[hvkumar]

Goa-Ooty - both routes have their attraction, except that if you take the Kerala route, you can go directly to Ooty on Kannur-(leave NH17)-Kuthuparamba-Gudalur-Ooty, which is a very picturesque and less-travelled route through great ghat roads and tea/coffee estates. Only problem is you have to tyake the Gudalur-Ooty road which is in shambles. The route via Hassan and Mysore is much better, and you have some chances of seeing elephants/bison en route and climbing up the 36 HPs from Masinagudi to Kalhatti.

Taking the Palani-Bhavani route is preferred, being as bad as the Perambalur route to Chennai, buty definitely the shorter route to Chennai. Needless to say, both routes are unexciting.

You can go directly from Kumarakom to Chertala (or am I wrong, a bridge is supposed tyo be there in one part of the backwater). Alernatyively, you have to return to Kottayam, take MC Road tyill Changanaserry and take a pretty route (recommended) along the backwaters through Mankombu to Alapuzha where you join NH47 and continue to Trivandrum. You can take the TVM bpass at Kazhakutam itself saving you trouble of navigating city roads.