lakshwdeep and keral in July : Please advise

neera

Hi,
We are planning 2 week trip in India for vacation. We want to have relaxing vacation. ONe thing in mind is Lakshwdeep. I am really tired of searching the net on the vacation spot or wheather lakshwdeep -kerala would be a good choice from Jul 8th to jul 22. As many posts says it will rain a lot, but we dont have any choice, From Jul 8th to Jul 22 are the 2 weeks we have. I would greately appreciate if somebody advise on how will be the weather in first 3 weeks of july in Lakshwdeep-kerala. We are thinking of 5days/4 nights at lakshwdeep( we are not interested in any water sports etc) then rest of the next week in Kerala. From Lakshwdeep, we will be flying to Cochin. If someone can give any tips-advise on where to go from Cochin , which travel-spots to cover , should we book well in advance the pacakge.

Thanks for your help.

webtraveller

The time is very prime monsoon season. There is a high probability that it may rain daily and every hour in the day.

I you just want to lock down yourself in a hotel, then it is good. Also the Monsoon Kerala experience, if you like to try, is different. I personally like the season. Keral is fine. But Not Lakshadweep.

There is hardly any beach activity you can plan during this period in Kerala, neither in LD. If you just like to relax better head to tamil nadu (Kodai/ OOty).

Bigzero

Webtraveller: Ooty will be wet as well. perhaps Kodai too.

But you are right - if one likes rain and wants to experience the tropical monsoon, by all means head to kerala. Be prepared for nonstop rain for days together, waterlogging, dampness everywhere inside the house, clothes that refuse to dry, and the occasional cold & flu. But i still love to be there during this season.

Typically monsoon rains ( at least in kerala )come in small cycles - around 10 days of heavy rain followed by 10 days of light rain & sun. it depends on which part of this cycle you catch. July is typically the month when it rains heaviest. especially around the new moon day.

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haritha

In the monsoon it will rain. It will rain heavily new moon days, say five days to both sides. Rest of the days it will shine and rain, Nos it is shining , yesterday it was raining. Why not try the midlands of kerala . Beaches will be hopeless in monsoon .Also good for Ayurveda treatments

neera

Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
can you explore more on midlands of kerala? What you mean by that. Can you suggest any iternity in kerala which will cover house boat, pariyar, munnar and any other places. How will be weather with those places.
We are really confused now where to go. We already been to Goa twice, been to delhi-bombay-agra-jaiput-udapur. So was thinking only option will be SOuth but everybody says it will rain in july 2-3 week which we are planning, so with 2 young kids (3 yr, 6 yr) ,i am not sure now is it a good choice or not ? I would greatly appreciate if somebody suggest any other tourist spots-iternity for 2 week.

Nimisha.

haritha

If you ahve a will you can enjoy the kerala in monsoon too

Kerala cooking ,

watching the rain in the hill s and valleys on the grees of midland where climate si mild

If you think houseboats and Muunar and Periyar are the only options you again become the prisoners of the guide books .


Ever thought of shopping , buying glasses , learning some dishes having a ayurveda massage and see how indian trucks are painted see the rural life all is possible if you have the will

infinion

welcome to my land , God's own country ( !!???) . beaches/lakes/inland water ways/forests / tea gardens / mountains you have got it all here. do not know how many days you spend in kerala.

it is a small state, sandwiched between mountains and ocean. view my model tour below. you can customise to make it shorter.

in fact you can enjoy in rain & thunder also.

where you land ? Kochi / Trivandrum ?, Trivandrum will be better so that you can travel from south to north. Don't be stingy - hire cab / jeep whenever necessary to cover max places. keep a min 5 mega pix camera handy.

day 1&2&3 Trivandrum city tour, palace , Sri Padmanabha Temple,Kanya kumari ( confluence of 3 oceans , sunrise / sunset ,swamy vivekananda rock on the sea where swamiji meditated - GODLY PLACE ) , neyyar dam ( stay at Sivannanda ashram ) , FOREST, , Ponmudi resort, on the way visit tropical botanical garden & of course famed Kovalam beach

day 4. Trivandrum - Periyar Tiger reserve, Thekkady

Day 5,6 : Thekkady - Munnar ( you an enjoy if it is not raining). visit tea estates, Iravikulam National Park to see a rare mountain ungulate goat - Nilgiri Tahr , visit Marayur sandalwood forest, Mattuppetty indo swiss project, and ALOHA ! WATCH MOUNTAINS AFLAME IN NILAKURINJI FLOWERS (blue Strobilanthus) if you are lucky ( bloom in 12 years). accomodation at Munnar may cost more than INR 2,000.00 perday.

day 7,8:Munnar - Kottayam - Kumarakom bolgatty palace resort or House boat. bargain at Jetty for Daily rent - Rs.6000-10000

day 9: Take a boat ride from Kumarakom to Kochin, visit jew street and Kochin

Day 10: Kochin - Cheruthurithy near Trichur , Kerala Kalamandalam on the Banks of legendary Periyar River - the mecca of Kerala Performing arts like kathakali , mohiniyattam , drums etc

day 11 : travel to Calicut( known as Kozhikode). visit bakel fort & other attractions. if have more days you can visit Kannur and watch Theyyams in villages.

day 12: fly out to bombay / bangalore from Calicut Intl airport.
do not forget to take a whole body massage before leaving. it will be a memorable trip. kerala has very good train / bus / boat transport. consume botted water only. get good fish like lake water pomfrets ( may be wrong spell) in Kumarakom / mussels called kallummekkay in Calicut. first aid box should have paracetamol tabs , mosquito repellant , medicines againt running nose . climate will be humid. take easy to dry clothes. do not wear revealing dresses. respect the culture and people who are a little bit inquisitive. keep rain coats / umbrella handy.

there are other places to view ( Nelliyampathy -one of the best + less crowded misty mountain hillstation , Silent valley National Park - rain forest having unidentified plant species, Malpuzha dam and a KTDC hotel on the top of a hill overlooking Malampuzha dam and the surrounding hills , unique Rock garden - all near Palakkad which is 1 hour from Trichur , 2 hours from Kochin) , one can even travel kochin - trichur - Palakkad - Calicut. . but you might need 2-3 days more

check some of my Kerala pictures at http://community.webshots.com/user/sheineshk

Kerala govt's KTDC maintains resorts and hotels .a good website is www.keralatourism.org

share travelogue post -trip. any more Qs welcome.


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