By air: The nearest airport is Madurai, 120 km away. From Madurai, taxis and shared jeeps make the 3-4 hour drive up the escarpment; the road is spectacular for most of the climb.
By rail: Kodaikanal Road station, 80 km below on the plains, is on the Madurai–Dindigul line. From the station, shared jeeps and taxis run up to Kodaikanal town; the journey takes about 2.5 hours and costs around ₹300-400 by taxi.
By bus: Regular state transport buses connect Kodaikanal with Madurai (3-4 hours), Coimbatore (5 hours), and Chennai (10 hours). The bus station is in the centre of town. Private coaches from Chennai and Coimbatore also run overnight services.
By car: The road from Kodaikanal Road is the classic approach — 80 km of hairpin bends through shola forest and small tribal settlements. The road from Palani in the north is shorter but steeper. Both are good roads by Tamil Nadu standards. Four-wheel drive is not needed.