Coimbatore to Kodai help needed

kramkiran

Hi Velu,

Thanks for ur prompt response. Trip through Coimbatore is intentional, but due to non availability of any other option. My visit is during long weekend and so, I didn't get regular and tatkal train tickets and bus tickets to kodai rd and kodaikanal. So, I booked tatkal ticket to Coimbatore. Agree that it's going to be long travel.

Dindugal bus route also goes through Palani?
And, doesn't it increase the journey time? around 80Km more needs to be travelled through Dindugal route, right?

Rgds,
Ramkiran

kramkiran

velu, which is more scenic route, palani-kodaikanal or Dindugal-kodaikanal?

pmvelu

Yes, Dindugal route is Circuitous But you have more frequency in dindugal - kodaikanal route !

I did palani - Kodaikanal twice in bus and both the times I experienced "Standing Pasengers" , "Full Crowd" which is kind-of hindering Scenic Views and bus frequency was comparatively very less. And at that time "Palani Ghat" road was closed between 6pm to 6am due to the "Narrow Roads". Not sure whether that condition still exists anyway ! I did it 5+ years back !

In Dindual - Kodai, all these issues are not there and I felt Vathlagundu - Kodaikanal is More scenic than Palani-Kodaikanal.Anyway it's just my opinion ! .This trip we did 3 years back .
Hope this helps!

Have a nice Trip Ramkiran!!

kramkiran

Hi Velu,

Thanks a lot for ur prompt responses. I will take via Dindugal route as you suggested. I still have few more Q :-)

How long it may take to reach Kodaikanal from Coimbatore through Dindugal route?

Do I get bus directly to Dindugal or I need to stop over at Palani to catch another bus? Hope the other bus is not a bus coming from Coimbatore itself :-) What do u suggest?

I don't know Tamil. Hope I can manage :-) Are there any 'other' names for these places to refer while talking to local person?

Thx,
Ramkiran

pmvelu

In fact, you could get down at "Kodai Road" itself and board a bus to kodaikanal .. [ On the way to dindugal and you could save around 25 kms atleast and anyway Even if you board the bus at dindugal that will come back again in the same road and take "Kodai Road" only] Why I am telling about Dindugal is :

1) You have comfortable /confirmed /better seats for viewing [For ex, the left seat next to driver will really help you in best views] [you could select bus and where you want to sit]..Same bus when it reaches "Kodai Road" Might be full Or you will be forced to sit in last seat [ Just an example] .

2) Based on the "Train" availability at "Kodai Road" railway station, buses start from here itself which will be ideal for train passengers

3)No need to change buses, you could board directly "dindugal" buses from CBE

Local name [As pronounced in tamil]:-

1) Thindukkal [Dindugal]
2) Koyambathoor [Coimbatore]
3) Vathalagundu [Bathlagundu]

Yes, Kodaikanal being a tourist place, you could very well manage with english / hindi [Whenever you are interacting with Tourism related people]

P.S:- I don't want to confuse you in the last minute, but no need to go upto coimbatore. You could get down at Erode [ 100 kms before Coimbatore] and board a bus to Dindugal Or you could board "Kodaikanal bus] [Not sure on the timings but there are direct buses from erode to Kodaikanal Via Palani in the mornings ]. Even if you take Dindugal bus [From Erode], you could save atleast 4 hours overall when compared to CBE Route !....


Hope this helps
Cheers
Velu

kumaran

Hi kiran , coimbatore -palani-kodai is a shorter and better option . once out of the railway station pls take a bus or auto to ukkadam bus stand . Busses to palani leave every 30 minutes , may be more frequent . 100 kms and you would be there in 2 hours approx . palani - kodai is very well connected by busses , from the same bus stand . it is a scenic drive up the hills right from palani and the road goes around the hill temple .
via dindigul is a longer route .

pmvelu

Hi Ramkiran,

As You already made your plans to coimbatore, You could follow the directions given by "kumaran" in the above post as that seems to be a more recent info. As I told in my prior post, I did Palani- Kodaikanal 5+ Years back!.

Thanks a lot Kumaran for your updates . It is really a good news !!

Cheers
Velu


Thanks for your help Moderator !

Mod Note

Coimbatore bus stand thread merged with this one....