Hill stations · Princess of the Palani hills
Kodaikanal group trip guide
Kodaikanal: Princess of the Palani hills in Hill stations, Tamil Nadu. From Madurai it is 126 km by road, 4–5 hours with stops. Groups give it 2–3 days. A 17-seater tempo traveller with driver from Madurai costs ₹14,000–17,100 for a 2-day round trip, as of Oct 2026.
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Photo: Mohan Babu V, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
- From Madurai
- 126 km by road
- Time to give it
- 2–3 days
- Best season
- September to May
- Fare from Madurai
- ₹14,000–17,100 round trip (Oct 2026)
- Nearest airport
- Madurai (IXM)
Kodaikanal, in the Palani hills, is built around a star-shaped lake, with Coaker's Walk, Pillar Rocks, the pine forest and waterfalls on the drives around it.
How many are going?
Slide to your group size: the vehicle that fits, and its fare to Kodaikanal from each city, from the tables below.
Fits your group
Tempo Traveller 17-seater or Force Urbania (luxury van)
13–17 or 10–17 seats
₹6,800–8,400 for a full day (250 km)
Chennai → Kodaikanal
₹31,500–38,700
Tempo Traveller 17-seater · 514 km one way · 4 days, round trip
Tap a route:
Indicative fares from the tables on this page (see the notes under them); operators quote the exact price.
Why groups go
A cool two or three days from Madurai, Karur or Coimbatore, often with Palani's hill temple on the way.
Hill stations
How far is Kodaikanal
Road distance from our route catalog, one way.
| From | Road km | With stops | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai | 514 km | 12–14 h | Route: Chennai to Kodaikanal |
| Coimbatore | 159 km | 5–6 h | Route: Coimbatore to Kodaikanal |
| Madurai | 126 km | 4–5 h | – |
| Tiruchirappalli | 192 km | 6–7 h | – |
| Karur | 146 km | 4–5 h | – |
| Palakkad | 168 km | 5–6 h | Route: Palakkad to Kodaikanal |
Group fares from Madurai
Round trip with driver, 2 days, by vehicle.
| Vehicle | Seats | Round trip, 2 days |
|---|---|---|
| SUV / Innova | 6–7 | ₹9,800–12,900 |
| Tempo Traveller 12-seater | 9–12 | ₹11,900–15,000 |
| Tempo Traveller 17-seater | 13–17 | ₹14,000–17,100 |
| Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater | 18–26 | ₹16,100–20,300 |
| AC Coach 40–49 seater | 36–49 | ₹30,200–40,700 |
Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a round trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.
Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a round trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.
When to go and how long
- Best season: September to May.
- Time to give it: 2–3 days.
- Who goes: Families, Honeymooners, College groups.
Add on nearby
Circuits that include Kodaikanal
Arriving from abroad or another state
- Nearest airport: Madurai (IXM).
- Nearest railway station: Kodai Road.
- Operators quote the airport or station pickup with the whole trip: put your arrival in the request.
Operators for Kodaikanal
Approved operators who take groups to Kodaikanal. Ask for quotes here: your request reaches them through the platform and you compare itemised offers.
Nalkco Trip Mentors
VerifiedVehicle Owner
Palakkad, Kerala
168 km by road from Kodaikanal
2 vehicles · 16 seats
- Replies in ~10 min
Saravanabhava Translinks
Vehicle Owner
Karur, Tamil Nadu
146 km by road from Kodaikanal
Fleet details on request
R M A Travels
Vehicle Owner
Puducherry
Serves Kodaikanal
Fleet details on request
Seventree holidays
Vehicle Owner
Bengaluru, Karnataka
407 km by road from Kodaikanal
Fleet details on request
Official pages and sources
Opening hours, tickets and permits change: check them on the official pages before you travel.
How booking works
- Post your trip onceDates, pickup, places and group size. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- Verified operators quoteWe invite up to 6 verified operators near you, aiming for 3 quotes, and invite more if fewer reply within 2 hours.
- Compare itemised quotesVehicle, driver allowance, night halts, tolls and taxes, line by line, side by side.
- Book and pay the operatorAccept a quote and pay the operator an advance (25%) directly. No Yippigo fee: free until 31 December 2026.
Questions groups ask
Madurai-la irundhu Kodaikanal-ku evvalavu dooram? (How far is Kodaikanal from Madurai?)
126 km by road: 4–5 hours in a tempo traveller or bus with tea and meal stops (group vehicles average 45–50 km an hour, about 35 on ghat roads). Road distance from our route catalog.
Kodaikanal-ku tempo traveller-ku evvalavu aagum? (What does a tempo traveller to Kodaikanal cost?)
Round trip from Madurai (126 km one way, 2 days) with driver: 17-seater ₹14,000–17,100, 40–49 seater bus ₹30,200–40,700. Indicative, as of Oct 2026; post the trip for the exact rate.
What does a group trip to Kodaikanal cost?
Round trip from Madurai with driver: SUV / Innova ₹9,800–12,900; Tempo Traveller 12-seater ₹11,900–15,000; Tempo Traveller 17-seater ₹14,000–17,100; Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater ₹16,100–20,300; AC Coach 40–49 seater ₹30,200–40,700. Indicative, as of October 2026, with driver allowance and 5% GST; hotels, food and entry tickets are extra.
How many days do we need for Kodaikanal?
2–3 days. With the drive from Madurai, plan 2 to 3 days in all. A cool two or three days from Madurai, Karur or Coimbatore, often with Palani's hill temple on the way.
When is the best time to visit Kodaikanal?
September to May.
Which vehicle for our group?
4 people: Sedan; 7 people: SUV / Innova; 12 people: Tempo Traveller 12-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 17 people: Tempo Traveller 17-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 26 people: Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater; 45 people: AC Coach 40–49 seater.
How do we reach Kodaikanal from abroad?
Nearest airport: Madurai (IXM). Nearest railway station: Kodai Road. Operators quote the airport pickup and the whole trip with a driver.
- Free to post
- Compare itemised quotes
- Pay the operator a 25% advance only after you accept a quote
- Operators quote only once their vehicle's papers are approved