4 weeks in South India

wichy

So.. I've booked airtickets and now...
It's time to plan my new trip to India!!! and as my first one was so great with all the advices I've received here - I ask indiamike's members for help again

Me and 6 (I hope only 6!!! Even 6 is too much. Don't like a big company - but all of them are my dance group-mates.. so - I have no choice...)... So 7 russian girls are arriving to Mumbai 18 Nov 2007. So my further itenarary is about this:
Mumbai - 2 days
Goa - 3 days
Hampi - 2 days
Bangalore - 2 days
Mysore - 2 days
Chennai - 3 days (including Pondicherry or sometthing else around)
Madurai - 2 days
As our back flight is on 15 Dec 2007 from Mumbai and I'd like to spend in Mumbai about 2-3 at the end of my trip - I have about 9 days for some places at the south and Kerala.

All of us are about 25-35 years old, our budget per person per day - about 30-35 $. As for transport - we'd prefer AC Trains, can't affort planes (I'm thinking about Kerala-Mumbai flight... but not sure) and really don't like to use taxi. So my preference is overnight trains and buses

My main questions are:
1) Is my itenerary real? Last time in northen India (you know... Varanasi-Agra-Delhi-Rajasthan) we've spent 2-3 days in every place and feel good, not tired... Overnight trains let us have a good rest. So I hope this time we manage to have the same experience.
2) Perhaps I should skip some place from the route or add some? don't want to miss something really interesting
3) About 9 days after Madurai - what places should I choose to have a nice finish of my trip?
4) Train between Mumbai-Goa - Should I book tickets for overnight train at the end of November in advance? Is it really a problem to buy them 2 days before the departure?

I think I'll have some more questions later... But now it's the main - and will be glad to hear any advice - thanks in advance!!!

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Past the point of no return...

dhans

Hi Wichy,

Welcome back. We've done large parts of your trip twice
Read our journals at:
http://www.indiamike.com/india/journ...urnal&j=9 402

have Fun,

Hans

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Tips for trips to India with (young) children: India with kids
Stories about our travels in India: Journal

docgirl2005

Hi Wichy

I recommend after Madurai, visiting Kanyakumari or maybe going over to Kerala? Its such a beautiful state, I feel myself relaxing everytime I think of Kovalam, which some parts are busy but some are not. I try to avoid very busy beach areas and stick to quieter places. Your itinerary sounds really good.

Do you want to end your 9 days in a busy happening city or a quieter place? How about Lakshawdeep?

wonderwomanusa

How about going through Aurangabad on your way to or from Mumbai, and see the caves at Ajanta and Ellora! Take two days to see the caves (one day for each).

Nick-H

Wichy, welcome back.

Hope to see you in Chennai.

Although I won't mention the other six ladies to Mrs N... she might not let me out

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Prott

Hi,

I'm planning a similar journey in december - only heading to kerala after mysore, making our way to chennai and then home. Are you sure you can't get a return ticket out of chennai?

I'm guessing that a lot of kerala will be covered in a car (there's only 3 in our family) as we're keen to find as much peace and quiet as we can find; nagarhole park, beaches and a house boat.

P

hfot2

Exactly what I was going to suggest. Stay in Ajanta after visiting Ellora from a base in Aurangabad. If you spend the night in Ajanta you can visit the caves leisurely and not be rushed - travel time from Aurangabad is not short.

wichy

dhans
Thanks for the link of your journal - you are brave people to travel with 2 (!!!!) children :-)

I've heard lots of different opinion about Kanyakumari - and can't decide yet if I'd like to see it or skip??? As I understand, in't on the way to Kerala... Kerala it the "must see" place for me - but havent decided about the itinerary there... But thanks God I have enough time :-) Which places there I must see?
I think it could be more quiet place - as we have 2-3 days in Mumbai before our depature As for Lakshawdeep - I really know nothing about it... :-(

wichy

hfot2 ; wonderwomanusa
Thanks for suggestion - but I already have some plans for my next-year-trip and an going to visit some place to the north of Mumbai - so I can spend more time at the caves - I think I'll love them...

Hi, Nick As I see - you're keep going very quickly to the point of 20,000 posts As I know in India you say Lage Raho? And I'll be glas to see you in Chennai - with all of my 6 friends (i think you'll have a tough time and run away from us - we're even more noisy when we're together than Indian touts

Nice to meet you It's great to hear you're planning the similar route as we - I think it would be better to us too to have a depature flight from Chennai, but we have only Delhi and Mumbai direct flights from Moscow - and again... there is a very good discount for these flights... so I have to return to Mumbai...
It would be nice to hear about your impressions after you vacation - and to compare them with mine

Thanks for everyone for the opinions

Nick-H

I suppose it depends where you start from! But, from most places, not really.

I think its value is more symbolic than actual: to be standing at the southernmost point of India!

docgirl2005

Hi Wichy

Nick is right about Kanyakumari. I also feel it has a more symbolic visit than a true tourist destination. Usually it was very crowded but I went 2 months after Tsunami so it wasnt busy--good for us but for a sad reason.

I wonder if the tourists are back to Kanyakumari now?
I wouldnt stop there unless on the way to Kerala, I agree with you.

I think since Mumbai is your point of departure, the other last days dont even bother with cities since Mumbai is a biggg city! I think some small place in Kerala, houseboats? I never been but I went to Kovalam, some parts are crowded but hubby and I stayed at the Taj Kovalam---very luxurious but expensive! They have a semi-private beach...controversy abounds regarding private beaches in India..but back in 2005 we enjoyed it..

Close to Kerala side:
1.I never visited Lakshawdeep, but saw Lonely planet video on it with Justine Shapiro. Please check it out, she swims/snorkels in the ocean on a beautiful pristine empty beach...so nice. I wish to go one day...

2.If the Maldives are not soo expensive, I would go from Trivandrum to Male and stay on the beach there....ahhh paradise!

Either way please update us on your wonderful itinerary!

wichy

I mean - it's not far from the direct way from Madurai to Kerala... ?

Don't think I need something very simbolic - if the place is "nothing special" - perhaps it's bette to spend time in some more interesting place...

Sounds good... I have to learn more about Kerala small places and decide which of them I'd like to see... and backwaters are the absolutely inevitable destination for me And about Lakshawdeep - you description sounds as a fairy-tale...

wichy

My trip is much nearer now, and I've made some changes in my itinerary and now it sounds like that:
Mumbai - 2 days
Goa - 3 days
Hampi - 2 days
Bangalore - 1 days
Mysore - 3 days
Chennai - 3 days (including Pondicherry or something else around)
Madurai - 2 days
Varkala - 3 days
Kollam to Allapuza - 1 day
Houseboat from Allapuzha - 2 days (with the road to Munnar, I hope)
Munnar - 1 day
Kochi - 2 days
Mumbai - 2 days

I'm not sure about the "Kerala part"... Will be appretiate for any suggestions :-) And don't know - perhaps 3 days for Mysore and places around and 1 day in Bangalore should be changed back for 2 days in Mysore and 2 days in Bangalore?

docgirl2005

As for your Pondicherry part---its such a great respite from Chennai---you are going to love it! Please visit the Aurobindo ashram. I love Pondy! Rendevous restaurant and Seagulls are a must...any newer restaurants in Pondy worth mentioning--please suggest!



Madurai for 2 days---you going to fly down from Chennai to Madurai or train or bus? Just curious because, there are numerous flights now when previously there was only 1 a day back in 2001. We took Paramount airlines from Chennai-Madurai it was surprisingly cheaper than Jet Airways which tends to be a prop plane which always scare me!! I just got back to the US from India last week, (mainly Chennai-Madurai-and my husbands small town 2 hours from Madurai)..we went to visit family, eat alot, relax and to attend my hubbys grannies funeral(it turned out to be a celebration of sorts--when someone lives till their 90s they are considered close to god and their life is celebrated with lots of pomp in hubby's community) of course...but we did alot of travelling around too.


We also did a 2 day relaxation in Kovalam...Very expesive but nice.Next time because people seem to love Varkala---we are off to Varkala instead. Madurai to Varkala is about 5-6 by car. Anyways I can definetly help you out with the Madurai, Chennai, Pondy and Madurai-Varkala portion of your trip.

You all must be very excited! Hope your journey is great fun

wichy

Oh, thanks for all your advices... I'd like to spend more time in Pondi and arount Chennai - it sounds like I'd love all that places, and they are so different from each other... But it's impossible to see all the South India in a month trip...

We're going to take ovetnight train from the station nearest to Pondicherry - don't remember it's name... I live indian overnight trains - but only AC Sleeper has it's fun... but when you're in a tight schedule - it's not so relaxing for me... So the way from Madurai to Varkala I hope to do by overnight train too

Please if you can give me some advice about "must see" and "must do" things in Madurai, Chennai, Pondy and Varkala - I'll be very appreciate It's still 4 weeeks till my trip - and I feel like I can't wait more...