Kerala & around in 2 weeks: New Traveller - where to go?

steven_ber

Trivandrum
Kottayam
Cochin
Periyar
Madurai
Trivandrum

would save you a journey and would be well spaced out.

Why Bangalore?

(You can get an overnight train from Madurai to either Trivandrum or Bangalore)

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Train information.

htid

Forgive me if I'm being silly, but how does it save me a journey?

Kovalam -> Kottayam -> Periyar -> Madurai -> Cochin -> Trivandrum = 5 journeys

Kovalam -> Kottayam -> Cochin -> Periyar -> Madurai -> Trivandrum = 5 journeys too

Unless you mean cut out Kovalam completely and just go straight from Trivandrum to Kottayam. If you do mean that, I'd say no as we definitaley want some time at Kovalam

As for Bangalore, simply because it's another place to see to make it up to 14 days, it's not TOO far and since it's a big city I assume there will be lots to see and do.

steven_ber

I meant that Kottayam to Cochin is a lot easier than Madurai to Cochin.

Just a thought....

Trivandrum
Kottayam
Periyar
Madurai
Trichy
Cochin
Trivandrum

would be OK for transport, there's an overnight train from Trichy to Ernakulam (Cochin).

htid

Ah I see. Trichy sounds good (although not quite sure what there is to do there yet), my only concern would be that the train from Trichy to Cochin arrives at 5:40am. Not sure if we could get in anywhere at that time of night.

Thanks for all your help though, much appreciated. Now to convince my girlfriend that all this travelling around is worth it (she's under the impression we'll be doing Kovalam -> Periyar -> Cochin )

steven_ber

Be sure you come to a decision you're both happy with, if she agrees just because she thinks thats what you want, the heat and the transport delays will have her blaming you for including too many places.

htid

Transport delays? Hmmm I think I should read some more about that...I'm expecting trains to run like in England (or wait, if there are delays it IS like England! But really, I never have a problem with our trains not running on time), am I expecting too much there then?

I'm trying to make it 2 weeks because we want to make the most of it...I can imagine if I say "ok let's just go for 10 days, there's not enough to see for 2 weeks" she'll turn around and say "ok then I don't think it's worth going" and I'll end up being in Europe AGAIN!

steven_ber

India works well, but slow, very very slow, if you try to rush it, India will trip you up, when you stand in line for a ticket, the line will move very slow, for every one person in front of you, 3 people will be served as other's join the queue from the side, when you get to the front, you'll have to use force to stop others putting their arms through the ticket window to get served ahead of you.

The bus/train will stop in the middle of nowhere for no reason, then it will wait, and wait, and you'll get hotter and angry, yet everyone else on the bus/train is so relaxed, it really tests your patience and your relationship.

Then you choose a train that appears to have good timings, only to find the train started it’s journey 2000kms away and is 7 hours late.

So why do we all still love India, because the whole place is so wonderful that these problems seem unimportant.

But in India, with regard to your Itinerary, less is definitely more, packing all your stuff every 2nd day, and in that heat, for another battle with a rickshaw driver then another bus/train, then another battle with a rickshaw driver......it gets you down, and even if you can handle it, can your girlfriend?

There will be plenty to do in any place you visit, and more importantly, you're both away from home pressures and interference for 2 weeks to enjoy yourself, you don't need multiple journeys to get the most out of your trip, if 4 or 5 places doesn't do it for you, I can guarantee that 7 places will be even worse, and if you do enjoy India, you'll wish you could stay in each place for longer.

If you fall in love with India, you can go back at a later date.

nayan

Arrival at 5:40 am should not be a problem in the month of May. A busy station like Kochi will be quite full of activity by then.

India wakes up early.

htid

Thanks again Steven

You make a valid point which I think has made me see that I'm planning too much - after all as I said it's only our first time in India, heck, even our first time out of Europe. It's also only our second holiday together so I think something less stressful would indeed be better as we don't want to spend the time argueing etc.

I think your suggestion of:

Trivandrum
Kottayam
Cochin
Periyar
Madurai
Trivandrum

would be the best option. We get a nice spread of places, without rushing and get to spend a few days at each place. I may cut Kottayam out, it was just an idea to spend 1 night there to break up the journey of going from Trivandrum -> Cochin, but it may not be necessary.

Anyway I'm going to WHSmith in my lunch to try and find one of those guides that was mentioned. Hopefully that will give me some good info. Thanks once more! (I'm sure I'll be back asking more!)

pundabee

Another option is

Trivandrum/Kovalam (-> train 4½ hours)
Kochi (-> bus 5 hours)
Munnar (-> bus 4 hours)
Periyar (-> bus 3½ hours)
Kottayam (-> train 3½ hours)
Trivandrum

This limits travelling, keeps you in Kerala, and minimises the risk of having to deal with delayed trains. Also, you won't have to make any train reservations (not usually needed for travel inside Kerala), which you would have to travelling from Madurai to Trivandrum. And you would, with the inclusion of Munnar, get a few more cooling days in the hills.

rachelinindia

Trivandrum -> Kovalam (3 nights) trivandrum is only a 30 min bus ride, i'd do that instead of getting a train. you could even get a taxi or auto.

kovalam (via trivandrum) -> Kottayam (1 night). the easiest way to periyar will be to get the short bus ride back into trivandrum and get a bus from there straight to the national park by missing out kottayam altogether(8 hours though!)OR a train to kottayam from trivdandrum(3 hours)

kottayam -> Periyar (via kumily)(2 nights): kottayam to periyar is a 4 hour bus journey. you'll need to take another short bus journey to kumily, 4 km from the national park. they should be pretty regular because kottayam is basically a stopover town for more interesting places!

periyar (via kumily) -> Madurai (2 nights) to madurai from kumily is another 4 hour bus journey.

madurai - >Cochin (3 nights )Cochi is split into 3 different places; Cochi, Fort Cochi and Ernakulam. The train stations are Ernakulam Jr or Ernakulam Town train station. You can get a sleeper train from Madurai to either station in ernkulam(11 hours or so). From the station into cochi proper is a 40 min bus trip or a ferry to fort cochi.

cochi - > tivandrum is a 4 hour train journey.

htid

Thanks to whoever changed the thread title, I was going to start a new one with a better title.

Forget the stuff so far, not gonna happen

Things she 100% wants:

Kovalam for the beach
Periyar for the wildlife
Cochi for the houseboats
(so far so good...)
Wayanad for the tree houses there!

So we have to go right up to Wayanad. Seems kind of easy though:

Kovalam train to Kottatam (no stay over) then car Periyar car Cochi train up to Calicut, then car Wayanad car back to Calicut, then train Trivandrum

I say car for all these things because she won't use a bus after reading about how cramped/smelly/uncomfortable they are. She's not into the whole "living it rough" thing. I don't know if we would take a taxi or what, for the car sections of the journey.

Any thoughts on this setup?

Nick-H

I think you can find backwaters and houseboats closer to Kovalam/Trivandrum, which might allow you to cut out Kochi, although it is a place worth seeing in its own right.

Otherwise, Alleppey is the big centre for houseboats.

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vandy

Hi there, Considering the hot & humid conditions
you will encounter and the 2 week time frame,I
strongly suggest you try and keep your travel to a minimum.Even experienced travellers to India find
public transport(road & rail)tiring & frustrating.

It would be very beneficial if you could depart india from Cochin instead of going all the way back to Tvdm.it may also be possible to stay in
treehouse accom in Periyar - Kumily Area(not sure)
This will save you travelling to Wayanand for this
experience.Seriously consider the advice to spend
some time in the hills where it should be cooler.

My suggested itinerary is as follows;

Trivndm (Kovalam)2nts - Varkala (also beach area)2nights - Train to Cochin 2nts,hire car(A/C Indica) & driver to take you to Munnar 2nts - Periyar 2nts,
Kotayam or Allepey for houseboat cruise plus 2 nts
at Backwater homestay,get driver to drop you off in backwater area and then pick you up in few days
and return to Cochin for 1 or 2 nts before going home.You could also consider flying in and out of Cochin and got to Cherai beach on Vypeen Island which is a lot quieter than kovalam and will save you time & money, Fort Cochin is worth staying for a couple of nights,very interesting place.On your way to Munnar Hill Station You could also stop in at kodanand and wash a elephant or two in the river(morning time)

rgds - vandy

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