If you love adventure and fun, try roaming around Kodai on a mountain bike. You can hire one (Rs    5 per hour or Rs 40 per day). We suggest you check the bikes very carefully; make sure the    brakes are working! Taxis are another option but they are unmetered, at a minimum charge of Rs    40. Autorickshaws are not available

   You can find several tour operators offering car rental facilities around the main bus stand in town,    though most of them are unapproved. Unfortunately, approved car rentals can only be found at    Madurai.

   The State Bank of India, 2, Annasalai; Canara Bank, Antony Koil Street; Central Bank of India,    Law Ghat Road and Union Bank, Naidupuram.

   On P T Road, just before you come to Law's Ghat Road, you'll find the Government Hospital (Tel:    241 292). You can also try the Van Allan Hospital (Tel: 240 273).

   You can take the kids for a boat ride on the lake or for a horse ride (Rs 100 per hour). A picnic at    Silver Cascade or at any of the other waterfalls would be a good idea as well.

   Special Equipment Agency

   Boats can be hired at the Kodaikanal Boat & Rowing Club (Rs 30 for a two-seater) as well as at    the Tourist Department (Rs 35 for every half-hour, two people). Mountain bikes and regular bikes    can be hired from the stalls in front of the Carlton Hotel or Hotel Garden Manor for Rs 20 - 50.

   Shopping can be done at Khadi Emporium, Handloom Co-operative Stores, Travancore Crafts    Work, Government Sales Emporium, Kurinji Mini Super Market and Spencer & Company.    Homemade chocolate and cheese is a speciality of Kodaikanal, and is available in many shops in    the town

   Palani 65 km from Kodai, Palani is famous for the Subrahmanya (Kartikeya) Temple dedicated to    his form as Sri Dandyudhapani (Daandam means stick and dandyu means "having a stick as a    weapon in his hand"). This temple is at an altitude of 135 m. Visitors must climb up 659 steps to    get to the temple. More than 200,000 pilgrims gather at Palani in January for the Tai Pusam    festival. The Panguni Uttaram Festival is a 10-day affair in April and draws large crowds.

   The average summer temparatures vary from 11.3 deg. C to 19.8 deg. C. In Winters, it ranges    between 8.3 deg.C and 17.3 deg. C.

   Suggested clothing includes light woollens in evening during summer and heavy woollen during    winters.