How To Reach Munnar From Mumbai: Distance, Train, Flight & Best Route

Munnar is about 1,519 km from Mumbai by road and roughly 1,100 km in a straight line, which is closer to what your flight actually covers. The fastest way is to fly Mumbai (BOM) to Cochin (COK) in about 2 hours, then drive the last 110 km to Munnar in around 3 hours, for a total of 6 to 8 hours. There is no airport or railway station in Munnar itself, so every route ends with a hill drive from Kochi. The cheapest way is the train to Ernakulam or Aluva, roughly 23 to 26 hours from about Rs 615 in sleeper class, then the same road climb. Pick the mode that fits your budget and how much time you have.

Munnar is one of the hill stations Mumbaikars keep returning to, drawn by the tea plantations, the cool air and waterfalls like Attukal and Lakkam. Because the town has no airport and no station of its own, the honest answer to how to reach Munnar from Mumbai is always a two-part journey: get to Kochi by air, rail or road, then climb into the hills. This guide gives you one confident number per mode, the trains and airports worth knowing by name, and a Mumbai-specific breakdown you will not find on a generic transport aggregator. For what to see once you arrive, use our Munnar travel guide.

Distance from Mumbai to Munnar and Travel Time

The reason you see different distance figures online is simple: a flight cuts a straight line while a train or car winds down the Western coast and then up a ghat road. As the crow flies, Mumbai to Munnar is about 1,100 km. By road the real driving distance is roughly 1,519 km, which is why the surface journeys take a full day or more. Your total time depends entirely on the mode you pick.

How to Reach Munnar from Mumbai by Train

The train is the classic budget-and-scenery choice, and it is the single most-searched way people plan this trip. There is no direct train to Munnar, so you ride down the Konkan coast to Ernakulam Junction (Kochi) or Aluva, then cover the last 110 km by cab or bus in about 3 hours. The rail leg runs 23 to 26 hours with fares from roughly Rs 615 in sleeper class to Rs 1,700 in 3A. Most services leave from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) or Bandra Terminus. Book 2A or 3A two to three weeks ahead for a comfortable overnight leg.

The trains worth knowing by name and number:

Fares are sleeper (SL) and 3A approximations; confirm the current number, timing and fare on IRCTC before you travel. From Ernakulam or Aluva, a private cab to Munnar costs around Rs 2,500 to 3,500, or you can take a state bus for a fraction of that.

How to Reach Munnar from Mumbai by Flight

Flying is the fastest option. The nearest airport is Cochin International (COK), about 110 km from Munnar, and a direct Mumbai to Kochi flight takes about 2 hours. One-way fares usually start around Rs 3,900 and climb closer to Rs 7,500 near weekends and holidays, so booking two to three weeks ahead pays off. IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and Vistara all fly the route, with several non-stop departures a day. From the airport, a private taxi to Munnar costs about Rs 2,500 to 3,500 and takes 3 to 3.5 hours; shared cabs and KSRTC buses are cheaper.

• Pre-book the Cochin to Munnar cab so you are not negotiating at the airport after a flight.

• The COK to Munnar road (NH 85 via Kothamangalam and Adimali) climbs steadily, so allow buffer time in the monsoon.

• Flying suits honeymooners, families and senior citizens who want to start the trip fresh rather than lose two days in transit.

How to Reach Munnar from Mumbai by Road

For those who enjoy the drive, a Mumbai to Munnar road trip covers roughly 1,519 km and takes 24 to 30 hours of actual driving, so most people split it over two to three days. The usual line runs Mumbai to Pune to Kolhapur to Hubballi to Mangalore, then down to Kochi along NH 48 and NH 66, before the final ghat climb into Munnar on NH 85. Popular overnight breaks include Goa and the Karnataka coast. Buses cover the same distance in 28 to 34 hours: Volvo, AC-sleeper and KSRTC services run from Mumbai to Kochi or Ernakulam from around Rs 1,500, and you continue to Munnar by local transport.

• Safety: Hill roads and ghat sections are slippery in the June to September monsoon; drive in daylight and avoid night runs on the curves.

• Bus reality: There is no single non-stop bus to Munnar; every bus terminates at Kochi or Ernakulam, so plan the onward 3-hour leg.

Flight or Train Plus Road: The Smart Combination

Most Mumbai travellers use a mix, and it is usually the sensible call. Fly or take an overnight train to Kochi, then cover the last 110 km to Munnar by cab or bus. It cuts the long surface hours while keeping the cost reasonable. If you would rather not stitch the legs together yourself, a package bundles the flight, transfer and stay in one booking (see the packages section below).

Nearest Airport and Railway Station to Munnar

Munnar has neither an airport nor a railway station, so this is the part most first-time visitors get wrong. Here is exactly where you land or alight, and how far the onward hill drive is.

Aluva is marginally closer and quicker if your train stops there; Ernakulam Junction has more Mumbai services and a bigger cab and bus stand. Either way, the onward road to Munnar is the same NH 85 ghat climb.

Getting from Cochin or Ernakulam to Munnar

After you reach Cochin or Ernakulam, the final 110 km to Munnar can be covered several ways depending on your budget and comfort:

• Private cab or taxi: the safest and most comfortable choice, at around Rs 2,500 to 3,500. You can stop for tea, viewpoints or lunch on the climb, which suits families and couples.

• Shared cab: a shared taxi is cheaper and fine for solo travellers or small groups, though you may wait for seats to fill before departure.

• State bus: KSRTC and local buses are the cheapest way up, running frequently but with fixed stops and a longer, busier ride.

• Tour package: a package folds the airport pickup, transfers and sightseeing into one booking, so there is nothing to arrange on the ground.

Suggested Itineraries from Mumbai to Munnar

These plans are guides you can stretch or trim. Costs are rough per-person estimates including travel, stay and sightseeing.

2 to 3 Days: Weekend Getaway

Fly Mumbai to Cochin, then cab to Munnar and stay two nights. Spend your days in the tea gardens and at waterfalls like Attukal and Lakkam, with an easy evening at a hill resort.

• Cost estimate: Budget around Rs 10,000; mid-range around Rs 18,000; luxury around Rs 30,000 per person.

5 to 6 Days: Family Trip

Take a train or flight to Cochin, drive up to Munnar, then continue to Thekkady for a Periyar wildlife safari and Alleppey for a backwater houseboat night before flying home.

• Cost estimate: Budget around Rs 15,000; mid-range around Rs 25,000; luxury around Rs 40,000 per person.

Honeymoon Plan

Fly to Cochin and take a private cab to Munnar for romantic resort stays and private sightseeing, then head to Kovalam for a beach or spa finish.

Mid-range around Rs 30,000; luxury Rs 60,000 or more per person. Prefer it done for you? Browse a 3 nights, 4 days Munnar tour from Mumbai or fully customise your own.

Best Time to Visit Munnar and Travel Tips

Munnar is a year-round hill station, but the sweet spot from Mumbai is October to February, when the weather is cool and clear for tea-garden walks and waterfalls. The June to September monsoon turns the hills a deep green and the waterfalls run full, though roads get slippery and Ayurvedic breaks come into their own. For a season-by-season view of the wider state, see the best time to visit Kerala.

• Clothing: Even in summer, Munnar mornings and evenings are chilly. Pack light woollens, and add a raincoat and waterproof shoes in the monsoon.

• Booking: Book flights, trains and cabs two to three weeks ahead, especially in peak season, and compare fares across apps before locking anything in.

• With family: Travelling with seniors or kids? Plan frequent stops on the road leg and keep medicines, water, snacks and jackets within reach.

• On the road: The ghat roads are winding and steep. Hire an experienced local driver, keep to daylight hours and skip night driving on the curves.

Munnar Tour Packages from Mumbai

If you would rather have the flight, transfers, stay and sightseeing arranged in one go, a package takes the planning off your plate. TravelTriangle lists customisable Munnar trips that can start from Mumbai, from quick weekend breaks to Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey combinations, with verified hotels and reliable transport. Compare options on the Mumbai to Munnar tour packages page, browse the full range of Kerala Munnar packages, or see broader Kerala tour packages from Mumbai. Popular add-ons include Thekkady for wildlife and spice plantations, an Alleppey houseboat night, and waterfall or trekking days.

Coming from another city? See how to reach Munnar from Bangalore, from Chennai or from New Delhi.

TravelTriangle Editorial Team | Last updated: September 2026

Based on 40 lakh+ trips planned across India since 2011. Fares and train details cross-checked by our Kerala desk against IRCTC and airline schedules.