Colonic delivery refers to targeted delivery of drugs into the lower GI tract, which occurs primarily in the large intestine (i.e. colon). Targeted drug delivery to the colon would therefore ensure direct treatment at the disease site, lower dosing and fewer systemic side effects. In addition to local therapy, the colon can also be utilized as a portal for the entry of drugs into the systemic circulation. Oral administration of different dosage forms is the most commonly used method due to flexibility in design of dosage form and high patient acceptance, but the gastrointestinal tract presents several formidable barriers to drug delivery.. Colon-specific drug delivery has gained increased importance not just for the delivery of the drugs for treatment of local diseases associated with the colon but also for its potential for the delivery of proteins and therapeutic peptides. Different approaches are designed based on prodrug formulation, pH-sensitivity, time-dependency (lag time), microbial degradation and osmotic pressure etc to formulate the different dosage forms like tablets, capsules, multiparticulates, microspheres, liposomes for colon targeting. In the recent times, the colon specific delivery systems are also gaining importance not only for local drug delivery of drugs but also for the systemic delivery of protein and peptide drugs. This review explains the need and approaches to colonic drug delivery through oral route.