The famous hill station of Kodaikanal lies in which of the following hill ranges in southern India?

Introduction / Context:
Kodaikanal is one of the best known hill stations of southern India and is a popular tourist and educational centre. Exam questions often test whether you can correctly match hill stations with the ranges in which they are located. This builds your understanding of the physical geography of the Western Ghats and associated hill systems.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Kodaikanal is a hill station in southern India. • The options list several hill ranges in the region. • We must choose the specific hills in which Kodaikanal lies.

Concept / Approach:
The key is to associate famous hill stations with their parent hill ranges. Ooty (Udagamandalam) is linked with the Nilgiri hills, while Kodaikanal is associated with the Palani hills in Tamil Nadu. Cardamom and Anaimalai hills are other parts of the southern Western Ghats but host different towns and plantations. Recognising these pairs helps to quickly eliminate incorrect options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Kodaikanal is located in the state of Tamil Nadu. Step 2: Remember that the Palani hills are an eastward extension of the Western Ghats within Tamil Nadu. Step 3: Associate Kodaikanal specifically with the Palani hills, where it lies on a plateau surrounded by forests and lakes. Step 4: Review the other hill ranges. Nilgiri hills are further northwest and are associated with Ooty, Coonoor and Kotagiri. Step 5: Cardamom and Anaimalai hills also belong to the Western Ghats system but do not host Kodaikanal as their main hill station.

Verification / Alternative check:
Tourist guides, atlases and school geography books commonly describe Kodaikanal as a hill station on the Palani hills at an elevation of more than 2000 metres above sea level. In contrast, the Nilgiri hills are introduced with examples like Ooty and Doddabetta peak. This consistent pairing of Kodaikanal with Palani hills supports the selection.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Javadi hills: Located in Tamil Nadu but more associated with smaller towns, not with Kodaikanal. Nilgiri hills: Famous for Ooty and tea plantations, but Kodaikanal is not situated here. Cardamom hills: Located mainly in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, known for spice plantations, not for Kodaikanal town. Anaimalai hills: Also part of the southern Western Ghats with their own wildlife reserves, but not the home of Kodaikanal.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners often mix up Nilgiri and Palani hills because both lie in southern India and are part of the broader Western Ghats system. Another mistake is to remember Kodaikanal only as a Tamil Nadu hill station and then guess the hill range, choosing Nilgiri by habit. To avoid this, remember the specific pairings: Kodaikanal with Palani hills and Ooty with Nilgiri hills.

Final Answer:
The hill station of Kodaikanal lies in the Palani hills.