South India travel in October and November

Missymoo

Hello! I am somewhat new to this website...and would appreciate any helpful comments re: my planned trip to South India this coming mid-October to mid-November. Routing is as follows:
Mumbai-Aurangabad-Hyderabad-Hampi-Mysore-Hassan-Ooty-Cochin-Alleppey-Periyar-Madurai-Trichy-Mamallapurum. I am worried that travel in Tamil Nadu especially, but also in Kerala, at that time of your with the monsoon activity will be a big mistake. I am stuck with these dates but could alter the routing if need be. Please comment. Thanks a bunch.

SitaParityaga

Hi Missymoo, and welcome to IM. Ahhh, Seattle...so you know about monsoons!

Remember you'll be traveling around during Diwali, the last week of October, I believe. Major holiday action going on, which may make transportation difficult, along with the monsoon. This will likely cause "delays" getting from one place to another at times, as long as you're flexable about travelling around, the wet weather shouldn't make the whole trip a "big mistake".

Have fun! Tamil Nadu is a personal favorite. Any particular reason why you're going to Trichy from Madurai, on your way to Mamallapurum? Just curious, as Tanjore and other spots in the Cauvery river area are in a more direct line from Madurai to Mamallapurum, and there is so much to see there.

Missymoo

Thanks for your comments. I hadn't realized the impact Diwali might have on my travels. And as for the wet weather, just how much of a factor might that be in getting around at that time of year in that part of India? I really don't want to avoid Tamil Nadu or Kerala since I will likely never get back again.Would you suggest a route to consider between Madurai and Chennai?

SitaParityaga

Madurai, Tanjore, Chennai....unless you have compelling reasons to go to Trichy, which generally has fewer cool places to check out then the Tanjore area.

Don't avoid Kerala and TN. Just be flexable about your travels. It isn't "high season". so there will be lots of places to stay, at a cheaper price. As long as you're able to go with the flow (of water.....) you'll be able to see the places you want. How are you getting around?

Missymoo

I plan to use trains whenever possible..and buses when trains are not a viable option. I hope to use overnight trains when feasible. Not sure about which class to go with...and more importantly, how critical it would be to have reservations made in advance, (especially considering Diwali).

Can you comment on how much time might be needed to see the highlights in places like: Madurai, Tanjavor, Puducherry, Mamallapurum?

fourlegs

Hi Missymoo, what did you decide? I'll be in the south in November and have the same concerns. thanks!

Scandojazzbuff

You could devote a day to each place and see the 'highlights' but this gives little time to absorb a place and relax a bit. It means constant movement. I spent 2.5 days in Mamallapuram. I got to see what I wanted and I could have spent more time just meandering around as I liked the place very much. Pondicherry was pleasant and many tourists enjoy spending some time there for various reasons. I preferred to go on to Chidambaram and Thanjavur where the temples are spectacular and aplenty. But, this is what I'm interested in. Thanjavur is worth a couple of days to explore. A day in Madurai was enough for me to see the great temple and I really wanted to go onto to Kerala. Kerala is full of natural beauty and lovely places to hang out in. It has less cultural interest for me than TN but the Western Ghats are great. It was a welcome change from TN and for me the trip was a great combination of cultural and natural beauty. You could spend months in the South and not see everything. I would go back to many of the places I visited.

Our Dream

I will also be down south October/November and I had not realised that Diwali was in the last week of October. I was planning to be in Goa at this time. Does anyone know if accomodation will be in short supply as I was planning to just turn up and see what is available. Should I book and if anyone has any recomendations I would appreciate advice. I was origionally thinking to spend a day or two at anjuna (for the markets) then relocate to south Goa for a week or so.

Happy Travels