Economical travel from Cochin to Munnar

satish4u · May 15th, 2009, 18:42

Hello all IndiaMikes,

I found this site recently and find it very informative/helpful. I am on a 5 day vacation in Kerala (Cochin-Munnar) landing on May 28th evening at Cochin. Most of the threads on this site suggest to hire a car for travelling to Munnar and to keep it during the stay since only a drop will anyways cost a return journey. Definitely makes sense but at the same time sounds expensive. For someone like me, though I can afford but would not like to, it'll cost Rs 4800 (Rs 1200 x 4 - inclusive of all charges, 150 km/day) for a 3 nights stay. Well, that's the best price I could get after speaking to few travel hubs and looks like they may give a nominal discount on the total bill. Let me know if anyone can guide me/others to cheaper deals.

Coming to the point, how about bus travel to Munnar? I've read other threads on this but details were very specific. Are buses to Munnar available after 5.00 pm from in and around Cochin? My flight lands at 4.30 pm. I am planning to take a pre-paid taxi from airport to the nearest bus station and catch the bus to Munnar.

The other option is to take the pre-paid taxi till Munnar, which costs over Rs 1500 and travel within munnar using local transport and return to Cochin by bus on May 31st. I'll be staying at Igloo Resorts, which is about 13km away from Munnar town.

Hoping for some help from the contributors.

lathish · May 19th, 2009, 16:04

Satish,
You can take KSRTC buses to Munnar and they are plenty of them from Ernakulam Depot.But that not the main point in here
Flight reaches at 4.30 and Ernakulam is good arounnd 1-1.5hr airport with traffic in eve.
Try calling up KSRTC in Angamali,Aluva,Ernakulam and see for timings for Bus to Munnar (http://keralastatertc.blogspot.com/2...us-depots.html)
if times workout you can even catch a pre paid car to nearest town(Angamali,Aluva) and taken a bus from there to Ernakulam far cheaper
With you stay set it wont be problem even if you reach late in Night.

satish4u · May 21st, 2009, 18:05

Thanks Lathish, that's useful information. I contacted Perumbavoor and then Kothamangalam stations. While there are no buses from Perumbavoor after 5 pm, there are two of them at 6 pm and 6.30 pm from Kothamangalam. I chose these two stations for enquiry as they are enroute Munnar. At both the stations, the elderly people who attended my call spoke simple english and immediately helped with the information. In fact, the person at Perumbavoor suggested me to contact Kothamangalam as there will be buses from there. Nice.

Now I have two options -

1) Take prepaid taxi to Kothamangalam @ Rs 526 and then take the bus or
2) Take prepaid taxi till Munnar @ Rs 1600 (that's till my hotel, Munnar would be Rs 1778)

I need to think over the Rs 1000 benefit. I'll post which one I chose later here.

Can anyone tell me if the route to Munnar is scenic and if the airport taxi lets us halt at some views? If the answer is yes to both, I may as well go for taxi till Munnar.

lathish · May 21st, 2009, 18:13

That discount then earns me a cofee

It scenic to some extend but it better to take a bus you got better view in Munnar remember on way up you would travelling late in eve If you really want to enjoy route then better take taxi on way back During you stay in munnar you could bargain for rates with hotel guys ot other drivers you find

satish4u · May 23rd, 2009, 01:10

Your help actually earns you a beer, Lathish. I really wish I can meet you and treat.

Anyways, to further this thread and benefit other tourists, I found a cheaper cab option Rs 1300/- for transfer from Kochi airport to Munnar by inspirekerala.com web site. Since it's cheaper than airport prepaid taxi, that's a good alternative. However, I'll not be taking bus at all as it's not proving to be big in savings. That's specific to my case though, others can still find it cheap way to commute to Munnar and back. I've hired a non a/c cab indica @ Rs 1100/day (150km limit, all inclusive) since that's only about Rs 800 expensive than taking a drop-only cab to munnar->shared sight seeing->returning by bus to Kochi. Since my resort is 13 km away from Munnar that's adding up to the travel bill, this is why I called my case specific. The cab service is provided by Anil - 09847377479. This is the cheapest I've been offered so far.

I've further researched and posting details below on how to travel by bus to munnar and economical sightseeing there.

From Cochin, as Lathish mentioned, there seem to be lot of bus services from Ernakulum bus station. The next best frequency would be from Kothamangalam since it's the convergance of different routes into one towards Munnar.

In Munnar, there are two economical options for sightseeing, which you wouldn't know otherwise. The inspirekerala people I quoted above actually told me there's no other option but to hire a cab for sightseeing and that there are no shared tours conducted. Well, the fact is that DTPC actually conducts shared coach tours. Here's the extract from its site, which I confirmed later by calling them.

===============

Daily Sightseeing Tour: Timing: 1000 to 1600 hrs Tariff: Rs. 250 per head. For bookings, contact: DTPC, Information Centre, Munnar Ph: 231516. Sightseeing tours are arranged from the District Tourist Information Office, Thekkady Jn., Kumily. Tours cover spice plantations, herbal gardens, tribal settlements and other places in and around Munnar. Ph: 222620

Tea Valley Tour: Mattupetty, Echo Point, Kundala, Top Station, Rajamala (Eravikulam National Park) Timing: 1000 to 1800 hrs Tariff: Rs. 250 per head. For bookings, contact: DTPC, Information Centre, Munnar. Ph: 231516
Permission to visit any of the 26 factories of Tata Tea Ltd. can be had from the Regional Office at Munnar. Ph: 230561 to 230565

Sandal Valley Tour: Nyayamakad View Point, Lukkom Waterfalls, Vaguvarai View Point, Coffee - Tea Plantations, Sandalwood Forest, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Timing: 0900 to 1600 hrs Tariff: Rs. 300 Tour covers: Marayoor, Chinnar Departure: 0900 hrs Arrival: 1900 hrs
Fare: Rs. 300 per head.

===============

For more details, you can check their web site http://www.ktdc.com/new/teacounty/re...nty-munnar.php

The other option is to hire a motor cycle for Rs 300/day. I've been told that only Royal Retreat hotel offers this service and it's open to everyone. You can call them at 04865230440 to confirm, which I did too.

There is also another option if you're adventerous and fit. You can hire a bicycle for Rs 75/day.

I still need a favour though, I'll be staying at Bolgatty palace and Cherai, 1 day each after returning from Munnar and am not keeping the cab for those days. Please tell me if there's a better way to reach Cherai from Bolgatty than taking a ferry from Ernakulum to Vypeen and then a auto from there. I don't know if there's a ferry service from Bolgatty to Vypeen. Also, please tell me the economical way to reach airport from Cherai beach.

Thank you again Latheesh and Indiamike.

May 15th, 2009, 18:42	#1
satish4u Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 4	Economical travel from Cochin to Munnar Hello all IndiaMikes, I found this site recently and find it very informative/helpful. I am on a 5 day vacation in Kerala (Cochin-Munnar) landing on May 28th evening at Cochin. Most of the threads on this site suggest to hire a car for travelling to Munnar and to keep it during the stay since only a drop will anyways cost a return journey. Definitely makes sense but at the same time sounds expensive. For someone like me, though I can afford but would not like to, it'll cost Rs 4800 (Rs 1200 x 4 - inclusive of all charges, 150 km/day) for a 3 nights stay. Well, that's the best price I could get after speaking to few travel hubs and looks like they may give a nominal discount on the total bill. Let me know if anyone can guide me/others to cheaper deals. Coming to the point, how about bus travel to Munnar? I've read other threads on this but details were very specific. Are buses to Munnar available after 5.00 pm from in and around Cochin? My flight lands at 4.30 pm. I am planning to take a pre-paid taxi from airport to the nearest bus station and catch the bus to Munnar. The other option is to take the pre-paid taxi till Munnar, which costs over Rs 1500 and travel within munnar using local transport and return to Cochin by bus on May 31st. I'll be staying at Igloo Resorts, which is about 13km away from Munnar town. Hoping for some help from the contributors.

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May 19th, 2009, 16:04	#2
lathish Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kochi Posts: 89	Satish, You can take KSRTC buses to Munnar and they are plenty of them from Ernakulam Depot.But that not the main point in here Flight reaches at 4.30 and Ernakulam is good arounnd 1-1.5hr airport with traffic in eve. Try calling up KSRTC in Angamali,Aluva,Ernakulam and see for timings for Bus to Munnar (http://keralastatertc.blogspot.com/2...us-depots.html) if times workout you can even catch a pre paid car to nearest town(Angamali,Aluva) and taken a bus from there to Ernakulam far cheaper With you stay set it wont be problem even if you reach late in Night.

May 21st, 2009, 18:05	#3
satish4u Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 4	Thanks Lathish, that's useful information. I contacted Perumbavoor and then Kothamangalam stations. While there are no buses from Perumbavoor after 5 pm, there are two of them at 6 pm and 6.30 pm from Kothamangalam. I chose these two stations for enquiry as they are enroute Munnar. At both the stations, the elderly people who attended my call spoke simple english and immediately helped with the information. In fact, the person at Perumbavoor suggested me to contact Kothamangalam as there will be buses from there. Nice. Now I have two options - 1) Take prepaid taxi to Kothamangalam @ Rs 526 and then take the bus or 2) Take prepaid taxi till Munnar @ Rs 1600 (that's till my hotel, Munnar would be Rs 1778) I need to think over the Rs 1000 benefit. I'll post which one I chose later here. Can anyone tell me if the route to Munnar is scenic and if the airport taxi lets us halt at some views? If the answer is yes to both, I may as well go for taxi till Munnar.

May 21st, 2009, 18:13	#4
lathish Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kochi Posts: 89	That discount then earns me a cofee It scenic to some extend but it better to take a bus you got better view in Munnar remember on way up you would travelling late in eve If you really want to enjoy route then better take taxi on way back During you stay in munnar you could bargain for rates with hotel guys ot other drivers you find

May 23rd, 2009, 01:10	#5
satish4u Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 4	Your help actually earns you a beer, Lathish. I really wish I can meet you and treat. Anyways, to further this thread and benefit other tourists, I found a cheaper cab option Rs 1300/- for transfer from Kochi airport to Munnar by inspirekerala.com web site. Since it's cheaper than airport prepaid taxi, that's a good alternative. However, I'll not be taking bus at all as it's not proving to be big in savings. That's specific to my case though, others can still find it cheap way to commute to Munnar and back. I've hired a non a/c cab indica @ Rs 1100/day (150km limit, all inclusive) since that's only about Rs 800 expensive than taking a drop-only cab to munnar->shared sight seeing->returning by bus to Kochi. Since my resort is 13 km away from Munnar that's adding up to the travel bill, this is why I called my case specific. The cab service is provided by Anil - 09847377479. This is the cheapest I've been offered so far. I've further researched and posting details below on how to travel by bus to munnar and economical sightseeing there. From Cochin, as Lathish mentioned, there seem to be lot of bus services from Ernakulum bus station. The next best frequency would be from Kothamangalam since it's the convergance of different routes into one towards Munnar. In Munnar, there are two economical options for sightseeing, which you wouldn't know otherwise. The inspirekerala people I quoted above actually told me there's no other option but to hire a cab for sightseeing and that there are no shared tours conducted. Well, the fact is that DTPC actually conducts shared coach tours. Here's the extract from its site, which I confirmed later by calling them. =============== Daily Sightseeing Tour: Timing: 1000 to 1600 hrs Tariff: Rs. 250 per head. For bookings, contact: DTPC, Information Centre, Munnar Ph: 231516. Sightseeing tours are arranged from the District Tourist Information Office, Thekkady Jn., Kumily. Tours cover spice plantations, herbal gardens, tribal settlements and other places in and around Munnar. Ph: 222620 Tea Valley Tour: Mattupetty, Echo Point, Kundala, Top Station, Rajamala (Eravikulam National Park) Timing: 1000 to 1800 hrs Tariff: Rs. 250 per head. For bookings, contact: DTPC, Information Centre, Munnar. Ph: 231516 Permission to visit any of the 26 factories of Tata Tea Ltd. can be had from the Regional Office at Munnar. Ph: 230561 to 230565 Sandal Valley Tour: Nyayamakad View Point, Lukkom Waterfalls, Vaguvarai View Point, Coffee - Tea Plantations, Sandalwood Forest, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Timing: 0900 to 1600 hrs Tariff: Rs. 300 Tour covers: Marayoor, Chinnar Departure: 0900 hrs Arrival: 1900 hrs Fare: Rs. 300 per head. =============== For more details, you can check their web site http://www.ktdc.com/new/teacounty/re...nty-munnar.php The other option is to hire a motor cycle for Rs 300/day. I've been told that only Royal Retreat hotel offers this service and it's open to everyone. You can call them at 04865230440 to confirm, which I did too. There is also another option if you're adventerous and fit. You can hire a bicycle for Rs 75/day. I still need a favour though, I'll be staying at Bolgatty palace and Cherai, 1 day each after returning from Munnar and am not keeping the cab for those days. Please tell me if there's a better way to reach Cherai from Bolgatty than taking a ferry from Ernakulum to Vypeen and then a auto from there. I don't know if there's a ferry service from Bolgatty to Vypeen. Also, please tell me the economical way to reach airport from Cherai beach. Thank you again Latheesh and Indiamike.