Kodaikanal to Munnar

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. Right onto NH45 Hwy, go 17 km.
   Leave Ganguvarpatti at 2.6 km.
   Via Devadanapatti, Thamaraikulam at 10 km.
   Enter Periyakulam at 15 km.
   
9. Right onto NH45 Hwy, go 15 km.
   Leave Periyakulam.
   Via Thamaraikulam, Thenkarai at 4.3 km.
   Enter Theni Allinagaram at 12 km.
   
10. Continue down NH49 Hwy: 2.9 km.
    Leave Theni Allinagaram.
    Enter Palani Chettipatti.
    
11. Right onto NH49 Hwy, go 13 km.
    Leave Palani Chettipatti at 2.6 km.
    Via B. Meenakshipuram at 8.7 km.
    Enter Bodinayakanur at 11 km.
    
12. Slight Left onto NH49 Hwy, go 5.8 km.
    Leave Bodinayakanur.
    
13. Continue down : 2.4 km
    
14. Take Slight Left, go 10 km
    
15. Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 14 km.
    Enter Kerala at 2.3 km.
    
16. Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 12 km
    
17. Slight Right onto NH49 Hwy, go 0.5 km.
    Enter Munnar.
    
18. 1st Right onto NH49 Hwy, go <100m
    
19. Take 1st Right, go 0.4 km
    
20. Take 2nd Left, go 0.3 km
    
21. 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
Munnar to Kodaikanal


Detailed Route maps and travel directions:

Kodaikanal to Munnar - Yahoo! Maps

Kodaikanal to Munnar - Google Maps