Madurai to Kodaikanal

1. Straight(<5m) on Workshop Rd going toward North Veli St
   
2. Slight 1st Left onto North Veli St(NH49 Hwy), go 0.4 km
   
3. Take 5th Left (past High School on the right), go 0.7 km
   
4. 4th Left (past Regional Director Government Examinations on the right) onto Madurai Palem Rd(NH7 Hwy), go 0.9 km
   
5. Continue down NH7 Hwy: 2.5 km (Past Mandir on the right)
   
6. Slight Left (past Mandir on the left) onto NH7 Hwy, go 30 km.
   Enter Madurai District at 3.8 km.
   Via Vadipatti at 24 km.
   Enter Dindigul District at 28 km.
   
7. Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 16 km.
   Via Sevugampatti at 15 km.
   
8. Continue down NH45 Hwy: 10 km.
   Via Sevugampatti, Batlagundu at 2.3 km.
   Enter Theni District at 6.7 km.
   Enter Ganguvarpatti at 10 km.
   
9. Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 21 km.
   Enter Dindigul District at 5.9 km.
   Enter Pannaikadu at 17 km.
   
10. Slight Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 20 km.
    Leave Pannaikadu at 4.5 km.
    Enter Kodaikanal at 13 km.
    
11. Slight Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.6 km
    
12. 2nd Right (past Spencer And Company on the left) onto Observatory Rd, go 0.2 km
    
13. 2nd Left onto Lake Rd, go 0.9 km
    
14. Slight 1st Left onto Lake Rd, go 0.5 km
    
15. 1st Left (past Sterling Days Inn Valley View (Hotel) on the right) onto Lake Rd, go 0.1 km
    
16. 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 Madurai


Detailed Route maps and travel directions:

Madurai to Kodaikanal - Yahoo! Maps

Madurai to Kodaikanal - Google Maps