Where to go in March from Bangalore?

suzi

Hi all, my husband and I are looking to take a short trip in March (3-6 days, we are pretty flexible) to get away from the noise and pollution of Bangalore. We really don't care where we go, we just want to get away for a bit and enjoy some peace and quiet. Cost is not really a concern, but we would like to travel by train as we haven't had the chance to ride the Indian rails as of yet. I guess we are hoping for a cool relaxing place where the hassle is kept to a minimum. I have checked out some info on Kodai, Ooty and Munnar but would love opinions/additional suggestions. Any ideas?

__________________
I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uhmmm, some people out there in our nation don’t have maps

steven_ber

Here's a reply I done to another thread.

Overnight trains can be taken to Trichy, Madurai, Thanjavur, Cochin, Kottayam, Hyderabad, Tirupati (slow passenger train), Mangalore, Chennai, Bijapur (3 days a week) Badami (soon), Goa (3 days a week).

But I would choose the following.

An overnight train to Shimoga Town, then there is a railbus (may no longer be running) to Talguppa, then it's 18kms to Jog Falls, if no railbus, a short auto ride to Shimoga bus station, then a 3 hour bus to Jog Falls.

4 or 5 hours by the falls, then a bus (a taxi would be easier, should cost less than Rs1000) to Murudeshwar, great hotels, and a very good place to visit, have at least 2 nights in Murudeshwar, then maybe to Udipi or Mangalore, then overnight train from Mangalore back to Bangalore.

__________________
.
How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions.



Train information.

SueJ

If it's an antidote to the nosie and pollution of bangalore you're looking for, then my recommendation would be a train to Kottayam and then heading to one of the resorts at Kumarakom on Lake Vembanad. And if you had time you could take a houseboat overnight to cruise the backwaters.

Kottayam is way quieter than the more touristy Alleppey, and I think it would make a great base for a bit of relaxation.

There are lots of top end resorts to choose from at Kumarakom, or for something midrange (and spotlessly clean) take a look at Paradise Resort.

mani

Hello Suzi,

Why not take a trip to Coffee land. Chickmanglur in Karnataka is the hometon of coffee. Please see the link below

http://chickmagalur.nic.in/

also close by are Belur & halebidu ancient temples.
http://india.journeymart.com/belur/default.asp

also please see this link Coffee Country - Chikmagalur

there are many homestays in the coffee plantations in and around chickmaglur.

For your travel to Chickmaglur, Its easiest to reach by road fom Bangalore. its also posible to reach part of the way by train http://chickmagalur.nic.in/htmls/howtoreach.htm

there are two trains that you could take
one that leaves from bangalore at 6:30 am and gets to birur @ 9:00 am ( it is 1 hour from birur to chickmanglur by road)
or alternately a train called the HUBLI express that leaves at 14:30 hrs from Bangalore @ gets to Kadur by 1730 hrs. (it is 1 hour from kadur to chickmanglur by road)

The reason why I am suggesting this place is that this is where we plan to spend our holidays in summer ( may 08). If all goes as planned then we will be in this area for a week.

Hope you enjoy, where ever you end up going in March.

take care
Mani