Pondicherry to Kodaikanal

1. Straight(0.1 km) going toward Nehru St
   
2. 1st Right onto Nehru St(NH66 Hwy), go 0.2 km
   
3. Slight Left onto Thiruvalluvar Salai Rd(NH45A Hwy), go 1.4 km
   
4. At roundabout, take 2nd exit onto NH45A Hwy, go 37 km overall.
   Enter Pondicherry District at 5.5 km.
   Via Kurumbapet at 6.4 km.
   Leave Pondicherry at 14 km.
   Enter Tamil Nadu at 22 km.
   Via Valavanur at 26 km.
   Enter Viluppuram at 33 km.
   
5. Left to follow NH45A Hwy, go 157 km.
   Leave Viluppuram.
   Via Cuddalore District at 70 km.
   Enter Perambalur District at 84 km.
   Via Perambalur at 106 km.
   Enter Tiruchirappalli District at 125 km.
   Via S. Kannanur at 147 km.
   Enter Tiruchirappalli at 152 km.
   
6. Right onto NH45 Hwy, go 1 km
   
7. Left (past Mandir on the left) onto NH45 Hwy, go 0.2 km
   
8. 1st Right (past Rock Fort Temple on the left) onto NH45 Hwy, go 4.3 km
   
9. Right onto NH45 Hwy, go 95 km.
   Via Tiruchirappalli District, Karur District at 13 km.
   Enter Tiruchirappalli District at 20 km.
   Via Manapparai at 38 km.
   Enter Dindigul District at 65 km.
   Leave Ayyalur at 72 km.
   Via Vadamadurai at 78 km.
   Enter Dindigul at 94 km.
   
10. Left onto NH7 Hwy, go 1.1 km
    
11. 1st Right onto NH45 Hwy, go 31 km.
    Leave Dindigul.
    Via Pallapatti at 2.5 km.
    Enter Sevugampatti at 29 km.
    
12. Right onto NH45 Hwy, go 10 km.
    Leave Sevugampatti at 2.1 km.
    Via Batlagundu at 3.5 km.
    Enter Theni District at 6.7 km.
    Enter Ganguvarpatti at 10 km.
    
13. Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 21 km.
    Enter Dindigul District at 5.9 km.
    Enter Pannaikadu at 17 km.
    
14. Slight Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 20 km.
    Leave Pannaikadu at 4.5 km.
    Enter Kodaikanal at 13 km.
    
15. Slight Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.6 km
    
16. 2nd Right (past Spencer And Company on the left) onto Observatory Rd, go 0.2 km
    
17. 2nd Left onto Lake Rd, go 0.9 km
    
18. Slight 1st Left onto Lake Rd, go 0.5 km
    
19. 1st Left (past Sterling Days Inn Valley View (Hotel) on the right) onto Lake Rd, go 0.1 km
    
20. 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 Pondicherry


Detailed Route maps and travel directions:

Pondicherry to Kodaikanal - Yahoo! Maps

Pondicherry to Kodaikanal - Google Maps