North Tamilnadu temple and beach tour

jyotipg

Hi,
I am leaving for trip to north tamilnadu on coming saturday on a bike. Here is the tentative itinerary:

1. Sat: Bangalore - Tiruvannamalai (210 kms)
2. Sun: Tiruvannamalai - Mahabalipuram ( 160km): this includes 50kms of drive along the ECR.
3. Mon: Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (100km)
4. Tue: Pondicherry
5. Wed: Pondicherry - Kumbakonam: (130 kms)
6. Thu: Kumbakonam - Tanjore : 40 kms
7. Fri: Tanjore - Yercaud : 210 kms
8. Sat: Yercaud
9. Sun: Early Morning start from Yercaud: Reach Bangalore in 5 hours easily.

Please advice on the itineray. If I am missing any place on the route, pls let me know.
We are travelling on a budget and looking for a room about 500 - 800 per day. Any recomendations on hotels in all these placs would help.

Thanks

__________________
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1995 - 2000: Beas Kund, Triundh, Chudhar peak,Dodital.
2001-till date: Tapovan, Khatling,Mayali Pass(Unsuccessful), Rudranath, Chandrashila peak, Pin Parvati Pass, Kalindi Pass, Mt. Yunum(Aborted), Roopkund, Junargali pass, Ronti Saddle.

girlfromvenus

I have been in Tiruvannamalai and Pondy 4 weeks ago and can recommend the guesthouses I stayed at:

Tiruvannamalai: Hill View Residency ( I paid 300 rupees per night)
unfortunately don't have contact details on hand

Pondy: Swades Guesthouse (500 rupees per night)
http://www.swades-guesthouse.com/index_en.html

If you want to climb Mount Arunachala, I can recommend the best guide you can find there. So if you are interested let me know.

pmvelu

@Jyoti,

My comments below:-

Much of the Circuit would be boring !. Are you specific about the Places you mentioned ?

Is it a Trip to Enjoy Biking OR this trip is to visit tourist places in a Bike ?

For the number of Days you mentioned, you can enjoy Excellent Circuits in Canara / Malanadu OR even North Kerala Or you can explore Coastal Tamilnadu[Point Calimere , Velankanni , Nagapattinam, Rameswaram and ending in Kanyakumari with a return journey in train with your bikes in "Luggage van"] with some interesting places enroute !

I responded to your PM too and to be frank that circuit will be more interesting than this one !

In your Itenary , Biking will be boring for Maximum part of the Journey !

Kumbakonam for Ex [If you are planning to visit Temples] need 2 nights and Tiruvanamalai 2 nights to visit the Ashrams and temple !

Yercaud is not worth the travel of 210 kms but I understand it's the route you are taking back to BAngalore with a slight enroute from Salem !

Please Respond with your Views to the PM or here and I will share my travel ideas accordingly !


Cheers
Velu

jyotipg

Hi Velu,

Thanks for your reply. Your inputs are precious and I would keep them in mind. I have used your suggestions for Wayanad trip and that was too good.

I know I can close my eyes and trust on the plan that you suggest. It would be too mean on my part to keep it on a private message. You can post the reply on the forum so that it helps others also.

Cheers,
Jyoti

jyotipg

Sorry, didnt replied all your questions in the last post. The basic idea was to enjoy biking. I am ready for a change of places.
Ah, the idea of north kerala and the coastal tamilnadu.. both look enticing..

pmvelu

Thanks for your comments Jyoti !

I am planning to provide : -

Tamilnadu coastal [ Non - Touristy circuit ]
Coastal Karnataka + Malanadu [ More of Beaches and Mix of Ghat roads with temples in scenic surroundings]
North Kerala [ More of Non - touristy places + Mix of Ghat / Forest Roads [ Highly forested roads . Safe but deserted for Kms ]

If you are comfortable in driving long distances in Bike and you can rought it out a bit , Option 1 is better
If you want to drive less comparatively but would like to enjoy Biking and would like to try out photography with Nice weather option 2 & 3 are better !

Please specify which one interests you more !

Cheers
Velu

pmvelu

I will post the sample itenaries for both in a while and you could select whichever interests you Jyoti !

Velu

bsprasad

1. Sat: Bangalore - Tiruvannamalai (210 kms) Sound Ok

2. Sun: Tiruvannamalai - Mahabalipuram ( 160km): this includes 50kms of drive along the ECR.

Which Route are you taking ? Tiruvannamali is exactly 96 kms from Pondicherry

So, if you need to touch ECR from tiruvannamalai, You need to touch Tindivanam and then Maduranthakam and from there you can reach Mahabalipuram. Sounds like a round about route, but there is no other way I guess.

3. Mon: Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (100km)

4. Tue: Pondicherry

5. Wed: Pondicherry - Kumbakonam: (130 kms)

6. Thu: Kumbakonam - Tanjore : 40 kms

7. Fri: Tanjore - Yercaud : 210 kms

8. Sat: Yercaud

9. Sun: Early Morning start from Yercaud: Reach Bangalore in 5 hours easily

Other than the Step 2, everything is perfect.

jyotipg

Hi Velu,

I am anxiously waiting to read your post. Dont be surprised that I have logged into IM not less than 10 times since yesterday.

Your itinerary may help me sell it to other friends and get them along for this trip. Pls, send it fast...

Cheers,
Jyoti

pmvelu

I am Sorry Jyoti . I was held up in Meetings all Day !

Here is the tentative plan for Coastal tamilnadu ! Please let me know if this interests you and parallely I will start writing about the North Kerala / Malandu Itenary ! Today also I will be in meetings much of the day and I will post late evening the other itenary [ Around 10 pm or Early tomorrow morning]



1. Board Thanjavur Bound Train and get down at Thanjavur ! Day 1

2. From Thanjavur, get to Velankanni [ Very nice Church and the beach, the Museum [Where the Gifts offered by Devotees were kept will be interesting. Just for your info, in that area, Hindus also will visit Dargah & Church alike ]. Stay in Velankanni Day 2 Stay

3. Velankanni to Nagapattinam [ Just beach] followed by Visit to Nagore Dargah [ Loads of Hindus will visit this and considered to be most powerful in that area]

4. From Nagapattinam, Proceed to Vedaranyam [ A Very old Shiva temple and beach ] as Enroute to Point Calimere[ Local name "Kodiakarrai". This Nagapattinam to Vedaranyam is Coastal Circuit and you can see "Salt Fields" on the way ! Day 3 Stay

5.You can have a look at "Museum" at Forest Dept office, Kodiakkarai followed by a Visit to the Sanctuary !. Totally Off-tourist and one De-Funct light house will be there and on top of it , we will feel a Silence which is worth ! Beach in this Sanctuary will be Very very calm & clean and nice.. You can spend 3 hours there !

6.From Kodiakarai,get back to Vedaranyam and from there proceed to Muthupettai Via Thiruthuraipoondi . Road will be winding and Full of Paddy fields on both the sides of the road and you will see many a water bodies with "Lotus" spread around and Traffic will be very very less .. You could enjoy the Drive ! Day 4 Stay in Vedaranyam !

7. In this road you will touch a point where 2 roads will be there with "No Straight Possible "and there take left and proceed towards Muthupettai

8. Again you will be greeted by Lush Green Paddy fields on both sides with many a Lakes, Ponds, few Rivers crossing and you will reach a place called "Udhayamarthandapuram" [ Here you have a Sanctuary and it's Mostly Birds only"] Explore that !

9. And here itself , you will have MAngrove Forests [ Local slang " alaiyathi Kadu"]. Explore that

10. Drive Straight to Adhirampattinam [Beach] ! Day 5 Stay in Adhirampattinam Or Pattukottai

11.From there onwards take "Sethu Road" to Rameswaram !

12. From Adhirampattinam it's straight road and it goes in Parallel to Indian ocean and at many a places you will see Ocean in just over 50 metres [With No Waves] and you stop at "Manora" [Around 1 hour travel from Adhirampattinam] --> This is a monument over beach side

13.From there on Drive Straight and you can stop at "Kottaipattinam" [ Big Durgah on the seashore]

14.Drive Straight and you will hit "Devipattinam". Here take left and go to Ocean and you will see "Navagraha Temple" built in the ocean itself [ Some 50 metres from the shoreline inside the ocean and now they have built a small bridge to reach that temple. I did walked in the ocean to the temple few years back] --> This is very famous temple in that area

15.Join back to the main road and you will pass through Ramanathapuram . Take left and after 50 kms + ,you will be in Rameswaram after passing over the beautiful "Pamban Bridge" Day 6 stay in Ramnadu

16. Explore Rameswaram Theerthams , Temple. Drive to Dhanuskodi for Excellent Beach , Ruined post office , Ruined remains of Railway Station [ Dhanuskodi was devastated by Tsunami around 1969] [ Day 7 stay in Rameswaram after exploring both Rameswaram and Dhanuskodi]

17.From Dhanuskodi, Drive back to Ramanathapuram [ Local slang is Ramnadu] and if you want Nice roads, Drive to Madurai followed by Kanyakumari OR if you want shorter and more coastal road you can take left from Ramanathapuram and drive to tiruchendur via Keelakarai / Ervadi / Sayalkudi / Tuticorin ! Tiruchendur temple is very famous and one another beauty is Temple is at the Sea level ! [ Day 8 stay in Trichundur]

18. After Exploring Kanyakumari, you can drive to Trivandrum Via "Thirparappu Falls" , "Padmanabapuram palace", "Suchindram temple" and also locally in trivandrum, you may explore Cherai / Kovalam beach ! [ Day 9 Stay in Kanyakumari]

19 .Day 10 Stay in Trivandrum

20. You may get back to Bangalore in train with your bikes in "Luggage Van"

General :-

1) If you have one guy who knows Tamil it will be helpful
2) Totally Non-touristy [ Many a places] and do not expect any Very famous spots !
3) You have to adjust with Normal lodges and Pack from big towns Food / Snacks Etc !
4) I have written details about kodiakarai in IM. Search for my id + Kodiakarai and you will get the info !


Cheers
Velu

jyotipg

Awesome Post.. Very detailed and helpful description Velu.
I can spend the whole day dreaming of places you mentioned and then I would something more to dream on with your kerala Itinerary.

jyotipg

Hi Velu,
I just have a day to decide between kerala and Tamilnadu. Pls post the iterinary for kerala.

Thanks,
Jyoti

pmvelu

@Jyoti,

PFB the itenary with Dalshina Kannada / Malabar / Coorg down below !

Day 1:- Bangalore to Shringeri Via Shravanabelagola / Belur /Halebeedu Stay at shringeri

Day 2:- From Shringeri, Drive to Horanadu followed by Driving to Kudremukha NP [ Try out for Night Stay in the Forest dept Camp stay within the Kudremukha NP area itself Day 2 stay

I did shared the info on Malanadu / Chicmagalur District over here

trip In and around Chikmangalur From Bangalore

Day 3 :- Drive to Mangalore followed by Drive towards Kasaragod ! On the Way Visit Ullal Beach. Day 3 Stay at Kasaragod

Day 4 :- Drive towards Bekal fort followed by Bekal fort Beach . Drive towards Pallikere beach . Day 4 Stay at KAsaragod

Day 5:- Visit Madhur Ganapathy temple [Very famous in that area] , Followed by visit to "Ananthapuram" [ Try to be at ananthapuram around 10:45 am . That's the only lake temple in kerala and Attraction there is the crocodile in that tank which is VEGETARIAN !. At 11:45, The temple priest will give the Rice Pongal to Crocodile ! It's nice to observe that Ritual !. At 1:30 pm, Food will be served at this temple for all devotees !From there visit Chandragiri fort [6 kms from this temple and signboards will be there]. Proceed towards Kanhangad in NH17. Day 5 Stay at KAnhangad !

Day 6:- Visit Ananthasramam & Nithyaanandasram [ Where 64 caves will be there] [Very much near kanhangad itself]. Drive towards Nileshwar [ Kannur road - NH17] . You will reach Nileshwar. You can try out Backwaters out there Or Proceed towards Valiyaparamba backwaters [ YEt to Start the houseboat service but you can try out a Adventure trip in local catamaran to the Island which is around 400 metres from the shore in a heavily crowded boat - 5 Rs / Person]. Once you reach the island , you will be stunned to see the Greenery , the all around view across and there are several houses in that island with thousands of Cocoanut trees and with several backwaters !

On Kasaragod District, I will do a write-up this weekend !.

Day 7:- Get back to NH17 and proceed towards Kannur . I did shared the Details of kannur over here !. Stay at Kannur for Day 7 & Day 8!

Houseboats in Northern Kerala?

Day 9:- From Kannur, Get back to KAnhangad,and take right towards Ranipuram [ 42 kms]. Park your bike once you reach a place [ I remember the name of that place as Perla. ] and bargain with Jeepwallah to reach out to Ranipuram [ Mini Hill station of KAsaragod] . Taking Bikes is risky as it's steep road and road is poor ! Spend some time out there. Once done, get your bike and Drive onwards to "Panathur". Drive Straight from panathur and within 2 kms you will be into Karnataka and then for next 30 kms NONE will be there and you will be in one of the most densed Virgin Forests of "Talacauvery Wildlife Range" virtually deserted / No household / No people with one or two buses using that road ! . You will reach bhagamandala . You can visit Talacauvery followed by madikeri for night stay ! [ NOTE: Even in case of slightest of Rains AVOID the abovesaid road , Take left after panathur and you will be in another Deserted road with nice scenery and you will see Mud Road after around 8 kms .Just continue and in 1 km you will be into "Karnataka" and you will see Tar road again . Drive straight and in another 14 kms you will be in Sulya !] Stay in Sulya OR drive towards Madikeri Via Sambaje Ghat road and you stay in Madikeri ! Stay in Madikeri for Day 9

Day 10:;

Start early ,and drive towards Mysore Via Cauvery nishadhama , Tibetan Settlements at koppa and at elivala , Turn left and you will be Crossing Ranganathittu BS, Shirangapatna , Mandya and you will be in bangalore for the Night !

General:-

1) You will enjoy the biking in this plan more than the tamilnadu plan What I provided earlier !
2) Almost invariably in kasaragod district , All understands Kannada !
3) I will add on Budget hotels which we stayed tomorrow in Kasaragod / Mangalore / Kannur !

P.S:- During the trip, Any time you need more info or want alternate places to explore you may call my mobile number !

Please post if you have any questions !

Have a Fantastic & Safe Trip !

Velu

sdsudarsan

pmvelu:

From Ramanathapuram, a slight detour to visit Sethukarai (the famous sethu bridge)... You could talk to local fishermen who can take you on a Catamoron to a place to show parts of the bridge.

Also, visit Thirupullani - Adi Jagannatha Perumal.

--- Worth doing it. Also nearby is Uttarakosa mangai.

jyotipg

Thanks Velu. Very well written itinerary as always. I now need to take a decision on which of the two to pick up.

I love kerala and the greenery there. But as per the weatherman, south west monsoon would be active in the west karnataka and kerala for whole of next week. I have been to kerala and west karnataka several time but never hit the eastern coast other than pondicherry.

So, I might finally choose East Coast but just worried about the hot and humid conditions prevailing there. My friend from Mumbai who us accompanying me for the trip can take the heat of east coast but I am probably spoilt after so many years in the soothing environs of bangalore.

I would update you whatever area we finally decide to take. Thank you again for all your help and advice.

Cheers,
Jyoti