Help with meandering itinerary from Bangalore to Chennai?

relkins

Two days ago I found my wife needs to go to Bangalore for her job. As you can imagine, I jumped at the chance to go, too! We land in India on July 20th and leave August 3rd. After she works 5 days in Bangalore, we'll have 8 free days before we need to fly to Mumbai for our flight home to New York City. Normally I would do lots of homework, but because there is so little time to do research and make arrangements, I am asking the indulgence of people here for my questions. I'm not lazy, just a little overwhelmed.

As thrilled as we are to be coming to India, we're unsure how best to deal with the Monsoon situation. I gather that we need to forget Kerala and the backwaters for this trip due to the Monsoon, which is too bad, as we dearly wanted to go there. But the weather there is dicey, right? From my concentrated research, which includes as much as I've been able to read from this wonderful website, I gather that for better weather we should concentrate more on the east coast and Tamil Nadu.Is this correct?

As far for our budget, we can spend in the high area. After all, how often will we ever get to India! If a driver with a car is an advantage, we can hire one, but where a train offers a great look at the country, we would go that way. I should mention that I'm a photographer, so I'll be looking for photographic opportunities wherever we go. We have traveled a lot in other parts of the world, but have not been lucky enough to get to India until this trip.


My rough idea is this:


Saturday, July 26th – Leave Bangalore and head for Mysore. Still not sure the best way to get there, but that part sounds easy to arrange from Bangalore. We would stay overnight somewhere in that area, yet to be determined.

Sunday, July 27th – I'd love to get up early and photograph the temples at sunrise before the crowds arrive. The Keshava Temple at Somnathpur also sounds like a wonderful place to visit, too. Any other must-see temples in the area?

Monday, July 28th – Wednesday, July 30th – My wife is a serious coffee enthusiast, and would love to see an Indian coffee plantation, so I thought we could stay in Chikmagalur. Then I'm thinking we could go to Ooty. I'm not sure if we should stay there or not, is it a good base for a couple of days if we get a driver from that area to take us around? I'd like to see some of the beautiful country up in the hills, walk through a tea garden perhaps, I gather there is a wildlife preserve somewhere around here with elephants and tigers but I'm unclear if the Monsoon hits this whole area, or is it confined to the west coast during late July?

Then we'd like to take the toy train from Ooty, it sounds like great fun, and disembark in Mettupalayam, Coimbatore. But again, is this likely to be marred by heavy rains and low visibility?

At this point I would have liked to head for Cochin and then on to the Kerala backwaters, but that is a bad idea due to weather, right? So I guess we'd want to go from Mettupalayam toward the east coast.

Thursday, July 31st and Friday August 1st – we have reservations at Hôtel de l'Orient for 2 nights in Pondicherry to just relax,

Saturday, August 2nd – stay in Chennai, where yet to be determined

Sunday, August 2nd – fly to Mumbai for our flight home.


So the period from Monday, July 26th – Wednesday, July 30th is still an open question that we could greatly use help with. If anyone can offer opinions about whether the route described above sounds good (during this time of year) and can offer ideas about what towns along the way to stay in and any other places to see, I'd be very grateful. If you think that section of the trip is likely to be difficult due to rain, please let me know! If that is the case, perhaps I should rethink and just head straight to Tamil Nadu from Bangalore. Or perhaps even fly somewhere to the north, although I'd rather not. I know this is a lot to ask, and if I can ever repay anyone here with detailed answers about a New York itinerary, I'd be glad to help!

Thanks in advance for any help offered.

bruce3404

You're trying to pack a lot into a few days. While that's understandable, you might not get to thoroughly see anything that way. I like your idea of Mysore for two days (you can train it in a couple of hours from Bangalore)and I would continue on to the hill stations and then to Cochin and damn the weather, but I'm not sure that I would criss cross back to Pondicherry or Chennai, given the limited time. If your heart is set on Pondicherry, why not visit Mysore, train it to Chennai, taxi to Pondicherry and consider a jaunt down to Madurai and then a flight back to Mumbai?

pmvelu

Welcome to IM Relkins I have provided my comments in Bold.





Saturday, July 26th – Leave Bangalore and head for Mysore. Still not sure the best way to get there, but that part sounds easy to arrange from Bangalore. We would stay overnight somewhere in that area, yet to be determined.

Nothing Much to worry for this part as you have Volvo A/c buses every 1/2 an hour in day time which covers this 139 kms in 2 1/2 hours(In Excellent SH-17 Highway) Or you could catch any of the day trains (tippu, Chamundi Or Shatabdi)which covers the distance in 2 to 21/2 hours.

Sunday, July 27th – I'd love to get up early and photograph the temples at sunrise before the crowds arrive. The Keshava Temple at Somnathpur also sounds like a wonderful place to visit, too. Any other must-see temples in the area?

Somanthpur is around 35 kms from Mysore and until a place called Bannur , Road is good and the last 8 kms is in 100% Horrible Shape .Real horrible roads BUT Somanathpur is really worth a Visit . For this trip hire a Cab from mysore as there is no direct bus avaiable to this temple from mysore . Pack whatever you want from mysore itself as you will get NONE except Mineral water / Soft drinks in this place.

Around mysore, you have Melkote temple (Around 35 kms Which is good but you need to climb up a bit to this hill temple and kind of Off-the-Track ) and If at all If you are interested in this place, Please post as I can add how to reach a Place around this temple where we can see Peacocks & Mega Bee- Hives.

Last but not least Visit Chamundi Hills ( you could use Cab OR catch city bus and it's just 12 kms from mysore and chamundi hills is BEST around 4 - 8 pm timeframe) and the view of Lalitha mahal palace (Currently 5 Star Hotel) and Mysore city itself is Excellent

Monday, July 28th – Wednesday, July 30th – My wife is a serious coffee enthusiast, and would love to see an Indian coffee plantation, so I thought we could stay in Chikmagalur. Then I'm thinking we could go to Ooty. I'm not sure if we should stay there or not, is it a good base for a couple of days if we get a driver from that area to take us around? I'd like to see some of the beautiful country up in the hills, walk through a tea garden perhaps, I gather there is a wildlife preserve somewhere around here with elephants and tigers but I'm unclear if the Monsoon hits this whole area, or is it confined to the west coast during late July?

As already you decided to head to Mysore , to view coffee Estates, Coorg is the best Bet rather than chicmagalur as Chicmagalur is diagonally opposite to Mysore. From Mysore, Hire a Cab and Visit Madikeri (Mercara) (Head quarters of Coorg district (Kodagu District) and you could stay for a Night and explore the surrounding coffee plantations. If you embark on this journey, Try visiting Tibetan Settlements ( Golden Temple) which is just on the way and also a place called "Cauvery Nishadharma) [ A Small Bamboo island formed by Cauvery river]" and this is also on the way itself. If you start at mysore by 7 am you could reach Madikeri around 4 pm after visiting the above mentioned places comfortably

(OR)

If you would like to club Wildlife + Coffee Plantaions, from mysore Hire a Cab drive to Nagarahole NP(South Coorg) (Animal Sightings is best in this sanctuary, 100 kms from mysore) and followed by a Highly scenic roads which passes through Coffee plantations itself which will lead you to madikeri (Mercara)-- MErcara is 84 kms from Nagarahole NP. This is Highly recommended
Then we'd like to take the toy train from Ooty, it sounds like great fun, and disembark in Mettupalayam, Coimbatore. But again, is this likely to be marred by heavy rains and low visibility?

In Ooty already monsoon started and is in full swing and yes, the probability of land slides or Cancellataion of toy train is More in this season But Ooty is a Beauty especially in OFF-SEASON even without the Toy train and July being completely Off- season you could avoid the Mad Crowd.

At this point I would have liked to head for Cochin and then on to the Kerala backwaters, but that is a bad idea due to weather, right? So I guess we'd want to go from Mettupalayam toward the east coast.

Yes Kerala also it's monsoon and If you plan to Head to Pondichery from ooty , you could head to Coimbatore Jn (Just 60 kms from ooty) and catch the train (Train #6108 Mangalore - Chennai Express) which departs @ 3.25pm and reaches Villupuram Jn at very odd hours (02:25 am) and Pondicherry is just 40 minutes from Villupuram (By Bus). --> This is preferable for comfort except that getting down at 2:30 am !

If odd hours is an issue , then only way is catching the bus from coimbatore to pondicherry which will take atleast 9 hours !



Thursday, July 31st and Friday August 1st – we have reservations at Hôtel de l'Orient for 2 nights in Pondicherry to just relax,

Saturday, August 2nd – stay in Chennai, where yet to be determined

Sunday, August 2nd – fly to Mumbai for our flight home.

So the period from Monday, July 26th – Wednesday, July 30th is still an open question that we could greatly use help with. If anyone can offer opinions about whether the route described above sounds good (during this time of year) and can offer ideas about what towns along the way to stay in and any other places to see, I'd be very grateful. If you think that section of the trip is likely to be difficult due to rain, please let me know! If that is the case, perhaps I should rethink and just head straight to Tamil Nadu from Bangalore. Or perhaps even fly somewhere to the north, although I'd rather not. I know this is a lot to ask, and if I can ever repay anyone here with detailed answers about a New York itinerary, I'd be glad to help!

You could adjust this 5 Days in Mysore , ooty & Mercara itself and it's worth the stay !

Hope this Helps . If you have any questions , Please Post ! ..

relkins

Thanks so much pmvelu and bruce3404 for all the great advice! Based on what you've suggested, I've changed and refined an itinerary, does this one sound better?

And pmvelu, yes, I'd love to see the peacocks!


Saturday, July 26th – Leave Bangalore and head for Mysore. Explore town and temples, chamundi hills. Stay overnight in Mysore.

Sunday, July 27th – Explore nearby temples, Somanthpur and also Melkote if time permits, photograph lit palace at night. Stay overnight in Mysore.

Monday, July 28th – Leave early for Nagarahole National Park, stay overnight at one of the lodges nearby.
But a question for anyone who has an opinion – which is better for logistics, animal sightings and general beauty/enjoyment, Nagarahole or Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary? I've read good things about both, and I'm not sure which makes more sense. We especially hope to see elephants (a tiger may be hoping for too much!), but understand the possible rain may make all animal sightings less common.

Tuesday, July 29th – Visit Nagarahole again in morning, travel (by taxi?) to Ooty, stay overnight in Ooty

Wednesday, July 30th – in morning, take Nilgiri Mountain Railway (toy train) from Ooty to Mettupalayam, from Mettupalayam take taxi to Coimbatore airport.
If train is not running due to landslide, etc., then backup plan would be to travel by road (taxi?) to Coimbatore airport.
Either way, then fly to Chennai (to save time), stay overnight in Chennai.

Thursday, July 31st – Hôtel de l'Orient in Pondicherry
We're thinking it will be less rainy on the east coast and we could use Pondicherry as a base from which to explore temples and towns along the coast.
Any suggestions as to what are the best temples etc. to see outside of Pondicherry on a day trip?
And does the idea of staying in Pondicherry as a base with better weather sound right? If not, I'm open to changing this part of the trip.

Friday August 1st – Hôtel de l'Orient in Pondicherry

Saturday, August 2nd –– Leave Pondicherry in afternoon, travel to Chennai for flight to Mumbai for our flight home

bruce3404

Makes more sense to me since you'll be flying to Chennai/Pondicherry. Do they have nonstop flights, or will you have to route thru Mumbai to get to Chennai from Coimbatore? You might consider going straight to Pondicherry upon arrival in Chennai, rather than spending the night there.

relkins

Bruce, Jet Airways website shows nonstop jet service from Coimbatore to Chennai. Takes about an hour. Kingfisher has a prop plane, but I always feel safer in a jet plane, so I guess it'll be Jet Airways. You're right, it probably does make more sense to head for Pondicherry after the flight. Because we get in at night I wasn't sure if that is a good idea, but I guess we can grab a cab to Pondicherry from the Chennai airport, right?

bruce3404

I'm sure you could grab a cab from the airport, but I'd defer to the Chennai people as to how safe the trip is at night and how much it should cost. You might want to post a separate topic requesting specific answers to your questions. Maybe a cab partway so you could check out Mammallapuram first thing in the AM. Looks like the airport is between Chennai and Mamm.

pmvelu

Saturday, July 26th – Leave Bangalore and head for Mysore. Explore town and temples, chamundi hills. Stay overnight in Mysore.

If at all if you hire a Taxi for this Stretch too, you could visit Melkote [This involves de-tour from the normal route & Even you could ignore this place as this place is off-the-track and off-the-main-route in your itenary. I am sharing the photos of this place which I clicked to give you an idea as a separate post ] , Ranganathittu [ Bird Sanctuary & Scenic] & Srirangapatna [ Tippu Summer Place, Dungeon Etc] .

Sunday, July 27th – Explore nearby temples, Somanthpur and also Melkote if time permits, photograph lit palace at night. Stay overnight in Mysore.

Perfect.

Monday, July 28th – Leave early for Nagarahole National Park, stay overnight at one of the lodges nearby.
But a question for anyone who has an opinion – which is better for logistics, animal sightings and general beauty/enjoyment, Nagarahole or Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary? I've read good things about both, and I'm not sure which makes more sense. We especially hope to see elephants (a tiger may be hoping for too much!), but understand the possible rain may make all animal sightings less common.

Taxi is the best option for this circuit.
Between Mudumalai & Nagarahole, In My opinion, Nagarhole is better. You could search our photos forum under my id to see the elephants / Deers which I clicked in this NP [Not even in Safari but on the way to forest dept office itself] and definitely you will love this place. Tiger sighting , Rarest of rare chance thou !

Tuesday, July 29th – Visit Nagarahole again in morning, t
ravel (by taxi?) to Ooty, stay overnight in Ooty

IF you go upto Nagarahole, you could visit Iruppu Falls too [ Just 17 kms fron Nagarahole NP and highly scenic] before starting for ooty and for Nagarahole-ooty, Taxi is the only option

Wednesday, July 30th – in morning, take Nilgiri Mountain Railway (toy train) from Ooty to Mettupalayam, from Mettupalayam take taxi to Coimbatore airport.
If train is not running due to landslide, etc., then backup plan would be to travel by road (taxi?) to Coimbatore airport.
Either way, then fly to Chennai (to save time), stay overnight in Chennai.

Perfect .

Thursday, July 31st – Hôtel de l'Orient in Pondicherry
We're thinking it will be less rainy on the east coast and we could use Pondicherry as a base from which to explore temples and towns along the coast.
Any suggestions as to what are the best temples etc. to see outside of Pondicherry on a day trip?
And does the idea of staying in Pondicherry as a base with better weather sound right? If not, I'm open to changing this part of the trip.

For sure, East coast / Pondy will be less rainy and even if it rains it will not affect your plans by any way. From your Plans,you are spending around 2 days + in Pondy which is required and for better temples, you need to travel down south like Chidambaram etc [ around 70 kms from Pondy Which has excellent temple and Pitchavaram Mangrove forests [Unique of it's kind]].Not sure if you have time but when you travel back to chennai, you could Visit Mahabalipuram enroute ![Worth a Visit]

Hope this helps.

pmvelu

Iruppu Falls [Coorg District, Karnataka] :-

First Photo in the list !

Melkote Photos [Around 35 kms from Mysore]:-
Except First Photo all others are Melkote.

Attached Thumbnails

         

         

relkins

Velu, thanks so much for the detailed and excellent suggestions. I enjoyed looking at your photographs, too, the elephant photos are especially amazing, and with a calf no less! Nagarhole it will be!

Melkote does look fantastic, and I guess we will just have to play it by ear, less likely to happen if it is pouring and the roads have problems! But I hope we can get there. And Iruppu Falls looks lovely, so now this is also on my wish list of places to see.

Bruce, I will mull the question for a little longer, and thanks for all the advice.

So now I think I have a plan, and can continue to make reservations... in between getting a visa, numerous shots, and so many other things, all the while still trying to work!

And I understand that one needs to be flexible with an itinerary, so when the unexpected happens, changes may be necessary.

I can't believe we're leaving in a little over 2 weeks, I'll certainly report back how it went after we return home.


Thanks again, and if anyone else has any other thoughts or comments, I'd be glad to hear them.

relkins

As I've been doing more reading, I'm thinking that maybe I should change the second half of the trip, as the weather seems so iffy inland that Tamil Nadu just seems like a better bet at this time of year.

So after we leave Nagarahole, what if we backtracked from there to Mysore and then took the night express train from Mysore to Madurai (Mysore-Tuticarin Express), and then stayed in Madurai for 3 days, seeing the city and nearby area. Then up the coast, maybe stopping around Thanjavur, and then 3 days in Pondicherry. I can do this because i was able to add 3 days to the trip.

Any thoughts?

Jean-Philipe

I think that 3 days for Madurai is too much. You can see the main sights in one day, two at the most. Maybe go to Rameswaram, see the temple and Dhanushkodi, then head up to Karaikudi and visit a couple of the Chettinadu villages. Then via Trichy, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam and Chidambaram to Pondy. That gives you a sampling of the very best that south-east Tamil Nadu has to offer.

__________________
It's all part of the adventure of travelling!

relkins

Thanks for the ideas, Jean-Philipe. I'll do a little more research based on your suggestions and post later. One question, though. Are there any places along the coast with fishing villages that might be attractive for photography? We might have seen a lot of temples by this point and be looking for something else before heading to Trichy, Thanjavur, etc.

SueJ

If you're looking for something a bit different as an alternative to the coast, why not consider Chettinad?

The Chettinadis were merchants and bankers who made massive fortunes. They then spent them on ostentatious mansions to impress their peers. Many of these mansions are now completely in ruins, or pretty much deserted just watched over by a resident caretaker family. We stayed at Chettinadu Mansion and found it a magical experience. We walked and cycled around the village of deserted mansions at dusk, with an eery glow coming from the mansions. Many of the caretakers will let you look around in return for a small 'contribution'. For us it was all magically different Indian experience.

And don't miss Mamallapuram on the coast between Pondy & Chennai.

In my opinion you should reduce your time in Pondy to allow for Chettinad and Mamallapuram. But whatever you decide, it's a great area to visit and I am sure that it will give you many memories to look back on.

pmvelu

If you have 3 days in Madurai , as Jean Suggested visiting Rameswaram / Dhanuskodi is definitely a best option !

Rameswaram and Dhanuskodi has Picturesque Fishing villages and especially from Pamban Bridge [Which connects Rameshwaram island to mainland] , the views are just fantastic !.

In Dhanuskodi , you could see the runied Railway station, Post office etc [ Which got affected due to Tsunami or similar around 1960s] and it's worth a visit & it will be like a Ghost town and it's a nice experience !

And From Pondicherry to chennai, in East Coast Road , Any right turn will invariably lead to Beach and fishing hamlets only [Can't say picturesque thou ]!

Happy Travelling !