Mannavanur Lake

Mannavanur Lake is a scenic high-altitude lake located in Mannavanur village, about 35 km west of Kodaikanal in Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu. Situated at around 2,000 metres elevation in the Palani Hills, it is surrounded by rolling grasslands and shola forests within the Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary landscape. The lake is known for its tranquil setting, pastoral surroundings and proximity to the Central Sheep Breeding Farm.

Visitors can expect a quiet, open lake surrounded by expansive grasslands and gentle hills typical of the upper Palani Hills. The lake has a calm water body with a small boating area, grassy banks for sightseeing and photography, and views of grazing lands and distant forested slopes. The setting is rural and undeveloped, with limited commercial activity, offering nature walks, birdwatching and views of the nearby sheep farm area.

Mannavanur area is known for the Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute and Sheep Breeding Farm established in the 1960s to support wool and sheep development in the Palani Hills. The lake and surrounding grasslands have long been used for pastoral grazing and later developed as a small reservoir and visitor spot within the Kodaikanal hill region.