Chennai, Guruvaoor, madurai, kutralam, swamimalai - Itinerary help please

swarnapuri

We'r planning to make a trip from Chennai to Guruvayoor, Madurai, Kutralam, Swamimalai and back to chennai in a span of 4 / 5 days during first 2 weeks in August. We'll be travelling with young kids (10 & 6) and hope to keep it as comfortable as possible. We would prefer not to spend too much time in a car if we can. Could someone suggest the train / bus / car options to take.

Guruvayoor - to visit the temple and if time permits kaaladi to see adi sankara birthplace...
Madurai - temple
Kutralam - Aruvi
Swamimalai - need one full day for kuladeivam kovil trip.

Thanks for any help / suggestion.

mazha

I guess the most efficient would be Chennai --> Swamimalai --> Madurai --> Kutralam --> Guruvayoor --> Kaladi --> Chennai

You can catch a train from Madurai to Shengottai (train going to Kollam), and then go by road to Kutralam. From there go to Kollam and catch a train to Thrissur and a bus to Guruvayoor (1 hour). You can catch a train from Guruvayoor/Thrissur to Kaladi (1 hour, get down at Angamali), and then catch a train back to Chennai from Angamali.

pmvelu

Chennai-Kutralam-Guruvayur

From chennai, you could catch night Train to Tenkasi (Pothigai express)and reach Tenkasi the next day morning. From Tenkasi, Engage a Taxi if you want to explore all the 5 Waterfalls . Have Breakfast in tenkasi itself as it's a permanent town and kutralam being a Seasonal place where majority of hotels are ONLY for season !. "Five falls", "Main falls" and "Old Kutralam Falls" are must-visit kind of and "Puliaruvi" is like a Shower and "pala aruvi" is meant for VIPs and "Shenbagadadevi Falls" is ruled out as it involves long trekking and with kids it's not possible. It will take a day to cover all and after completing kutralam,

Option A:- (Involves bus journey in poor roads)
If you could adjust , catch a bus (All buses to Kollam & Trivandrum starts from Tenkasi Busstand and it will always be full there itself) and hence travel back 5 kms to Tenkasi and board a Bus to Kollam (100 kms , 3 1/2 Hours - Very Scenic road with lot of potholes upto Punalur -49 kms from tenkasi) ).From kollam , you could catch any day train to Trichur and get bus to Guruvayur (Just 29 kms).

Option B:-(Comfortable but circuitous way))
If you don't want to rough it out, catch a bus from kutralam /Tenkasi to Tirunelveli (Road is excellent / 60km + 1 1/2 hours).From Tirunelveli, Board Guruvayur express(Train#6127 Dep 19:25 ) and reach Guruvayur by 7am the next day-- This needs advance reservation!


Guruvayur-Madurai :-

Guruvayur needs a day to cover the temple and the elephant camp(Punnathur Kota)) (5 kms from temple and worth a visit). Again reserve well in advance and board the same Guruvayur express (Train #6128 Sep 21:00 Madurai Arrival : 11:00 Hrs the next day).

Madurai - Swamimalai:-

From Madurai, you could catch a day train to Trichy (3 hours journey) OR you could catch a bus to Thanjavur (3 1/2 hours journey). From Thanjavur, you could reach swamimalai with ease !

Hope this helps. If you need any specific info, please post, as except Swamimalai all other places, I have travelled extensively !