Pondicherry to Kodaikanal Taxi

Pondicherry to Kodaikanal Taxi — 392 km from the Coast to the Palani Hills

Few drives in south India change scenery as completely as this one. You start at sea level beside the Bay of Bengal and end about 2,000 metres up in the Palani Hills, among pines, eucalyptus and cool mist. The distance is about 392 km and the trip usually takes 7 to 8 hours, the last part on a winding ghat road. Most bookings come from holidaymakers continuing from Pondicherry to the hills, Auroville residents escaping the summer heat, and families with children at school in Kodaikanal.

Collecting you in Pondicherry

We pick up from hotels and guest houses in the Heritage Town, homes across Pondicherry, resorts on the beach road and Auroville’s communities. The railway station and bus stand are fine too, and if you are arriving from Chennai, an early train timed to meet the car is a common plan. Tell us how many suitcases you have: hill holidays tend to mean more bags and warm clothes.

The way there

The driver heads for Villupuram and the Chennai–Trichy highway, then runs south past Ulundurpet, Perambalur and Samayapuram before going around Trichy. From Trichy the road continues south-west to Dindigul, and on to Batlagundu at the foot of the hills. There the ghat road begins its climb through hairpin bends, past the Silver Cascade falls, to Kodaikanal town. A second ghat road climbs from Palani; drivers use it when a stop at the Palani temple is planned, or when the main road is busy.

For food, Dindigul is famous for its biryani and makes a good lunch stop before the climb. On the way up, the stalls near Silver Cascade sell tea, corn and fruit.

The ghat climb and the hill charge

The ghat section takes a couple of hours with many hairpin bends. Because the climb is long and steep, a hill charge applies to this trip, paid at actuals in addition to the fare table. The driver will go slowly on the bends; if anyone in your group gets motion sickness, eat lightly before Batlagundu, sit in the front or middle row, and ask for a short stop at a lay-by if needed. Ginger sweets or lemon help some people.

Start early, climb in daylight

We recommend leaving Pondicherry at around 6 AM. That brings you to the foot of the ghat by early afternoon and into Kodaikanal before dark. Mist often settles on the upper road in the evening, especially in the monsoon months, and visibility drops quickly; climbing in daylight is safer and more pleasant. Starting before 6 AM is possible but brings a night allowance, paid at actuals, for the hours before then.

Which car for the hills

A sedan handles the ghat road comfortably for up to four people with modest luggage. For families with elders, children or several large bags, a seven-seat SUV or an Innova Crysta offers more legroom and a smoother ride on the bends. Groups travelling together can ask about a Tempo Traveller. All cars are air-conditioned, though you will probably switch it off once the air turns cool near the top.

Seasons in Kodaikanal

The busiest period is the summer holidays from April to June, when the plains are hottest and the summer festival with its flower show is held at Bryant Park in May. Weekends in this season bring traffic queues on the ghat road and around the lake. October and November bring rain with the northeast monsoon, and December to February are cold at night, with clear days. The famous Neelakurinji flowers bloom only once every twelve years; the last mass flowering was in 2018.

In recent seasons the authorities have at times required an online pass for vehicles entering the hill station. We check the current rule before your trip and let you know if anything needs to be done.

Where we drop you

Most drops are at hotels and cottages around Kodai Lake and the town centre, at homestays further out, at the bus stand, or at the school campuses. Within Kodaikanal you can visit Coaker’s Walk, Bryant Park, the Pillar Rocks, the pine forest and Guna Caves, and the Kurinji Andavar Temple. Homemade chocolates and eucalyptus oil are the town’s classic souvenirs.

Other costs to know about

The fare table lists the car, driver, fuel and driver bata. Tolls on the plains highways, parking in Kodaikanal and the hill charge are paid at actuals. Since the trip starts in Pondicherry, a Union Territory, any permit that applies is paid at actuals as well.