Kerala Transport

lizandclare · Feb 19th, 2008, 16:35

Hi!

Great site, it was recommended via thorntree forum, I have been taking lots of notes!! We are travelling to Kerala on 28th Feb, staying with friends in Kovalam. We (my sister and I) want to do as much as possible in the eight days we are there, but ideally without having to spend too many nights away (since accommodation with our friends is free, and our 85 year old grandma is coming, so we don’t want to leave her behind for too long) . Is it possibly to do Allapuzha/Periyar/ other attractions as day trips from Kovalam using public transport? We also want to go to Munnar, but that is going to have to be overnight isn’t it?

Thanks so much for your help!!

Nick-H · Feb 19th, 2008, 20:14

Welcome

You could do Kanyakumari in a day trip. On the way is the wooden palace; a superb building to visit.

Trivandrum, of course, is on your doorstep.

Alleppey should be possible by train (three hours?) --- but that is already half your day on the train. Peryar is too far. Obviously Munnar is farther.

My knowledge of the area is sketchy: I hope someone else can contribute.

Sailaway · Feb 19th, 2008, 21:08

Not an expert, but I think you could do some backwaters from Kollam (probably the Southern limit for the backwaters), which is one hour by train from Trivandrum. Hope you'll enjoy the trip!

htid · Feb 19th, 2008, 21:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailaway

Not an expert, but I think you could do some backwaters from Kollam (probably the Southern limit for the backwaters), which is one hour by train from Trivandrum. Hope you'll enjoy the trip!

1 hour? Looking at erail.in it's more like 4 hours.

Sailaway · Feb 19th, 2008, 21:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by htid

1 hour? Looking at erail.in it's more like 4 hours.

It's about 70 km from Trivandrum - one hour by most trains?

Nick-H · Feb 19th, 2008, 21:52

About an hour, yes, according to the timetable.

htid · Feb 19th, 2008, 22:36

What's this on about then

Is erail wrong?

Code:

Train   Name                    From    Dep     To      Arrival Travel
2076	Jan Shatabdi	Avl	Tvc	06.25	Ers	09.50	03.25
2202	Ltt Garib Rath	Avl	Kcvl	08.50	Ern	13.10	04.20
2431	Rajdhani Exp	Avl	Tvc	19.15	Ers	22.30	03.15
2512	Raptisagar Exp	Avl	Tvc	05.20	Ers	09.20	04.00
2515	Guwahati Exp	Avl	Tvc	12.45	Ern	17.05	04.20

Sailaway · Feb 19th, 2008, 22:44

ERN is Ernakulam. I was talking about Kollam ...
But then again I haven't been to Kollam, so I don't know how good Kollam may be. Alleppey was great

Indizen · Feb 19th, 2008, 23:15

Quilon, also called Kollam, is one of the main gateways to the Backwaters of Kerala.
Details can be found in this best-seller thread:
Kerala Backwaters - A cruise on budgets!

htid · Feb 19th, 2008, 23:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailaway

ERN is Ernakulam. I was talking about Kollam ...
But then again I haven't been to Kollam, so I don't know how good Kollam may be. Alleppey was great

Hmm very true. No idea why I read it is Cochin

Oh well my mistake.

lizandclare · Feb 19th, 2008, 23:55

Thank you all so much!! I guess this is going to take a bit more planning that I thought.

I think we will take the train to Allepey and then get the overnight houseboat option, then return the next day by train.

Is it worth making a two day (plus) trip to Munnar? We only have 8 days in total.

vandy · Feb 20th, 2008, 06:04

Hi there, to experience Both Allepey(Houseboat)and
the beautiful Hill station Munnar with a tight time schedule I suggest the following.

take morning train to Cochin(ernakulam)earliest the better.

Hire car(A/C indica)& driver to take you to Munnar
Departing Cochin early afternoon,arive Munnar late
afternoon,stay 2 nights,driver will stay with you
and show you sights around Munnar following day,
Depart Munnar reasonably early,6-7am and get driver to take you to Houseboat Jetty in Allepey,
inspect a few 1 bedroom A/C houseboats and get going by lunchtime,approx cost 5000-6000rps for O'Night cruise returning to Houseboat jetty by
midmorning,take short taxi ride to train station
and return to Trvndm,arrive Tvndm late afternoon.

The approx cost for car & driver from Cochin to Munnar to Allepey drop off will be around 3000-4000rps I would imagine.

I will be posting shortly a reccomendation for a
Homestay in Munnar in the Hotels Section.

It is easier to get to Munnar from Cochin rather than from Allepey.

Hope this helps

Rgds - vandy

lizandclare · Feb 20th, 2008, 14:05

I love the internet!! thank you so much. We will follow your advice to the letter. Two more questions: where do we get the hire car in Cochin, and do we pay for the driver's accommodation?

vandy · Feb 20th, 2008, 14:22

The driver makes his own Accomadation arrangemants, they get paid
an allowance but usually sleep in the car to save money.

This allowance is allready factored in to the Initial Price.

I do have a contact name for you for car & driver, but not sure
how I can get this info to you as you are not elligable for PM
messages.

Not keen on putting my Personal Email address on view.

rgds - vandy

lizandclare · Feb 21st, 2008, 00:20

Thanks Vandy... I'm going to risk putting mine on, could you email me the contact to asap please... then i will come back and edit this post. Really really appreciate it!!

Feb 19th, 2008, 16:35	#1
lizandclare Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London Posts: 4	Kerala Transport Hi! Great site, it was recommended via thorntree forum, I have been taking lots of notes!! We are travelling to Kerala on 28th Feb, staying with friends in Kovalam. We (my sister and I) want to do as much as possible in the eight days we are there, but ideally without having to spend too many nights away (since accommodation with our friends is free, and our 85 year old grandma is coming, so we don’t want to leave her behind for too long) . Is it possibly to do Allapuzha/Periyar/ other attractions as day trips from Kovalam using public transport? We also want to go to Munnar, but that is going to have to be overnight isn’t it? Thanks so much for your help!!

Feb 19th, 2008, 20:14	#2
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,829	Welcome You could do Kanyakumari in a day trip. On the way is the wooden palace; a superb building to visit. Trivandrum, of course, is on your doorstep. Alleppey should be possible by train (three hours?) --- but that is already half your day on the train. Peryar is too far. Obviously Munnar is farther. My knowledge of the area is sketchy: I hope someone else can contribute. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Feb 21st, 2008, 00:20	#15
lizandclare Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London Posts: 4	Thanks Vandy... I'm going to risk putting mine on, could you email me the contact to asap please... then i will come back and edit this post. Really really appreciate it!! Last edited by lizandclare : Feb 21st, 2008 at 17:49.

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Feb 19th, 2008, 21:08	#3
Sailaway Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 78	Not an expert, but I think you could do some backwaters from Kollam (probably the Southern limit for the backwaters), which is one hour by train from Trivandrum. Hope you'll enjoy the trip!

Feb 19th, 2008, 21:52	#6
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,829	About an hour, yes, according to the timetable.

Feb 19th, 2008, 22:44	#8
Sailaway Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 78	ERN is Ernakulam. I was talking about Kollam ... But then again I haven't been to Kollam, so I don't know how good Kollam may be. Alleppey was great

Feb 19th, 2008, 23:15	#9
Indizen Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 599	Quilon, also called Kollam, is one of the main gateways to the Backwaters of Kerala. Details can be found in this best-seller thread: Kerala Backwaters - A cruise on budgets!

Feb 19th, 2008, 23:55	#11
lizandclare Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London Posts: 4	Thank you all so much!! I guess this is going to take a bit more planning that I thought. I think we will take the train to Allepey and then get the overnight houseboat option, then return the next day by train. Is it worth making a two day (plus) trip to Munnar? We only have 8 days in total.

Feb 20th, 2008, 06:04	#12
vandy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: perth-australia Posts: 673	Hi there, to experience Both Allepey(Houseboat)and the beautiful Hill station Munnar with a tight time schedule I suggest the following. take morning train to Cochin(ernakulam)earliest the better. Hire car(A/C indica)& driver to take you to Munnar Departing Cochin early afternoon,arive Munnar late afternoon,stay 2 nights,driver will stay with you and show you sights around Munnar following day, Depart Munnar reasonably early,6-7am and get driver to take you to Houseboat Jetty in Allepey, inspect a few 1 bedroom A/C houseboats and get going by lunchtime,approx cost 5000-6000rps for O'Night cruise returning to Houseboat jetty by midmorning,take short taxi ride to train station and return to Trvndm,arrive Tvndm late afternoon. The approx cost for car & driver from Cochin to Munnar to Allepey drop off will be around 3000-4000rps I would imagine. I will be posting shortly a reccomendation for a Homestay in Munnar in the Hotels Section. It is easier to get to Munnar from Cochin rather than from Allepey. Hope this helps Rgds - vandy

Feb 20th, 2008, 14:05	#13
lizandclare Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London Posts: 4	I love the internet!! thank you so much. We will follow your advice to the letter. Two more questions: where do we get the hire car in Cochin, and do we pay for the driver's accommodation?

Feb 20th, 2008, 14:22	#14
vandy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: perth-australia Posts: 673	The driver makes his own Accomadation arrangemants, they get paid an allowance but usually sleep in the car to save money. This allowance is allready factored in to the Initial Price. I do have a contact name for you for car & driver, but not sure how I can get this info to you as you are not elligable for PM messages. Not keen on putting my Personal Email address on view. rgds - vandy

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