Extra 2 days, where to go?

htid

We were planning to spend 2 nights in a certain place, but it seems we're not going to be going there after all so we have 2 nights spare to spend somewhere else. They can both be in the same place or different places, but at Cochin, Munnar or Thekkady.

Currently we have 3 days in Cochin, 2 days in Munnar and 2 and 3/4 days in Thekkady. In Cochin we want to spend 1 day seeing the sights, 1 day renting a houseboat and the last day, not sure yet. In Munnar we have a 1 day tour around the plantations, then the other day going to..forgot the name, the highest point, Top Station? In Thekkady we obviously have Periyar for 1 day, seeing Elephants at an Elephant sanctuary another day and not sure for the 3rd.

So, where would we be best placing the extra days? I don't know much about Cochin so I'm not sure what if there's another day or 2s worth. Munnar similar, not sure there's enough. I'd like to do a day trip to Madurai from Thekkady so we could add an extra there. We'll be staying at Chrissy's hotel, which has some suggestions of activities (one of which is Madurai) another of which is "watch Kathakali or Kalaripayattu", what does this mean?

So, good people of IM, where should we place our extra 2 days?

Thanks!

Nick-H

Pick the two nicest hotels and spend an extra day relaxing in each!

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htid

All 3 are homestays Thinking about it though, Munnar would be nice because it'll be a cool respite from the heat, and then the extra at Thekkady to go to Madurai/do another wildlife trek if we see nothing first time.

Plus, isn't it about 02:00 there?

Nick-H

It's 2.04, and my usual bedtime can be anything from 1.00am to dawn

I recall driving (or rather, being driven) from Madurai to Thekkady. I think it took around 4 hours, so it would be a long day as a day out.

You could of course add it to the list and stay the night there.

I'm vey keen on building days off into trips though. You might go out those days, but you give yourself the chance not to.

Kathakali is one of Kerala's classical dances.

Kalaripayattu is a local martial art.

ananda2193

Madurai would be a good investment!

Nick-H

It would give you that brief taste of Tamil Nadu too, and the plains.

And, although I'm always hearing that I really should see such and such a place from people who go on real temple pilgrimages, I still say that the temple there is really wonderful. Get to see the attached market hall too, unless you've shopped up to your eyes by then!

pundabee

It takes 2½ hours in a taxi and 3½ hours on a bus from Thekkady to Madurai (this is a route I have done many times, and the timings are always like that).

Madurai is ideal for a day trip from Thekkady. If you leave at 7 in the morning you can see the temple before it closes at 12.00, have a superb South Indian lunch, walk around the small streets of Madurai for a few hours (guaranteed to get lost ), maybe go the the Gandhi temple, eat early dinner and head back to Thekkady. Accommodation in Madurai is terrible which is one good reason for doing this as a day trip.

Madurai in unlike anything you will see in Kerala (it is India!), and really is a must to experience.

htid

Thanks a lot Just what I wanted to hear. So 1 extra in Thekkady and 1 extra in Munnar, although I'm still not sure there's enough to do in Munnar for 3 days, we'll just have to see.

Nick-H

That sounds much quicker and better than I thought.

We stayed in the Taj Garden retreat. Expensive, although beautiful and an excellent location on the hills overlooking the city. Saw my first praying Mantis there. The food wasn't as good as I'd expect from a hotel in that price bracket.

htid

Totally off topic, but I've wanted to know for a while and I can't make a thread just to ask this.

Nick, how do you survive over there? From what I've read, you don't speak Tamil (or at least not to a level where you could converse confidently) so how do you manage to make a living?

If that's personal and you don't want to share, fair enough

Nick-H

1. My wife is fluent in Tamil and Malayalee (Oh, and English!) and more than capable in Hindi. But I know quite a few English-speaking locals too.

2. I seem to be leading a very inactive life these days, mostly in and around my own house and garden. Especially since the cats came to join us.

3. Small income from capital.


Most of my adventure of coming to India and marrying (not to mention recently acquiring a cat and three kittens) is all-too-well documented on IndiaMike, should you really want to seek it out.

I often think it might have been sensible to have been more discrete!



Offtopic, but hey! it's your thread

vandy

Up the road from Munnar is Mariyoor where there is a Sandlewood
Forrest that might be worth the couple of hours drive from
Munnar.Just the scenery alone will be well worth the drive.

Spice town of Kumily is near Thekady, that too could also be worth
Exploring.

vandy

Scandojazzbuff

Forget the Kathakali and Kalari. It is not genuine Kathakali and the Kalari is worth about 20 minutes of your time. I would suggest Wayanad Wildlife Preserve but it seems you are headed to Thekkady which is south. Madurai is your best diversion. A great temple worth seeing. I would spend 1 more day in Munnar and 1 day in Madurai. Stay away from the Kashmiri Pashmina sellers. You will never know what you are really buying. Lying is a way of life with them, unfortunately.