Bike & road trips
Ride the hills: Munnar, Suryanelli and Kodaikanal by road
Tea estates on one side of the border, pine forest and terraced villages on the other, and some of South India's best ghat roads in between. Here is how to plan the ride, and where to stop for the night.
Why ride here
Two hill regions, one long weekend on the road
Munnar's roads run through tea estates that roll right up to the tarmac, with cardamom hills and the Western Ghats beyond. Kodaikanal sits higher in the Palani Hills, and its roads climb through pine and shola forest to farming villages most visitors never reach.
The two are close on the map but separated by the hills, so the road between them drops to the plains and climbs again. That makes it a proper ride, best split over several days with a base on each side.
Hostyard Suryanelli sits on the Munnar side, among the estates on the road towards the Tamil Nadu border. Hostyard Kodai is in Kodaikanal. Both are dorm-and-private-room stays where riders and road-trippers end the day around a fire.
Routes worth riding
The roads riders come back for
No distances or riding times here: they depend on traffic, weather and how often you stop. Check a live map on the day.
Munnar side
Munnar to Suryanelli and Chinnakanal
Estate roads east of Munnar, past the Chinnakanal waterfall and the turn for Anayirangal Dam. Short, beautiful and good for a first evening ride.
Munnar side
The Bodimettu ghat
The hairpin road between the Kerala hills and Bodinayakanur in Tamil Nadu. A classic way in from Madurai and Theni, and a serious ride in both directions.
Munnar side
Kolukkumalai before dawn
Leave the bike at the hostel for this one. The last stretch to Kolukkumalai is a rough estate track covered by jeep from Suryanelli.
Kodaikanal side
Up the Palani ghat
The climb from the plains into Kodaikanal, with the air cooling and the views opening up as you go. Allow for slow traffic on weekends.
Kodaikanal side
Poombarai and Mannavanur
Beyond the town, the road to the upper Palani villages: terraced farms at Poombarai and grassland around Mannavanur lake.
Between the two
Munnar to Kodaikanal
The usual way drops off the Munnar hills into Tamil Nadu and climbs again to Kodaikanal. Start early, ride in daylight on the ghat sections and break the day where you need to.
A four-day ride
One way to split the trip
A loose plan rather than a schedule. Swap the days around if the weather says so.
Day 1
Day 1
Into tea country
Ride in to Suryanelli and arrive before dark. Park up, meet the people you'll share the fire with, and ask the team about a jeep for the morning.
Day 2
Kolukkumalai and the estates
Sunrise at Kolukkumalai by jeep, back for breakfast, then an easy afternoon on the estate roads towards Chinnakanal and Anayirangal Dam.
Day 3
Across to Kodaikanal
The long day. Leave early, drop into Tamil Nadu, and take the climb into the Palani Hills while the light is good.
Day 4
The upper villages
Ride out to Poombarai and Mannavanur in the morning, then back to Kodaikanal for a slow evening.
Before you ride
Five checks that save a trip
- 1
Watch the weather
The south-west monsoon brings heavy rain to both regions, and hill roads can close after landslides. Outside the monsoon the roads are kinder and the views clearer.
- 2
Check the Kodaikanal e-pass
Tamil Nadu has at times required an e-pass for vehicles entering Kodaikanal in busy periods. Check whether one is needed for your dates before you set off.
- 3
Ride the ghats in daylight
Hairpins, buses coming downhill and mist that rolls in fast: the ghat sections are easier and safer by day.
- 4
Fuel up in the towns
Fill up in the larger towns before the climbs rather than counting on the hills.
- 5
Pack for rain and cold
Rain gear and a warm layer, even outside the monsoon. Kodaikanal evenings get properly cold.
Bike and road trips: quick answers
Does Hostyard+ rent bikes?
No. Hostyard+ does not rent bikes or vehicles. Riders come on their own bikes or hire one in Munnar or Kodaikanal before they arrive.
Is there parking for bikes and cars?
Ask the team when you enquire and tell them what you are riding or driving, so they can tell you what to expect at each stay.
Can I ride from Munnar to Kodaikanal in one day?
Many riders do, starting early. It is a long day of hill roads at both ends, so leave room for weather and stops, or break the journey.
Which stay should I start from?
Either works. Coming from Kochi or elsewhere in Kerala, start in Suryanelli; coming from Madurai or Bengaluru, Kodaikanal is often the easier first stop.
Plan your ride
Send your dates, how many of you are riding and which stays you want to stop at.
