Kochi, Munnar tea estates and houseboat canals
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Kerala Backwaters & Tea Hills
Kochi to Munnar
Kochi and Munnar sit about 91 km (56 mi) apart in a straight line, with Munnar to the east. It is leg 1 of 2 on our Kerala Backwaters & Tea Hills itinerary, an 8-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 91 km · 56 mi
- Est. road distance
- 109–127 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h 15 min – 2 h 30 min
- Direction
- Heading east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Kerala Backwaters & Tea Hills itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 109–127 km (68–79 mi) of road and 1 h 15 min – 2 h 30 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Fly into Cochin International Airport. A hired car with driver is the easiest way to link Kochi, Munnar (about 4 hours) and Alleppey (about 4–5 hours from Munnar). Local ferries and auto-rickshaws handle short hops.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Munnar
Hill station surrounded by tea estates and Western Ghats peaks. Stay 2 nights.
Eravikulam National Park
Grassland park that protects the endangered Nilgiri tahr, below Anamudi, South India's highest peak.
Tata Tea Museum
Museum and working factory showing how Munnar tea is picked, rolled and dried.
Kolukkumalai Tea Estate
One of the world's highest tea estates, reached by jeep for sunrise above the clouds.
Saravana Bhavan Munnar
Busy vegetarian spot for dosas, idlis and banana-leaf meals in Munnar town.
Kannan Devan tea shop
Tea outlet near the museum where you can taste and buy fresh Munnar leaf.
Mattupetty Dam
Reservoir in the hills with boating, surrounded by tea and dairy farms.
Before you leave Kochi
Colonial-era port town of churches, spice markets and fishing nets. Stay 2–3 nights.
Chinese Fishing Nets
Cantilevered shore nets on Fort Kochi beach, still worked by teams of fishermen.
Kerala Kathakali Centre
Nightly Kathakali dance-drama performances with a chance to watch the elaborate makeup.
Jew Town spice market
Lanes of spice warehouses, antique shops and textile stores in Mattancherry.
On this curated route
Where Kochi → Munnar sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Munnar to Kochi is the same 91 km in a straight line, heading west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in December, when Munnar averages highs 10°C cooler than Kochi. Over a year, Kochi gets about 610 mm more rain.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kochi high | 32° | 33° | 33° | 32° | 30° | 29° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 29° | 29° | 30° |
| Munnar high | 22° | 26° | 27° | 26° | 23° | 20° | 19° | 20° | 20° | 21° | 21° | 21° |
| Kochi rain | 13 | 27 | 54 | 129 | 284 | 494 | 439 | 350 | 293 | 358 | 174 | 38 |
| Munnar rain | 12 | 22 | 48 | 106 | 221 | 330 | 297 | 250 | 228 | 318 | 169 | 39 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Munnar month guides.
Kochi to Munnar: questions travelers ask
How far is Kochi from Munnar?
Kochi is about 91 km (56 mi) from Munnar in a straight line, with Munnar to the east. By road, we estimate 109–127 km (68–79 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Kochi to Munnar?
An estimated 1 h 15 min – 2 h 30 min, assuming 109–127 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Kochi to Munnar?
Our Kerala Backwaters & Tea Hills itinerary includes this leg. Kerala Backwaters & Tea Hills runs about 8 days across 3 stops, best in Oct – Mar.
Onward from Munnar
Guides for both ends
- Kochi travel guide
- Kochi weather best time to visit
- Munnar travel guide
- Munnar weather best time to visit
Munnar by month
Plan Kochi → Munnar with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.