With some terrific day trip options in the surrounding area, renting a car makes good sense. Without one, it’d be much harder to enjoy all that Kodaikanal, 35 miles away, has to offer. Among the first stops you make here should be Kodaikanal Lake, Kumbakkarai Falls and Bryant Park. Locals are also likely to point you toward Madurai, 40 miles away. If you can only see one attraction here, let it be Meenakshi Amman Temple. (But we’d also recommend Samanar Hills and Vaigai River.)