Kodaikanal to Cochin

1. Straight(<100m) on Lake Rd
   
2. Take Slight 1st Left, go 0.6 km
   
3. 2nd Right onto Lower Shola Rd, go 0.4 km
   
4. Continue down SH18 Hwy: 0.4 km
   
5. Slight 2nd Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.1 km
   
6. Slight 1st Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.5 km
   
7. Slight 2nd Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.2 km
   
8. Take 1st Right, go 2.3 km
   
9. Slight Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 11 km.
   Enter Dindigul District.
   
10. Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 1.2 km
    
11. Slight 1st Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 23 km
    
12. Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 15 km.
    Via Theni District at 2.1 km.
    Enter Kerala at 4.2 km.
    
13. Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 12 km
    
14. Slight Right onto NH49 Hwy, go 0.5 km.
    Enter Munnar.
    
15. 1st Right onto NH49 Hwy, go <100m
    
16. 1st Left onto NH49 Hwy, go 7.6 km.
    Enter Idukki District.
    
17. Take Left, go 1.2 km
    
18. Take Slight 1st Right, go 4.6 km
    
19. Slight Left onto NH49 Hwy, go 36 km
    
20. Slight Right onto NH49 Hwy, go 30 km.
    Enter Ernakulam District.
    Via Kothamangalam at 18 km.
    Enter Muvattupuzha at 29 km.
    
21. Slight Left onto NH49 Hwy, go 22 km.
    Leave Muvattupuzha at 1.6 km.
    
22. Slight Right onto NH49 Hwy, go 4.2 km.
    Enter Thrippunithura at 2.8 km.
    
23. Right onto NH49 Hwy, go 0.7 km.
    Leave Thrippunithura.
    
24. 3rd Left onto NH49 Hwy, go 3 km.
    Via Vazhakkala, Thrippunithura at 1.2 km.
    Enter Ernakulam at 2.7 km.
    
25. Left (past SBI (Bank) on the left) onto Maradu Rd(NH49 Hwy), go 2.9 km
    
26. Continue down Indra Gandhi Rd(NH47A Hwy): 5.3 km
    
27. Continue down : 0.5 km.
    Enter Kochi.
    
28. Arrive at destination
    

Note 1:
Climbing Routes: 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:
Munnar Route: 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 Batlagundu, 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 still 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 Village. Please do not confuse Periyakulam to Kodaikanal route as a Road.

Reverse Route
Cochin to Kodaikanal


Detailed Route maps and travel directions:

Kodaikanal to Cochin - Yahoo! Maps

Kodaikanal to Cochin - Google Maps