Varkala to Tamil Nadu

farjorieminch · Oct 22nd, 2009, 00:52

Hi all, I am new here, just learning how to post, so hope I have put this in the right place... I am travelling to Varkala on Nov 12th to Dec 18th. I am doing 2 weeks yoga at the kassi yoga on North Cliff. Then I would like to travel by car with driver to Tamil Nadu, then back again to have a few more days in Varkala before my flight. I am travelling alone and am a lady of 58yrs. Can anyone give me any advice, on cost, how long I would need to see quite a bit, and how safe? I have travelled from Cochin to Kovalam by car before but was with my daughter who organised everything! Thanks M

gaurav1441 · Oct 22nd, 2009, 02:08

Well where would you travel to in Tamil Nadu..? Madurai, Chennai or down south to Kanya Kumari..? Travelling should be safe and you can even book on trains for the overnight journeys. The longer journeys would not be that comfortable by car.

stocklotgarment · Oct 22nd, 2009, 02:54

why dont you look up www.elatrip.com ? That site has a lot of information on Kerala

farjorieminch · Oct 26th, 2009, 22:09

Hi Thanks for the replies. I would want to go to Ooty-Madurai/Tiruch /Pondicherry. The usual things I think, but would depend on time. I want to travel from Varkala in the south, up as far as Podicherry. Then back to Varkala.
Does anyone know how much that would cost me by car? how long it would take? I have a week to do it in.
Thanks for any help.
M

Dacoit Chief · Oct 31st, 2009, 03:01

Thats a lot of driving for just a week let alone the time you need to see those places. In terms of cost, try and search through the forum to find some contacts of travel agents in Varkala or Trivandrum that you could contact regarding a price. Off the top of my head this trip will cost you at least Rs.20,000.

If those are really the places you want to see, I would do them in the following order:

Varkala to Ooty. This is 1 long day of travelling. The route follows the National Highway 47 as far as Coimbatore in Tamilanadu. The route goes through Kerala via Quilon, Alleppey, Cochin, Palghat and finally Coimbatore.

Ooty to Trichy. You have to backtrack a bit back to Coimbatore (3 hours)and then join NH67 for the 200 odd km to Trichy via Karur which will probably take around another 4 hours.

Trichy to Pondy. This is another 200 odd km which will probably also take around 4 hours. The route is via NH45, although I am not upto date with whether the route via Villupuram or Cuddalore is better. Its been a while since I've driven all of these.

Pondicherry to Madurai.

Madurai back to Varkala.

I have run out of time but will edit this post ASAP with more details of the last 2 legs.

Dacoit Chief · Oct 31st, 2009, 03:26

In any case, with 5 legs of journey, and with India being India you should allow yourself 1 day per leg just for travel and recovery. The rest of that day will be written off! In 7 days, you are therefore planning 5 days on the road. To be honest, that sort of touring does suit many of my friends, (especially my Indian freinds) but my honest advice to you is 'less is more'! Scrap at least 1 of your destinations.

Though I'm from the area around Ooty, and I love it, I really have to say dropping that will save you a lot of time that you do not have. Then you could consider varkala-trichy-pondy on the way up and then see Madurai on the way back. You might even be able to squeeze in Thanjavur after Trichy!

farjorieminch · Nov 5th, 2009, 03:23

Hi, Thanks very much for all your great advice. Yes I think you are right. Trying to fit far to much in all at once is not going to give much time to enjoy the experience. My daughter is now going to join me in Varkala so will be able to travel with me for that week. I was thinking of maybe getting a flight up to Chennai, then driving back down south, that would save some time, but don't know how expensive the flight would be. Have you any idea?
Thanks again for all the info. M

Dacoit Chief · Nov 6th, 2009, 01:39

Hi. Flights from Trivandrum to Chennai are not too expensive. Kingfisher, Jet Airways and Indian Airlines all fly this route (maybe others too) and depending on availability etc. you can do it for less than 30 quid! Click on this link for a sample for a random day in January. There is a Kingfisher flight showing for 26quid!
http://www.skyscanner.net/flights/tr...uary-2010.html

The main problem with your plan of flying up, and driving back is that the taxi will cost you the same. You will hire the taxi in Chennai, and then drive back to Varkala but the taxi will have to go back empty to Chennai for which you will also get charged as normal! It may actually be a fraction cheaper, (as your driver will do the journey in a single day, and therefore you will not be liable for his overnights etc.)

Instead of flying, have you considered taking trains for part of the journey? You can do decent overnight sleeper train journeys on many of the sectors that you are planning. These are comfortable and can save you a lot of time! Travelling by night, and visiting by day is by far the best way of seeing a lot of India in a short time! Trains are also dirt cheap!

Best look at the Indian rail websites or ask the resident rail gurus who also live on IndiaMike (there are other dedicated threads) as I am a bit rusty with which trains go where these days. Just consider that Varkala is a stop on the main west coast railway!

You could also consider the following alternative stations:

1. Trivandrum (60km down coast from Varkala) or Quilon (40km upcoast). These two stations are also on the west coast line and might be good for certain faster services (e.g. towards Chennai) that may not stop in Varkala.

2. Nagercoil (around 120km from Varkala). This is a southern city in Tamilnadu which is probably around a 2.5hr taxi trip from Varkala. There are also busses and trains but Taxi will be fastest and best and not too expensive at all! Nagercoil is located on a separate rail line which has better and faster links to places in Tamilnadu such as Madurai and Chennai. There is also a useful overnighter from Nagercoil to Coimbatore or vice versa. Coimbatore is one of closest big stations to Ooty. (90km)

Sorry, this is a slightly off topic question not for you, but can any of the rail gurus here tell me if the metre gauge services between Quilon and Tirunelvelli (via Shenkottai) are still running? That could also be useful!

farjorieminch · Nov 11th, 2009, 00:06

Hi Dacoit Chief, thank you so much for all the info you have given me. I will now be considering doing some of the journey by train. Coming back at least by train sounds a good idea. I am leaving in 2 days time and will be in V

arkala for 2 weeks so should also be able to pick up some info there.
Thanks again you have been very helpful.
Marjorie

Dacoit Chief · Nov 13th, 2009, 20:04

Hi Marjorie! I guess you are there and already having a good time! Lucky you! Enjoy your time in the south! Let us know how your time goes!

Oct 22nd, 2009, 00:52	#1
farjorieminch Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bolton uk Posts: 4	Varkala to Tamil Nadu Hi all, I am new here, just learning how to post, so hope I have put this in the right place... I am travelling to Varkala on Nov 12th to Dec 18th. I am doing 2 weeks yoga at the kassi yoga on North Cliff. Then I would like to travel by car with driver to Tamil Nadu, then back again to have a few more days in Varkala before my flight. I am travelling alone and am a lady of 58yrs. Can anyone give me any advice, on cost, how long I would need to see quite a bit, and how safe? I have travelled from Cochin to Kovalam by car before but was with my daughter who organised everything! Thanks M

Oct 26th, 2009, 22:09	#4
farjorieminch Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bolton uk Posts: 4	varkala to tamil nadu Hi Thanks for the replies. I would want to go to Ooty-Madurai/Tiruch /Pondicherry. The usual things I think, but would depend on time. I want to travel from Varkala in the south, up as far as Podicherry. Then back to Varkala. Does anyone know how much that would cost me by car? how long it would take? I have a week to do it in. Thanks for any help. M

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Oct 22nd, 2009, 02:08	#2
gaurav1441 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 729	Well where would you travel to in Tamil Nadu..? Madurai, Chennai or down south to Kanya Kumari..? Travelling should be safe and you can even book on trains for the overnight journeys. The longer journeys would not be that comfortable by car.

Oct 22nd, 2009, 02:54	#3
stocklotgarment Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: chennai Posts: 123	why dont you look up www.elatrip.com ? That site has a lot of information on Kerala

Oct 31st, 2009, 03:01	#5
Dacoit Chief Dosai, Idli, Sambar eating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Madrid Posts: 273	Thats a lot of driving for just a week let alone the time you need to see those places. In terms of cost, try and search through the forum to find some contacts of travel agents in Varkala or Trivandrum that you could contact regarding a price. Off the top of my head this trip will cost you at least Rs.20,000. If those are really the places you want to see, I would do them in the following order: Varkala to Ooty. This is 1 long day of travelling. The route follows the National Highway 47 as far as Coimbatore in Tamilanadu. The route goes through Kerala via Quilon, Alleppey, Cochin, Palghat and finally Coimbatore. Ooty to Trichy. You have to backtrack a bit back to Coimbatore (3 hours)and then join NH67 for the 200 odd km to Trichy via Karur which will probably take around another 4 hours. Trichy to Pondy. This is another 200 odd km which will probably also take around 4 hours. The route is via NH45, although I am not upto date with whether the route via Villupuram or Cuddalore is better. Its been a while since I've driven all of these. Pondicherry to Madurai. Madurai back to Varkala. I have run out of time but will edit this post ASAP with more details of the last 2 legs.

Oct 31st, 2009, 03:26	#6
Dacoit Chief Dosai, Idli, Sambar eating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Madrid Posts: 273	In any case, with 5 legs of journey, and with India being India you should allow yourself 1 day per leg just for travel and recovery. The rest of that day will be written off! In 7 days, you are therefore planning 5 days on the road. To be honest, that sort of touring does suit many of my friends, (especially my Indian freinds) but my honest advice to you is 'less is more'! Scrap at least 1 of your destinations. Though I'm from the area around Ooty, and I love it, I really have to say dropping that will save you a lot of time that you do not have. Then you could consider varkala-trichy-pondy on the way up and then see Madurai on the way back. You might even be able to squeeze in Thanjavur after Trichy!

Nov 5th, 2009, 03:23	#7
farjorieminch Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bolton uk Posts: 4	Hi, Thanks very much for all your great advice. Yes I think you are right. Trying to fit far to much in all at once is not going to give much time to enjoy the experience. My daughter is now going to join me in Varkala so will be able to travel with me for that week. I was thinking of maybe getting a flight up to Chennai, then driving back down south, that would save some time, but don't know how expensive the flight would be. Have you any idea? Thanks again for all the info. M

Nov 6th, 2009, 01:39	#8
Dacoit Chief Dosai, Idli, Sambar eating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Madrid Posts: 273	Hi. Flights from Trivandrum to Chennai are not too expensive. Kingfisher, Jet Airways and Indian Airlines all fly this route (maybe others too) and depending on availability etc. you can do it for less than 30 quid! Click on this link for a sample for a random day in January. There is a Kingfisher flight showing for 26quid! http://www.skyscanner.net/flights/tr...uary-2010.html The main problem with your plan of flying up, and driving back is that the taxi will cost you the same. You will hire the taxi in Chennai, and then drive back to Varkala but the taxi will have to go back empty to Chennai for which you will also get charged as normal! It may actually be a fraction cheaper, (as your driver will do the journey in a single day, and therefore you will not be liable for his overnights etc.) Instead of flying, have you considered taking trains for part of the journey? You can do decent overnight sleeper train journeys on many of the sectors that you are planning. These are comfortable and can save you a lot of time! Travelling by night, and visiting by day is by far the best way of seeing a lot of India in a short time! Trains are also dirt cheap! Best look at the Indian rail websites or ask the resident rail gurus who also live on IndiaMike (there are other dedicated threads) as I am a bit rusty with which trains go where these days. Just consider that Varkala is a stop on the main west coast railway! You could also consider the following alternative stations: 1. Trivandrum (60km down coast from Varkala) or Quilon (40km upcoast). These two stations are also on the west coast line and might be good for certain faster services (e.g. towards Chennai) that may not stop in Varkala. 2. Nagercoil (around 120km from Varkala). This is a southern city in Tamilnadu which is probably around a 2.5hr taxi trip from Varkala. There are also busses and trains but Taxi will be fastest and best and not too expensive at all! Nagercoil is located on a separate rail line which has better and faster links to places in Tamilnadu such as Madurai and Chennai. There is also a useful overnighter from Nagercoil to Coimbatore or vice versa. Coimbatore is one of closest big stations to Ooty. (90km) Sorry, this is a slightly off topic question not for you, but can any of the rail gurus here tell me if the metre gauge services between Quilon and Tirunelvelli (via Shenkottai) are still running? That could also be useful!

Nov 11th, 2009, 00:06	#9
farjorieminch Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bolton uk Posts: 4	Hi Dacoit Chief, thank you so much for all the info you have given me. I will now be considering doing some of the journey by train. Coming back at least by train sounds a good idea. I am leaving in 2 days time and will be in V arkala for 2 weeks so should also be able to pick up some info there. Thanks again you have been very helpful. Marjorie

Nov 13th, 2009, 20:04	#10
Dacoit Chief Dosai, Idli, Sambar eating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Madrid Posts: 273	Hi Marjorie! I guess you are there and already having a good time! Lucky you! Enjoy your time in the south! Let us know how your time goes!