Transportation (Kerala)

Although, transportation in Kerala is very convenient, it is a big problem. It has good public transport network including trains and buses. The coastal cities are well connected by trains. Since, there is no railway tracks on the hills, road transportation connects the hill stations. Many government as well as private operated buses ply between major cities of Kerala. Therefore, if you have time in hand, you may surely go for these options.

Taxi

The beauty of Kerala is not only the tourist spots and experiences but the whole of Kerala itself. This is the main reason for advising to take a taxi and go for a road trip.

Like any other tourist destination Kerala has a monopoly of taxi and tour operators. There are many tour operators who may rent you a taxi on per day and kilometre basis. They calculate charges based on 100 km per day and a fixed base rate depending on the number of days you will hire the taxi for. Beyond that, you will pay a fixed rate for every extra km you travel. For example, if you hire a taxi for 8 days, you will get 800 km of travel at about ₹16000. This includes driver charges and fuel. If your trip crosses the 800 km mark you will pay over and above ₹16000 @ ₹15-16/km.

As you can see, above is a simple calculation and all the taxi operators follow the same approach. You may find some who offer you lesser rates but, in our experience, the final price that you pay for a fixed itinerary costs you the same irrespective of what pay plan you chose. During peak season the charges may jump due to scarcity of vehicles. Try to enquire from a few operators before finalizing your taxi. You do not need to worry about the drivers as they are very professional, decent and know the places well.

You would not have any complaint with regards to the behaviour of the driver if you are hiring from a well-known operator. There is just one common problem of every taxi which you may read about here. Nevertheless, taxi is the most widely used and the best mode of transportation in Kerala. It offers you convenience, comfort and saves precious time.