under an hour on a normal day.
The star-shaped lake in Kodaikanal town. People walk the path, hire a boat, or ride a cycle. It is the usual first stop when you drive in from Poombarai.
A planted garden beside the lake path. Flower beds change through the year. Pair it with the lake rather than making it a whole outing from the village.
The cave itself is closed to visitors. You can look from the official viewpoint only. Do not climb the fence or the rocks. The drop is real, and this is not a cave tour.
A quiet stretch of pine trees on the way toward Berijam. Good for a short walk if you already have the car for the forest road.
A forest lake past a checkpoint. Entry needs an official permit, and numbers are limited. We can ask about a permit when you book the car. Do not plan on walking in without one.
A roadside waterfall on the ghat below Kodaikanal. You see it from the road. It is a stop on the way up or down, not a long walk from Poombarai.
A viewpoint reached by a walk through woods. The path can be steep and slippery. Wear shoes with a grip, and skip it if you are not comfortable on uneven ground.
A short forest walk to a small fall near town. It is modest in the dry months. Easy to add after the lake if you still have time before the drive back to Poombarai.
1 day
Village morning, then the lake, Coaker's Walk, Pillar Rocks and the Guna Caves viewpoint. Back to Poombarai before dark.
2 days
Day 1 stays closer to town. Day 2 tries the pine forest and Berijam if a permit is available, and ends with a village walk.
