South India - need some advice

L-star

Hi there - i need some advice.

Basically i have almost 2 weeks not quite before i have to get back to Bangalore, and i will be starting from Madurai - so i have 2 weeks to explore Kerala in late April

I plan on going from Madurai to Kanyakumari
then to Varkala
then on to Quilon or Alleppey for a houseboat or backwater tour (not sure which place is better to start from)
then just wondering if i can arrange a tour in Alleppey that will take me to Periyar and Munnar and on to Cochin from Alleppey, or is it better to go straight to Cochin and organize a tour there that'll take me to Periyar and Munnar and back to Cochin (and then i'll fly back to Bangalore from there) -

not sure on feasibility of my itinerary - and the reason i'd like to organize a tour is due to short timing and not wanting to fuss on some of the logistics there (if someone can recommend an agency great, but i'll arrange it there)

Are there many tour operators in Alleppey for the Periyar Munnar trip - or am I better off in Cochin

OR - should i try to go to Munnar and Periyar from Madurai? then my trip might go the other way around

Just some practical advice needed. Thanks so much!

snonymous

From Madurai you can also visit Kodaikanal kodaikanal.org [3hrs drive] which is far superior and at a higher altitude to Munnar. If you go to Kodai, choose a hotel around the lake as its the best location. List of hotels in the above website.

Do Madurai Thekkady/Periyar periyartigerreserve.org dont miss the 1st boatride at 7am in the Upper Deck for guaranteed wildlife sightings, also do the jungle walk with the tribal guide [book at info centre]. Late April is an excellent time for wild life sightings at Periyar.

If however, you must do Munnar, then do Munnar first and from there to Thekkady. From Thekkady you can then proceed to Allepey / Kumarakom - bigger backwaters than at Quilon [Kollam]. From Allepey, Varkala is South and Cochin is North so if you are going to Kanyakumari head to Varkala from Allepey and onward via TRV to Kanyakumari.

Alternately from Madurai head to Kanyakumari then Varkala then Quilon / Allepey then Thekkady Munnar Kochi and back to BLR - You can also avoid Kochi and go from Munnar to BLR via Udumalpettai, Pollachi and Coimbatore. 2 weeks will be a bit of a squeeze if you want to spend quality time at all these places. Personally, I think Kanyakumari, other than the experience of being at the meeting pt of the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, is way too commercial, so is Munnar compared to many other mountain regions of South India.

Are you doing this by car? http://www.keralarentacar.org/ will give you an idea of the costs. There will be several smaller agencies that offer you better prices. Find a comprehensive list of hotels at keralatourism.org Enjoy your trip.

Lord Average

Thats a lot to be doing in 2 weeks!
The advice about missing Kanyakumari is good, because unless it is a high priority for you, it will take a good chunk of your time and effort to get to.

You can arrange tours at any major tourist town. So you will have no problems doing that, and tailoring things to your requirements.

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snonymous

You may want to contact Mr N Babu in Madurai at mobile:
09791392717 and get a quote for a customised tour. I know he does car hire at a good rate.

L-star

wow- thanks for the advice - i guess i really just wanted to see the southern most tip but i know its a lot for 2 weeks so maybe i will have to skip it - i'd definitely like to go to Periyar and the advice on Kodaikal is good - i definitely don't want to be rushing around as i want to have time to experience it!

I won't have a car, i plan on travelling by train so that might make it trickier - i guess i will have to see what local tour operators offer in terms of being able to go to where i want to go. I definitely want to hit a beach too which is why i thought Varkala or Cochin.

thanks for the tips

dhanam

hi!

2 weeks, you can enjoy more in south india....rather than using trains..you will get buses for short distances...even good too...

if it is first time, better you book hotels..there is plenty options...by online...or through operator...

if you need tour opeartor...i can recommond one guy...myself & my friends used to book hotels through him...

can mail for idea chennai@indianpanorama.in