Help me arrange my TN trip/experience, please

abele · Sep 7th, 2007, 20:39

Hi all,

we are going to spend some days in TN end of september. We will preferably use bus/train. Here is a preliminary itinerary after getting lost among all the posts in this forums...(sorry if in the following there are more questions than answers

)

1. One full day visiting Chennai.
2. Day trip to Kanchipuram (is there a good bus/train connection?)
3. To Tiruvannamalai via Mamallapuram (again: by bus or by train? In addition Chennai looks quite expensive... better to stay in Kanchipuram/Mamallapuram the second night?)
4. To Kumbakonam via Chidambaran (I suppose train is the best option here).
5. Stay in Kumbakonam and trips to Dharasuram and Swamimalay (short distances: I suppose a taxi could be ok)
6. To Trichy via Tanjore (good bus connection, I learned)
7. To Madurai (by train?)
8. Rameswaram? Is it a safe place? A friend of mine told me about growing tensions over there...
Then the trip would proceed towards Kanyakumari (by train) and Kerala shores...

Any suggestion/correction is welcome

!
Abele

abele · Sep 10th, 2007, 20:37

Ok, I'm refining my ideas...
Just a question about the first days: Chennai-Kanchipuram-Mamallapuram...
I would go to Kanchipuram in the morning, with a bus from Chennai. Then I plan to reach Mamallapuram in late afternoon and stay there for the night. Next day, visit Mamallapuram in the morning and leaving for Tiruvannamalai and spent one night and one day there.

It seems that people in the forum find Mamallapuram too touristic and largely prefer Tiruvannamalai's atmosphere. Based on this, is it better to go to Mamallapuram from Chennai first, visit and move toward Tiruvannamalai spending the night there?

Thank you!
Abele

York_Katni · Sep 10th, 2007, 21:26

There is a nice intercity express that runs from Madras Egmore station to Pondicherry and returns back in the evening. You can come to Villupuram to get to Kanchipuram. From Kanchipuram come back to Villupuram and then take a train to Trichy[lots of trains]. From Trichy Madurai and Kumbakonam are not far. Bus service is very reliable.

Nick-H · Sep 10th, 2007, 21:31

Didn't somebody mention on a recent thread that Pondychery Station is (or has been) closed?

Mahabalipuram is very touristy, but there is quite a lot to see there!

York_Katni · Sep 10th, 2007, 21:37

no
it is electrified and now there are regular services to Madras and a direct passenger to the temple town of tirupati. But the latter passenger is no use as it does not connect to any train. Pondicherry I think has slip coach services to other destinations.

abele · Sep 10th, 2007, 21:56

To Nick-H: do you think is it possible to visit properly (yeah, I know: everybody has his own idea of "properly"... let's put it in this way: we are more interested in seeing local lifestyle and get in touch with people than to see every single rock!) Mamallapuram and move the same day to Tiruvannamalai for the night?
To York-Katni: thank for the hint. How long does it take to go from Villupuram to Trichy by train? I am afraid that going from Tiruvannamalai to Kumbakonam will require one full day of travel...

abele

Nick-H · Sep 10th, 2007, 23:59

Mamaallapuram is a place one visits to see rocks, rather than people or lifestyle! They are, however, pretty stunning rocks!

wonderwomanusa · Sep 11th, 2007, 09:34

I once took the TN Tourist Office's full-day tour, which took me around Chennai, to Tiruvannamalai, Mammalapuram and Kanchipuram -- and maybe a couple of other places as well. I had some time to wander around while the Indian tourists went to the temples, in which foreigners are not allowed.

Then I took a bus to Mammalapuram for a few days, and a bus from there to Pondicheri.

fsg · Sep 11th, 2007, 16:48

TVM to KUMB is quite a long journey by bus, perhaps 6 hours, you might have to change at Panrutti, however my suggestion is that when you get by bus to wherever, you ask at the bus station for the times of the busses to your next destination. There is always someone who will help and give ACCURATE info, as opposed to hotel wallahs who have not a clue.

Kumbakonam is my favourite town, others go for Madurai, its OK, but for quality K is best

Busses go everyhwere, all times of day and night, and Indians just look at a bus as a place to sleep, 5 mins and they are off, even sitting on the floor

abele · Sep 11th, 2007, 20:46

Thanks all.

By the way: I am not very interested in Auroville, that's why I would skip Pondycherri too. But pheraps following the coast railway from Villuparam down to Kumbakonam via Chidambaram is a better option than going straight from Villu to Trichy and back to Kumbakonam

dhans · Sep 12th, 2007, 01:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by abele

Thanks all.

By the way: I am not very interested in Auroville, that's why I would skip Pondycherri too. But pheraps following the coast railway from Villuparam down to Kumbakonam via Chidambaram is a better option than going straight from Villu to Trichy and back to Kumbakonam

Skipping the Aurovillains is a good idea, but if you can squeeze in Pondi, that would also be a good idea, because it's a nice place to stay a day or so.

Hans

Sep 7th, 2007, 20:39	#1
abele Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: italy Posts: 18	Help me arrange my TN trip/experience, please Hi all, we are going to spend some days in TN end of september. We will preferably use bus/train. Here is a preliminary itinerary after getting lost among all the posts in this forums...(sorry if in the following there are more questions than answers ) 1. One full day visiting Chennai. 2. Day trip to Kanchipuram (is there a good bus/train connection?) 3. To Tiruvannamalai via Mamallapuram (again: by bus or by train? In addition Chennai looks quite expensive... better to stay in Kanchipuram/Mamallapuram the second night?) 4. To Kumbakonam via Chidambaran (I suppose train is the best option here). 5. Stay in Kumbakonam and trips to Dharasuram and Swamimalay (short distances: I suppose a taxi could be ok) 6. To Trichy via Tanjore (good bus connection, I learned) 7. To Madurai (by train?) 8. Rameswaram? Is it a safe place? A friend of mine told me about growing tensions over there... Then the trip would proceed towards Kanyakumari (by train) and Kerala shores... Any suggestion/correction is welcome ! Abele

Sep 10th, 2007, 21:26	#3
York_Katni Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK Posts: 81	trains to take There is a nice intercity express that runs from Madras Egmore station to Pondicherry and returns back in the evening. You can come to Villupuram to get to Kanchipuram. From Kanchipuram come back to Villupuram and then take a train to Trichy[lots of trains]. From Trichy Madurai and Kumbakonam are not far. Bus service is very reliable.

Sep 10th, 2007, 21:31	#4
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,846	Didn't somebody mention on a recent thread that Pondychery Station is (or has been) closed? Mahabalipuram is very touristy, but there is quite a lot to see there! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Sep 11th, 2007, 16:48	#9
fsg Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: U.K Posts: 225	TVM to KUMB is quite a long journey by bus, perhaps 6 hours, you might have to change at Panrutti, however my suggestion is that when you get by bus to wherever, you ask at the bus station for the times of the busses to your next destination. There is always someone who will help and give ACCURATE info, as opposed to hotel wallahs who have not a clue. Kumbakonam is my favourite town, others go for Madurai, its OK, but for quality K is best Busses go everyhwere, all times of day and night, and Indians just look at a bus as a place to sleep, 5 mins and they are off, even sitting on the floor Last edited by fsg : Sep 11th, 2007 at 16:51. Reason: add

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Sep 10th, 2007, 20:37	#2
abele Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: italy Posts: 18	Ok, I'm refining my ideas... Just a question about the first days: Chennai-Kanchipuram-Mamallapuram... I would go to Kanchipuram in the morning, with a bus from Chennai. Then I plan to reach Mamallapuram in late afternoon and stay there for the night. Next day, visit Mamallapuram in the morning and leaving for Tiruvannamalai and spent one night and one day there. It seems that people in the forum find Mamallapuram too touristic and largely prefer Tiruvannamalai's atmosphere. Based on this, is it better to go to Mamallapuram from Chennai first, visit and move toward Tiruvannamalai spending the night there? Thank you! Abele

Sep 10th, 2007, 21:37	#5
York_Katni Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK Posts: 81	no it is electrified and now there are regular services to Madras and a direct passenger to the temple town of tirupati. But the latter passenger is no use as it does not connect to any train. Pondicherry I think has slip coach services to other destinations.

Sep 10th, 2007, 21:56	#6
abele Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: italy Posts: 18	To Nick-H: do you think is it possible to visit properly (yeah, I know: everybody has his own idea of "properly"... let's put it in this way: we are more interested in seeing local lifestyle and get in touch with people than to see every single rock!) Mamallapuram and move the same day to Tiruvannamalai for the night? To York-Katni: thank for the hint. How long does it take to go from Villupuram to Trichy by train? I am afraid that going from Tiruvannamalai to Kumbakonam will require one full day of travel... abele

Sep 10th, 2007, 23:59	#7
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,846	Mamaallapuram is a place one visits to see rocks, rather than people or lifestyle! They are, however, pretty stunning rocks!

Sep 11th, 2007, 09:34	#8
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,253	I once took the TN Tourist Office's full-day tour, which took me around Chennai, to Tiruvannamalai, Mammalapuram and Kanchipuram -- and maybe a couple of other places as well. I had some time to wander around while the Indian tourists went to the temples, in which foreigners are not allowed. Then I took a bus to Mammalapuram for a few days, and a bus from there to Pondicheri.

Sep 11th, 2007, 20:46	#10
abele Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: italy Posts: 18	Thanks all. By the way: I am not very interested in Auroville, that's why I would skip Pondycherri too. But pheraps following the coast railway from Villuparam down to Kumbakonam via Chidambaram is a better option than going straight from Villu to Trichy and back to Kumbakonam

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