Tourist hub Kodaikanal struggles with eight‑day water supply intervals

The scenic hill town of Kodaikanal is experiencing a crippling water crisis, with municipal tap water now arriving only once in a week or more. The scarcity stems from months of below‑average rainfall that has left the key water bodies—Observatory Lake and KeeL Gundaru—nearly dry.

Approximately 46,000 locals live across 24 wards, while the tourism sector draws 5,000‑6,000 visitors each day under ordinary circumstances, spiking to over 20,000 during peak weekends. This influx places an extra burden on the already strained supply.

Businesses, especially hotels and restaurants, are resorting to stockpiling water whenever it is delivered. Private water tankers costing around INR 4,000 per unit have become essential for daily operations, inflating expenses for owners.

The municipal administration points out that water availability in Kodaikanal has always hinged on seasonal monsoon rains. With the reservoirs receding, officials have begun digging a deep well near Fairy Falls and have outlined plans for four more borewells on Jimkhana Road, hoping to mitigate the shortfall until the next monsoon fills the tanks.