Kodaikanal to Kollam

1. Straight(<100m) on Lake Rd
   
2. Slight 1st Left onto Lake Rd, go 0.5 km
   
3. 1st Left (past Sterling Days Inn Valley View (Hotel) on the right) onto Lake Rd, go <100m
   
4. Take 1st Right, go 0.6 km
   
5. 2nd Right onto Lower Shola Rd, go 0.4 km
   
6. Continue down SH18 Hwy: 0.4 km
   
7. Slight 2nd Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.1 km
   
8. Slight 1st Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.5 km
   
9. Slight 2nd Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.2 km
   
10. Take 1st Right, go 2.3 km
    
11. Slight Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 1.1 km.
    Enter Dindigul District.
    
12. Take 1st Left, go 7.1 km
    
13. Take Left, go 9.8 km.
    Enter Theni District at 2.5 km.
    
14. Right onto NH45 Hwy, go 15 km.
    Via Thamaraikulam, Thenkarai at 4.1 km.
    Enter Theni Allinagaram at 12 km.
    
15. Continue down NH49 Hwy: 2.9 km.
    Leave Theni Allinagaram.
    Enter Palani Chettipatti.
    
16. Continue down NH220 Hwy: 26 km.
    Leave Palani Chettipatti at 3.1 km.
    Via Veerapandi, Chinnamanur at 12 km.
    Enter Uthamapalayam at 26 km.
    
17. Left onto NH220 Hwy, go 30 km.
    Leave Uthamapalayam at 2.4 km.
    Via Kambam, Gudalur at 15 km.
    
18. Slight Right onto NH220 Hwy, go 1.1 km.
    Enter Kerala.
    
19. 2nd Right (past Church on the right) onto NH220 Hwy, go 17 km.
    Enter Idukki District at 1 km.
    
20. Left onto NH220 Hwy, go 4.1 km
    
21. Left onto NH220 Hwy, go 21 km
    
22. Slight Right onto NH220 Hwy, go 17 km.
    Enter Kottayam District at 3.9 km.
    
23. Left onto SH8 Hwy, go 11 km
    
24. Slight Left onto SH8 Hwy, go 27 km.
    Enter Pathanamthitta District at 8.6 km.
    
25. Right onto SH8 Hwy, go 0.2 km
    
26. 1st Left onto SH8 Hwy, go 20 km.
    Via Alappuzha District at 7.6 km.
    Enter Pathanamthitta District at 7.7 km.
    Enter Adoor at 19 km.
    
27. Right onto SH8 Hwy, go 2.9 km
    
28. Slight Left onto SH1 Hwy, go 18 km.
    Leave Adoor at 1.6 km.
    Enter Kollam District at 7.6 km.
    
29. Right onto NH208 Hwy, go 0.9 km
    
30. 1st Left onto NH208 Hwy, go 22 km.
    Enter Kollam at 21 km.
    
31. Continue down Q.S. Rd(NH208 Hwy): 3.6 km
    
32. At Kollam Chinnakkada Junction Rd, take 1st exit onto Alppuzha Rd(NH47 Hwy), go 1.1 km overall
    
33. Continue down NH47 Hwy: <10m
    
34. Continue down Alppuzha Rd(NH47 Hwy): 0.4 km
    
35. Take 3rd Right (past Mandir on the right), go 0.9 km
    
36. Take Left, go 0.1 km
    
37. 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
Kollam to Kodaikanal


Detailed Route maps and travel directions:

Kodaikanal to Kollam - Yahoo! Maps

Kodaikanal to Kollam - Google Maps