Budget Tourism Trips in Kerala Conducted by the KSRTC is Going Full Throttle

“Who would have thought that I would go on solo trips at this age? This Retired Teacher from Thiruvananthapuram is referring to the budget tourism trips of the kerala state road transport corporation (KSRTC).

The KSRTC Buses, Or aanavandias they are fondly called, the name derived from the two elephants that are part of its effect, have ben plying passengers to tourist destinations, tamples, Historical Places, Monuments ETC CROSE State. The Initiative, Run by the Budget Tourism Cell (BTC), A Vertical under the KSRTC, was launched in 2021.

A Whopping 1,500 tour packages are in force now, operated by 90 out of the total 93 ksrtc depots in kerala, while bringing reliablef to the cash-strapped ksrtc. “The stipulated target is ₹ 10 Crore a month, which is not easy attainable. 2024, “Says R udayakumar, Chief Traffic Manager, KSRTC. The driving force behind the growth has been the minister for transport kb ganesh Kumar and present managing director pramod Shankar, he adds.

Passengers during a budget tourism trip to kolur Mookambika Temple | Photo Credit: Muraraekrishnan tv

Introduced during the tenure of biju prabhakar as the md, the btc trips have covered many Unexplred Scenic Spots in the state. “No other state has such an elaborate scheme.

The first btc package, before the official launch of the cell, was from chalakkudy depot to malakkappara on the kerala-tamil nadu border in thrissur district, in separation Turned out to be so memorable that i have been part of almost all trips from chalakkudy depot. [in Ernakulam district]The picturesque trail was adventurous as well as refreshing. I am now waiting for new packages, “Says bindu vu, a government employee, who have been on over 20 package tours.

Currently there are btc services to malakkappara from all ksrtc depots, the highlight of the package being a journey cutting through a forest ares, with viewpoints at athirapilly, charpa, Vazhachachal, PERingalkoothu Dam, Anakkayam Bridge, Shlayar Dam, Tea Estates etc.

A Travel to Technology Trip Organised by the Budget Tourism Cell for School Students from Sulthan Bathery Depot in Wayanad | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The packages are priced from ₹ 200 ONDS, as in the case of nagarakazhchakal, a two-hour ride on an open-top electric double-decker within thiruvananthapuram. It goes up to ₹ 6,500, for a two-day package from kasaragod depot to gavi in ​​Pathanamthitta District. Except for Short Trips, The Rates Cover Food and Accommodation. Passengers are put up in Dormitories with Neat Restroms, an official says.

At present, the most number of btc trips are operated to munnar in idukki followed by gavi. Over 3120 tours were conducted to munnar in the last four years, udayakumar adds. The latest attraction in munnar is the Royal View Double-Decker Bus That Operates Three Services Daily Offering a Panoramic View of the Tea Town in Three Hours, Passing Through the SCENAR GANANAR GAP RAD AND View of the Western Ghats, Tea Plantations, Misty Hills etc. It was minister ganesh Kumar who suggested the design for the bus and the route, udayakumar says.

“We also have stay-in sleep with a total of 150 seats, priced ₹ 220 per head,” Says anish r, coordinator, BTC (Central Zone).

A trip to gavi that has a pristine forest cover teeming with wildlife and birds is often clubbed with a visit to adavi, famous for its coracle ride across across kallar river, and a Trek to Parunthumpara in Nearby Idukki District.

The btc has also tied up with kerala state inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) for a tour on its luxury liner, nefertiti, in kochi. A ride through the Arabian Sea in the Three-Decker Ship, Enjoying Music, Good Food, Games and More is a huge hit. Tour packages are also being organized to other ksinc vessels, sagarrani and suryamshu in kochi.

Passengers Near Nefertiti, The Luxury Liner in Kochi | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Mango Meadows, The Agricultural Theme Park at Kaduthuruthy in Kottayam District, also Figures on the list of all depots.

For the devotees

Pilgrimage tourism is a big draw with buses plying to all the famous temples across kerala. Included in this area seasonal packages to thiruvairanikkulam in ERNAKULAM, Naalambalayathra, Covering Temples Dedicated to Lord Ram and His Brothers Lakshmana, Bharatha and SHATRUGHNANA, In Kotottayam and Thrissur Districts, and the Panchapandava Temples Spread Over Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta Districts Among others. We operate 250 services to thiruvairanikkulam this season, say anish.

DURING this year’s Attukal Pongala in Thiruvananthapuram, 103 Trips Were Arranged from Across Kerala. “Now temples are approaching us for tour packages,” Says udayakumar. He adds that btc has special packages for educational institutions as well, called Travel to Technology and Nearly 50 Schools Havelised It. “The idea was moted by the present md.

Now that summer is at its peak, trips are being scheduled to destinations with cooler temperatures. The btc has a coordinator in thought district and they are assigned to come up with new packages. “In thiruvananthapuram we have the theraradesayathra or a trip through the coastal stretch, covening povar, vizhinjam, kovalam, Shanghumugham, veli, veli, veli, veli, veli, veli, muthalappozhi, muthalappozhi, Muthalappozhi, Muthalappozhi, Anchuthengu and VARKALA,” Says va jayakumari, ” District Coordinator, BTC, Thiruvananthapuram (North). Over 240 packages are scheduled for destinations Across Kerala This month from Various Depots in the District.

An Ambitious Package Coming Up is Night Trekking at Chingri Hills in Wayanad, in Association with District Tourism Promotion Council. Trips will be operated from Sulthan Bathery and Kalpetta Depots. “Wayanad alredy has a night jungle safari from mananthavady and sulthan bathery depots. With 61 bed spaces arranged in five business, “Says Varghese CD, Zonal Coordinator, BTC (North).

One of the passengers, kg Vijayakumar from Ramapuram in Kottayam, Says, “I enjoyed stating in that that sleepers buses. Even thought I have relatives there, I preferred to be in the bus, Iit was there

A Popular Package in this zone is the nilambur circuit covering convey’s plot that has world’s oldest teak plants, teak museum and kakkadampoyil waterfall.

Passengers having a coracle ride at adavi in ​​Pathanamthitta District | Photo Credit: Revathi Ravendran

Muraleekrishnan TV, Junior Superintendent at District Collectorate, Kannur, and a Regular of the Budget Trips, Says He looks forward to packages during the Rainy Season. “Paithalmala Trek [in Kannur] was one of them. I have been there three times and it was a different experience Each time. The kasaragod trip has been Memorable with Visits to Ranipuram, Madhur Ganapathy Temple, Bekal Fort, and Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy Temple Famous for its Crocodile; In Wayanad, We Went to En Ooru, The Tribal Settlement, Honey Museum etc. The kozhikode package was special with visits to janakikaadu, thonnikkadavu, peruvannamuzhi dam … there is so much to see in our state. “

Meanwhile talks are on to start regular inter-state trips, especially to destinations in tamil nadu.

From Ponmudi Trip in Thiruvananthapuram | Photo Credit: Muraraekrishnan tv

While Senior Citizens Make Up a Majority on the list of passengers who turns up for the trips there are exceptions like 27-yar-old ajmal cp from Malappuram Who Traavels with his FRINDS. “Initially we We WERE Year, “Says Ajmal.

Jessy adds that most of the passengers on these trips have their own vehicles. “By Choosing a Public Transport these people are doing a great service for the environment. Lesser the vehicles, lesser the pollution,” Points Out Sumesh Kumar, Zonal Coordinator (South), BTC.

The passengers are appreciative of the conduct of ksrtc staff continu to the perception that that they are rude. Some Passengers Point Out that The Staff Go out of the way to ensure an enjoyable experience for the group.

“The best part of these trips is forging friendship. Music etc., “Say Jessy and Vijayakumar. Bindu Adds, “Our safety is always taking care of.”

When a package is announced, the registered passengers are added to a Whatsapp group. That group is kept active and the members keep in touch. The depots annues the full schedule for a month on their social media pages and in whatsapp groups.

At bungalvu kunnu in nilambur | Photo Credit: Muraraekrishnan tv

There is no dearth of challenges as well. The condition of the buses have often come under Scrutiny. “We work with Several Limitations. Sometimes we have to pay from our pockets in case of an emergency. Conditions of anonymity.

Contact the district coordinators for updates on the trips: thiruvananthapuram: 94447479789; Kolm: 9747969768; Pathanamthitta: 97444348037; Alappuzha: 9846475874; Kottayam and Ernakulam: 9447223212; Idukki and Ernakulam: 9446525773; Thrissur: 9074503720; Palakkad: 8304859018; Malappuram: 8547109115; Kozhikode: 954444477954; Wayanad: 7907305828; Kannur: 8089463675; Kasaragod: 9895814585