Cochin to Kodaikanal

1. Straight(0.5 km) going toward Thoppumpady Bridge Rd
   
2. Continue down Indra Gandhi Rd(NH47A Hwy): 5.3 km.
   Enter Ernakulam.
   
3. Continue down Maradu Rd(NH49 Hwy): 2.9 km
   
4. Right (past SBI (Bank) on the right) to follow NH49 Hwy, go 3 km.
   Enter Ernakulam District.
   Via Thrippunithura at 1 km.
   Enter Vazhakkala at 1.9 km.
   
5. Right onto NH49 Hwy, go 0.7 km.
   Leave Vazhakkala.
   Enter Thrippunithura.
   
6. 4th Left onto NH49 Hwy, go 4.2 km.
   Leave Thrippunithura at 1.4 km.
   
7. Slight Left onto NH49 Hwy, go 22 km.
   Enter Muvattupuzha at 21 km.
   
8. Slight Right onto NH49 Hwy, go 30 km.
   Leave Muvattupuzha.
   Via Kothamangalam at 11 km.
   
9. Slight Left onto NH49 Hwy, go 36 km.
   Enter Idukki District.
   
10. Take Slight Right, go 4.6 km
    
11. Take Slight Left, go 1.2 km
    
12. 1st Right onto NH49 Hwy, go 7.6 km.
    Enter Munnar at 7 km.
    
13. Right onto NH49 Hwy, go <100m
    
14. 1st Left onto NH49 Hwy, go 0.5 km
    
15. Slight 1st Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 12 km.
    Enter Idukki District.
    
16. Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 15 km.
    Enter Tamil Nadu at 11 km.
    
17. Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 23 km.
    Enter Dindigul District.
    
18. Slight Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 1.2 km
    
19. 1st Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 11 km.
    Enter Kodaikanal at 11 km.
    
20. Take Slight Left, go 2.3 km
    
21. Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.2 km
    
22. Slight 1st Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.5 km
    
23. Slight 1st Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.1 km
    
24. Slight 1st Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.4 km
    
25. Slight 2nd Left onto Lower Shola Rd, go 0.4 km
    
26. Take 1st Left, go 0.6 km
    
27. Slight 3rd Right onto Lake Rd, go <100m
    
28. 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 Cochin


Detailed Route maps and travel directions:

Cochin to Kodaikanal - Yahoo! Maps

Cochin to Kodaikanal - Google Maps