India for a first timer: Goa - Hampi - Mysore - Wayanad - Kochi

becksldrt

Hello,
I'm planning my first holiday to South India and would like some advice on the schedule I have planned - where to stay, how to get around etc. At the moment it all seems exciting but a bit overwhelming so any advice would be very much appreciated!

A bit about me - I have travelled a bit but this is my first trip to India. I don't know when I'll be able to take another holiday like this so I'm trying to fit in as much as possible. I only have two weeks to be able to take off work, so I'm restricted on time, and I have to go in April for work reasons, although I know it's not ideal. I'll be travelling with my husband.

My schedule currently looks like this:

Day 1: Fly in to Goa. Arrive mid afternoon. Go to Benaulim and check in to a hotel.
Day 2: Spend the day in Goa settling in and getting used to being in India.
Day 3: Get the early morning train to Hospet for Hampi. Arrive in Hospet and take a car to Hampi. Stay at the Shanthi Guest House on the other side of the river.
Day 4: Spend the day in Hampi. In the evening, take the night train to Bangalore.
Day 5: Arrive in Bangalore. Get on a train to Mysore immediately. Arrive in Mysore and check in to the Ginger Mysore Hotel or the Green Hotel.
Day 6: Spend the day in Mysore.
Day 7: Take a car to Mananthavadi / Tholpetty Wildlife Reserve. Spend the afternoon at the hotel / in the wildlife reserve.
Day 8: Spend the day in the wildlife reserve.
Day 9: Spend the day in the wildlife reserve.
Day 10: Move on to Kochi by car. Spend the afternoon in Kochi. Stay at the Old Harbour Hotel.
Day 11: Spend the day in Kochi.
Day 12: Spend the day in Kochi. Spend the nighttime on a boat on the backwaters.
Day 13: Return to Kochi for one last night at Malabar House.
Day 14: Fly back to the UK from Kochi.

I know it looks quite manic, especially at the start of the holiday, but as I said I really want to see as much as possible. Does anyone have any thoughts? I'm particularly keen to hear:
recommendations on where to stay in Goa
how easy it is to get from Goa to Hampi
how early you need to book train tickets
recommendations on where to stay in Hampi
can I get a car from Mysore to Wayanad

Thank you everyone, your help will be much appreciated and I'll be sure to come back and write a trip report!
Becks

pmvelu

Hi Becks, Welcome to IM

Day 6: Spend the day in Mysore.
Day 7: Take a car to Mananthavadi / Tholpetty Wildlife Reserve. Spend the afternoon at the hotel / in the wildlife reserve.
Day 8: Spend the day in the wildlife reserve.
Day 9: Spend the day in the wildlife reserve.
Day 10: Move on to Kochi by car. Spend the afternoon in Kochi. Stay at the Old Harbour Hotel.
Day 11: Spend the day in Kochi.
Day 12: Spend the day in Kochi. Spend the nighttime on a boat on the backwaters.
Day 13: Return to Kochi for one last night at Malabar House.
Day 14: Fly back to the UK from Kochi.


My personal view is :

1. From Mysore, hire a cab and try to visit nagarahole NP. As you have planned for 3 days stay in the reserve, you could try out Jungle Lodges and Resorts [ Karapura] which is just in Kabini Backwaters and animal sightings out here will be best in summer months and also it's wild life enthusiast's Heaven and this resort is very near to Nagarahole NP also. Compared to Tholpetty WLS , Nagarahole is better option and anyway tholpetty WLS is just around 10 kms from Nagarahole NP Forest Gate[ Kutta End]. You could browse in our IM Photos Section or Wildlife Subforum to get info on Nagarahole NP ! From Mysore ,Nagarahole NP via HD Kote is around 100 kms

2. If you prefer Tholpetty WLS, the shortest route from Mysore is :

Mysore -HD kote-Nagarahole NP-Tholpetty WLS and Mananthavady is around 30 kms from Tholpetty WLS . Mananthavady is after Tholpetty if we travel from Mysore !

3. Tholpetty is in Wayanad but it's just 3 kms from karnataka Border[Read coorg District] and Nagarahole is in coorg district.

4. From Nagarahole NP / Tholpetty WLS , You could travel to Cochin in cab in around 7 hours . If you would like a comfortable Travel, from kalpetta [Wayanad Headquarters] get a cab to Kozhikode [Around 70 kms] and board train to Ernakulam JN which will be much comfortable.

Hope this helps !

spike

Day 5: Arrive in Bangalore. Get on a train to Mysore immediately.

You will have to take a bus to get to Mysore from Bangalore. No trains available.

pmvelu

Spike, I am sorry but why you say there are no trains between Bangalore and Mysore ?..
Regards
Velu

spike

When I was there we couldn't find any trains for Mysore. Bus was the only option (2004). Could be that I was given wrong information. I see that you're located in Mysore, you might have better information, no doubt. Please inform me.
By the way, Mysore was great, stayed at the Dasaprakash hotel. Loved the palace on sunday night !

spike

I checked my travel log and now I remember. We didn't take a train because we arrived by train from Hospet in Bangalore and didn't want to risk to loose a booked connection due to possible delay. That's why we had to take the bus.
My mistake.

pmvelu

/Cross-posted with your latest post Spike */
Oh Nice to know you enjoyed your stay at Mysore , Spike !

Now, Bangalore-Mysore is connected by both train and bus and Mysore Airport was supposed to be opened by now[They closed the earlier one and renovated completely] but work is still in progress!

Regards
Velu

dhans

Bus from bangalore to Mysore is fine, probably 2,5 hours or so.

hans

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