Itinerary - South India

Ratty100

We've just got a cheap charter into Goa - Hurrah. Have been to India once before and explored Goa and Mumbai. We'd like to go further afield this time but only have a fortnight.

Been looking at the trust travel guide, and though there so much we want to see, have narrowed the places to visit down to: Hampi, Mysore, Ooty and Mudumalai National Park

The plan is to spend a few days in Goa on arrival, travel for a week and return to Goa for a couple of days. Is this a reasonable schedule? Or am I being over optimistic in how much we can get done in a week? Advice on which mode of transport to use and the most efficient itinrary much appreciated.

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pmvelu

If I understand you correctly, you are planning for a week or so from Goa to make the trip to Hampi, Mysore, Mudumalai and ooty..
It's doable and from Goa, Get a Train / bus to Hospet and Hampi is nearby.

Once done, get Bangalore Bound Hampi Express from Hospet and reach Bangalore followed by another train / bus to Mysore.

You could hire a Cab from Mysore for Ooty and Mudumalai is just on the Mysore- Ooty Highway and you could explore Mudumalai and Even Bandipura[ 10 kms before Mudumalai] and explore ooty as well. If you are on budget, you could board ooty bus as well and get down at mudumalai explore and board another ooty bound bus as well

From ooty, you could ask your cab driver to drop you in Calicut Jn from where you could directly reach Goa Back using the scenic Konkan Railway..

There are 2 buses directly from ooty to Calicut [one at 5.30 am + ] which you could use as well and this is one fine stretch of journey through the exceptionally scenic ooty-Gudalur-Kalpetta- Vythiri-LAkkidi-Calicut and worth the travel



Hope this helps
velu

Ratty100

Velu

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply

Very helpful, I hadn't thought about returning up the coast by rail - makes a lot of sense.

A few questions: How much should we expect to pay for a cab/driver from Mysore to Ooty? And how long would the journey take? How many hours is the bus journey from Ooty to Calicut? We do not really want to spend any time in Bangalore, is it possible to get from Hospet to Mysore in 1 day?

Very many thanks

Rachel

Baba

Rachel, I have done Mysore-Hampi in a long day with a car and driver, but there is a night train from Hospet to Bangalore, so this may still be better for you.

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Baba

Ratty100

Thank you Baba, another option to consider.

pmvelu

Nice to Know our Posts helped in your Planning .

Rental Car, I do not have any idea as I never used it till now.I am sorry about that. Just Last week , I visited Ooty from Mysore in my car and it took 3 1/2 hours with a short "Breakfast break" in Gudalur and " intermittent Photo-Stops" in between BAndipur -Mudumalai Forest stretch [ We did clicked "Lone Wild Elephant" , "Several Deers", "Several Peacocks", "Few Monkeys"]- [Will share few photos Shortly]

Ooty to Calicut might take around 6 Hours + and Bus condition is Normal [I mean it's a normal 3 + 2 seater with No Push-Back Or even Minimal Luxury].. If you are on Strict Budget, then this option will help Or else Cab is the best and comfortable option until atleast Kalpetta [100 kms from ooty and road is excellent end-to-end -Read Wayanad Headquarters] .From Kalpetta, the bus frequency to Calicut increases exponentially and Roads are Excellent again and for this stretch you will get a better bus for sure !


For your Last Question, i.e Hospet to Mysore in a Day , yes it's possible with end to end comfortable Train Journey.

1) Get Hampi express from Hospet JN[ Dep: 19:50 hrs] which reaches Bangalore City JN [Arr:06:10 Hrs].

2) From Bangalore City JN, you have Trains to Mysore at 06:25 hrs Train # 6231[Arr at Mysore 09:20 Hrs] , #6731 at 7:00 Hrs [Arr at Mysore JN 10:00 Hrs]

Cheers
Velu

Ratty100

Good Morning Velu

The overnight from Hopset would be an adventure, I've never slept on a train. I've been reading posts saying Ooty is too touristy etc. etc. being as though you've been recently what is your opinion? I expect it'll please us mind you - we are tourists after all!

The coast train from Calicut to Goa - approx. how many hours is the journey? I presume this is a scenic route and we don't want to travel at night?

Our budget is pretty flexible, though I'm trying to keep it down, think we will use taxis/drivers other than for the long legs i.e. Goa - Hampi, Hampi - Mysore & Calicut - Goa.

Hope you've had a good day.

Rachel

pmvelu

Good Morning Rachel.


Ooty I had been in different Months of the year. It will be OVer-crowded in April,May,June and it will be bit crowded in Dec, Jan [ Called Locally as Second season Or Honeymoon season] .. When we went it's decent and no Much crowds as such.

Yes, It is worth if we travel in the Day time to enjoy the scenery as such in Calicut - Goa Stretch as such . For Day-Train options, you could use www.irctc.co.in Or www.cleartrip.com for timings as well as for online reservations.

That's a Nice Idea as such.

Have a Nice Trip ahead
Velu

Ratty100

Thank you once again Velu, we are travelling towards the end of January so should only be moderately busy.

I will look at the train websites shortly to get an idea, do not want to pre book though as that'll restrict our travel arrangements.

I'll leave you in peace now.