Road Networks in Kerala

Kerala

Noth Kerala: Wayanad | Thirunelli | Kuruva Island | Central Kerala: Munnar | South Kerala: Kollam | Varkala | Kottukkal rock cut cave temple | Sabarimala Temple | See Also Kerala Beaches : Alappuzha - Bekal Fort Cherai - Kappkadavu - Kovalam - Marari - Meenkunnu - Muzhappilangad - Payyambalam - Shankumugham - Varkala Kerala Road Map | Backwaters on a shoestring | Bangalore to Kerala | Bangalore to Wayanad | National Parks in India | Tourist locations in South India |

Kerala has a well connected road network. The 8 National Highways ( NH) connects major cities and towns of the state as well as to the cities of its neighboring states. More than 50 state highways (SH) crisscross the state connecting every nook and cranny of Kerala.

The quality of the roads varies. Generally the National Highways are wider and well maintained, though some of the state highways too are in excellent condition. The trouble for Kerala is climate. The Monsoon season is comparatively long and strong in Kerala. It creates havoc on the road condition, year on year. Together with its relatively high density of vehicle usage, a long bus ride in Kerala can be bumpy affair.

National Highways map of Kerala.
A larger (pdf & image ) kerala maps can be downloaded from here Download Maps

NH 17 is the longest national highway in Kerala with 417 kilometers of its passes through the sate. In fact NH 17 starts from Panvel , located south of Mumbai and joins NH 47 at Edappalli, a northern suburb of Cochin. Thus NH 17 connects four states - Maharastra , Goa , Karnataka and Kerala. This highway almost passes along the western cost linking the Konkan, Malabar and Cochin regions.

As you drive from south to north along NH 17 it passes through regions were different languages are spoken. For example in kerala (Malayalam) , Karnataka (Kannada & Tulu) , Goa (Konkani) and Maharastra ( Marathi). As is along the coastal line , the calimate is practically uniform with humid sea breeze . So is the scenery peppered with coconut grooves, hills, paddy fields and rivers. Though it is straight and broader at many places NH 17 has innumerable curves, up hills and occasional humps.

As you come out of the Cochin city via the NH 47 bypass, you can spot this huge signboard at the Edappalli junction showing direction to NH 17. It's a 4-way junction. Straight ahead is NH 17, towards your right NH 47 continues to Trissur ( Trichur) , towards left is Cochin City.

Initially NH 17 zigzags through a thickly populated narrow section of road. After about 20 kilometers the driving is less taxing.

The route along Kerala stretch is Edappalli -Paravoor - Kodungallore - Pallippuram - Gururvayur - Ponnani - Valakkulam - Tiruangadi - Kozhikode - Vadakara - NadapuramRoad - Thalassery - Kannur - Cherukunnu - Kokkanisseri - Hosdurg - Pallikara - Kasaragod -Kurchipalla (exit Kerala) . The next major town is Mangalore in Karnataka.

NH 47 connects two towns in Tamilnadu - Salem and Kanyakumari ( Cape Comorin ) .However most of the route passes along Kerala. NH 47 is one of the busiest highways in Kerala. Traffic jams are not unusual especially when it passes through some busy cities. Though it is bypassing the city , driving along the Cochin bypass of NH 47 can take even 1 hours for a short distance. NH 47 runs very close to a number of major railway stations and airports. For example Cochin and Trivandrum airports. Also it runs along the backwater tourism gateways of Kerala like Alleppy (Alappuzha) and Kollam ( Quilon). A small stretch of this highway is 4 lane (in Ernakulam section) , otherwise it is two lane. By and large the highway passes through the planes of coastal Kerala. There are some Ghat sections near Palghat-Trichur stretch.

NH 47 route in Kerala : (Tamilnadu border) Kaliyikkavilai - Parassala - Neyyattinkara - Thiruvananthapuram city - Kazhakkuttam - Attingal - Chathannur - Kottiyam - Kollam - Karunagappally - Kayamkulam - Haripad - Ambalappuzha - Alappuzha - Cherthala (bypass) - Aroor - Ernakulam (bypass) - Kalamassery - Aluva - Angamali - Chalakkudy - Thrissur (bypass) - Mannuthi - Vadakkumchery - Alathur - Palakkad (bypass) - Walayar (Tamilnadu border) . The next major city is Coimbatore in Tamilnadu.

NH 49 is the Cochin-Rameswaram National Highway. In other words it connects the east coast to the west cost. NH 49 starts from Cochin near the NH 47 bypass road. NH 49 follows a NW direction till Muvattupuzha before it turns to a SW direction to Rameswaram. It passes through a number of scenic spots, especially the high ghat sections Bodimettu to Neryamangalam . This saddles the tea growing regions of Kerala and Tamilnadu. There are a number of wildlife parks in this area. Munnar in Kerala is a popular hill resort.

NH 49 route in Kerala : Cochin - Thripunithura -Muvattupuzha - Kotamangalam- Adimali - Devikulam - Bodimettu ( Tamilnadu border)

NH 208 connects the Backwaters town of Kollam with Thirumangalam in Tamilnadu. At the Kerala end NH 208 mearges with NH 47 . The Kerala stretch is uneventful . However as the NH 208 nears the Kerala-Tamilnadu border the environment is scenic, especially when the road sneaks through the stunning Aryankavu pass and through the middle of the forest. This is the ideal road to reach Thenmala where India's first Ecotourism Park is located. The areas bordering the forest is packed with rubber tree plantations.

Route of NH 208 in Kerala : Kollam - Kottarakara - Thenmala -Aryankavu (Tamil Nadu border )

Beyond Kerala NH 208 passes via Sengottai , Tenkasi , Sivagiri , Srivilliputtur , Kellupati and ends at Thirumangalam.

NH 212 connect the north Kerala city of Kozhikode ( Calicut) with Mysore in Karnataka. The highway negotiates some of the treacherous peaks of the Western Ghats and pass through a wildlife reserve spread across many states. It is no unusual to spot wild animals including elephant herds and spotted deers along the way. The highway passes through Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala and Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary on the Karnataka side. Both are Tiger reserves, though you would be extremely lucky to spot a tiger near the highway. Obviously this is the best road to reach these sanctuaries.

The highway is riddled with steep climbs and many hairpin curves. NH 212 passes through a number of tea plantations on the Kerala side, while the Karnataka side is reserve forest with bamboo canopy over the road.

NH 212 route in Kerala : Kozhikode - Thamarassery - Kalpetta - Sultan Battery -Muthanga (Karnataka Border) See also Bagnalore to Wayanad road map for more of NH 212 on Karnataka side.

NH 220 connects Kollam with Teni in Tamilnadu. It follows a path same as NH 208 till Kottarakara ( about 26 kilometers from Kollam) and then follows the MC Road (SH1). In Teni NH 220 joins NH 49 . NH 220 passes near Periyar National Park at Thekkady in Kerala.

NH 220 Route in Kerala : Kollam - Kottarakara - Adoor -Thiruvalla - Kottayam - Kanjirapalli - Vandiperyar- Kumili (Tamilnadu border)

Other Important Roads in Kerala :

State Highway No.	Name of the State Highway	Route ( all the places are not mentioned)	Distance in km
SH 1	MC Road( Main Central Road )	Trivandrum - Kesavadsapuram - Kilimanoor - Kottarakara - Adoor - Pandalam - Chengannur - Thiruvalla - Changanachery - kottayam - Ettumanoor - Muvattupuzha - perumbavoor - Kalady - Angamaly	241
SH 2	Thiruvanathapuram - Thenmala Road	Trivandrum - Karakulam - Azhikode junction - Pazhakutty junction - Palode junction - Madathara junction - Kulathupuzha junction - Thenmala junction - ( joins NH 208)	73
SH 3	Nedumangad Shorlacode Highway	Nedumangad Toll junction - Paruthipally junction - Kudappanamoodu junction - Kathipara junction - Kadukkara - ( Kerala-Tamilnadu border)	38
SH 5	Kayamkulam - Pathanapuram Highway	Kayamkulam - Kattanam - Nooranad junction - Adoor - Pathanapuram - Pulimukku junction (joins SH 8)	43
SH 6	Kayamkulam - Thiruvalla Highway	Kayamkulam - Chettikulangara temple - Mavelikkara - Chennithala - Mannar - Parumala - Travancore Sugars & Chemicals - Manipuzha bridge - Thiruvalla (joins (SH 7)	31
SH 7	Thiruvalla - Kumbazha Highway	SCS junction, Thiruvalla - Vallamkulam bridge - Eraviperoor junction (Kottayam - Kozhencherry Highway -SH09- joins - Maramon - Kozhencherry - Thekkemala junction - Pathanamthitta - Kumbazha junction (joins SH 08)	33
SH 8	Punalur Muvattupuzha (Main Eastern Highway )	Punalur ( from NH 208) - Pulimukku junction (joins SH 5) - Koodal junction - Konni junction - Ranni market - Makkapuzha - Ponthanpuzha - Manimala bridge - Cheruvally - Ponkunnam junction ( SH 13) - Elamgulam - Pala town - Thodupuzha - Vazhakulam - Nirmala College junction - Muvattupuzha (joins MC Road )	154
SH 9	Kottayam - Kozhencherry Highway	Kottayam - Karukachal - Mallappally junction - Valankara junction - Kozhencherry	44
SH 10	Mavelikkara - Kozhencherry Highway	Mavelikkara - Puthiyacavu - Cherianad - Perisseri - Chengannur (Joins SH 1) - Melakkara - Aranmula - Kozhenchery -Thekkemala (joins SH 7)	29
SH 11	Alappuzha - Changanassery Highway	Alappuzha (from NH 47) - Nedumudy - Ramankari - Changanassery (joins SH 1)	24
SH 12	Ambalapuzha - Thiruvalla Highway	Ambalapuzha (NH 47) - Thakazhy - Thalavady - Podiyadi junction (SH 06) - Thiruvalla ( joins SH 1)	27
SH 13	Kottayam - Kumily Highway ( KK Road )	Kottayam (SH 1) - Velloor - Pambady - Vazhoor - Chittadi junction - Pullupara - Kuttikkanam junction - Azhutha junction (Peermadu town) - Vandiperiyar town - Chettupara - Kumily - Thekkady - Munnar - Kumily	110
SH 14	Erattupetta - Peermadu Highway	Erattupetta - Vellikulam - Wagamon - Pattithanam junction	24
SH 15	Ettumanoor - Ernakulam Highway	Ettumanoor ( from SH 1) - Kuruppumthara - Thalayolaparambu- Vaikom junction - Udayamperoor - Kothamangalam - Thripunithura junction - Vyttila - Pulikkal junction (joins with NH 47)	57
SH 16	Aluva - Munnar Highway	Aluva - Ponjasseri - Kizhakkambalam road starts - Mannoor - Ponjasseri road ends - Perumbavoor - SH 1 crosses - Koovapady - Kothamangalam - Neriamangalam junction - Chenappara waterfalls - Deviyar bridge - Adimali junction - Kallar river - pallivasal - Munnar town	114
SH 17	Northern outlet road(Munnar Udumalpet road)	Munnar - Road to Rajamudi - Anakkalpetty road - Chinnar river- (Kerala-Tamilnadu border)	59
SH 18	Munnar - Top Station Highway	Munnar - Mattupetty dam - Indo Swiss Project Gate - Top Station - (Kerala-Tamilnadu border)	32
SH 19	Munnar - Kumily Highway	Munnar - Devikolam town - Poopara - Kumbanpara road starts - Pooppara - Santhanpara Jn - Udumbumchola town - Vattappara junction - Amaravathy - Kumily	106
SH 20	Kothamangalam Thripunithura Higway	Kothamangalam (from SH 16 ) - Muvattupuzha BOC junction (SH 1 joins) - Kolencherry - Thiruvankulam - Thripunithura junction (joins SH 15)	42
SH 21	Chalakudy Anamala Highway	Chalakudy (NH 47) - Athirampally - Vazhachal - Peringalkuthu - Approach road to Sholayar Power House - Anamala - (Kerala-Tamilnadu border)	86
SH 22	Kodungallur - Shornur Highway	Kodungallur - Kuttippuram - Nadavarambu - Pallisseri - Joins NH 47 - Joins NH 17 - Paramekavu temple - Viyyur - Mulamkunnathukavu - Vadakkancherry - Cheruthuruthy junction - joins SH 23	71
SH 23	Shornur - Perinthalmanna Highway	Shornur Railway Station - Pattambi - Sankaramangalam junction - Cherukara - Perinthalmanna junction -( joins SH 24)	39
SH 25	Thathamangalam Chittoor Nattukal Highway	Mettupalayam junction - Thathamangalam - Chittoor - Nattukal junction (joins SH 26)	14
SH 26	Nattukal - Velamthavalam Highway	Nattukal junction - Palakkad - Pollachi road - Velanthavalam junction - (Kerala-Tamilnadu border)	12
SH 27	Palakkad- Koduvayur - Thathamangalam - Meenakshipuram highway	Palakkad Collectorate(NH17) - Kannady -Koduvayur - Thathamangalam - Mettupalayam junction, Thathamangalam - Ayyappankavu temple - Nanniyode - Meenakshipuram - Gopalapuram - ( Kerala-Tamilnadu border)	35
SH 28	Kozhikode - Nilmbur - Gudallur Highway	Kozhikode - NH17 - SH 24 - Velluvambram - Manjeri junction - Nilambur - Chungathara - Edakkara - Vazhikkadavu - ( Kerala-Tamilnadu border)	104
SH 29	Kozhikode - Vythiri - Gudallur Highway	Kozhikode(NH17) - Malabar Christian College - Civil Station, Kozhikode - Kunnamangalam - Padanilam - Thamarassery - Chellot - Chitragiri - ( Kerala-Tamilnadu border)	97
SH 30	Thalassery - Coorg Highway	Thalassery - Kadirur - Nirmalagiri College - Mattannur - Koottupuzha - (Kerala-Karnataka border)	55
SH 31	Kalladka - Cherkala road	Cherkala (NH17) - Badiadka junction - SPP Road joins - Adakasthala - State boarder	29
SH 32	Ettumanoor - Erattupetta - Poonjar road	Athirapuzha - Cherpunkal - Pala Market - Bharananganam town - Erattupuzha town - Poonjar	38
SH 33	Thodupuzha Puliyanmala road	Thodupuzha junction (SH 8) - Muttom - Kuruthikulam - Meenmutty - Painavu junction - Kattappana junction - Puliyanmala - joins SH 19	92
SH 34	Koilandy-Thamarassery – Mukkom – Areakode -Edavanna Road	Koyilandy town - Kannur town - Balusseri bazar - Panangad - Kidavur - Thamarasseri - joins SH 29 - Edavanna junction (joins SH 28)	44
SH 36	Thaliparamba – Iritty Road	Taliparamba - Sreekantapuram - Kalithodu - Iritty (joins SH 31)	46
SH 37	Adoor - Sasthamkotta road	Adoor - Thuvayoor - Bharanikavu junction - Sasthamkotta junction	18
SH 38	Puthiyangadi Koothuparamba – Chovva bypass	Puthiyangadi – Ulleri – Perambra – Kuttiyadi – Nadapuram – Erikkur – Panoor – Koothuparamba – Chovva bypass	43
SH 45	Thiruvananthapuram - Ponmudi road	Thiruvananthapuram - Chullimanoor - Vithura - Anappara junction - Lower Sanatorium - Ponmudi upper Sanatorium	61
SH 46	Kilimanoor-Alamcode	Kilimanoor junction.(SH 1 ) - Nagaroor - Karavaram - Alamcode junction (joins NH 47)	10
SH 47	Attingal – Nedumangad Road	Attingal (starts from Km of NH 47) - Valakkad - Venjaramoodu (joins SH 1 )	11
SH 42	Palakkad - Pollachi road	Palakkad (NH 47) - Athicode junction - Gopalapuram - Kerala Tamilnadu border	30
SH 53	Palakkad - Cherplassery – Perinthalmanna Road	Cherplasseri junction - Thootha - Perinthalmanna - joins SH 23	16

The atrial railway line practically runs along the length of the state with a few branch and bypass routes in between.


There are three airports in Kerala with both domestic and international connectivity. The Calicut ( Kozhikode) , Cochin ( Kochi) and Trivandrum ( Tiruvananthapuram ) airports are located roughly at the north central and southern part of kerala. The atrial railway line practically runs along the length of the state with a few branch and bypass routes in between. There are three airports in Kerala with both domestic and international connectivity. The Calicut ( Kozhikode) , Cochin ( Kochi) and Trivandrum ( Tiruvananthapuram ) airports are located roughly at the north central and southern part of kerala. Some of the longest distance trains in India passes via Kerala , for example the Trivandrum-Guwahati Express ( (3500 km ) , Jammu Tawi - Kanyakumari ( Himsagar Express) covering 3720km in 4 days too passes via Kerala. New Delhi - Trivandrum ( Kerala Express) operates daily .

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