Tamilnadu planning help

bob_the_biker · Sep 29th, 2009, 18:23

Hi,

Ive posted previously on IM about my whole trip to India starting from the UK on Nov 11th (arriving in Goa) right through to April 15th 2010. I think that with me asking for advice for all my trip previously, it was a big task for itinerary help so... I would like to ask for help again on one of my earlier parts of my trip... Tamilnadu and Kerala

I will hopefully be arriving in Chennai from Bhopal on the 6th December working my way around ending in Kerala before getting the train up to Goa on or around 7th January. So I have around 30 days and I would love to stay as long as needed in Kerala (maybe 10 days?) leaving me about 20 days for seeing Tamilnadu

I don't know how long I should be staying in particular places to go from Chennai round to Thiruvanthapuram in those 20 days, I would hate to miss anywhere I should be seeing.

I don't mind a bit of hard travelling as I will be taking it easy once I get to Kerala and then again once back into Goa.

Very many thanks to you all.

Bob

girlfromvenus · Sep 29th, 2009, 19:11

I think it all depends on your interests. Why not use the search function and look for the Tamil Nadu Itinerarys of other travellers and then see what suits your taste ?

Jorge Reverter · Sep 29th, 2009, 19:41

In 30 days you can see quite a lot of places in TN and Kerala. More or less the usual itinerary is like that:
Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Kumbakonam (extension to Darasuram and Gangaikondacholapuram) - Thanjavur - Trichy (for Srirangam) - Rameswaram - Madurai. It can be done in three weeks.

From Madurai by overnight train to Trivandrum - Kovalam - Varkala - Alleppey - Thekkadi - Munnar - Fort Kochi and back to Goa.

Not all the places have the same interest and in my opinion you should avoid: Pondicherry, Trivandrum and Kovalam.

Jorge

bob_the_biker · Sep 29th, 2009, 19:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by girlfromvenus

I think it all depends on your interests. Why not use the search function and look for the Tamil Nadu Itinerarys of other travellers and then see what suits your taste ?

I've seen so many I'm getting more and more spoilt for choice... it's not that I've not found anything.. I've found TOO MUCH

I've been putting more of a basic plan down today, it's nothing more than sketchy at the moment with many tweeks to do. The rough dates include my moving between places with a couple of overnight trains on the longer stretches.

6th - Arrive Chennai
6th - 10th - Chennai
10th - Mahabalipuram
11th - Pondicherry
12th - Villupuram
13th - Tiruvannamalai
14th - Chidambaram
15th - Trichy
16th - Thanjavur
17th - 19th - Madurai
20th - 21st - Rameswaram
22nd - Nagacoil
23rd - Kanyakumari

That would leave still 5 days or so to play with.. any thoughts please most welcome?

Bob

EDIT:
Thanks Jorge, I will look further into my route.

I think I would also like to do Kochi - Coimbatore - Ooty from Kerala before heading up to Goa.

drgrudge · Sep 29th, 2009, 22:05

- Cut Villupuram and Nagercoil and spend more time in Kanyakumari.
- Visit Pitchavaram (biggest mangroves forest after Sunderbans) near Chidambaram.
- Visit Viralimalai peacock sanctuary near Trichy.
- Don't miss Kumbakonam while you're at Trichy.
- 4 days in Chennai and 2 days each in Madurai & Rameshwaram might not be necessary. Cut Chennai to 2/3 days and one day each in Madurai and Rameshwaram. You can visit Kodaikanal for 2 days.

girlfromvenus · Sep 29th, 2009, 22:20

Keep those 5 days in your pocket in case you like somewhere and want to spend more time there.
I for example would have loved to have another day or 2 in Tiruvannamalai, but wanted to stick to my plans and move on....I now regret.
So it's always good to be a little flexible and be able to lengthen the stay in any town for another day or more.

Skip Villupuram and go straight to Tiruvannamalai !
(in case you want to climb Mount Arunachala I can recommend you the best guide for that)

2 days are enough for Madurai: one day temple, other day Gandhi Museum and Thirumalai Nayak Palace

Jorge Reverter · Sep 29th, 2009, 23:44

As you can see there are as many opinion as indiamike's members. The most convenient itinerary depends on many things and we don't know your preferences. There are other very interesting sites like
Vaithisvarankoil, Tranquebar a former danish colony at the seaside (the actual name is Tarangambadi), Nagore and Velanganni around Nagapattinam, Gingee not far from Tiruvanalai, Chettinadu area, but when you travel you must choose an itinerary and forget all other places.

Don't forget to visit Tiruparangkundram an impressive abode-cave just 4 km from Madurai, I'm sure it will be one of the most remarkables visits.

Good luck

Jorge

bob_the_biker · Sep 30th, 2009, 00:17

Many thanks for all your recommendations, I am going to look at closely at adding/changing some of my schedule with these in mind.

@drgrudge
I am going to be using Chennai to rest up a little from travelling as I will have just done train journeys from Goa to Bhopal and then Bhopal to Chennai from December 1st to the 5th to mark the 25th anniversary of the disaster at the Sambhavna Clinic etc. I don't think I'll be moving far for a short while once there so allowed a touch longer

My interests are more for Ancient architecture, Hindu and Budhist sites, Places of natural beauty and people and tradition. I'm not too bothered about specifically watching wildlife although if it does happen to be around me that is absolutely fine.

I really do appreciate all your suggestions.

Bob

Sep 29th, 2009, 18:23	#1
bob_the_biker Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 6	Tamilnadu planning help Hi, Ive posted previously on IM about my whole trip to India starting from the UK on Nov 11th (arriving in Goa) right through to April 15th 2010. I think that with me asking for advice for all my trip previously, it was a big task for itinerary help so... I would like to ask for help again on one of my earlier parts of my trip... Tamilnadu and Kerala I will hopefully be arriving in Chennai from Bhopal on the 6th December working my way around ending in Kerala before getting the train up to Goa on or around 7th January. So I have around 30 days and I would love to stay as long as needed in Kerala (maybe 10 days?) leaving me about 20 days for seeing Tamilnadu I don't know how long I should be staying in particular places to go from Chennai round to Thiruvanthapuram in those 20 days, I would hate to miss anywhere I should be seeing. I don't mind a bit of hard travelling as I will be taking it easy once I get to Kerala and then again once back into Goa. Very many thanks to you all. Bob

Sep 29th, 2009, 22:05	#5
drgrudge Almost Famous. Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chennai/Bhopal Posts: 70	- Cut Villupuram and Nagercoil and spend more time in Kanyakumari. - Visit Pitchavaram (biggest mangroves forest after Sunderbans) near Chidambaram. - Visit Viralimalai peacock sanctuary near Trichy. - Don't miss Kumbakonam while you're at Trichy. - 4 days in Chennai and 2 days each in Madurai & Rameshwaram might not be necessary. Cut Chennai to 2/3 days and one day each in Madurai and Rameshwaram. You can visit Kodaikanal for 2 days. Last edited by drgrudge : Sep 30th, 2009 at 10:57.

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Sep 29th, 2009, 19:11	#2
girlfromvenus Seeker Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 290	I think it all depends on your interests. Why not use the search function and look for the Tamil Nadu Itinerarys of other travellers and then see what suits your taste ?

Sep 29th, 2009, 19:41	#3
Jorge Reverter Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Murcia - Spain Posts: 1,465	In 30 days you can see quite a lot of places in TN and Kerala. More or less the usual itinerary is like that: Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Kumbakonam (extension to Darasuram and Gangaikondacholapuram) - Thanjavur - Trichy (for Srirangam) - Rameswaram - Madurai. It can be done in three weeks. From Madurai by overnight train to Trivandrum - Kovalam - Varkala - Alleppey - Thekkadi - Munnar - Fort Kochi and back to Goa. Not all the places have the same interest and in my opinion you should avoid: Pondicherry, Trivandrum and Kovalam. Jorge

Sep 29th, 2009, 22:20	#6
girlfromvenus Seeker Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 290	Keep those 5 days in your pocket in case you like somewhere and want to spend more time there. I for example would have loved to have another day or 2 in Tiruvannamalai, but wanted to stick to my plans and move on....I now regret. So it's always good to be a little flexible and be able to lengthen the stay in any town for another day or more. Skip Villupuram and go straight to Tiruvannamalai ! (in case you want to climb Mount Arunachala I can recommend you the best guide for that) 2 days are enough for Madurai: one day temple, other day Gandhi Museum and Thirumalai Nayak Palace

Sep 29th, 2009, 23:44	#7
Jorge Reverter Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Murcia - Spain Posts: 1,465	As you can see there are as many opinion as indiamike's members. The most convenient itinerary depends on many things and we don't know your preferences. There are other very interesting sites like Vaithisvarankoil, Tranquebar a former danish colony at the seaside (the actual name is Tarangambadi), Nagore and Velanganni around Nagapattinam, Gingee not far from Tiruvanalai, Chettinadu area, but when you travel you must choose an itinerary and forget all other places. Don't forget to visit Tiruparangkundram an impressive abode-cave just 4 km from Madurai, I'm sure it will be one of the most remarkables visits. Good luck Jorge

Sep 30th, 2009, 00:17	#8
bob_the_biker Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 6	Many thanks for all your recommendations, I am going to look at closely at adding/changing some of my schedule with these in mind. @drgrudge I am going to be using Chennai to rest up a little from travelling as I will have just done train journeys from Goa to Bhopal and then Bhopal to Chennai from December 1st to the 5th to mark the 25th anniversary of the disaster at the Sambhavna Clinic etc. I don't think I'll be moving far for a short while once there so allowed a touch longer My interests are more for Ancient architecture, Hindu and Budhist sites, Places of natural beauty and people and tradition. I'm not too bothered about specifically watching wildlife although if it does happen to be around me that is absolutely fine. I really do appreciate all your suggestions. Bob