Kodaikanal to Madurai

1. Straight(0.1 km) on Lake Rd
   
2. 1st Right onto Lake Rd, go 0.5 km
   
3. Slight 1st Right onto Lake Rd, go 0.9 km
   
4. 1st Right onto Observatory Rd, go 0.2 km
   
5. 2nd Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.6 km
   
6. Slight 2nd Left (past Government Hospital on the right) onto SH18 Hwy, go 20 km.
   Enter Dindigul District at 6.1 km.
   Enter Pannaikadu at 15 km.
   
7. Slight Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 21 km.
   Leave Pannaikadu at 4.9 km.
   Enter Theni District at 16 km.
   
8. Left onto NH45 Hwy, go 10 km.
   Leave Ganguvarpatti.
   Enter Dindigul District at 3.6 km.
   Via Batlagundu at 6.7 km.
   Enter Sevugampatti at 8.2 km.
   
9. Continue down SH18 Hwy: 16 km.
   Leave Sevugampatti.
   Via Sevugampatti at 1 km.
   
10. Right onto NH7 Hwy, go 30 km.
    Enter Madurai District at 2 km.
    Via Vadipatti at 5.3 km.
    Enter Madurai at 26 km.
    
11. Slight Right (past Mandir on the right) onto Dindigul Rd(NH7 Hwy), go 2.5 km
    
12. Continue down NH7 Hwy: 0.9 km (Past Madurai Bridge Railway Station on the left)
    
13. Take 4th Right, go 0.7 km
    
14. 4th Right onto North Veli St(NH49 Hwy), go 0.4 km
    
15. Slight 5th Right onto Workshop Rd, go <5m
    
16. 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
Madurai to Kodaikanal


Detailed Route maps and travel directions:

Kodaikanal to Madurai - Yahoo! Maps

Kodaikanal to Madurai - Google Maps