Trichy or Kodaikanal? (Jan/Feb 2010)

Hey IM!

We are just trying to finalise an itinerary for a trip from Mumbai through Kerala and Tamil Nadu to Chennai in Jan/Feb 2010.

We have 4 days spare and can't decide whether to go to Trichy with a side trip to Tanjavur or go to Kodaikanal?

Other places we are visiting are Mumbai, Kochi, Munnar, Alleppey, Kollam, Varkala, Madurai, Chennai.

Both places sound great, what are peoples' thoughts?

Cheers,

Gareth

It would depend on what interests you more :

If a hill station interests you more then it should be Kodaikanal.

If temples and related aspects interest you then possibly tiruchi and tanjore.

Kodai and Trichy are not directly comparable and it depends on your interests.

ribhu

I agree with Ribhu, it entirely depends on what interests you more. In any case, you are at Munnar - another hill station but quite different from Kodai in the sense that Munnar is surrounded by tea, and Kodai is at a higher altitude.

Madurai - ancient temple town, however the atmosphere at Trichy [Srirangam] and Tanjore is quite different and both the latter temples are magnificent in their own right.

You could actually fit both in if you absolutely must see all these places in this one trip. From Madurai go to Kodai, and after you finish there, then from Kodai go to Trichy via Dindigul.

Perhaps you could adjust your nights in the other places, again depending on what interests you more.

Tanjavore temple is one of the must see places of Tamil nadu . Rather i would say the best of Tamilnadu. Its not because as pilgrimage center but for its architectural beauty.

Hence, i would suggest considering Trichy with Tanjore instead of Ooty.

Thankyou very much everyone.

You've answered some of our questions already!

We weren't sure whether Kodai would be similar to Munnar and Trichy would be similar to Madurai but it sounds like both are quite different?

Our interests are both temples and nature haha, which is why we are having trouble deciding.

Is Kodai still good in Jan and Feb, not too bleak? Nice escape from heat?

Don't know about February, possibly already heating up again I imagine. I was there in around mid-December I think, and it gets colder than you might think. Lower 10C's by night I reckon, perhaps a little better by day. Persistently foggy and drizzling when I was there too (and hence never warming up all that much).

I realized just recently it's as high up as 2,100 meters, so that needn't have me surprised me as much I guess. And as usual I'm sure it varies per year.

Kodai is still cool enough in Jan....No sure about Feb....should be OK. You would not be sweating, for sure..

If you are keen at temples, then trichy and tanjavur are must see.

ribhu

Ive been to Kodai in Feb.

February is cold at night, you need a blanket for sure and can be freezing if you are staying in one of those old stone constructed houses. Jackets are needed early mornings and evenings but the sun is nice and bright in the daytime, quite intense due to the high altitude - low latitude combination, so a light windcheater or thickish long sleeved shirt will do. It is crisp, cool, tangibly clean fresh air, a great escape from the heat and humidity of the plains and coastal regions. I loved the weather.

If it is temple architecture rather than temple pilgrimage you want, you can have a quick look at Madurai Meenakshi and then go to Kodaikanal which is just a 3hr drive away. Later, spend more time at Srirangam and Tanjore to enjoy the temple architecture, carvings etc.