Hosur to Kodaikanal Taxi

Hosur to Kodaikanal Taxi — 367 km from the Industrial Town to the Hills

Hosur to Kodaikanal is about 367 km, a drive of 7–8 hours that ends with a long climb up the Palani hills. Hosur sits on the Tamil Nadu side of the Karnataka border, and the people who book this trip are mostly factory and IT families looking for a cool weekend, groups of colleagues on an outing, and parents visiting children at the boarding schools in Kodaikanal.

Where we pick you up

We collect from homes and company guest houses across Hosur: the SIPCOT industrial areas, Mathigiri, the Bagalur Road and Rayakottai Road neighbourhoods, the new housing layouts towards the town’s edges, and the Hosur bus stand and railway station. A pickup within Hosur keeps the whole trip inside Tamil Nadu.

If you would rather be collected from the Bangalore side — Electronic City, Attibele or Bengaluru airport, for example — the trip becomes inter-state and the permit is paid at actuals. Many people simply meet the car at the Hosur end to keep things simple.

The way down to the hills

The car heads south on the national highway through Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri country to Salem, then crosses the plains to the foot of the Palani hills. Two ghat roads climb to Kodaikanal: one from the Palani side, and one from Batlagundu, beyond Dindigul. The 367 km figure is the shorter way in; the Batlagundu road runs longer but is the more travelled climb, and the driver picks between them on the day depending on traffic and weather. Either way, the last stretch is forest, hairpin bends and viewpoints over the plains, and on the Batlagundu road the Silver Cascade falls is right beside the road.

If you want darshan at the Palani Murugan temple on the way, ask for the Palani-side climb and tell us when you book, so the timing works.

Starting early, and why

We suggest leaving Hosur by 5 or 6 AM. That gets you past Salem before the heavy truck traffic builds, gives time for breakfast and lunch stops, and brings you to the foot of the ghat with daylight to spare. The ghat road is narrow and fog can settle in the afternoon, especially in the monsoon months, so a daylight climb is far more comfortable. If you must leave in the evening, a night allowance applies for driving between 10 PM and 6 AM, and the driver may suggest halting below the hills until morning.

Breaks along the way

Krishnagiri is mango country, and in season (roughly April to June) stalls line the highway. Salem is a convenient breakfast stop. If the driver takes the Dindigul side, the town is famous for its biryani, which many people plan their lunch around. Short tea halts keep the driver fresh before the climb.

Choosing a car for the ghat

The ghat road has many tight bends. A sedan is fine for up to four light travellers, but with children, elders or a lot of luggage, an SUV or Innova Crysta is more stable and gives more room. If anyone in your group gets motion sickness, eat lightly before the climb, sit in front if possible, and ask the driver to pull over at a safe spot if needed.

A hill charge applies for the climb to Kodaikanal and is paid at actuals, along with tolls and parking. The fare table on this page covers the car, driver, fuel and driver bata.

Seasons in Kodaikanal

April and May are the peak months, when families from the plains escape the heat; the summer festival and flower show at Bryant Park are held in May. Hotels fill quickly then, and traffic around the lake can be slow. June to September is green and misty. October to December brings the northeast monsoon and heavy rain on the hills. December and January are clear and cold, with chilly nights. The famous Kurinji flowers bloom across these hills only once every twelve years, and that season draws exceptionally large crowds.

What to see once you arrive

We drop you at your hotel, cottage or school gate. The usual circuit includes Kodai Lake, Coaker’s Walk, Bryant Park, the Pillar Rocks viewpoint, the pine forests and Guna Caves, the Kurinji Andavar temple and Bear Shola Falls. On a round trip, the same driver can take you around the local sights the next day before heading back to Hosur.