Kochi to Munnar by Cab
The drive, the stops on the way, and what to see in Munnar.
Munnar is Kerala's tea-hill town, about 126 km east of Kochi. A cab takes about 4 hours on NH85 through Kothamangalam and Adimali, with the Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls beside the road on the way up. Most people stay two days in Munnar.
- Distance 126 km
- Drive time ~4h
- Highway NH85
Road distance from Ernakulam Junction station to Munnar town. The last 45 km is a winding hill road, so allow up to 5 hours with stops and weekend traffic.
What to see in Munnar
Tea estates, lakes and high viewpoints. Two days covers the main sights.
Eravikulam National Park
Grassy hills north of town, home to the Nilgiri tahr, a mountain goat found only in the Western Ghats. Forest buses take you up from the gate. It closes for about two months a year, usually February and March.
Tea Museum
A museum in a working tea estate just north of town, with the old machines and a tasting at the end. Closed on Mondays.
Mattupetty Dam & Echo Point
A long lake between tea-covered hills on the Top Station road, with boats from the jetty and a spot at the far end where your shout echoes back.
Top Station
The highest point on the Munnar to Kodaikanal road, about 33 km from town, with views down into Tamil Nadu. Go early, before the cloud fills the valley.
Kundala Lake
A quiet lake behind an old arch dam, ringed by eucalyptus and tea, with pedal boats and shikaras.
Attukad Waterfalls
A waterfall dropping through tea estates and forest about 4 km south of town, best after the monsoon.
The drive: which way to go
There is one main road up, and one long way round past Kerala's biggest waterfall.
NH85 through Kothamangalam
~126 km · about 4 h · via Kothamangalam, Neriamangalam & Adimali
The usual way. The road climbs into the hills after Neriamangalam, and the Cheeyappara and Valara falls are right beside it, about 45 km before Munnar. Stop for 15 minutes at each.
Via Athirapally Falls
~182 km · a long day · via Chalakudy & Athirapally
The long way. Go north to Athirapally Falls first, then back to the Munnar road. It adds about 56 km and two hours of driving, plus your time at the falls. Leave Kochi by 07:00 so the hill road is done before dark.
Cab from Kochi to Munnar
Call or message a local Kochi operator. Tell them your pickup point, dates and whether you need a one-way drop or a round trip, and they send a price for the car and driver.
Kera Cabs
Visit website ↗Pickup from Kochi, Alleppey, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom, Kovalam, Varkala, Kollam, Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram, Guruvayur, Triprayar, Cherai
Common questions
How long is the drive from Kochi to Munnar?
About 126 km and 4 hours on NH85. Allow up to 5 hours with stops and weekend traffic on the hill road after Adimali.
Can the cab pick me up at Kochi airport?
Yes. The airport is north-east of the city, on the way, so the ride to Munnar is about 110 km.
Can I do Munnar as a day trip from Kochi?
It is possible but long: about 8 hours of driving there and back leaves 3 to 4 hours in Munnar. Two days lets you see Eravikulam and Top Station without rushing.
Are the Cheeyappara and Valara falls worth a stop?
Yes. Both are right beside the road near Neriamangalam, so a stop adds only about 15 minutes each. They are fullest from June to December and thin by April.
When is the best time to go?
September to May. The monsoon from June to August brings heavy rain and sometimes landslides on the hill road. Eravikulam National Park closes for about two months for the tahr calving, usually February and March.