page_title: History of Kodaikanal
section_title: Western settlers
hierarchical_section_title: History of Kodaikanal / Western settlers
caption_attribution_description: Ida S. Scudder 1928
context_page_description: Kodaikanal is a city and a Taluk division of Dindigul district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.
  The earliest residents of Kodaikanal were the Paliyan tribal people. The earliest specific references to Kodaikanal and the Palani Hills are found in Tamil Sangam literature of the early Christian era.
  Modern Kodaikanal was established as a hill station by American missionaries in 1845, as a refuge from the high temperatures and tropical diseases of the plains.
  In the 20th century a few elite Indians came to realize the value of this enchanting place and started relocating here. Kodaikanal is sometimes referred to as the "Princess of Hill Stations". Much of the local economy is now based on the hospitality industry, serving national and international tourists.
context_section_description: In 1821, the first westerner to visit Kodaikanal, a British Lieutenant, B. S. Ward,  climbed up from his headquarters in the Kunnavan village of Vellagavi to Kodaikanal to survey the area on the hilly ranges of Palani. His report of a healthy climate in beautiful hills with accessibility from Periyakulam encouraged the early settlers.
  In 1834, Mr. J.C Wroughten, then Sub-Collector of Madura  and Mr. C. R. Cotton, a member of the Madras Presidency — Board of Revenue, climbed up the hills from Devadanapatti  and built a small bungalow at the head of Adukkam pass near Shenbaganur. 
  In 1836, the noted botanist Dr. Robert Wight, a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, visited Kodaikanal and recorded his observations in the 1937 Madras Journal of Literature and Science. He collected over 100 plant specimens in 15 days, which were useful to later botanists.
  In 1845, the first two bungalows, Sunny Side and Shelton were built by six families of American missionaries from Madurai with the help of an Englishman, Mr. Fane. In 1852, Father Louis Saint Cyr visited Kodaikanal and returned to the plains after finding only four bungalows; Baynes, Parker, Clark and Parday.
  In 1852, Major J. M. Partridge of the Bombay Army built himself a house in Kodai and became the first person to actually settle there. Others soon followed like Fonclair and the coffee planter, Judge Elliot. It was not until Blackburne, the Collector of Madurai, built a home there that the development of Kodai gathered pace.
  In 1853, a group of American and British built Kodai's first church building, the Anglican Church of St. Peter.
  In 1853 only seven houses were there and the number rose to a dozen in 1861.
  In 1860, The Governor of Madras Presidency, Sir Charles Trevelyan visited Kodaikanal and stayed in Roseneath Cottage, which is still occupied. In May 1860, Father Louis Saint Cyr returned with father Rettary and several Frenchmen, Belgians and Europeans, stayed in Baynes bungalow and by 29 September had bought that place to use as a rest house for the members of Christ Church. The bungalow was renamed La-providence in honor a lady with that name who gave Rs.20,000 for reconstruction of the bungalow.  La Salette Church was finished and dedicated in 1866.
  In 1861, Major Douglas Hamilton recorded 114 species of birds in Kodaikanal and discovered two new ones-the laughing thrush and the Kodaikanal white-bellied shortwing.
  
  In 1862, David Coit Scudder arrived in Kodaikanal. He was an American missionary who had been influenced in boyhood to come to India by Rev. Dr. John Scudder, Sr. and was in charge of the large and important station of Periyakulam. He had endeared himself to the Christians of the large village congregations of that station. An enthusiastic young American, upon arrival at Kodai, his emotions overcame him when, as he recalled: 
  I ... seized our United States flag, shouted out "Long may it wave!" ... at the English collector ... and did other uncouth things.
  
  On 19 November 1862, David Scudder drowned in the Vaigai River between Andipatti and Periyakulam, 20 months after arriving in Tamil Nadu.  Interment was in the old Anglican Churchyard, at Kodaikanal. The inscription on his headstone is still clearly legible. It reads:
  D.C.S. Missionary of the A.B.C.F.M. In Southern India. Born in Boston, U.S.A. Oct. 27, 1835 Landed at Madras June 26, 1861 Drowned in the Vaigai River Nov. 19, 1862
  In 1863, acting on a suggestion of Sir Vere Levinge, then collector of Madurai, a lake was formed by blocking a stream. From then on, Kodaikanal has been developing.
  In 1867, Major J. M. Partridge of Bombay Army imported Australian eucalyptus and wattle trees to Kodaikanal.
  In 1871, the new governor of Madras, Lord Napier visited. His bungalow was named Napier Villa. These early settlements and visits by important people established Kodai's legitimacy among the Western residents of Tamil Nadu as an accepted alternative to Ootacamund as a summer retreat.
  In 1872, Lt. Coaker cut a path along the steep south east facing ridge which commends a magnificent view of the plain
caption: Dr. Ida S. Scudder with Mahatma Gandhi, 1928
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