Getting to Your Workation in Idukki from Bangalore, Chennai and Kochi
How remote workers reach our workation in Pachady, Idukki: overnight buses from Bangalore and Chennai, flights to Kochi, trains, and the last 7 km by auto.
Work From Village is in Pachady, a small village 7 km from Nedumkandam in Idukki district, high in Kerala's hills between Munnar and Thekkady. No train or flight comes to the door, so the journey is part of the plan. Here is how remote workers usually get here from Bangalore, Chennai and Kochi, and how to plan the trip so it doesn't eat into your working week. Every route, with bus options and taxi rates, is also on our How to reach page.
From Bangalore or Chennai: the overnight bus
The simplest way is an overnight bus to Cumbum in Tamil Nadu, 39 km from the house. Several A/C and non-A/C sleeper buses run from Bangalore and Chennai every night. The trip takes about 10 to 12 hours and tickets cost roughly ₹1,000 to ₹3,000, depending on the season and the bus. You can book on redBus or a similar app.
From Cumbum, at least one bus an hour runs to Nedumkandam. These are ordinary public buses and are often tightly packed, so keep your laptop in a backpack you can hold on your lap. If you'd rather skip that leg, a taxi from Cumbum costs around ₹1,600 to ₹2,000 and takes up to 1.5 hours.
Some buses from Bangalore and Chennai also run to Kattappana, 20 km from the house, and a few go straight to Nedumkandam. From Kattappana it's a local bus to Nedumkandam, or about 45 minutes by taxi for around ₹1,000.
From Kochi: fly in, then up the hills
Cochin International Airport in Kochi is the nearest airport, about 113 km away. A taxi we arrange costs around ₹5,500. An app cab such as Uber is often closer to ₹3,500, so it's worth checking when you land. Either way, the drive takes about 3 to 3.5 hours.
On a budget? Buses from the airport area are rare, so take an app cab to Perumbavoor or Kothamangalam, then a bus to Adimaly (Kothamangalam has more direct Adimaly buses), and another bus from Adimaly to Nedumkandam.
By train: Aluva, Kottayam or Bodinayakanur
- Aluva, Kerala (114 km): the nearest station in Kerala. Take a Munnar bus from the nearby KSRTC bus station, get off at Adimaly and change for Nedumkandam. Allow at least 4 hours on the buses, plus waiting time. A taxi we arrange is around ₹5,000; an app cab is often around ₹3,000. Either takes 3 to 3.5 hours.
- Kottayam (128 km): private and KSRTC buses run to Nedumkandam and Kattappana in about 4.5 to 5 hours. A taxi is around ₹6,000 and takes about 4 hours.
- Bodinayakanur, Tamil Nadu (73 km): a few trains run from Chennai, and some from Madurai. Take a Munnar bus to Pooppara and change for Nedumkandam, or a taxi for around ₹3,500 (2.5 to 3 hours).
Madurai's railway station and airport are about 150 to 160 km away. Take a bus to Cumbum and on to Nedumkandam, or a taxi for around ₹6,500 to ₹7,000 (4 to 5 hours).
The last 7 km: Nedumkandam to Pachady
We don't pick up from Nedumkandam, but you won't need us to. There are plenty of on-demand auto rickshaws in town, and the ride to Pachady costs around ₹200. Shared jeeps (about ₹30) leave from the Pachady–Manajappara Jeep Stand, behind KGEES Jewellery. A few local buses (about ₹15) leave from the same junction at fixed times in the morning, at noon and in the evening.
Plan the journey around your work
- Travel on a day off. Overnight buses arrive in the morning, so plan to reach us on a weekend or the day before your working week starts, and open the laptop fresh the next morning.
- Book airport and railway taxis in advance. We can arrange them if you tell us ahead of time. Short-distance taxis from Nedumkandam, Kattappana, Cumbum or Bodinayakanur are not always available, though the host may come to pick you up if time permits.
- Pack for public buses. Laptop in a backpack, chargers within reach, and light luggage if you're changing buses.
- Allow extra time in the monsoon. From June to September the hill roads are slower. Try to finish the hill section in daylight.
- Check current fares. The prices here are approximate, as of November 2026. Message us for current taxi rates.
Once you're here, our guides to the workspace and weekend trips cover the rest of the week. For seasons and packing, read How to Plan a Workation in Idukki.
One overnight bus, one short auto ride, and Monday morning starts at a desk in the hills.