Getting around Kerala

Trains run along the coast (Thiruvananthapuram, Varkala, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kannur) and are a comfortable way to cover long distances. Book through Indian Railways' official IRCTC site or app; popular trains fill weeks ahead in peak season.

There are no train lines into the hill stations (Munnar, Thekkady, Wayanad, Vagamon). For those, go by road.

Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses reach almost everywhere, including the hills. They are cheap and frequent but slow and busy. Some long-distance services can be booked online through KSRTC.

Kochi Metro runs through the city on a north–south line. Kochi also has a water metro connecting the islands and the mainland, and older state ferries run between Ernakulam and Fort Kochi.

For multi-stop trips, most visitors hire a car with a driver by the day. Agree in writing what's included: kilometres, tolls, parking, interstate permits and the driver's daily allowance and accommodation.

Autorickshaws are ideal for short hops. Ask the driver to use the meter or agree the fare before you set off. Self-driving is possible with an International Driving Permit and your home licence, but roads are busy and traffic drives on the left.

Distances look short on a map, but hill roads are slow and traffic is heavy around towns. These are rough daytime estimates for a private car; allow extra in the monsoon, at weekends and at festival times. They are not from a routing service.

As a rule of thumb, plan no more than one long transfer a day, and don't schedule activities after a drive into the hills.