Exploring Thiruvananthapuram city in KSRTC Swift’s ‘Nagarakazhchakal’ ride

Experience the scenic beauty of Thiruvananthapuram on KSRTC Swift's City Ride - Nagarakazhchakal, an open-top electric double-decker tour.

Ever since I made Thiruvananthapuram home some 17 years ago, travelling in Kerala State Road Transport Corporation’s (KSRTC) double-decker bus has been on my wishlist. It finally materialised, thanks to KSRTC Swift’s City Ride - Nagarakazhchakal, a sightseeing trip through Thiruvananthapuram city, on an open-top electric double-decker.

A flood of reels and vlogs on social media about Nagarakazhachakal was tempting enough to book a trip. A Budget Tourism initiative of KSRTC, Nagarakazhchakal was launched in March 2024. Two high-end electric buses - one blue and the other brown - take passengers through major roads of Thiruvananthapuram from East Fort and back. The hourly trips, each two-hour long and covering 40 kilometres, start at 3pm and the last trip is at 10pm.

I had booked the ticket online for the 5pm trip and as instructed via SMS and email, arrived at East Fort 15 minutes before the scheduled time, with my colleague. I had received the contact number of the crew member on my phone by then. After a five-minute delay the bus arrived, fresh from the previous trip.

Students and families hopped in as we waited in our assigned seats on the 64-seater bus. As I wondered why the bus was not crowded, Binu T, the driver of the trip, said, “More people turn up for late evening trips. It becomes difficult to manage when all of them make a beeline for the seats on the upper deck.”

The sun was still out when the trip started and it was hot especially when it took a while for the bus to squeeze itself out from among the buses parked at the bus stand.

As we made our way through the crowded MG Road, Arun PS, the conductor, pointed out major landmarks on the route on the microphone. By then the shutterbugs were in action, clicking pictures and shooting videos.

Although the route and the places were familiar, it felt new and fresh; maybe because of the view I had from atop the bus. The city had a different vibe about it and we proceeded leaving behind several curious passers-by.