Kodaikanal Map

Both Palani and Vathalagundu are well connected with major National Highways passing through this region

Those driving from north of Kerala, ( like north of Thrissur and Palakkad), take the Palani route.
Those driving from south of Kochi take the Vathalagundu division on the NH183 to Dindigul.

Driving to Kodaikanal from Malabar area: Kasaragod, Kannur , Kozhikode, Malappuram.
1Take the NH 966 and drive to Palakkad.

2After passing Palakkad city, exit NH 966 and take the Palakkad-Pollachi road.

You've to take the service road near the NH544 & NH 966 junction. The diversion to pollachi is under the flyover.

3From Pollachi drive towards Palani. Just before Palani town, take the right diversion on to the Planai bypass.

4The Palani-Kodaikanal road starts from the bypass road. This is the last 50 km to Kodaikanal, the Ghat section with zigzag & hairpin bends.

Driving to Kodaikanal from Thrissur
1Take the Pollachi road via Kollengode.
2From pollachi follow the above route to Kodaikanal via Palani bypass.

Driving to Kodaikanal from Kochi

Take the NH 85 ( Kochi - Madurai ) highway via Munnar.
At Theni , in Tamilnadu, leave the NH 85 and take the Dindigul highway (NH183).
About 30 km after Theni , you'll see the starting point of Kodaikanal ghat road, on your left.

There is the Indian Oil fuel station at this junction as landmark & pitstop.

Kodaikanal town is 50km from this junction ( typically takes 2 hrs drive)

On this route you have two options.
First is to drive via Munnar - Devikulam - Chinnakanal - Poopara route ( NH 85) .
The second is vis Kallarkutty - Vellathooval- Rajakkad - Poopara route.
The second is 10km shorter, but not the national highway.

Select between these two options if you are planning to include detour to the attractions in these two routes.

The diversion point is Adimali town on the NH 85. Both the routes will later join at Poopara, before you enter Tamilnadu.
Both routes involves 80-90km of ghat section driving between Adimali and Bodinayakanur. And takes about 3 hours of ghat section driving.

Driving to Kodaikanal from Kottayam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta

Take the Kottayam-Kumily Road ( NH 183). At Kumily cross to Tamilnadu and drive to Theni via Cumbum on the NH183.

From Theni, follow the directions mentioned in the above route ( Kochi-Kodaikanal route)

Driving to Kodaikanal from Kollam & Thiruvananthapuram
From Kollam & Thiruvananthapuram you've two popular routes : One via Kumily ( mentioned above) or via Thenmala.

1Kumily route : Take the MC road to Kottarakkara. From Kottarakkara drive to Kumily via Erumeli.
2Thenmala route : Reach Thenmala from Thiruvananthapuram or Kollam. Drive on NH744 towards Thirumangalam.
On NH 744, take the diversion to Batlagundu via Usilampatti.

At Batlagundu (Vathalagundu ) turn left towards Theni.
At about 8km from Batlagundu you'll see the start point of Kodaikanal ghat road on your right.
There is the Indian Oil fuel station at this junction as a landmark & good pitstop.
Kodaikanal town is 50km from this junction towards Palani hills.

Route to KodaikanalDistanceKozhikode - Palakkad - Kodaikanal300kmMalappuram - Palakkad - Kodaikanal250kmThrissur - Kollengode - Kodaikanal225kmKochi - Munnar - Theni - Kodaikanal280kmKottayam - Kumily - Theni - Kodaikanal245kmAlappuzha - Changanassery - Kumily - Kodaikanal275kmPathanamthitta - Kumily - Theni - Kodaikanal240kmKollam - Thenmala - Kodaikanal320kmThiruvananthapuram - Thenmala - Kodaikanal330km

Kodaikanal

Kerala to Kodaikanal

Kerala to Kodaikanal road map & driving routes