KSRTC’s Aanavandi Revolution: Budget Buses Bring Kerala’s Wonders Within Reach

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s emerald hills and mist-shrouded forests have always lured explorers seeking serenity and adventure. Now, KSRTC’s Budget Tourism Cell—affectionately known as “Aanavandi”—invites even more travelers to experience these landscapes without stretching their wallets. In the past two months alone, the service completed 1,072 trips from 93 depots, generating 7.10 crore rupees and redefining affordable travel in the state.
April alone accounted for 4.54 crore rupees of that total, dwarfing the mere 16.74 lakh rupees earned in the same month last year. Nearly 63,000 passengers chose KSRTC’s leisure services in April 2025, compared to just over 26,000 in April 2024, underscoring the program’s explosive popularity among holidaymakers and pilgrims alike.
Among the current offerings, Munnar tops the list in popularity, closely followed by Gavi. The highlight in Munnar is the Royal View double-decker bus. The Munnar depot alone hauled in over 3,06,22,00 rupees from 75 excursions through the rolling tea estates and misty hills. In Wayanad, Kalpetta depot’s nine trips in March to the forested plateaus and spice-scented valleys generated more than 25 lakh rupees. Impressively, 80 percent of depots cleared for budget tours turned a profit, signaling strong participation across the state.

The Gavi package includes a traditional kuttavanchi (bowl boat) ride along the Kallar River in Adavi, followed by a trek to the mist-clad Parunthumpara. Services to Malakkappara run from all KSRTC depots. These packages specialize in forest routes with scenic viewpoints such as Athirappilly, Charpa, Vazhachal, Peringalkuthu Dam, Anakkayam Bridge, Sholayar Dam, and the region’s lush tea plantations.
For maritime adventures, KSRTC has partnered with the Inland Navigation Corporation to offer day cruises aboard the luxury vessel Nefertiti on the Arabian Sea. These three-deck cruises feature live music, regional cuisine, and onboard entertainment—and have quickly become a hit. Similar packages are available on the Sagararani and Suryanshu ships, further expanding Kerala’s touring panorama.
The appeal extends beyond leisure travelers. KSRTC’s targeted pilgrimage services have carried thousands to landmark festivals and temple circuits, including 103 special runs for Thiruvananthapuram’s famed Attukal Pongala. Multi-day routes now weave together the four-temple Nalambalam Yatra and the five-shrine Panchapandava pilgrimage, bringing devotees closer to Kerala’s rich spiritual heritage.

Recognizing the allure of agritourism, KSRTC recently added Mango Meadows—an interactive theme park in Kaduthuruthy—to its roster, introducing urban visitors to rural life and local farming traditions. Adventure seekers have embraced night jungle safaris from Mananthavady and Bathery, as well as the Chingeri Hills trek under Wayanad’s starlit skies. To accommodate overnight journeys, Bathery depot now operates sleeper buses with 61 berths across five vehicles.
Perhaps the program’s unexpected star is the Nilambur circuit: a route that threads through some of the world’s oldest teak plantations, the renowned Teak Museum, and the cascading Kakkadampoyil Waterfalls. Its blend of natural history and forest landscapes has struck a chord with nature enthusiasts nationwide.
With domestic tourism booming, KSRTC plans to expand Aanavandi’s offerings ahead of the monsoon season by adding new specialty routes and increasing trip frequencies. The success of Kerala’s budget-tourism cell could soon serve as a blueprint for state transport corporations across India, proving that thoughtfully designed, low-cost travel can unlock a region’s cultural and natural treasures for every kind of traveler.