page_title: Kodaikanal–Munnar Road
section_title: Intersections
hierarchical_section_title: Kodaikanal–Munnar Road / Intersections
caption_attribution_description: English: Bodinayakanur
context_page_description: The Kodaikanal–Munnar Road was located in Dindigul District and Theni District of Tamil Nadu and Idukki district of Kerala in South India. It covers 81 kilometers from Kodaikanal to Munnar. The road was improved by the British in 1942 as an evacuation route in preparation for a possible Japanese invasion of South India. With a maximum elevation of 2,480 meters just south of Vandaravu Peak, it was among the highest roads in India, south of the Himalayas, prior to its closure in 1990.
context_section_description: There are several well established side roads and other intersecting minor trails which branch off from the Kodaikanal–Munnar Road. Most of these show as "other trails" on the 1959 Army map. These intersections either go north to Upper Palani Hills villages or go south, dropping sharply down the south facing escarpment to hill villages en route and towns on the plains up to 1,800 m (5,900 ft) below. The Ciff Trail provides an alternate east-west route between Berijam Lake and the Kerala Forest Bungalow. There are over 40 recognized hiking routes from Kodaikanal using the Munnar road and these other trails.
  Excluding Kodaikanal Municipal roads, going from east to west, the intersections are:
  Kodai-Vellagavi footpath begins at 10°12′41″N 77°28′31″E at Pambar bridge near head of the Pambar river. Pambar Falls are nearby. Path descends steeply to Dolphins Nose, a dramatic perch over the Pambar valley below. A bridle path leads through Cardamom plantations, sholas and meadows leading to Vellagavi, an isolated old village with paved streets and a Muruga Temple. Footpath proceeds down west side of Vellagaviar River valley. The path becomes a dirt road along the river Vannathi odai. Kumbakarai Falls are at the bottom. Trekking distance is 8 km (5.0 mi). Trekking time is 5 hours.
  Goschen Road forks north, at 10°12′39″N 77°26′53″E at Moir point at km 9.3, toward the villages of Poombarai and Kukkal to the northwest. Extensions to Mannavanur (junction), and Kavunji, together with a connecting road to Berijam Lake from near Kavunji, create a loop of about 40 mi (64.4 km) length, the "Forty Mile Round". In 1929, Sir Thomas Moir "turned the first sod", beginning construction of the "Goschen Road" which was completed in 1932.
  Green Hut-Chinnoor footpath begins at 10°11′50″N 77°26′14″E near km 14 near Green Hut. The path follows the cliff top for 2.2 km (1.4 mi) then descends a steep ridge 2.1 km (1.3 mi) to Chinoor village.
  Berijam-Periyur-Periyakulam footpath starts "near Hats off Point (Thoppi Thukki Varai) at 10°10′34″N 77°24′35″E. At about km 18 a footpath leads to Periyur Village. From the starting point there is a breath taking view of the rolling mountains and catchment area of Southparai reservoir. The footpath is very steep. Gaur are very common on the route. Vertical cliffs are numerous. After 4 km (2.5 mi) the trail reaches Periyur, a hamlet of Vellagavi village. The path continues through coffee plantations and deciduous forest along a stream to reach a metaled road. On the right is the Southparai reservoir on the Periyar river. The road continues to Periyakulam. Trekking distance is 18 km (11 mi). Trekking time is about 5 Hours." 
  Berijam (SW)-Bodi footpath begins at 10°10′46″N 77°23′56″E, at sluiceway of reservoir, 2.1 km (1.3 mi) before Berijam camp near km 19. This trail continues 18 km (11 mi) down a ridge where it joins the Marion Shola-Bodi trail and continues another 8 km (5.0 mi) to Bodinayakanur town.
  The Ciff Trail is an old 25 km (16 mi) walking trail providing an alternate east-west route between
   Berijam Lake and the Kerala Forest Bungalow below Vandaravu Peak on the Munnar Road. This trail closely follows the southernmost edge of the Palani plateau along the top of the rugged escarpment  dropping down to the plains. Beginning at the head of the Berijam-Bodi trail, after 4.3 km (2.7 mi), the trail reaches the cliffs and forks off to the west. The trail proceeds 4.9 km (3.0 mi) precariously along the edge of a precipice to a small hill. It then proceeds 1.3 km (0.81 mi) over the hill to Marion Shola bungalow.
  After Marion Shola Bungalow the cliff trail heads west 1.7 km (1.1 mi) along the top of Marian Shola and 3.7 km (2.3 mi) to and over Ibex peak to the top of Ibex Cliff. After 0.8 km (0.50 mi) along this dramatic cliff, the trail heads 2.8 km (1.7 mi) up and over another hill and again skirts the cliff top. The trail then goes 2.4 km (1.5 mi) around the north side of a small hill and back along the cliff top to the furthest  southwestern point of the Palani Hills. Finally, the trail goes 3.1 km (1.9 mi) nor
caption: Palani Hills from Bodinayakanur
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