Kollam to Kodaikanal

1. Start, go 0.1 km
   
2. Take 1st Right, go 0.9 km
   
3. Left onto Alppuzha Rd(NH47 Hwy), go 0.4 km
   
4. Continue down NH47 Hwy: <10m
   
5. Continue down Alppuzha Rd(NH47 Hwy): 1 km
   
6. At Kollam Chinnakkada Junction Rd, take 1st exit onto Q.S. Rd(NH208 Hwy), go 3.6 km overall
   
7. Continue down NH208 Hwy: 22 km.
   Enter Kollam District.
   
8. Right onto NH208 Hwy, go 0.9 km
   
9. 1st Left onto SH1 Hwy, go 18 km.
   Enter Pathanamthitta District at 11 km.
   Enter Adoor at 17 km.
   
10. Slight Right onto SH8 Hwy, go 2.9 km
    
11. Left onto SH8 Hwy, go 20 km.
    Leave Adoor at 1 km.
    Via Alappuzha District at 12 km.
    Enter Pathanamthitta District at 12 km.
    
12. Right onto SH8 Hwy, go 0.2 km
    
13. 1st Left onto SH8 Hwy, go 27 km.
    Enter Kottayam District at 18 km.
    
14. Slight Right onto SH8 Hwy, go 11 km
    
15. Right onto NH220 Hwy, go 17 km.
    Enter Idukki District at 13 km.
    
16. Slight Left onto NH220 Hwy, go 21 km
    
17. Right onto NH220 Hwy, go 4.1 km
    
18. Right onto NH220 Hwy, go 17 km.
    Enter Periyar at 16 km.
    
19. Left (past Karthika Tourist Home (Hotel) on the left) onto NH220 Hwy, go 1.1 km
    
20. Slight 2nd Left (past Masjid on the left) onto NH220 Hwy, go 30 km.
    Enter Tamil Nadu.
    Via Gudalur, Kambam at 14 km.
    Enter Uthamapalayam at 27 km.
    
21. Right onto NH220 Hwy, go 26 km.
    Leave Uthamapalayam.
    Via Chinnamanur, Veerapandi at 14 km.
    Enter Palani Chettipatti at 23 km.
    
22. Continue down NH49 Hwy: 2.9 km.
    Leave Palani Chettipatti at 2.1 km.
    Enter Theni Allinagaram at 2.4 km.
    
23. Continue down NH45 Hwy: 15 km.
    Leave Theni Allinagaram at 2.5 km.
    Via Thenkarai, Thamaraikulam at 11 km.
    
24. Take Left, go 9.8 km.
    Enter Dindigul District at 7.3 km.
    
25. Take Right, go 7.1 km
    
26. Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 1.1 km.
    Enter Kodaikanal.
    
27. Take Slight 2nd Left, go 2.3 km
    
28. Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.2 km
    
29. Slight 1st Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.5 km
    
30. Slight 1st Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.1 km
    
31. Slight 1st Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.4 km
    
32. Slight 2nd Left onto Lower Shola Rd, go 0.4 km
    
33. Take 1st Left, go 0.6 km
    
34. 2nd Left onto Lake Rd, go <100m
    
35. 1st Right onto Lake Rd, go 0.5 km
    
36. Slight 1st Right onto Lake Rd, go <100m
    
37. Arrive at destination
    

Note 1:
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:
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 Ghat Road, 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 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. Please do not confuse Periyakulam to Kodaikanal route as a Road.

Reverse Route
Kodaikanal to Kollam


Detailed Route maps and travel directions:

Kollam to Kodaikanal - Yahoo! Maps

Kollam to Kodaikanal - Google Maps