Bangalore to Thenmala Force Urbania
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Thenmala eco-tourism zone
Parking at the entry. Elders can do the easy parts.
Parappar Dam
Boating if open, about an hour.
Palaruvi Falls
A short drive, about two hours in all.
Distance
615 km
From Bangalore
Time
About 12.5 hr
Via Salem, Sankarankovil and Aryankavu
Starting from
₹ 60000
5 days, 1,500 km, any size
Start
90 km
205 km
295 km
375 km
440 km
525 km
545 km
580 km
605 km
615 km
Pickup at home
The Urbania collects the group at 4:30 am. It is a long day of about 615 km, so elders get the front rows and a cushion, and the reclining seats come into their own after lunch. Pickups south of Koramangala reach the Silk Board elevated road without the Sarjapur Road junction. The Tamil Nadu border at Attibele, about 32 km out, comes before sunrise. Tea is at Krishnagiri and breakfast at Salem.
Coffee
Krishnagiri, about 90 km out, is a ten minute coffee and washroom stop, as breakfast is planned at Salem. The NH44 stretch here is being widened to six lanes, so the driver keeps a steady pace through the work zones. Ramapuram, near the town, has a Rama temple about 500 years old, and the Kattuveera Anjaneya temple is in town. In summer the mango stalls are hard to miss. The Urbania heads on south.
Breakfast
Salem, about 205 km out, is breakfast, 25 minutes at a hotel on the bypass where the van parks near the door. Mookaneri lake in the city is a bird watching spot, and Mettur dam is about 52 km away, both for another trip. Summer here peaks in April, and the monsoon starts from mid June. The Urbania keeps on NH44 past the turn for Coimbatore, towards Karur. Elders can stay seated in the van during the halt if they prefer.
Drive through
Karur, about 295 km out, is passed on NH44. It stands on the Amaravathi, Kaveri and Noyyal rivers, and its workshops build coach bodies used all over India. The Karur bus stand is near the centre, well away from the highway. Ponnaniyar dam in the Kadavur hills is a local picnic spot. Late morning here is hot from April to June, so the AC matters. Dindigul is the lunch stop.
Lunch
Dindigul, about 375 km out, is lunch, about forty minutes, and elders can rest in the cool van after eating. A rice meal with sambar and rasam is gentler than the town's famous biryani. Dindigul sits at about 265 m and is about 66 km from Madurai. Sungudi sarees are sold here, and the Sirumalai hills are about 25 km off on the Natham road. The Urbania then heads past Madurai to Thirumangalam.
Smaller road
At Thirumangalam, about 440 km out, the Urbania turns off the big highway onto NH744, a narrower road for Rajapalayam and Kollam. Madurai lies about 20 km back, and its airport about 15 km from here. It is a dry town, with rain of only about 410 mm a year and highs close to 39 C. Its old Patrakali Mariamman temple dates from 1852. Rajapalayam is about 85 km on, through flat farm country.
Cotton City
Rajapalayam, about 525 km out, is called Cotton City, with spinning and weaving mills all around and surgical gauze made at nearby Chatrapatti. The town lies on the Madurai to Kollam highway about 12 km from the hills, and its mangoes are well known in season. The Rajapalayam dog breed carries the town's name. The Urbania drives through, and the tea halt follows at Sankarankovil, about 20 km on. Keep water handy, as the afternoon here is hot.
Tea break
Fifteen minutes for tea at Sankarankovil, about 545 km out. Three shrines stand in its temple, to Sankareswarar, Gomathi Amman and Sankaranarayanar, and the Adi Thabasu festival is its biggest day. Elders who wish can go in for darshan while the others rest. The town's nearly 4,000 powerlooms weave terry towels and cotton saris, an easy buy. Madurai airport is about 120 km back. Tenkasi follows, about 35 km on.
Courtallam, if time
Tenkasi, about 580 km out, offers an optional hour. The Kasi Viswanathar temple, built in 1467 by Parakirama Pandian, stands by the Seevalaperi tank in town, an easy visit for elders. Courtallam is about 5 km away if the group wants a look. Tenkasi gets most of its 1,194 mm of rain in October and November. Thoothukudi airport is about 91 km away. From here NH744 rises gently towards Shenkottai and the pass.
Into Kerala
The pass into Kerala comes at Aryankavu, about 605 km out, and the Urbania stops only for the check post papers. This Schencottah gap is low, under 300 m, so the road over it has bends but no steep climb, easy on elders. Aryankavu figures in the Sabarimala legend as a pilgrim place, and trains on the Kollam line use two stations here. Punalur is about 36 km on and Thenmala about 10 km.
Drop at your stay
The Urbania reaches Thenmala about 12.5 hours after the start. The town lies about 14 km inside Kerala on NH744, about 66 km from Kollam. Ask the stay for ground floor rooms for elders and a dinner time that suits them, as the town is small and quiet. Thenmala's honey is the product to buy here. Thiruvananthapuram is about 69 km away by the same highway. The driver stays near the stay for the days of the trip.
Want a comfortable van to Thenmala for 8 to 16 people, with elders in the group? Our Bangalore to Thenmala Force Urbania notes cover the route, stops and the rate for each size. The Force Urbania rides quietly over a long two-state drive. Book Force Urbania on rent in Bangalore with Tejas Tours & Travels.
Route | One way | Thenmala and back | Time by Urbania |
|---|---|---|---|
Bangalore to Thenmala via Salem, Sankarankovil and Aryankavu | About 615 km | About 1,230 km | About 12.5 hr with stops |
All Urbania sizes are ₹40 a km. Thenmala is about 615 km away, so 5 days are billed at 1500 km. Tolls, parking, GST and interstate permits show separately on the quote. The km rate includes fuel, driver and air conditioning; the daily driver allowance is billed separately.
Vehicle | Rate per km | 5 days, 1,500 km | 6 days, 1,800 km | 7 days, 2,100 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
₹40 | ₹63,500 | ₹76,200 | ₹88,900 | |
₹40 | ₹63,500 | ₹76,200 | ₹88,900 | |
₹40 | ₹63,500 | ₹76,200 | ₹88,900 | |
₹40 | ₹63,500 | ₹76,200 | ₹88,900 | |
₹40 | ₹63,500 | ₹76,200 | ₹88,900 |
Totals are the km fare plus the day driver allowance. Extra: night driver allowance (₹700 a night), tolls, parking and GST. Shared by 16, 6 days in the 16 Seater Urbania is about ₹4,760 a person.
Up to 9 people: 9 seater Urbania. 10 to 12: 12 seater Urbania. 13 to 16: 16 seater Urbania. Same ₹40 a km for each.
To spend less, the Bangalore to Thenmala tempo traveller takes the same group. A small family can go in the Bangalore to Thenmala cab.
Cancellation: no charge more than 72 hours before pickup; see the cancellation policy for the rest.
8 Seater Urbania
LUXURYAC8 Seats
₹61,810 ₹74,700
+ ₹11000 (Taxes & Charges)
9 Seater Urbania
LUXURYAC9 Seats
₹61,810 ₹74,700
+ ₹11000 (Taxes & Charges)
10 Seater Urbania
LUXURYAC10 Seats
₹61,810 ₹74,700
+ ₹11000 (Taxes & Charges)
12 Seater Urbania
LUXURYAC12 Seats
₹61,810 ₹74,700
+ ₹11000 (Taxes & Charges)
13 Seater Urbania
LUXURYAC13 Seats
₹61,810 ₹74,700
+ ₹11000 (Taxes & Charges)
15 Seater Urbania
LUXURYAC15 Seats
₹61,810 ₹74,700
+ ₹11000 (Taxes & Charges)
16 Seater Urbania
LUXURYAC16 Seats
₹61,810 ₹74,700
+ ₹11000 (Taxes & Charges)
Bangalore to Coorg
So nice that the service we have received from Tejas travellers. Ms Revati is very good coordinator and so polite and have much patience. Thank you so much for making our journey nice and beautiful with sending experienced drivers.🙂
Rahul
15/6/2026 Coorg
5/5
Bangalore to Pondicherry
We recently completed our Pondicherry trip with Tejas Tours and Travel Company, and overall we had a very good experience. Shashikala coordinated with us from enquiry to booking and throughout the trip. She was well-communicated, supportive, and checked in with us daily to ensure everything was fine.
Souvik Bhattacharya
6/4/2026 Pondicherry
5/5
Travelled to Bangalore
Hired for day-out trip, It was very pleasant and comfortable journey, with good driver's behaviour and l may strongly suggest Tejas travels for better and comfortable family trip
Kishore Lal
6/11/2025 Bangalore
5/5
Bangalore to Madikeri
Booked Urbania from tejas travels, bangalore to madikeri. Excellent service, driver was very polite and he knows all nook and corner. Overall we enjoyed the trip
Jai Kumar
1/1/2026 Madikeri
5/5
Thenmala lies about 615 km from Bangalore, about 1,230 km for the round trip. The road follows NH44 by Salem, Karur and Dindigul to Thirumangalam near Madurai, then NH744 through Rajapalayam, Sankarankovil, Tenkasi and the Aryankavu pass. The Urbania takes about 12.5 hours with meals and tea, leaving at 4:30 am.
5 days, 1500 km at ₹40/km: ₹60,000. Driver allowance ₹700/day a day. Tolls, permits and GST extra.
Yes. Two long road days are easier in a quieter van with more headroom.
The 16 seater. All sizes are on Force Urbania on rent in Bangalore.
We arrange Urbania vans from owners we work with, under our booking and rate.
Madurai is the usual halt.
December to February. The plains from Salem to Rajapalayam are cooler then, and the Kerala side is past its heavy rain. March to May is hot, with Thirumangalam near 39 C, so the long afternoon drags even with the AC on. Tenkasi's wettest months are October and November, when the pass is slower.
Yes. Children can move between the rows of the Urbania, and four halts in the day mean nobody sits longer than about three hours. Pack a seat bag with their snacks, a bottle and spare clothes. The Aryankavu pass has only gentle bends, but a child prone to sickness should still get a window.
