Bangalore → Munnar
Bangalore to Munnar is about 475 km by road (9.6–11.8 hours via Salem and Pollachi), with a one-way fuel cost of about ₹3,912 for a petrol car.
Last updated:
- Hill station
- Best: September to March
- Plan 3 days
Bangalore to Munnar at a glance
- Distance
- ~475 km
- Drive time
- 9.6–11.8 h
- Fuel estimate
- ₹3,912
- Toll allowance
- ₹475
- Fuel + tolls
- ₹4,387
- Per person · 2 travellers
- ₹2,193
About these numbers: petrol ₹105/litre (17 Sep 2026) at 15 km/litre; ₹2/km toll allowance, not verified against NHAI rates. Method · Report an error
About the Bangalore to Munnar drive
Munnar sits among tea estates in Kerala's Idukki district, in the Western Ghats. From Bangalore most people drive through Tamil Nadu and climb in via Udumalpet, the Chinnar wildlife sanctuary and Marayur; going via Kochi is longer.
Best time to visit Munnar & how many days
Best months
September to March is the best time; October to February is the coolest and clearest. June–August is lush but very wet.
How long to plan
Bangalore to Munnar route
Bangalore → Salem → Pollachi → Udumalpet → Marayur → Munnar
Road: NH44 to Salem, NH544 towards Coimbatore, then the Pollachi–Udumalpet road and the Chinnar–Marayur ghat into Munnar
Places to pause on the way
Tips for this drive
- The drive takes most of a day, so leave Bangalore before sunrise and aim to cross the Chinnar–Marayur ghat in daylight.
- The last stretch is a narrow hill road with mist and sharp bends; drive slowly and avoid it after dark.
- From June to September heavy rain can cause landslides on the ghat roads; check Kerala road advisories before you go.
- Book stays early for long weekends and December–January, when Munnar is busiest.
Crosses from Karnataka into Kerala (ask taxis about permit charges).
Weather in Munnar
Forecast: MET Norway, CC BY 4.0
Bus, train & flight
Bus
State bus operators: KSRTC Karnataka ↗ · KSRTC Kerala ↗.
Train
- Bangalore: Bangalore Cantonment or Bangalore City (KSR)
- Munnar: Aluva or Ernakulam (about 110–130 km); Pollachi and Udumalpet on the Tamil Nadu side
Flight options
- Bangalore: Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore (BLR)
- Munnar: Cochin International Airport, Kochi (COK), about 110 km
Things to do in Munnar
Eravikulam National Park usually closes for a few weeks around February–March for the Nilgiri tahr calving season.
Local food to try: Kerala meals with appam and stew · Fresh estate tea and homemade chocolates.
Return trip: Munnar to Bangalore
Same 475 km back, about ₹4,387 each way or ₹8,774 for the round trip.