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Plan your trip · Kodaikanal

What's on in Kodaikanal

Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Kodaikanal — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.

Nothing dated is confirmed for Kodaikanal right now, so here is the year instead — the fixtures that come round annually, and what each one means for a visit.

The year in Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal's calendar runs through most of the year, with the busiest weeks in the clear, comfortable months and a quieter stretch in the heaviest rain. Broadly, Oct – Mar and Apr – Jun is when visiting is most comfortable here, and that is when the calendar is busiest — which also means accommodation is most expensive and books furthest ahead.

Most of these follow lunar calendars and move by weeks from year to year, so treat the windows below as the season rather than the date, and confirm the year’s dates before you book around one.

Signature to Kodaikanal

Summer Festival

🗓️ May

Flower and boat shows around the lake through the hill season.

Planning: Peak crowds; the ghat roads up from Batlagundu and Palani queue badly at weekends.

Across Tamil Nadu

Pongal

🗓️ mid-January

The four-day harvest festival — the first rice of the season boiled over until it spills, which is the point.

Planning: Shops shut and intercity buses fill; plan travel around it.

Temple car festivals

🗓️ March–June, by temple

Vast wooden temple chariots pulled through the streets by hand at Madurai, Thanjavur, Kanchipuram and elsewhere.

Planning: Dates differ per temple and the streets close for hours.

Nationwide

Diwali

🗓️ October–November

The biggest holiday of the year — lamps, sweets, fireworks and a week of visiting family. Cities are lit up and markets stay open late.

Holi

🗓️ March

Coloured powder and water, thrown at anyone within reach, mostly through the morning.

Navratri and Dussehra

🗓️ September–October

Nine nights of fasting, music and dance, ending with Dussehra. What it looks like changes completely by region — garba in Gujarat, pandals in Bengal, processions in the south.

Eid al-Fitr

🗓️ shifts ~11 days earlier each year

The end of Ramadan. The old quarters of Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Bhopal are at their best in the evenings through the preceding month, when food streets run past midnight.

Makar Sankranti and Pongal

🗓️ mid-January

The harvest turn, marked with kites in the west and north and four days of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.

Kodaikanal's biggest event is the summer festival, usually held in May. It opens with a flower show at Bryant Park, where tens of thousands of flowers are laid out in displays, and runs for about a week with boat races on Kodai Lake, cultural shows and other events. It is also the busiest week of the year in the town.

The rest of the calendar follows Tamil Nadu. Pongal in mid-January, Diwali and the festivals at the Palani Murugan temple below the hills all draw crowds, and Christmas is celebrated at the town's old churches. Dates change each year, so check the latest schedule and book early if you plan your trip around an event.

Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Kodaikanal

  • Book your room well ahead for the summer festival in May.
  • Visit the flower show early in the morning, before the crowds arrive.
  • Expect slow traffic on the ghat road and around the lake during festival week.
  • Carry a light jacket and an umbrella, as May afternoons often bring showers.
  • Check your vehicle's e-pass before you drive up, as checks are stricter in peak season.
  • Keep your belongings secure in crowded areas.

Questions

Kodaikanal — FAQ

What are the main festivals in Kodaikanal?

The summer festival and flower show in May is the main event. Pongal, Diwali and Christmas are also celebrated in the town.

When is the Kodaikanal flower show?

The flower show is usually held at Bryant Park in May, at the start of the summer festival. In 2025 it ran from 24 May to 1 June. Check the dates for the year before you plan.

What happens at the Kodaikanal summer festival?

Alongside the flower show, the festival usually includes boat races on Kodai Lake, cultural programmes and sports events. It lasts about a week.

Is Kodaikanal busy during the summer festival?

Yes. It is the busiest time of the year, with slow traffic and full hotels. Book early and start your days early.