How To Reach Anakkara

Anakkara is a quiet spice village in the Udumbanchola taluk of Idukki district, sitting about 18 km from the Thekkady (Periyar) wildlife sanctuary on the road toward Munnar. Most people arriving here are headed to one of two things: the cardamom and pepper plantations that put Anakkara on the UNDP spice-tourism map, or the Marian Retreat Centre, the charismatic renewal centre that draws pilgrims from across Kerala. This guide covers both, with the trains, buses, taxis and exact distances you need for each.

Anakkara and the Marian Retreat Centre: where exactly you are going

Anakkara spreads across the Vandanmedu and Chakkupallam panchayats in Idukki. It lies between Munnar and Thekkady on State Highway 13, so almost everyone reaches it by continuing along that plantation road rather than by any dedicated station. Its PIN is 685509.

The Marian Retreat Centre (some pilgrims call it the Anakkara Retreat Centre) is run by the Eparchy of Kanjirapally and directed by Fr. Dominic Valanmanal. Its postal address is Anakkara, Idukki District 685509, and the office number is +91 4868 253300. The nearest bus stop is Anakkara Junction, and the centre is about 2 km on from there by auto-rickshaw or taxi. Book your retreat dates by phone before you travel so the gate is expecting you.

One quick note to avoid a wrong turn. There is a second Anakkara in Palakkad district, far to the north. The retreat centre, the spice gardens and everything in this guide are in Anakkara, Idukki, near Kumily and Thekkady.

How to reach Anakkara at a glance

Distances to Anakkara from key places

These are the exact lookups travellers search for most. Times are typical hill-road driving times, so pad them a little in the monsoon.

By train

There is no direct train to Anakkara. The nearest usable railway station is Kottayam (station code KTYM), roughly 90 to 115 km away and well connected to Ernakulam, Trivandrum, Chennai and the rest of the network. Aluva, near Kochi, is a second option if your train stops there instead.

From Kottayam, step outside and either board a KSRTC bus heading toward Kumily and Thekkady or hire a taxi straight to Anakkara. Allow about 3 to 3.5 hours for the road leg. Sample second-class train fares into Kottayam from the Kochi side run from around Rs 50 upward depending on class, which makes the train the budget-friendly way in.

By air

Cochin International Airport (COK) is the nearest airport, about 100 km from Anakkara, and it has the widest choice of domestic and international flights. Madurai Airport (IXM) in Tamil Nadu is a similar distance, roughly 105 km, and can be handier if you are coming from the east.

From either airport the last stretch is by road. A pre-booked taxi from Cochin to the Marian Retreat Centre takes around 3 hours and usually costs between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,500 depending on the vehicle. App cabs are available at COK, but confirm the driver is willing to make the full hill run before you set off.

By road and by bus

Road is the practical way to reach Anakkara. From Kochi the drive is about 110 km and 3 to 4 hours, taking NH85 through Muvattupuzha and Kothamangalam, then the SH13 Kumily-Munnar highway. Self-drivers get the easiest last mile because you can go straight to the retreat centre gate.

For buses, KSRTC and private services running between Kochi, Idukki and Munnar pass along this route, with fares in the Rs 100 to Rs 250 band depending on the service. Coming from the Thekkady side, frequent local buses and jeeps cover the short hop from Kumily. Whichever bus you take, get down at Anakkara Junction and finish the last 2 km to the retreat centre by auto-rickshaw or taxi.

Reaching the Marian Retreat Centre step by step

The most common journey is by train plus road. Here is the sequence that works for most pilgrims.

• Book a train to Kottayam (KTYM), the nearest major railway station, about 90 to 115 km away.
• Outside Kottayam station, take a KSRTC bus toward Kumily and Thekkady, or hire a taxi. Allow 3 to 3.5 hours.
• Stay on the Kumily-Munnar State Highway (SH13). Anakkara is about 18 km from Thekkady on the way to Munnar.
• Get down at Anakkara Junction, the nearest bus stop to the centre.
• Cover the last 2 km to the Marian Retreat Centre by auto-rickshaw or taxi.
• Call the centre in advance on +91 4868 253300 to confirm your retreat dates and gate timing.

Practical tips for the journey

• Cash and connectivity: carry a little cash for autos and the ferry-style local transport; card acceptance thins out past Kumily.
• Timing: the road climbs and twists through plantation country, so hill-road times run longer than a maps estimate, especially June to September.
• Booking ahead: if you are attending a residential retreat, confirm your dates on the phone first; arrivals are expected, not walk-in.
• Combine the trip: Anakkara sits between Munnar and Thekkady, so it is easy to fold into a wider Idukki trip rather than a there-and-back run.

Plan the wider trip

Anakkara pairs naturally with the spice gardens and wildlife next door, so it is worth building it into a longer Idukki route. Read our full Anakkara village guide, the Thekkady travel guide for Periyar and the plantations, and Munnar if you are continuing up the highway. When you are ready to put it all together, browse our customisable Kerala tour packages or the wider Kerala travel guide.

Read more

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• Bangalore to Thekkady
• Trivandrum to Thekkady