How to Plan your Trip from Chennai to Munnar in 2023?-Distance, Car, Road, Train, Flight, Bus

Munnar is a popular weekend getaway and vacation spot for many tourists dwelling in the neighboring states and cities. Chennai is one such city, which is located very near Munnar and is comfortably accessible as chennai to munnar distance is only 583 Kilometers through shortest route. It is a complete pleasure to escape from city life and spend some time in the vicinity of the lush greenery, the green mountains, the terraced tea and spice plantations, the gorgeous plains, the deep valleys, and the sparkling water streams.

So if you want to venture out for a trip from Chennai to Munnar, then in this article you can find some good tips on the mode of transportation and detailed route guides for you to refer to and plan.

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How to reach munnar from chennai ?

While traveling from Chennai to Munnar you can either avail a bus, train, or car. There are multiple routes available through road while there are flights to Kochi and Coimbatore Airports and to Aluva Railway Station.  In this article, we will discuss each one of them in detail for your benefits and selection during your travel plans from Chennai to Munnar.

Chennai to Munnar- By Bus

If you do not want to drive a cab, then the preferred mode of transport from Chennai to Munnar is via bus. There are private and public buses available for the journey, traversing a distance of about 10 to 11 hours. The buses plying between the two cities are quite well maintained, ensuring a comfortable, pleasant, and safe journey for travelers. There are Non A/C Seater buses and Sleeper buses as well.

Throughout the journey, you can experience the tranquil beauty of nature mingled with the picturesque landscape often draped with tea and spice plantations, the meandering streams, and the beautiful mountain ranges. The route is an amazing transformation from a plain area to a quaint hill station.

Bus operators: Kerala State Road Transport Buses, SRS Travels, KPN Travels, and Thirumal Alaghu Travels
First bus timing => 6:15 AM
Last bus timing => 11:10 PM

Chennai to Munnar- By Train

The nearest railway stations to Munnar are the Aluva railway station and Ernakulam railway stations. People traveling from Chennai need to offboard at any of these two stations. About 18 trains operate between the Chennai Egmore station and Aluva railway station – daily or weekly. The fastest among them is the Chennai Central- Thiruvananthapuram Central Mail that runs daily, the traveling time being almost 10 hours and 23 minutes. From the stations, you can either avail a cab or a bus to reach Munnar, almost 2 hours of travel.

ALSO SEE – Nearest Railway Station to Munnar

Train ticket: Ranging between INR 400 and INR 1000

Chennai to Munnar- By Flight

You can also go from Chennai to Munnar quickly and conveniently with  flight services. Flight is an excellent way to enjoy a comfortable journey and arrive at Munnar in the shortest possible time when compared to Bus, Road and Train. There are several airlines operating direct flights from Chennai to Kochi or Coimbatore which are the nearest airports to Munnar. Chennai to Munnar is a popular route and from budget-friendly carriers like Air India and SpiceJet to luxury airlines like Vistara and IndiGo, there is an abundance of options available.

ALSO SEE- Nearest Airport to Munnar

Chennai to Munnar- By Road

If you want to travel by road, then there are 3 routes available for you to opt from. The distance covered and the stop-over points vary between the routes. The traveling distance for all is more than 500 kilometers. But all the routes are wrapped with scenic views to entertain you throughout the journey. Besides, you won’t feel the burden of long distance travel, as the roads are comfortable and well-maintained for safe and pleasant travel. Let’s check out the routes.

Route 1:

Distance covered: 583 kilometers
Stop Over points: Viluppuram, Trichy, Dindigul, Vathalagundu, Periyakulam, Theni, Bodi, and Devikulam

The journey starts from Chennai to Viluppuram, covering a distance of about 174 km. It is recommended to start the journey early in the morning to avoid the city traffic and drench in the morning beauty. If you want you can take a break and check out the local attractions. Start on your next destination to Trichy, covering a distance of about 165 km. If you are an ardent traveler, then you must definitely visit Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple, Thayumanaswami temple, Tiruchirapalli rock fort, and the Kallanai dam. You may eight stay overnight at Trichy or carry on with your journey. The distance from Trichy to Dindigul is 104 km.

The next destination is Vathalagundu, the travel time is approximately 40 min covering a distance of about 34 km. You can stop over here for a few minutes before you travel to Mango City or Periyakulam. The travel time to Periyakulam is only 30 min to cover 25 km. The town is famous for sweet mangoes and the sweet water from Berijam lake.

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The next stopover must be at Theni. The traveling time is 26 min to cover a distance of about 17 km. Theni is a great tourist destination with gushing waterfalls, beautiful dams, and other religious and pilgrimage centers.

While traveling on the highway, you will come across various food stalls and restaurants. You will love to have a gulp at the eateries or quench your thirst with some fruit juices or other beverages. As you start your ascend to Bodi Ghat, you will be greeted with the lush greenery around and nature’s exotic flora. The next destination, before starting towards Munnar, is Devikulam which is almost 67 km away from Bodi Ghat. From Devikulam, it’s only a distance of about 9.8 km to Munnar by road. The route with its distinguished charm and beauty is considered one of the astounding journeys from Chennai to Munnar.

Route 2:

Distance covered: 596 kilometers
Stop Over points: Viluppuram, Trichy, Dindigul, Palani, Udumalpet, and Marayoor

This Chennai to Munnar route is similar to that of route 1 till Dindigul. From Dindigul, the route diverts to Palani, with travel time being 1 hr 16 min covering a distance of about 59 km. You must spend some time in this sacred town and visit the shrine of Lord Muruga. The Thandayudhapani temple has been established at Palani to worship the Lord. You need to climb up the Sivagiri hill to visit the temple.

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From Palani, the next destination is Udumalpet, about 36 km away traversed within a time of about 44 min. You can look around the town to watch the spinning mills. From Udumalpet, you need to travel a distance of about 46.5 km to reach Marayoor, the traveling time being 1 hour 20 min. The moment you reach Marayoor, you will witness huge sugarcane cultivation throughout the town. The scenic views around the town are also enthralling for travelers. It is advisable to have some rest at Marayoor, as the next travel towards Munnar takes about 1 hour and 21 min to cover a distance of about 39.5 km. The journey is spectacular passing across plantations, hills, valleys, and rivers.

Route 3:

Distance covered: 596 kilometers
Stop Over points: Viluppuram, Trichy, Dindigul, Vathalagundu, Periyakulam, Theni, Kumily, Kattappana, and Idukki Dam

Till Theni, the route is the same as routes 1 and 2. Vathalagundu can be termed a temple town, pious and religious housing many temples. The famous among them is the Mariamman temple. The Goddess Mariamman is popular in the town and Her festival is celebrated every year with devotees visiting the temple at that time of the year.

From Theni, instead of ascending to Bodhi Ghat, you can travel toward Kumily. It is a quaint village in Kerala and is a prominent tourist destination. It is astonishing to watch the green hillocks, pristine valleys, gushing waterfalls, beautiful hamlets, and river streams during the journey. Just beside Kumily is another small and picturesque village called Kattappana. From Kattappana you need to pass the Idukki dam, another place enthralling the eyes with its panoramic landscape. And then move towards your final destination Munnar.

On average, the distance from Chennai to Munnar is almost 12 hours and of course, there will be deviations due to the breaks between the journeys and time spent visiting a few sightseeing spots. But the best part of the Chennai to Munnar trip is the captivating views of nature and the artistic charm of the temples. Hence if you are planning a vacation at Munnar and thinking of traveling via Chennai, the journey will be comfortable and pleasant.