Kodaikanal to Thekkady

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. Continue down NH220 Hwy: 26 km.
    Leave Palani Chettipatti at 3.1 km.
    Via Veerapandi, Chinnamanur at 12 km.
    Enter Uthamapalayam at 26 km.
    
12. Left onto NH220 Hwy, go 30 km.
    Leave Uthamapalayam at 2.4 km.
    Via Kambam, Gudalur at 15 km.
    
13. Slight Right onto NH220 Hwy, go 0.7 km.
    Enter Kerala.
    
14. Take 1st Left (past Mukkungal Tourist Home (Hotel) on the left), go 0.7 km
    
15. Take 1st Right (past Rolex Lodge (Hotel) on the right), go <100m.
    Enter Idukki District.
    
16. Take 1st Left, go 0.7 km.
    Enter Periyar.
    
17. 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
Thekkady to Kodaikanal


Detailed Route maps and travel directions:

Kodaikanal to Thekkady - Yahoo! Maps

Kodaikanal to Thekkady - Google Maps