Kodaikanal Lake, also known as Kodai Lake is a manmade lake located in the kodaikanal in Dindugal District in Tamilnadu India . Sir Vere Hentry Levinge, the then Collector of Madurai instrumental in creating the lake in 1863, amidst the Kodaikanal town which was developed by the British and early missionaries from USA. The lake is said to be Kodaikanal's most popular geographic landmark and tourist attraction.
Over the years a boat club, boathouse and boat service (with Rowing Boats and Pedalling boats and a public ferry) for the public and tourists has become fully functional and is of aesthetic significance for tourism. Boat Pageant and Flower Shows are a regular feature in the summer season which attracts tourists.
The lake is star-shaped, centrally located in the town of Kodaikanal and is surrounded by lush green hills of the northwestern Palani Hills, which is the main watershed for the lake.
Flora
kurungi(Strobilanthes Kunthiana) a unique flowering plant is reported from the catchment area of the Lake. It is reported that this flower last bloomed in 2004 and that it blooms once in 12 years. Hill-plantain fruits and plums are popular in the area
Description
Neelakurinji is the best known of a genus, Strobilanthes that has flowering cycles ranging from one to 16 years. Plants that bloom at long intervals like kurinji are called Plietesials. Besides the Western Ghats, Neelakurinji is seen in the Shevroys the Eastern Ghats. It occurs at an altitude of 1300 to 2400 metres. The plant is usually 30 to 60 cm high on the hills. They can, however, grow well beyond 180 cm under congenial conditions
The Kurinji flower and the associated mountainous landscape where it blooms was used in classical Tamil literature (Sangam literature) as a symbol for the union of lovers ( See Sangam landscape) The famous poetic fragment from Red Earth and Pouring Rain the Kuruntokai makes an indirect reference to the flower.
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