Mannavanur Lake

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Site Name: Mannavanur Lake
Site Type: Hill station, Lake, Trekking, Forest, Wild Life, Bird Watching
Location: Mannavanur village, near Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu state, India
Highlights: A little known site ideal for bird watching and trekking
Nearest Railway Station: Kodai Road 
Nearest Airport: Madurai 
How to reach: Well connected by road from Kodaikanal town
Hotel: A lot of options are available in Kodaikanal and Dindigul; hardly one of two options near Mannavanur
Restaurants: All options - vegetarian and non vegetarian; North Indian, Chinese, South Indian, etc. in Kodaikanal; no option in Mannavanur


If you call Kodaikanal as the 'Princess of the Hill Stations', what do we call Mannavanur Lake and the adjoining hills? This site is equally or rather more beautiful than Kodaikanal. One hour drive from Kodaikanal would take you to a farming village called Mannavanur. Located at an altitude of around 6170 feet (1880 meters), Mannavanur has more than 165 species of butterflies and wild lives such as bison, sambar, barking deer, jungle cats, Nilgiri langur, etc. 
Mannavanur is also an ideal place for birdwatching. Another unique feature of this scenic village is the sheep farm and research center. Near Mannavanur, there is a place called Kukkal where the caves of pre-historic people are seen. 

 Mannavanur has one of the popular trekking routes in and around Kodaikanal. Tourists need to get permission from the Forest Department for trekking here. 

 The main attraction of Mannavanur is the picturesque lake. The lake is bordered by distant hills and you could get the aerial view of this beautiful lake when you drive down to the village. Walking around the lake is the best way to watch birds in this area. The drive to this site is also very interesting as you could see eucalyptus and pine trees on either sides.

 This farming village yields a lot of vegetation such as cauliflower, cabbage, peas, potatoes and importantly a lot of carrots. 

 Well, if you claim that you have visited Kodaikanal without visiting Mannavanur, I will laugh at you.

 Happy travelling.

Location: Mannavanur, Tamil Nadu 624103, India

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