Thekkady to Kodaikanal

1. Start, go 0.7 km
   
2. Take 1st Right, go <100m.
   Enter Idukki District.
   
3. Take 1st Left, go 0.7 km.
   Enter Periyar.
   
4. 1st Right (past Post And Telegraph Office on the right) onto NH220 Hwy, go 0.7 km
   
5. Slight 1st 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.
   
6. Right onto NH220 Hwy, go 26 km.
   Leave Uthamapalayam.
   Via Chinnamanur, Veerapandi at 14 km.
   Enter Palani Chettipatti at 23 km.
   
7. Continue down NH49 Hwy: 2.9 km.
   Leave Palani Chettipatti at 2.1 km.
   Enter Theni Allinagaram at 2.4 km.
   
8. Continue down NH45 Hwy: 15 km.
   Leave Theni Allinagaram at 2.5 km.
   Via Thenkarai, Thamaraikulam at 11 km.
   Enter Periyakulam at 15 km.
   
9. Left onto NH45 Hwy, go 17 km.
   Leave Periyakulam at 1.3 km.
   Via Thamaraikulam, Devadanapatti at 7 km.
   Enter Ganguvarpatti at 14 km.
   
10. Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 21 km.
    Enter Dindigul District at 5.9 km.
    Enter Pannaikadu at 17 km.
    
11. Slight Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 20 km.
    Leave Pannaikadu at 4.5 km.
    Enter Kodaikanal at 13 km.
    
12. Slight Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.6 km
    
13. 2nd Right (past Spencer And Company on the left) onto Observatory Rd, go 0.2 km
    
14. 2nd Left onto Lake Rd, go 0.9 km
    
15. Slight 1st Left onto Lake Rd, go 0.5 km
    
16. 1st Left (past Sterling Days Inn Valley View (Hotel) on the right) onto Lake Rd, go 0.1 km
    
17. 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 Thekkady


Detailed Route maps and travel directions:

Thekkady to Kodaikanal - Yahoo! Maps

Thekkady to Kodaikanal - Google Maps