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Voykit pocket guide · India
Attingal
Skip Attingal as a destination: it's a transport stop on NH 47 between Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, with a few temples and a fort nearby. Half a day is enough if you're passing.
Attingal is the second-largest town in Thiruvananthapuram District, but it functions as a market and bus junction rather than a tourist base. The main draws are the nearby Anjengo Fort, backwaters and Varkala Beach, all better reached from other towns. Most travellers pass through on the way to Kollam or Varkala.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (heavy rain)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High ₹4,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus ride (local) | ₹15–50 |
| Auto-rickshaw (within town) | ₹50–150 |
| Vegetarian thali meal | ₹80–150 |
| Bottled water (1 L) | ₹20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TRV · Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
- 35 km (22 mi); buses and taxis available22 mi (35 km); buses and taxis available
Typical fares
- Thiruvananthapuram → Attingal (bus)
- about ₹40–60, 1 h
- Attingal → Varkala (bus)
- about ₹20–30, 30 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Auto-rickshaws and taxis are plentiful. Buses connect Attingal to nearby towns.
See and do
Known for
- Anjengo Fort
- Sarkara Bhagavathy Temple
- Attingal Revolution (first revolt against the British East India Company)
- Backwaters and akatumuri lagoon
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Anjengo Fort | Taxi or auto-rickshaw, about 20 min | About 30 min |
| Varkala | Bus or taxi, about 30 min | About 45 min |
| Kovalam | Bus via Thiruvananthapuram, about 1.5 h | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- Basic hotels and a PWD guest house; limited options.
- Varkala
- 15 km (9.3 mi) away, with a wider range of beachside accommodation.9.3 mi (15 km) away, with a wider range of beachside accommodation.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | എത്രയാണ്?ethrayaanu? |
| Where is the bus stop? | ബസ് സ്റ്റോപ്പ് എവിടെ?bus stop evide? |
| Thank you | നന്ദിnandi |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- June to September is the rainy season: carry an umbrella.
- The town is a transport hub; watch for traffic on NH 47.
- Anjengo Fort and backwaters are outside town; arrange transport in advance.
Attingal is generally safe, but watch for traffic on the highway and touts at the bus stand. Keep valuables secure in crowded markets.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Attingal yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Anjengo Fort
- Sarkara Bhagavathy Temple
- Attingal Revolution (first revolt against the British East India Company)
- Backwaters and akatumuri lagoon
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Attingal, revision 5301385 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5301385
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/attingal). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.