Trivandrum to Kodaikanal

1. Straight(0.1 km) on Kollur Rd going toward Mahatma Gandhi Rd
   
2. 2nd Right onto Mahatma Gandhi Rd(NH47 Hwy), go 0.3 km
   
3. Continue down Sasthamangalam Oolanpara Rd: 1.2 km (Past Matir Memorial Church on the left)
   
4. Slight 3rd Left (past HSBC (Bank) on the right) onto SH2 Hwy, go 3.2 km
   
5. Slight Left (past Peroorkada Government Girls Higher Secondary School on the left) onto SH2 Hwy, go <100m
   
6. Slight 1st Right (past Moon City Restaurant on the left) onto SH2 Hwy, go 5.3 km.
   Enter Thiruvananthapuram District at 3 km.
   
7. Left onto SH2 Hwy, go 10 km.
   Via Nedumangad at 5.9 km.
   
8. Left onto SH2 Hwy, go 20 km.
   Enter Kollam District at 12 km.
   
9. Slight Right onto SH2 Hwy, go 21 km
   
10. Right onto NH208 Hwy, go 29 km.
    Enter Tamil Nadu at 14 km.
    Via Pudur (S), Panboli at 22 km.
    
11. Take Left, go 3.4 km
    
12. Continue down NH208 Hwy: 18 km.
    Via Kadayanallur at 11 km.
    
13. Slight Right onto NH208 Hwy, go 36 km.
    Via Puliyankudi at 7.7 km.
    Via Virudhunagar District at 29 km.
    Enter Tirunelveli District at 29 km.
    Leave Sivagiri at 29 km.
    Enter Virudhunagar District at 30 km.
    
14. Slight Right onto NH208 Hwy, go 23 km.
    Via Rajapalayam, Srivilliputhur at 16 km.
    
15. Right onto NH208 Hwy, go 10 km
    
16. Take Left, go 21 km.
    Enter Madurai District at 12 km.
    Enter Peraiyur at 18 km.
    
17. Take Left, go 26 km.
    Leave Peraiyur.
    Enter Usilampatti at 26 km.
    
18. Slight Right onto NH49 Hwy, go <100m
    
19. Take Slight 1st Left, go 24 km.
    Leave Usilampatti.
    Enter Dindigul District at 7.7 km.
    
20. Left onto NH45 Hwy, go 10 km.
    Via Sevugampatti, Batlagundu at 2.3 km.
    Enter Theni District at 6.7 km.
    Enter Ganguvarpatti at 10 km.
    
21. Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 21 km.
    Enter Dindigul District at 5.9 km.
    Enter Pannaikadu at 17 km.
    
22. Slight Left onto SH18 Hwy, go 20 km.
    Leave Pannaikadu at 4.5 km.
    Enter Kodaikanal at 13 km.
    
23. Slight Right onto SH18 Hwy, go 0.6 km
    
24. 2nd Right (past Spencer And Company on the left) onto Observatory Rd, go 0.2 km
    
25. 2nd Left onto Lake Rd, go 0.9 km
    
26. Slight 1st Left onto Lake Rd, go 0.5 km
    
27. 1st Left (past Sterling Days Inn Valley View (Hotel) on the right) onto Lake Rd, go 0.1 km
    
28. 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 Trivandrum


Detailed Route maps and travel directions:

Trivandrum to Kodaikanal - Yahoo! Maps

Trivandrum to Kodaikanal - Google Maps