Force Urbania on Rent in Kerala

A Force Urbania sits on a taller, wider frame than the regular Tempo Traveller you'll see around Kerala. That extra height gives it a flat floor and more headroom, so even with the boot packed full, the ride stays steady. On routes with a lot of hill driving — Munnar, Wayanad, that kind of terrain — this difference is noticeable within the first hour. In Kochi, you'll mostly find the Urbania available in 10, 12, 15, and 17-seater options across fleets. If it's a smaller family, most people end up going for the 10-seater — yes, it costs a bit more, but the extra legroom and space per passenger usually makes it worth it. Bigger groups — college batches, office outings, wedding parties — go for the 15 or 17-seater so the whole group travels together instead of splitting into two vehicles.

Most fleets in Kerala stick to a similar base set of features. A handful of premium operators throw in extras like massage seats or an LED screen, but here's what you should expect as standard:

• Pushback seats, either 1x1, 2x1 or captain-seat layout
• AC vents for every row, not just the front
• USB charging points
• Extra room in the boot for luggage
• An ice box for cold drinks
• A first aid box
• Reading lights and a stereo

If a listing skips mentioning these, ask directly before paying anything. A few budget operators cut costs by dropping the ice box or squeezing the seats closer together.

Kochi to Munnar — This is the route everyone books first. It's roughly a 4-hour drive with around 36 hairpin bends on the way, and the Urbania handles that stretch noticeably better than most other vehicles. Drivers who do this route regularly usually know exactly where to stop for tea or a quick photo break — small thing, but it genuinely makes the long drive easier.

Kochi to Alleppey — Flatter and shorter, around 1.5 hours, and often paired with a houseboat stay. A lot of groups book this one-way and sort the return trip separately if they're covering more ground afterward.

Kochi to Wayanad — It's closer to 6 hours one way, so most people plan it as a 2-3 day trip instead of trying to squeeze it into a single day.

Kochi to Thekkady — About 5 hours to reach Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Groups often combine this with Munnar since the two aren't far apart on the map.

Kochi to Kovalam — Roughly 5 hours down the coast, either via Alleppey or the NH66, and a common pick for beach trips paired with a stop in Trivandrum.

Multi-day Kerala circuits — The Munnar-Thekkady-Alleppey-Kovalam loop over 5 to 7 days is what most agencies mean when they say "full Kerala tour," and you keep the same van and driver the whole way through.

Kochi has the largest concentration of Urbania fleets, partly because of its proximity to Cochin International Airport, and partly because most Kerala circuits start from here anyway. Landing at the airport and starting the trip the same day works out simplest if you book from Kochi.

Trivandrum has fewer operators but enough to cover south Kerala routes — Kovalam, Varkala, and trips toward the Tamil Nadu border. If your entire itinerary stays in the south, booking locally here usually costs less than bringing a van down from Kochi.

Calicut (Kozhikode) makes more sense if you're headed toward Wayanad, Bekal, or anywhere along the Malabar coast. There aren't as many agencies operating out of Calicut compared to Kochi, so it's worth booking a little early to avoid any last-minute scrambling.

Thrissur sits between Kochi and Calicut, and a small number of operators run from here too — mostly busy during temple festival season when local demand spikes.

Both show up constantly when you search for group travel in Kerala, so here's a quick side-by-side:

If the group is under 14 and cost matters more than extras, a Tempo Traveller does the job fine. If it's a wedding party or a corporate group where the experience matters, the Urbania is worth the difference.

Nearly every travel agency in Kochi lists an Urbania somewhere on their site now, so a few checks before booking can save you a bad trip:

Vehicle age — Ask whether it's a BS6 model from 2022 or later. Older vans tend to have tired seats and weaker AC.

Driver experience — On hill routes, a driver who actually knows the roads changes the whole trip.

Clear pricing — Get toll, permit and parking costs written down separately, not just quoted verbally over a call.

Real reviews — Reviews that name a specific driver or route usually say more than a generic five-star rating with no detail.

Cancellation terms — Kerala's monsoon can mess with travel plans, so check whether advance payments come back if something changes at the last minute.