Kerala is an Indian southwestern state that occupies part of the historical region of Malabar on the coast of the Arabian Sea. Glossy travel magazines call Kerala "the new paradise on earth" and put this place on the list of must-see places in this life. These advertising slogans resonate with travelers who dream of long, deserted beaches, shady palm groves, tropical jungles, picturesque lagoons, Hindu shrines and other wonders. How to get to Kerala simply, quickly and inexpensively is our story.
Kerala's three airports
Kerala has three cities with international airports: the state capital, Trivandrum; Cochin; Kozhikode, which serves Calicut Airport. These airports are among the 15 busiest airports in India and receive aircraft from around the world.
There are no direct flights from Moscow to Kerala. We'll have to fly with one change in one of the eastern cities. The fastest flight to Trivandrum, the state's southernmost airport, with a connection in Dubai, which takes just 11 hours and 15 minutes, is offered by Aeroflot and Emirates Airlines. Airplanes of the carrier "Qatar Airways" fly through Doha to the same Trivandrum. The flight through Abu Dhabi is operated by Etihad Airways. You can fly to Trivandrum International Airport with connections in Bahrain and New Delhi.
Cochin Airport, which is located in the center of Kerala state, can be reached from Moscow in about 10 hours and also with one change. This airport is connected with Moscow by aircraft of the following companies: "Gulf Air", "Qatar Airways", "Etihad Airways", "Emirates". On flights to Cochin, Aeroflot works in tandem with carriers Emirates, Oman Air and Air India.
How to get to Kerala, or rather to the northernmost airport in the state - Calicut International Airport? There is only one flight from Moscow with the only connection, which takes place in Abu Dhabi. The flight will take about 12 hours. All other offered flights are complex - with two transfers, for example, in Dubai and Doha, Bahrain and Muscat, Vienna and Doha, etc.
From any of the Kerala airports, you can reach the resorts located on the coast. Even the smallest towns have good bus connections to the larger centers, where planes arrive.
How to get to Kerala by train
Of course, it would never occur to anyone to travel from Moscow to Kerala by train: it is expensive, long and impractical. The train can be used if you are already in India and want to continue your vacation in the resorts of Kerala. There are large train stations in Cochin and Trivandrum, where trains arrive from different parts of India. Kerala can be easily reached by train from Delhi, Kolkata, Goa, etc. Trains to the Arabian Sea leave crowded, so buying tickets for them should be taken care of in advance. A ticket for any Indian train can be purchased online.
Buses to Kerala
A budget option on how to get to Kerala is offered by several bus carriers, among which there are both private and public companies. The most famous is the Indian state-owned company Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation. At her disposal are buses of various types. Foreign tourists usually choose comfortable Volvo cars, which are equipped with air conditioners, which makes a trip around the sultry Kerala almost a pleasure. Most flights between towns in Kerala are night flights, as Indians themselves prefer to travel when the heat subsides.
