Kannur is the gateway to North Malabar, a coastal district of long beaches, colonial forts and the fiery theyyam ritual performances. From Mysore the most direct road runs west through Hunsur and southern Coorg, crosses into Kerala at Makutta and drops down the ghat to Iritty and the coast, about 215 km in all. Our Mysore to Kannur cab handles the interstate paperwork in advance, and our drivers know the ghat well. Whether you are visiting family, catching a flight from Kannur International Airport at Mattannur or heading for a beach holiday, we drop you exactly where you need to be.
| Vehicle | Seats | One way (215 km) | Round trip (430 km, 1 day) | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swift Dzire or Similar Compact Sedan | 4 People | ₹3,625 ₹15/km | ₹5,560 | Book |
| Toyota Etios Premium Sedan | 4 People | ₹3,840 ₹16/km | ₹5,990 | Book |
| Maruti Ertiga or Similar Compact SUV | 6 People | ₹4,800 ₹20/km | ₹7,280 | Book |
| Toyota Innova Premium SUV | 7 People | ₹5,230 ₹22/km | ₹7,710 | Book |
| Toyota Innova Crysta Luxury SUV | 7 People | ₹5,875 ₹25/km | ₹8,570 | Book |
One-way fares include fuel and driver allowance (minimum 130 km). Round-trip fares are for the same car returning to Mysore, billed at the round-trip rate with a daily minimum. Tolls, parking and interstate permits are extra where they apply. Tempo Travellers, Urbania and mini buses are available for round trips.
Most people in Mysore think of Mangalore when they think of the coast, but Kannur is reached by a quieter road that crosses Kodagu's southern plantations instead of Madikeri. It is a beautiful drive: coffee and pepper estates around Gonikoppal and Virajpet, a forested ghat at the state border, and then the rubber plantations and coconut groves of Kerala as you descend. The road is narrower than a national highway in places, so a steady, unhurried driver makes a big difference.
A Karnataka tourist taxi needs a Kerala interstate permit or tax payment to enter the state. We arrange this before the trip so you are not held up at the border. The permit charge is usually listed separately from the base fare, along with any tolls and parking. You do not need to carry anything special yourself beyond the usual ID.
The Makutta stretch receives heavy rain from June to September, and in some years landslides have disrupted traffic for days. When this happens, the alternative is a longer route through Mananthavady in Wayanad or via Madikeri and Sullia towards the coast. We check the status before every monsoon departure and will tell you in advance if a detour or a change in timing is needed. Outside the monsoon the road is generally in good condition.
Kannur International Airport at Mattannur is reached before Kannur town, so an airport drop from Mysore is slightly shorter than a drop in the city. Because the route has a ghat, allow a generous buffer: for a domestic flight, leaving Mysore around seven hours before departure is sensible. For Gulf flights, which are common from Kannur, add another hour.
Kannur rewards a stay of a few days. The theyyam season runs roughly from November to May, when shrines across the district hold all-night ritual performances; locals can tell you where one is happening. The district's coastline includes Payyambalam beach in town and the Muzhappilangad drive-in beach near Thalassery, where vehicles are allowed on the firm sand. History lovers can visit St. Angelo Fort, built by the Portuguese, and the Arakkal Museum, once the palace of Kerala's only Muslim royal family. Thalassery, half an hour south, is known for its biryani, its cricket history and the old Thalassery Fort.
For a couple or small family, a Dzire or Etios is economical and handles the ghat well. For families visiting relatives with plenty of luggage, gifts and food packets, an Ertiga or Innova is more comfortable. Wedding parties and groups travelling to functions in Kannur or Thalassery often choose a tempo traveller; tell us the number of passengers and bags and we will suggest the right size.
Leave Mysore in the morning so you cross the ghat in daylight. Evening departures are possible as there is no fixed night ban on this route, but visibility on the forest stretch is limited after dark and the descent is far more relaxed by day. If you are coming back the same way, a morning start from Kannur is best for the same reason.
We also run Kannur to Mysore and Kannur to Bangalore, and can combine a Kannur visit with Coorg or Wayanad in a round trip. Call or WhatsApp +91 99725 37722 to plan it.
A small coffee town in south Kodagu, a good breakfast stop and the turn-off for Nagarhole's Kutta side.
A historic Kodagu town with the St. Anne's church and the clock tower, the last big town before the Kerala border.
The first major town on the Kerala side after the ghat, set on the Bavali river.
A Portuguese-built sea fort in Kannur with views over the Moppila Bay fishing harbour.
A long, firm-sand beach between Kannur and Thalassery where cars can drive along the shore.
The former palace of the Arakkal royal family, now a museum near Kannur city.
Around 215 km, which usually takes five and a half to six and a half hours depending on traffic in Kerala and conditions on the Makutta ghat.
No. We arrange the interstate permit for the vehicle before the trip. The charge is usually listed separately from the base fare.
It is usually open, but heavy rain has caused landslides and closures in some years. We check before departure and use an alternative route through Wayanad or Madikeri if needed.
Yes. The airport at Mattannur is on the way to Kannur town. Leave Mysore at least seven hours before a domestic departure, and a little earlier for international flights.
Yes. The route passes Gonikoppal and Virajpet, and a short coffee or lunch break is easy to fit in. For a proper Coorg halt with sightseeing, book it as a round trip.
Talk to our travel desk for a quote, extra stops or a bigger vehicle. We answer 24/7.
Call +91 99725 37722WhatsApp us