The Carlton is a 5-star lake-view hotel on Lake Road, Kodaikanal, with 91 rooms and cottages, terrace gardens, an indoor pool, spa and fine dining.
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The Carlton is a 5-star lake-view hotel on Lake Road in Kodaikanal, with 91 rooms, suites and cottages, terrace gardens, an indoor pool, spa and fine dining, about 120 km (a 2.5–3 hour drive) from Madurai Airport.
Live rates and availability confirmed at booking. All prices indicative — updated June 2026.
The Carlton, Kodaikanal is a 5-star hotel on Lake Road, set on the banks of Kodaikanal Lake in the Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu. Operated under the K. Raheja Group, it is the best-known luxury property in the hill station, with 91 rooms, suites and cottages and terrace gardens that look out over the lake. The architecture and decor draw on Kodaikanal's colonial heritage, and the lakefront position is the hotel's defining feature.
Kodaikanal is a high-altitude hill station around 2,100 metres above sea level, known for cool weather, mist and forested slopes, and The Carlton's setting puts guests within walking distance of the lake and the town's main promenade.
The hotel is on Lake Road, beside Kodaikanal Lake, roughly 200 metres from the water and a short walk from Coaker's Walk and Bryant Park. Reaching Kodaikanal involves a hill drive, so distances matter. Madurai Airport is the nearest airport at about 120 km, a drive of roughly 2.5 to 3 hours up the ghat roads. Kodai Road railway station, on the plains, is around 80 km away, about a two-hour drive. Travellers should plan for the winding final stretch into the hills, which is scenic but slow.
Accommodation is split across the main building and standalone cottages. Deluxe and Super Deluxe Rooms have private balconies with lake views, wooden flooring and classic decor, and the larger rooms add minibars and in-room safes. Executive Suites provide a separate living area, and the stone-built Cottages sit in private gardens overlooking the lake, giving a more secluded feel away from the main hotel. Most rooms are oriented to make the most of the lake and garden views.
Silver Oak is the fine-dining restaurant, serving multi-cuisine menus in a setting that suits the hill-station mood. The Hearth Coffee Cafe handles coffee, tea and lighter fare, welcome in the cool climate, and the End of The Road Bar serves cocktails and drinks. In-room dining is available. Given Kodaikanal's compact town centre, much of a guest's eating is likely to happen on-site, and the hotel's restaurants are geared accordingly.
The hotel has an indoor heated swimming pool, sensible given the cool hill climate, along with a spa and a fitness centre. Terrace gardens overlook the lake, and there is a library, indoor games and a kids' play area for downtime when the weather closes in. Conference and banquet venues support events and small weddings. Free Wi-Fi and a travel desk round out the facilities.
Kodaikanal Lake, beside the hotel, offers boating and cycling along its shore. Coaker's Walk, about 1 km away, is a cliff-edge path with valley views, and Bryant Park, around 500 metres off, is the town's botanical garden. Further out, Pillar Rocks (about 8 km), Green Valley View, also called Suicide Point (about 6 km), and Silver Cascade Falls (about 8 km) are the classic Kodaikanal viewpoints. The surrounding shola forests and trekking routes make the hotel a comfortable base for exploring the hills.
The Carlton is best for travellers who want the premier lake-view address in Kodaikanal, couples on honeymoons or romantic breaks drawn to the misty hill setting, and families wanting a comfortable, full-service base in the hills. It sits at the top of Kodaikanal's price range, in keeping with its position and lakefront location. Visitors should factor in the long, winding drive up from Madurai or the plains, but once there the hotel is among the most established luxury stays in the hill station.
| Room | What you get |
|---|---|
| Deluxe Room | Rooms with private balconies and views of Kodaikanal Lake, with wooden flooring and classic decor. |
| Super Deluxe Room | Larger rooms with attached balconies, lake views, minibars and in-room safes. |
| Executive Suite | Suites with a spacious living area and lake views for premium stays. |
| Cottage | Stone-built cottages with private gardens overlooking the lake, set apart from the main building. |
| Outlet | Cuisine / type |
|---|---|
| Silver Oak | Fine-dining multi-cuisine restaurant |
| The Hearth Coffee Cafe | Café |
| End of The Road Bar | Bar |
| Landmark | Distance | Approx. on foot |
|---|---|---|
| Kodaikanal Lake | 0.2 km | ~2 min walk |
| Coaker's Walk | 1 km | ~12 min walk |
| Bryant Park | 0.5 km | ~6 min walk |
| Pillar Rocks | 8 km | short taxi/auto |
| Green Valley View (Suicide Point) | 6 km | short taxi/auto |
| Silver Cascade Falls | 8 km | short taxi/auto |
Distances are straight-line estimates; walking times assume roughly 12 minutes per km. Confirm routes locally.
It is on Lake Road beside Kodaikanal Lake in the Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu, within walking distance of Coaker's Walk and Bryant Park.
Madurai Airport is the nearest at about 120 km, a drive of roughly 2.5 to 3 hours up the hill roads.
The hotel has 91 rooms, including suites and a small number of standalone cottages.
Yes, it sits beside Kodaikanal Lake and most rooms, the terrace gardens and the cottages are oriented towards the water.
Yes, there is an indoor heated swimming pool, along with a spa and fitness centre.
Check-in is from 2:00 pm and check-out is by 12:00 noon.