#69 of 79 · mountain
Palani to Kodaikanal
Palani, Tamil Nadu → Kodaikanal
65 km · Oct – May · Moderate
The Palani ghat: eucalyptus, shola, and a climb that smells of mint and wet stone. Kodaikanal sits on a lake at the top, and the last twenty hairpins are why you came.
Viewpoints
Perumal Malai
The first real drop of the Palani hills.
30 km
1,600 m
Pillar Rocks
A short walk from the road at the top.
62 km
2,130 m
Kodai lake
The town, and a slow lap at dusk.
65 km
2,133 m
- Road
- Narrow ghat, well surfaced. Tourist buses on weekends. Fog after 4pm is common.
Tips
- 01
Avoid Sunday down
The ghat is a single file of return traffic.
- 02
Engine braking
The descent to Palani will cook pads if you ride the pedal.
From the road
1 notes
Field reports from people who have driven this route.
Driven this road? Join as a driver to leave a note from the road.
Karthik N.
Jan 2026
Climbed in a white-out. The lake appeared at the top like someone had drawn it. Eucalyptus the whole way.
