As a tourist visiting for the first time, getting around Honavar can be a bit of a challenge. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the various transport options available in Honavar, including public transportation, and private transportation.
Travel Options to Honavar
Honavar is well connected to major cities and if you are driving your own vehicle Google Maps is pretty accurate. You have enough and more public transport to Honavar.
Travel to Honavar by Bus
Shreekumar Travels operates the most number of buses to Honavar from Bengaluru.
VRL Travels also operates some buses from cities like Hyderabad & Mumbai.
Sleeper buses are very comfortable and makes overnight journey saving you the time.
However, when you travel by bus you will most start in the night time and reach Honavar early morning. Same for return travel as well. The standard check-in time of hotels and homestays are around 2pm and you might have to pay extra for early check-in or late-checkout.
Travel to Honavar by Train
Honavar is also well connected by Indian railways. The route is very scenic and operated by Konkan Railways.
If you are travelling from Bengaluru to Honavar, you also have an option to choose vista dome train. A vista dome coach, also known as a dome car, is a type of rail passenger car that features a raised section on the top of the car, typically made of glass, which allows passengers to have a panoramic view while traveling. The vista dome coach typically has seating in the dome section as well as in the lower section of the car. These coaches were popular in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s, especially on long-distance trains and scenic routes. They were designed to give passengers an enhanced travel experience by allowing them to take in the views while they travel. Today, Vista dome coach are less common in passenger trains but some tourist trains still use them. Vistadome train start from Bengaluru early morning, passes through breathtaking views of western ghats and reaching Honavar post sunset. You can easily book the vistadome train online and it costs around Rs.2195 per person.
Vistadome Train Schedule from Bengaluru to Honavar via Mangalore:
- Train Number: 16515
- Train Name: Yesvantpur Karwar Express
- Starting Station: Yeshwantpur Junction (YPR)
- Days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- Start Time: 7:00AM
- Honavar Station Code: HNA
- Reaches Honavar at: 8:24PM
Vistadome Train Schedule from Honavar to Bengaluru via Mangalore:
- Train Number: 16516
- Train Name: Karwar Yesvantpur Express
- Honavar Station Code: HNA
- Days: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
- Start Time from Honavar: 6:28AM
- Bengaluru Station Code: Yeshwantpur Junction (YPR)
- Reaches Bengaluru at: 8:45PM
Travel to Honavar by Air
Honavar does not have an airport but is centrally located with easily drivable distance to several airports.
- Option 1: Mangalore International Airport
- Airport code: IXE
- Distance: Approx. 175kms
- Travel Time: Approx. 3 hours, 15 minutes
- Road Condition: Very Good Highway
- Option 2: Goa International Airport, Dabolim
- Airport Code: GOI
- Distance: Approx. 175kms
- Travel Time: Approx. 3 hours, 45 minutes
- Road Condition: Very Good Highway
Fun Fact: It takes less time to reach honavar from Mangalore airport than it takes to reach your home in Electronic City from Bangalore Airport.
Local Travel Around Honavar
Travelling around Honavar is easy with good road connectivity to most places. If you are travelling on your own vehicle, Google Maps is pretty reliable. We will cover all the local travel options in Honavar below:
Local Bus in Honavar:
The primary mode of public transportation in Honavar is buses. The city has a well-connected network of buses that run regularly to and from various parts of the city. The buses are operated by the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and are a cheap and convenient option for getting around Honavar. You can purchase bus tickets on the bus itself.
Tempo in Honavar
Tempo or City Ride Vehicle are public transport run by private people and commonly used by local people. They have higher frequency than government buses and cost the same as government buses in Honavar. They will stop at all the bus stop and will also make private stops and pickups anywhere based on request. Just wave your hand to hope-on to one and take the ride 🙂
Auto-rickshaw in Honavar
Another option for easy transportation around Honavar is the auto-rickshaw. These three-wheeled vehicles are a common sight on the streets of Honavar and can be hailed on the street or booked in advance. They are a very affordable and can be a good option for short trips. The minimum price is generally Rs.50 and commonly price around Rs.20 per km(counting one way kms).
Taxis and Cab Rental in Honavar
If you prefer a more comfortable and convenient mode of transportation, you can opt for cab service in Honavar. Taxis and car rentals are provided by several individual service providers and few companies. You may not be able to find them at the last moment, so always book in advance.
Prices for taxis & cab rental in Honavar will vary depending on the vehicle and the distance traveled. Four seater cab rental price is generally from Rs.12 to Rs.15 per km, subject minimum of Rs.1000. Cab service providers are not available for short distance like in metro cities, so it is generally recommended for to half-day or full-day cab service. They also charge different for AC & Non-AC modes, so if you need AC do specify that in the starting itself.
For your convenience here are some of the cab service providers in Honavar:
- Canara Tours (Identity Verified):
Website: canaratours.com
Vehicle Type: Based on Requirement, 4, 6 or 7 sectors.
WhatApp/Call: 8762624000
- Ramesh (Identity Verified):
Call: 9449986793
- Manju:
Vehicle: Toyota Etios (4+1)
Call: 9449360606
- Sunil:
Vehicle: Maruti Swift Dzire (4+1)
Call: 9482787315
- Harish Mesta:
Vehicle: Toyota Etios (4+1)
Call: 9964212949
- Raghu:
Vehicle: Maruti Swift Dzire (4+1)
Call: 9880036713
- Vivek:
Vehicle: Toyota Etios (4+1)
Call: 8971627326
- Sachin:
Vehicle: Maruti Celerio (4+1)
Call: 9741877898
- Deelip Divgi:
Vehicle: Maruti Ertiga (6+1)
Call: 8970165473
- Hanumantha:
Vehicle: Maruti Ertiga (6+1)
Call: 9448729300
- Mani:
Vehicle: Maruti Ertiga & Mahindra Xylem (7+1)
Call: 94472675258
- Santosh Naik:
Vehicle: Toyota Innova
Call: 7019178402
When you call the service providers do not forget to mention that you found their details on Honavar.com and ask for special discount 🙂
The information provided on this website is on best effort basis through our local contacts, without any guarantee. We do not charge them for listing the information on the website or take any commission. If you found any issue or information being outdated, please let us know and we will update it accordingly. This will be helpful for the next traveller.
In conclusion, Honavar offers a variety of transport options to suit the needs of all travelers. Whether you prefer public transportation or private transportation, Honavar has you covered. With this comprehensive guide, you can navigate the city with ease and make the most of your trip to Honavar.