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Major city · India

Punalurപുനലൂര്‍

Punalur.
Photo: Sandeepkrishnantm, CC BY-SA 4.0

Half a day covers the 1877 suspension bridge and Palaruvi Falls; sleep one night only if you want Thenmala and the falls without rushing.

Punalur is a small Kerala town on the Kallada River, 45 km northeast of Kollam and 75 km north of Thiruvananthapuram, on the Kollam–Shencotta rail line and the Main Eastern Highway (SH-08) and NH-208. The draw is what sits around it: the 1877 suspension bridge in town, Palaruvi Falls near Aryankavu, and Thenmala ecotourism along the Kallada. It works as a half-day stop or a quiet one-night base.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
INR
Best months
Nov–Feb
avoid Jun–Sep (southwest monsoon)
Airport
Thiruvananthapuram (TRV)
Nights
0–1

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Punalur: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 6
  • South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
  • South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
  • India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
  • India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
  • India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
  • India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Punalur112 ▾
  • Police / ambulance / fire112

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Punalur, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee₹30–60 (≈ under US$1)
  • Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, 5 km (3.1 mi)₹150–250 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Budget bedHotel or guest house, a night, per person₹750 (≈ US$9)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹800 (≈ US$10) · Mid ₹1,500 (≈ US$18) · High ₹2,500 (≈ US$30)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Suspension Bridge over the Kallada River (1877, 400 ft)Palaruvi Water Falls near AryankavuThenmala EcotourismKallada River fishing
Airports
TRV Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (about 75 km (47 mi) south; bus or taxi, roughly 2 h (check))

Map of Punalur

Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.

ThenmalaMannadiKonniAdoorChathannoorPathanamthittaBraemore EstatePonmudi

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

  • Punalur
  • Basic guide

Directions in Google Maps · Apple Maps

Guides nearby

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Best

    32°C (90°F)

  2. Feb

    Best

    33°C (91°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    34°C (93°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    34°C (93°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    33°C (91°F)

  6. Jun

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  9. Sep

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    31°C (88°F)

  11. Nov

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  12. Dec

    Best

    32°C (90°F)

Best: Nov–Feb. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →

Warmest Mar (34°C (93°F)), coolest Jan (22°C (72°F) low), wettest Jun (19 rain days), driest Jan (1). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Punalur: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

32°C (90°F)

22°C (72°F)

1 rd

Feb

33°C (91°F)

23°C (73°F)

1 rd

Mar

34°C (93°F)

24°C (75°F)

2 rd

Apr

34°C (93°F)

25°C (77°F)

5 rd

May

33°C (91°F)

25°C (77°F)

9 rd

Jun

30°C (86°F)

24°C (75°F)

19 rd

Jul

30°C (86°F)

23°C (73°F)

18 rd

Aug

30°C (86°F)

23°C (73°F)

15 rd

Sep

31°C (88°F)

23°C (73°F)

12 rd

Oct

31°C (88°F)

23°C (73°F)

12 rd

Nov

31°C (88°F)

23°C (73°F)

8 rd

Dec

32°C (90°F)

22°C (72°F)

3 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Local taxis and autorickshaws cover the town; the centre is walkable. KSRTC buses run to Adoor, Pathanamthitta and Kottarakara, all connected onward across Kerala.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Suspension Bridge, Kallada River

go

Door to door: About 15 min

Walk about 5 min from the town centre

Erected in 1877, 400 ft long, the only bridge of its kind in south India.

Palaruvi Water Falls

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Bus or taxi toward Aryankavu on the Shencotta road, about 30 min

Easy walk from the parking area; on the Kallada River route.

Thenmala Ecotourism

go

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Bus about 45 min north along the Kallada River

21 km (13 mi) from town; forest reserve with trekking and boating.

Jetayu Para (Jedayupara), Chadayamangalam

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Bus or taxi on the M.C. road

Huge rock tied to the Ramayana Jatayu legend; a trekking stop, not a quick look.

Anchal

caution

Door to door: About 45 min

Bus about 20 min south

13 km (8.1 mi) south; known for its cattle market, little else for a visitor.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Aaram Hotel, Kalayanadu, Plachery

Listed at ₹750 per night; basic rooms, phone +91-475-2231050.

PWD Rest House

Government guest house; phone +91 7594970461, rate check.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
₹800–1,200 (≈ US$10–14) excl. bed
Mid
₹1,200–2,000 (≈ US$14–25) excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel or guest house1 × 1 night × ₹750₹750
Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × ₹800₹800
Taxi from Punalur railway station to the town centre1 × ₹200 · check₹200
Bus to Palaruvi Falls, round trip1 × ₹150 · check₹150
eSIM data, about a week1 × ₹1,200 · check₹1,200
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge₹310
Trip total≈ ₹3,410 per person per day, bed included₹3,410≈ US$40

Aaram Hotel lists ₹750; PWD Rest House rate check.

2026 estimate in INR; flights and long-distance rail excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee₹30–60 (≈ under US$1)
Masala dosa₹40–80 (≈ under US$1)
Spice packet at the local market₹20–50 (≈ under US$1)
Taxi, 5 km₹150–250 (≈ US$2–3)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Generally safe for tourists. The real risks are wet, winding roads in the monsoon and unlit stretches after dark; agree autorickshaw fares before you get in.
  • Train services on the Kollam–Shencotta line are limited: check the timetable before you plan around a train.
  • Roads to the waterfalls turn slippery in the monsoon; skip the trekking at Jetayu Para in heavy rain.

Emergency numbers

Police / ambulance / fire
112

Pocket card

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Punalurപുനലൂര്‍

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

ദയവായി എന്നെ അവിടേക്ക് കൊണ്ടുപോകൂPlease take me there

Emergency

  • Police / ambulance / fire112

Embassy

US consulate in Thiruvananthapuram (check the address); other countries: consulates in Kochi or embassies in New Delhi.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Punalur railway station → town centre, taxi: about ₹200 (≈ US$3), 5 min (check)
  • Bus Punalur → Palaruvi Falls: about ₹150 (≈ US$2) one way, 30 min (check)

Say or show

  • ക്ഷമിക്കണം — Excuse me / Sorry (kshamikkana)
  • നന്ദി — Thank you (nandi)
  • ഇത് എത്രയാണ്? — How much is this? (ith ethraanu?)
  • ബിൽ തരാമോ? — Can I have the bill? (bill tharaamo?)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Punalur. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Feb · avoid Jun–Sep (southwest monsoon) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 2 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 2 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to India

Sources

Ask about Punalur

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