Kodaikanal, 'Switzerland of the East', Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu

The 4.5 km flat stretch of road around the lake makes for a healthy cycling track, hence this has made cycling a very popular activity. Cycles are easily available for hourly hire all around the lake in most of the junctions. You can also keep the hire cycle for a full day and explore some parts of Kodai on a cycle and take short excursions to nearby places.

Cycling has become a fad in Kodai, and no wonder. The flat road which rings the lake is an ideal cycling track, and one hopes that in time the authorities will ban motor vehicles and make it the domain of the pedestrian and cyclist. There are cycles for hire, and the rate seems to be Rs. 5 to Rs. 10 per hour. It is really an ideal activity for the whole family; again, try to avoid the ?rush hours? unless you love crowds. You can also take short excursions, to Pillar Rocks for example, on a bicycle. It will mean pushing it uphill some of the way, but that makes coming down all the more enjoyable.