Berijam Lake

Want to picnic around in Kodai amidst nature’s most beautiful bounties? Berijam Lake is your destination to be in case you love to laze around and do a bit of reading that always eluded you otherwise! The lake is a gem of a kind and is a reservoir where people can picnic to their heart’s content. This is a good spot to start with Kodaikanal sightseeing.

The lake is well known among tourists that often frequent this spot for enjoying its crystal clear and blue waters. It is positioned in the Upper Palani Hill range and offers enthralling sights of the nearby terrain. Tourists can enjoy a large number of activities that include nature walks and trekking. For trekking, one has to take sanction from the forest department. 

There is an Eco-Education Center where you can see the museum, bridge, swamp, and garden. The garden has plants of medicinal use and hosts many demos relating to them. Visitors can get permission to fish once the Fisheries Department gives the green signal. There was a boating facility before, but, now it is been stopped in order to protect the lake. Apart from these, a building made of bricks attracts your attention as its almost 100 years old.

Famous for its grasslands and swamp, the lake is a hub for researchers. You can spot a large number of local breeds of flora, fauna, and fish. Some local species of birds like pariah kites and swallows can be found here. Apart from these local breeds, you may also see migratory species like leaf warblers and blue chat. Animals like Nilgiri langur and wild boars can be found here too. It is not open year-round and is available for tourists only for seven months, starting from October till May. You have to get proper approval from the forest department here. 

Spread on a sprawling 59 acres of area, the lake captures your breath with its good quality water. The residents of Periyakulam get their share of drinking water from this lake. It shines as a notable attraction and is a crucial part of your Kodaikanal Tour Packages.

Important tips for tourists

• You cannot smoke or drink alcohol at the lake’s vicinity. Plastic is also banned.
• There are a lot of monkeys frolicking around, so be careful with your things.
• It is advised to reach early, say by 8.30 in the morning so that you are allowed inside. Permission is given only to 20 vehicles. 
• The lake is open for tourists only between 9.30 in the morning to 3 in the evening.
• You have to shell out Rs 100 as an entry fee.
• You can come here by bus or by cab. 

The calming blue waters of the lake and the serene terrain around with the occasional sighting of birds and mammals make Berijam Lake a place to visit. This is one of the tourist places in Kodaikanal one must not miss.