How to Reach Kerala?

If you have been pondering about how to reach Kerala, let us walk you through the best and the most efficient ways to go to Kerala. Famed as the God’s Own Country,  Kerala is a fascinating and beloved tourist destination nestled on Malabar coast with the Arabian Sea lapping its shores. Renowned for its tranquil backwaters, Ayurvedic wellness, pristine hill stations, and a rich culture and heritage, Kerala is frequented by visitors from all over the world. Thanks to its robust and well-developed transportation infrastructure, the state is remarkably connected with numerous Indian cities via airways, railways, and roadways and boasts excellent connectivity within itself. 

 

For efficient and effective travel, opting for a flight to reach Kerala from your city is the best choice. However, one can also explore options like train or bus or rental cabs to travel to Kerala, especially if you reside in the nearby bordering states. 

How to Reach Kerala by Flight

Kerala has connectivity of four airports offering both international and domestic flights – Cochin International airport (COK), Trivandrum International Airport (TVR), Calicut International Airport (CCJ), and Kannur International airport. Therefore, the answer to how to travel Kerala conveniently is opting for a flight. All four airports in Kerala offer direct and connecting flights to and from Indian cities. If you are flying to Kerala from an Indian city like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore etc., you can fly with IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet, and AirAsia India. Out of the four, Cochin International airport is the busiest airport in Kerala and has three terminals. These are domestic, business jet and international terminals. T1 is the domestic terminal, T2 is the business jet, and T3 is the international terminal.

 

Depending on which part of Kerala you want to explore, you can select the nearest airport. For instance, if you want to explore South Kerala and its top tourist destinations such as Kollam, Alappuzha, Varkala, Ponmudi and Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram, opt for a flight to Trivandrum International Airport (TRV).

 

If your Kerala itinerary covers destinations of North Kerala and Central Kerala, consider taking a flight  to Calicut International Airport or Cochin International Airport. This will provide easy access to some of Kerala’s top tourist destinations including, Wayanad, Munnar, Bekal, Kannur, parts of Alappuzha, and the cities of Kozhikode and Cochin. Upon arrival at either airport, you will find ample transportation options such as cabs, public buses and private vehicles for on-ground transfers.

 

How to Reach Kerala by Train

For those wondering how to visit Kerala by train, the answer lies in its excellent railway network and connectivity. Travelling to Kerala by train offers opportunities to enjoy scenic views of lush paddy fields, rolling hills and quaint towns in your journey. Kerala boasts an impressive network of 200 railway stations, offering strong connectivity to Indian cities and towns as well as locations within the state itself. Major Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, etc .are directly connected to Kerala via railways. The appeal of going to Kerala by train lies in factors like affordability, convenience, and the wide range of train options available.

 

The busiest train station in Kerala is Thiruvananthapuram Central (TVC) as all the important trains like Rajdhani Express, Duronto Express, Kerala Express, Sampoorna Kranti, Humsafar Express, Mangala Lakshadweep Express, etc. arrive here. The other important stations are Ernakulam Junction in Kochi, Kozhikode railway station and Kollam railway station. Inter-state travel within Kerala is also highly convenient via train. The first railway station upon entering Kerala is the Manjeshwar railway station in the north, while the southernmost railway  station is Parassala railway station, in Thiruvananthapuram.

How to Reach Kerala by Road

If you are fond of going on pleasing long road trips to beautiful destinations, Kerala should definitely be on your bucket list. Many state and national highways are connected to Kerala providing an impressive road connectivity. And thanks to its well-maintained roads and infrastructure, traversing within the state is also seamless and hassle-free.

 

If you are travelling to Kerala by road from nearby states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, or Goa, take the National Highway number 44, 544, and 66 for a seamless journey. The travel time to reach Kerala from the aforementioned states may take anywhere from 9 hours to 15 hours, depending on your speed and stoppage points.

 

You can choose to either drive yourself or hire an inter-state cab transportation based on your time, convenience, and budget. Alternatively, overnight AC buses are available that help you conveniently cover your road journey to Kerala. Both government operated KSRTC bus services and private bus services run frequently between nearby states to Kerala.

 

For those arriving from cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai, here are the approximate road distance to Kerala:

 

• Road distance between Kerala and Delhi: 2758.9 km
• Road distance between Kerala and Kolkata: 2,311.7 km
• Road distance between Kerala and Mumbai: 1519.1 km
• Road distance between Kerala and Hyderabad: 1235 km
• Road distance between Kerala and Chennai: 725.1 km

 

How to Reach Kerala by Sea

One can also reach Kerala by sea as this state has one major seaport in Kochi, located on the southwest coast. There are also smaller ports in Kerala in Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram. If you are traveling from Chennai, Port Blair or Lakshadweep, you can board a ferry or a passenger ship to Cochin International Port in Kochi, Kerala. It can take up to 2-3 days to reach Kerala by sea from nearby destinations.

 

Let us quickly look at how to travel Kerala from major Indian cities:

How to Reach Kerala from Delhi

Delhi is located approximately 2256 km from Kerala. The recommended transportation options to reach Kerala from Delhi are flight and train.

 

• By Flight: The fastest way to reach Kerala from Delhi is by opting a direct flight from IGI Airport to Cochin International Airport. With a direct flight from Delhi to Kochi, it takes 3 hours and 10 minutes to cover the aerial journey.

 

• By Train: You can board a weekly train from Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station to Kochi’s Erankulam Junction. The trains are Ernakulam Jn. SF Express, Thiruvananthapuram Central Swarna Jayanti SF Express, and Mangala Lakshadweep Express. It takes about 43 to 50 hours to cover the train journey depending on the train and its route.

 

• By Road: There is no direct bus connectivity from Delhi to Kerala. One has to either self-drive or avail an inter-state cab ride to go on a road journey from Delhi to Kerala.

How to Reach Kerala from Mumbai

The best way to go Kerala from Mumbai is boarding a direct flight and those seeking a cost-effective option should opt for a train journey.

 

• By Flight: There are multiple airlines offering both connecting and direct flights from Mumbai Chattapati Shivaji International Airport to Cochin International Airport. It takes only 2 hours to cover the aerial distance between Mumbai and Kochi with a direct flight option.

 

• By Train: It takes approximately 22 to 24 hours to travel from Mumbai to Kochi via train. There are both weekly and daily trains running between Mumbai’s Lokamanya Tilak and Vasai Road Junction to Erankulam Junction. The weekly trains include Nagercoil Weekly Express, Ernakulam Jn. SF Express, Thiruvananthapuram North Weekly SF Express. The daily train from Mumbai to Kochi includes Netravati Express.

 

• By Road: There are private bus operators offering bus services on the Mumbai to Kerala route. The travelling time between Mumbai and Kerala via bus takes 12 to 15 hours. You can also choose to drive yourself from Mumbai to Kerala.

How to Reach Kerala from Kolkata

 

By Flight: The most efficient way to travel Kerala from Kolkata is to board a direct flight offered by IndiGo airlines. It takes approximately 3 hours to cover the aerial distance between Kolkata and Kerala with a nonstop flight.

 

By Train: Various trains are available from Kolkata to Kerala’s major railway stations like Erankulam in Kochi, Trivandrum and Kozhikode. The best trains between Kolkata to Kochi are SCL TVC Express, Gurudev Express, Vivek Express, and they take 1 day and 15 hours (approx) to complete the journey.

 

By Road: The road distance between Kerala and Kolkata is 2,311.7 km. There are no direct bus services between the two destinations. Therefore, if you want to go to Kerala by road, hire a car rental service or drive yourself.

How to Reach Kerala from Bangalore

By Flight: Airlines such as IndiGo and Air India Express offer nonstop flights between Bangalore’s Kempegowda Aiport and Cochin International Aiport. And it takes only an hour to cover the short aerial distance of 365 kilometers.

 

By Train: Trains are an affordable way to travel from Bangalore to Kerala. The top trains available between Bangalore’s Krishnarajpuram Junction and KSR Bengaluru city junction are Kollam Special Fare Sabarimala Special, Ernakulam Jn. InterCity SF Express, and Thiruvananthapuram North Express.

 

By Road: The road distance between Bangalore and Kerala is 548 kilometers. Travellers can opt for KSRTC (Kerala) AC and Non-AC sleeper buses, as well as private buses to comfortably travel from Bangalore to Kerala.

What are the ways to travel within Kerala?

Once you arrive in Kerala, there are numerous ways to travel within the state. This includes travelling by flight to save time and commute faster. Those who want to enjoy Kerala  at a slow pace and enjoy its picturesque beauty should opt for a bus or cab ride. Train rides are also a wonderful option to travel from one district to another. Additionally, you can opt for ferry rides and boats to travel from one coastal town to another. Let us look at these options in detail.

 

• Exploring Kerala by Bus: The easiest and most affordable way to travel across Kerala is to board a bus. Currently, there are two public services run by Kerala Urban Road Transport Corporation (KURTC) and Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). These buses reach every nook and corner of the state offering the last mile connectivity. The fare for low-floor AC buses is as low as INR 26 per person and the fare for non-AC buses starts from INR 10 per person. If you wish to enjoy a luxurious travelling experience with different amenities via bus, then avail bus services from private bus operators.

 

• Travelling in Kerala by Flight: Kerala is the only Indian state with four international airports: Cochin International  Airport (Kochi), Trivandrum  International  Airport (Thiruvananthapuram), Calicut International Airport (Kozhikode), and Kannur international  For  faster and hassle-free commute between cities in Kerala, flights from their domestic terminals are an option, though they are the most expensive mode of transport within the state. Leading airlines offering domestic flights within Kerala are IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express.

 

• Exploring Kerala by App-Based Taxi/Rickshaws – Kerala’s well-developed road networks provide convenient travel by cabs and auto-rickshaws. To navigate the state effortlessly, you can hire a car rental service or simply book a cab through apps like Ola and Uber. As an alternative, the government-operated Kerala Savaari offers reliable cab booking services at affordable rates. Auto-rickshaws are readily available across the state, making them a convenient option for covering short distances. 

 

• Exploring Kerala by Train: There are 200 railway stations and a robust rail network in Kerala, offering excellent connectivity from big cities to small towns. Taking a train to commute across Kerala is a much faster option than taking the road and an economical option than taking a flight. In towns like Kochi, use the metro for a fast and affordable way to commute within the big city.

 

• Travelling in Kerala by Boat: Kerala boasts an expansive coastline with a strong network of lakes, canals and lagoons. Hence, it’s no surprise that boating and ferry rides are a popular means of transportation within the state. There are houseboats, speedboats, and traditional ferries through which you can commute from one place to another. In Kochi, you can use the water metro that connects different parts of the city through its complex network of waterways.

 

• Exploring Kerala By Foot: If your accommodation in Kerala is close to tourist attractions and if your health allows, explore the sound and sights of the city by walking. Doing so gives you first hand experience of the culture, its people and everyday lives of the locals. If you have to cover long distances, you may consider hiring a scooter or a bicycle for exploration.

 

This brings us to the end of the “How to Reach Kerala” guide. Now that you know the different ways to reach Kerala and how to manage your commute within the state, it’s time for you to browse some exciting Kerala tour packages available on our website.