Here is all you need to know about the nearest railway station to Munnar
Are you wondering how to reach Munnar by train? Munnar in Kerala is a popular hill station famous for its picturesque sceneries and tea plantations. Mountains that hunch out of the valley are all covered with manicured slopes of tea gardens. Mudrapuza, Kundala, and Nallathanni mountain streams make this place seem like heaven! Munnar has retained its pristine nature.
The exotic tourist spots in Munnar are just wonderful, which makes it an ideal place for honeymooners and families. You can reach Munnar by air or by train or you can choose to go there by road. The best time to visit Munnar is from October to November and again from January to May. During these months the weather there remains cool and sublime.
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Traveling by train is an ideal way to reach Munnar from the nearest cities like Bangalore or Chennai. However, there are no direct trains to Munnar and it’s not on the rail route. The nearest railway station to Munnar is at Alwaye (Aluva) or Angamaly, both of which are nearly 120 km away from Munnar.
Most of the trains stop at Alwaye (Aluva) which is a bigger station than Angamaly. It is better to get down at Aluva rather than Ernakulam if your train stops there as it will help you in saving time on a visit to Munnar. The next best option after Aluva is to get down at any of the two railway stations in Ernakulam.
It would be best if you availed trains to reach Munnar from the nearest cities, like Bangalore or Chennai. However, there are no trains to Munnar directly. In fact, Munnar is not on the rail route.
Munnar is around 584 km from Chennai. From there, it takes approximately 11 hours to reach Munnar. On the other hand, Munnar is around 500 km away from Bangalore. To speak the truth, traveling to Munnar is not that easy. The reason is that it has neither any railway station nor airport.
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Aluva Railway Station and Ernakulam Railway Station are two stations that lie closest to Munnar. To reach Munnar and explore its boundless beauty, you have to catch a train to either of these two stations. It is suggested to get off at Aluva rather than Ernakulam. By doing this, you will be able to save valuable time when you are visiting Munnar.
The next best option for the nearest railway station to Munnar after Aluva is to get down at any of the two railway stations in Ernakulam. All these stations are operated by the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways and come under the Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division.
Aluva Railway Station
The nearest railway station to Munnar is at Alwaye (Aluva) which is nearly 120 km away from Munnar. Most (but not all) of the trains stop at Alwaye (Aluva) which is a bigger station than Angamaly. It is better to get down at Aluva rather than Ernakulam if your train stops there as it’s easier and less time-consuming to get to Munnar from there.
Aluva is accessible via the Aluva KSRTC bus stand at Goodshed Road. Aluva is an NSG3 grade station under the Thiruvananthapuram railway division. The code for this station is ‘AWY’. ALUVA handles about 12,160 passengers each day.
From Aluva, passengers can go to places like the Idukki district, Kakkanad, North Paravur, and Kalamassery. It is considered the third busiest railway station in Kochi. No trains originate from or terminate at Aluva railway station.
Aluva has three platforms for passenger trains and one for cargo. It typically costs around INR 400/- to INR 1,000/- to reach Aluva from Munnar in a car.
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Railway Stations in Ernakulam
The nearest railway station to Munnar is Kochi or Ernakulam other than Aluva. It is a major railway junction in the south from where you can get trains for the major cities of the country including Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Mangalore, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, and many others.
Anyone visiting Munnar can also get down at any of the two railway stations in Ernakulam – Ernakulam Junction (South) and Ernakulam Town (North). A taxi to Munnar from any of the railway stations in Ernakulam may cost INR 2,500/- or more. Taxis are available for hire from the pre-paid taxi counter inside the station premises.
The most popular and nearest railway station to Munnar is the two railway stations in Ernakulam which is a major city in Kerala and serves as the last stop for all the trains. Ernakulam district is also known as the commercial capital of Kerala because of the presence of major commercial activities and establishments here.
Ernakulam Junction Station (Ernakulam South)
The Ernakulam Junction Station is popularly known as Ernakulam South or Ernakulam Junction and all major trains to Munnar stop here. The distance from Ernakulam South Railway Station to Munnar is a mere 125 km.
This station opened its doors to the public in 1932. The station’s code is ERS. Ernakulam Railway Station is located close to the city’s main shopping area situated on Mahatma Gandhi Road (or MG Road) and is connected by the metro. You can travel to Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore, and many other cities from here. It controls 376 routes at a time.
Ernakulam Junction Railway Station is the largest and busiest railhead in Kochi. Compared to Aluva, Ernakulam has two entrances and six platforms for local and long-distance locations. Ernakulam has been successful in achieving the A1 classification. It is the highest position given to a station by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).
Furthermore, this railway station has all modern facilities like an air-conditioned lounge, children’s play area, free Wi-Fi, a library, and escalators. You will be surprised to learn that Ernakulam Railway Station is the first to have disability access.
Ernakulam Town Station (Ernakulam North)
Ernakulam North or Ernakulam Town Station is also a grade-A station under the Southern Railway Zone. It takes passengers to the northern suburbs of Kochi city and adjacent areas. The station is located between Kacheripady and Kaloor.
Anyone visiting Munnar can also get down at any of the two railway stations in Ernakulam, namely Ernakulam Junction (South) and Ernakulam Town (North). A taxi to Munnar from either railway station may cost INR 2,500/- or more. Taxis are available for hire from the pre-paid taxi counter inside the station premises.
Ernakulam Junction is one of the major railway stations in Kerala with trains plying to all parts of India and is also one of the A1 graded stations in the Southern Railway Zone.
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Munnar invites everyone to its valleys with its magnetizing beauty. Visit Munnar for a relaxing and enjoyable getaway with your friends & family. If you have already visited Munnar by air or road, then the next time you can reach via the nearest railway station to Munnar and enjoy scintillating views of its landscapes and boundless natural beauty en route!
