Bangalore to Kodaikanal

1. Reach Hosur Rd (NH7 Hwy) going South-wards past Ashok Nagar and Richmond Town.
   
2. Continue down Hosur Rd (NH7 Hwy): (Past Hotel Brigade Palace on the left) 5.5 km.
   Via Shanti Nagar, Adugodi. Enter Btm Layout Stage 1.
   
3. Straight (Keep Right) on Hosur Rd(NH7 Hwy) flyover, go 6.6 km.
   Via Bommanahalli. Enter Begur.
   
4. Continue down NH7 Hwy: 25 km.
   Via Electronic City, Hebbagodi.
   Via Bangalore District at 13 km.
   Enter Tamil Nadu at 19 km.
   Enter Hosur at 24 km.
   
5. Straight (Keep Right) on NH7 Hwy flyover, go 124 km.
   Leave Hosur.
   Via Krishnagiri, Kaveripattinam, Kariamangalam, Dharmapuri at 72 km.
   
6. Take Sharp Right, go 18 km.
   Enter Salem District.
   Enter Mecheri at 14 km.
   
7. Take Slight Right, go 16 km.
   Leave Mecheri.
   Via Veerakkalpudur, P.N.Patti at 12 km.
   
8. Take Left, go 42 km.
   Enter Erode District at 11 km.
   Leave Nerunjipettai at 13 km.
   Via Ammapettai at 21 km.
   Enter Bhavani at 38 km.
   
9. Right onto NH47 Hwy, go 0.3 km.
   
10. 1st Right onto NH47 Hwy, go 22 km.
    Leave Bhavani.
    Via Suriyampalayam, Chithode, Nasiyanur, Karumandi Chellipalayam at 10 km.
    Enter Perundurai at 21 km.
    
11. Continue down : 13 km.
    Leave Perundurai.
    Via Mukasipidariyur, Ottapparai at 9.4 km.
    Enter Chennimalai at 12 km.
    
12. Take Right, go 0.6 km.
    Leave Chennimalai.
    
13. Take 1st Left, go 12 km.
    
14. Take Slight Right, go 38 km.
    Via Kangeyam at 6.1 km.
    Enter Dharapuram at 37 km.
    
15. Take Left, go 1.2 km.
    Leave Dharapuram at 1.1 km.
    
16. Take Slight 1st Right, go 32 km.
    Via Kolathupalayam at 2.9 km.
    Enter Dindigul District at 16 km.
    Enter Palani at 31 km.
    
17. Continue down NH209 Hwy: 0.5 km.
    
18. 1st Right onto NH209 Hwy, go 1 km.
    
19. Slight 1st Left onto NH209 Hwy, go 2.6 km.
    Leave Palani.
    
20. Take Slight Left, go 3 km.
    
21. Take Left, go 2.6 km.
    
22. Take Slight Right, go 15 km.
    
23. Take Left, go 5.2 km.
    
24. Take Right, go 7.7 km.
    Enter Kodaikanal at 7.2 km.
    
25. Continue down Naidpuram Rd: 0.4 km.
    
26. Continue down Convent Rd: 0.2 km.
    
27. Slight 1st Left onto Convent Rd, go < 0.1 km.
    
28. 1st Right onto Convent Rd, go 0.7 km.
    
29. Slight Right onto Convent Rd, go 0.7 km.
    
30. Slight 4th Right onto Lake Rd, go 0.9 km.
    
31. Slight 1st Left onto Lake Rd, go 0.5 km.
    
32. 1st Left (past Sterling Days Inn Valley View (Hotel) on the right) onto Lake Rd, go 0.1 km.
    
33. Arrive at destination
    

Note 1:
Kodaikanal can be climbed by two different routes from the plains - one from Palani and the other from Batlagundu/Genguvarpatti. The Batlagundu route is wider, less gradient and easier to drive, it is called the "Ghat Road". The Palani route is useful only if you are driving from Coimbatore/Udumalpet/Pollachi/Palghat direction, it is narrower, steeper and tough to climb. Both these routes meet at Perumalmalai Junction from where Kodaikanal is 12 km.

Note 2:
Kodaikanal to Munnar direct road has been closed due to some inter-state issues. Only dare-devil two-wheelers can use that route (via Berijam). If you have to travel west of Kodaikanal (Munnar/Thekkady/Cochin/Kollam/Trivandrum), it is best to take the Ghat Road towards Ghat Road, turn right at Ghats Road Junction towards Periyakulam and procced via Theni/Bodi.

Note 3:
Some map sites show a short, straight route from Periyakulam to Kodaikanal. This road was the only track to Kodaikanal during pre-independence days. It is surprising to see the map sites showing that trail as a "road" now. It is a steep 18km hiking trail only for the seasoned mountain climbers. It is not a "Road", it s a trekking route via Kumbakarai/Vellagavi. Please do not confuse Periyakulam to Kodaikanal route as a Road.

Reverse Route
Kodaikanal to Bangalore


Detailed Route maps and travel directions:

Bangalore to Kodaikanal - Yahoo! Maps
Bangalore to Kodaikanal - Google Maps