Coimbatore to Kodaikanal

1. Straight(2.1 km) on Avanashi Rd going toward Nethaji Rd
   
2. Straight (Keep Right) on Mills Rd(NH47 Hwy) flyover, go 0.4 km
   
3. At Uppilipalayam Flyover, take 2nd exit onto Uppilipalayam Flyover(NH47 Hwy), go <100m overall
   
4. 1st Left on Mills Rd(NH47 Hwy) flyover, go 0.4 km
   
5. 3rd Left onto Oppanakkara St(NH47 Hwy), go 0.8 km
   
6. Continue down NH47 Hwy: 2.1 km (Past Titan Sales and Service on the left)
   
7. Continue down Old Bridge Rd(NH47 Hwy): <100m
   
8. Continue down NH47 Hwy: <100m
   
9. 1st Left onto Pollachi Main Rd(NH209 Hwy), go 5.1 km
   
10. Continue down NH209 Hwy: 32 km (Past Rathnam College on the right).
    Enter Coimbatore District.
    Via Othakalmandapam, Kinathukadavu, Achipatti at 17 km.
    Enter Pollachi at 32 km.
    
11. Left onto NH209 Hwy, go 54 km.
    Leave Pollachi.
    Via Chinnampalayam, Udumalaipettai, Madathukulam at 24 km.
    Enter Dindigul District at 43 km.
    
12. Take Slight Right, go 22 km
    
13. Take Left, go 5.2 km
    
14. Take Right, go 7.7 km.
    Enter Kodaikanal at 7.2 km.
    
15. Continue down Naidpuram Rd: 0.4 km
    
16. Continue down Convent Rd: 0.2 km
    
17. Slight 1st Left onto Convent Rd, go <100m
    
18. 1st Right onto Convent Rd, go 0.7 km
    
19. Slight Right onto Convent Rd, go 0.7 km
    
20. Slight 4th Right onto Lake Rd, go 0.9 km
    
21. Slight 1st Left onto Lake Rd, go 0.5 km
    
22. 1st Left (past Sterling Days Inn Valley View (Hotel) on the right) onto Lake Rd, go 0.1 km
    
23. 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 Coimbatore


Detailed Route maps and travel directions:

Coimbatore to Kodaikanal - Yahoo! Maps

Coimbatore to Kodaikanal - Google Maps