After had done some research on how to get to Munnar from Trivandrum I found a government bus that takes you there for 245 rs, which is about 3-4 USD/Euro.

And this is for an 8-9 hour bus trip! It’s incredible.

You can’t book ahead online though so you just have to show up at the KSRTC central bus terminal in Trivandrum and buy a coupon (5 rs) in counter number 2 and then buy the bus ticket on the bus (245 rs).

You need to be at the station at least 15 minutes before the bus departs to buy the coupon, which I believe is some kind of seat reservation.

I was there at 6 am but had to wait until 6:30 before I could buy the coupon and my bus departed at 6:45.

Because the timetable can have changed when you read this I advice you to call them up beforehand to check if there’s any changes but there’s definitely buses that goes daily to Munnar.

Here’s a phone number you can call to check the timetable and the bus ticket fare: 

+91 0471 2323886.

Right now as I write this, here are the buses that goes daily from Trivandrum to Munnar:

6:45 AM, 10 AM, 1 PM, 10:30 PM, 11:45 PM.

Are the buses comfortable?

No. They can be crowded at times and having other sweaty people almost sitting on your lap when it’s over 30 degrees Celsius.. need I say more?

No AC and not being able to drink enough water (believe me, you don’t want to visit the public bathrooms/toilets) if the bus driver even stops is not a fun event that I would recommend for the fainthearted or families who travel with young children.

I heard about a guy who peed himself on the bus between Delhi and Rishikesh because the driver refused to stop.

Of course I don’t know if this is true but after had experienced a bus ride or two I can imagine it is.

The bus-drivers drive like madmen, they just want to get from point A to B as fast as possible.

I mean I know my mom would scream of horror if she went on one of those buses; I always think of her and giggle within me because I know she couldn’t take the traffic here in India.

And the roads are very bumpy and the buses very old…

Forget about taking pictures, drinking water without getting it all over you, and the constant honking.. etc etc.

It wasn’t a pleasant ride at all and because of this I have a new “rule” now; no more bus trips like this if they are over 4-5 hours long.

That’s about all I can take! 🙂

Good things about the bus trip was that I got to see much more of India than I would have had I taken the train (which does not go directly to Munnar).

I was the only white person on the bus so people stare at you but you just have to get used to it. Pretend you’re a celebrity or something if it’s too much for you! 🙂

A funny incident came to mind; it was when I was at the Yoga resort place in Goa.

A group of 5-6 teenage girls came to me and asked something about taking a picture, so I just assumed that they asked me if I could take a picture of them so I said “of course” but instead of giving me their camera they came and wanted to take a picture with me with them, one by one.

I felt like a celebrity or something, it was kind of funny! 🙂

A note on this is that if men come and ask the same (and you’re a woman) say no.

They usually aren’t that innocent in their intentions and I have heard from other women that they want a picture of you with them so that they can brag about you to their friends saying you have had sex with them.

Yeah :-/

So photos with men, no, but if it’s a group of girls or a family, sure, why not 🙂

Read more about Munnar: >> Go Here.

(The post has link to a photo album too with over 50 pics of Munnar).