Kerala is well-known for its very well networked roads and the state of Kerala has 8 National Highways. These highways are designed such that they very well connect the cities and towns of Kerala and also to other bordered states to Kerala. The other road connectivity that makes the visitors of Kerala to easily explore its beauty is state highways that are total 50 in number. These state highways give easy passage and thus connecting all the towns and cities of Kerala. The highway roads are broad and have been kept in very good condition thus making travel of visitors easy and comfortable, though the type of weather that Kerala has sometimes ruin the condition of the roads. Kerala experiences heavy rainfall that spreads over a long period of time. The movement of heavy traffic is another possible reason for the bad roads in Kerala. Major Highways of Kerala are NH-17, NH-47, NH-47A, NH-49, NH-208, NH-212, NH-213, NH-220.

National Highways

NH 17

A total of 417 km long highway that is part of 8 National Highways in Kerala is the National Highway-17. The highway is longest in Kerala and runs from Panvel, Mumbai further connecting to NH 47 in Edapalli, Cochin. Being such a long highway it connects Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. The highway also diversifies the language that are spoken in various parts of India since its enroute one can hear Malayalam, Kannada and Tulu, Konkani, Hindi and Marathi.

The cities that form the part of journey through NH-17 are Edapalli, Paravoor- Kodungallore - Pallippuram - Gururvayur - Ponnani - Valakkulam - Tiruangadi - Kozhikode - Vadakara – Nadapuram Road - Thalassery - Kannur - Cherukunnu - Kokkanisseri - Hosdurg - Pallikara - Kasaragod –Manjeshwar. After moving out of Kerala through this highway one enters Mangalore city in Karnataka.

NH 47

The highway NH-47 is every time engaged with heavy traffic thus movement on this highway is always slow and one has to devote more time to move through this highway. Even covering a shortest distance at times can take hours to reach ones desired destination. The road of this highway has some of the cities major railway stations in Kerala. Reaching station may take time as this the busiest highway hence always plan in advance if planning to board a train from any one of these stations. The Kerala airport is also located on this highway. The two of the airports that are situated along this highway are Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram airport. The major reason for this highway being engaged with heavy traffic is that the highway has only 2 lanes though there are 4 lanes but at very rare times of its journey. This takes journey for the visitors a long time. The ghats that are enroute this highway is in the Palakkad Thrissur stretch. This highway is one of the exiting highways if one has to move to Tamil Nadu from Kerala.

The various cities that are the part of journey through this highway are Kaliyikkavilai in Tamilnadu and then the route covers Parassala, Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram city, Kazhakkuttam,  Attingal, Chathannu,  Kottiyam, Kollam, Karunagappally, Kayamkulam, Haripad, Ambalappuzha, Alappuzha, Cherthala (bypass), Aroor, Ernakulam (bypass), Kalamassery, Aluva, Angamali, Chalakkudy, Thrissur (bypass), Mannuthi, Vadakkumchery, Alathur, Palakkad (bypass), Walayar.

NH 47A

A highway that is just 6 km long and joins Kundannoor in Kochi to Willingdon Island in Cochin is named as NH-47 A. This is the smallest highway of India.

NH 49

The highway connecting the east and west coast is NH-49 that runs through Cochin to Rameswaram. The highway marks its beginning in Cochin and then moving from North-West direction in Muvattupuzha it goes in south-west direction that leads to Rameswaram. The enchanting view of several ghats, the tea plantation in Kerala and the wild life sanctuaries forms part of the route from Keral to Tamilnadu. The beautiful city of Munnar in Kerala is also part of this highway.

The cities that one can cover while travelling through this highway includes Cochin - Thripunithura -Muvattupuzha - Kotamangalam- Adimali - Devikulam – Bodimettu. This highway is also considered as an exit point to Tamil Nadu from Kerala.

NH 208

Another highway connecting Kollam and Thirumangalam is known as NH-208 that further connects NH-47 in Kerala. The road that forms part of Kerala doesn’t give any enchanting view to its travelers but on entering Tamil Nadu state one goes through the forest lane that makes their journey little interesting. The entire route of the journey also gives experience of first in India Ecotourism Park named as Thenmala.

Cities can be visit on going through NH-208 are Kottarakara - Thenmala - Aryankavu. The city of Aryankavu forms the border of Tamil Nadu.

NH 212

The cities that are covered while moving through NH-212 from Kozhikode to Mysore are Thamarasser, Kalpetta, Sultan Battery and Muthanga. This route also explores the Muthanga wildlife sanctuary and while moving along this highway one can get a glance of elephants and deers. To reach the Muthangs wildlife sanctuary one has to go through the precipitous and sharp curve roads.

NH 213

Another highway that runs from Palakkad to Malappuram and on the route goes through Mannarkkad, Perinthalmanna, Malappuram and Ramanattukara is the National Highway-213.

NH 220

The cities that form the part of NH-220 are Kollam – Kottarakara – Adoor – Thiruvalla – Kottayam – Kanjirapalli – Vandiperyar – Kumili.

The two extremes of NH-220 are Kollam and Teni. On approaching Teni NH-220 joins NH-49. The Periyar National Park in Thekkady is on the route from Kollam to Teni.