[chevelle]

Hello All,

We are planning a trip to kanyakumari, pondicherry and rameshwar. we will be in Chennai since we are going to Andaman & Nicobar islands first.

On return we would like to go to above 3 places. Is there any train tour from Chennai to those places? Or should we take a taxi and go on road?

Which one is advisable. What are good tourist spots in kanyakumari and pondicherry to roam around?

We have never been to south, will there be a big language problem? Is English and Hindi acceptable there?

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

[arun_josie]

From Chennai to Kanyakumari you have direct train, Kanyakumari Express. It starts from Chennai around 5:30 PM and reaches Kanayakumari next day around 6:30 AM. I don't think there is a train tour connecting all these places mentioned by you.

Some go to places around kanyakumari are Vattakottai (Circular Fort), Padmanabhapuram Palace, Mathoor Hanging Bridge, Tirparappu Water Falls, Pechiparai Dam. It will take one full day to cover these places. For more information please refer to the below link.
PLACES OF INTEREST

Regarding language, Yes to a certain extent you can manage with Hindi, but that’s only in Kanayakumari. It will be difficult to manage in the surrounding tourist spots with Hindi.

From Kanayakumari, you have state transport bus to Rameswaram(only limited service, may be couple of buses) and from there you should again take bus to Pondichery.

If you are not bothered about the expense and hectic travel, then you can hire a cab from Chennai. Its around 700Kms from Chennai to Kanayakumari, its complete 4 lane road and might take around 9-11hrs depending on the speed. From Kanayakumari you will have to connect to Rameshwaram and then Pondicherry. These routes are two lane roads. So, it will be Kanayakumari-Rameshwaram-Pondicherry-Chennai. This stretch will be around 850-900 Kms. Hope this information gives you an idea on what you are heading to.

[ampere]

To the cover the 3-places, road may be easier as you can start and end at Chennai.

What I would suggest:

1. Chennai-Trichy-Madurai-Rameshwaram (NH45/NH45B/NH49) (4L + 2L on NH49)
2. Rameshwaram-Tuticorin-Tirchendur-Kanyakumari (ECR) (2L)
3. Kanyakumar-Madurai (bypass) - Trichy-Tindivanam-Pondicherry (NH7/NH45B/NH45/NH66) (Full 4L)
4. Pondicherry- Tindivanam - Chennai (NH66/NH45) (Full 4L)


Some notes:

- Keep Pondicherry at last, its only a tourist spot. So you can relax after you visits.
- You can choose or not to choose visit temples in Trichy/Madurai. That would depend your availability of time.

[chevelle]

Originally Posted by ampere

To the cover the 3-places, road may be easier as you can start and end at Chennai.

What I would suggest:

1. Chennai-Trichy-Madurai-Rameshwaram (NH45/NH45B/NH49) (4L + 2L on NH49)
2. Rameshwaram-Tuticorin-Tirchendur-Kanyakumari (ECR) (2L)
3. Kanyakumar-Madurai (bypass) - Trichy-Tindivanam-Pondicherry (NH7/NH45B/NH45/NH66) (Full 4L)
4. Pondicherry- Tindivanam - Chennai (NH66/NH45) (Full 4L)


Some notes:

- Keep Pondicherry at last, its only a tourist spot. So you can relax after you visits.
- You can choose or not to choose visit temples in Trichy/Madurai. That would depend your availability of time.

Thanks for suggestion.

If we are avoid highways, which one should be changed of above mentioned 4 steps?

Parents are gonna do this tour, so long road trips are total no-no. So train is better for long distance. Then we can get a taxi to do around 500 kms or less. In that case what do you suggest?

Thanks

P.S: I forgot to mention, the return destination will be Baroda, Gujarat from last destination, whichever it is. So a flight or train connectivity from there would be appreciated.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by chevelle

Thanks for suggestion.

If we are avoid highways, which one should be changed of above mentioned 4 steps?

Parents are gonna do this tour, so long road trips are total no-no. So train is better for long distance. Then we can get a taxi to do around 500 kms or less. In that case what do you suggest?

If that is the case, you can do Chennai-Pondicherry-Chennai separately.
Then as Arun mentioned, take train to Kanyakumari. Visit Kanyakumari/Rameshwaram by road and drive back to Madurai.
You have Bombay bound trains starting from Madurai. If your parents need to come back to Chennai then you have lots for Madurai also.

[chevelle]

which is the website to book train tickets for TN?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by chevelle

which is the website to book train tickets for TN?

The Indian railways site: irctc.co.in

[Gansan]

^^AFAIK the irctc.co.in is the only website to book tickets anywhere in India!

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by chevelle

P.S: I forgot to mention, the return destination will be Baroda, Gujarat from last destination, whichever it is. So a flight or train connectivity from there would be appreciated.

Train Options:

1) Madurai - Baroda direct train, Every Saturday
2) Nagercoil - Baroda direct train, Every Tuesday(Nagercoil is just 18 Kms from Kanyakumari)
3) There should be daily trains from Chennai to Baroda or any near by cities.

Flight Options:

Not sure if there are any direct flights from Chennai to Baroda, below are some options,

1) Trivandrum - Mumbai - Baroda(Trivandrum is around 90 Kms from Kanyakumari)
2) Chennai - Mumbai/Hyderabad - Baroda
3) Chennai - Ahmedabad.

there could be other options as well.

[chevelle]

here is what we have thought about right now.

since we will be coming back from andaman nicobar island and land in chennai, we will have return flight to baroda from chennai.

we will get a taxi from chennai to pondicherry. come back to chennai in a day or two. then take train to rameshwaram if any, go to kanyakumari from there if time permits or else take train back to chennai and fly back from chennai. my parents don't wanna go to rameshwaram from pondicherry in taxi since it is long drive and would be expensive too.

what are your thoughts on this?

i found this website for train booking. is it legal one?

Southern Railway Welcomes You

Also will there be any language problem while doing a trip there? My parents are good in English and Hindi, but don't know the local language. Hope it is not a big hindrance especially when getting a taxi.

Please advice

[ampere]

Originally Posted by chevelle

Southern Railway Welcomes You

Also will there be any language problem while doing a trip there? My parents are good in English and Hindi, but don't know the local language. Hope it is not a big hindrance especially when getting a taxi.

Please advice

The site you mention is the front end of Indian Railways (In this case South Indian Railway).
Its ticketing and catering is handled by IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Coporation) all over India.

irctc.co.in is the only legal site for ticket booking. You can book, take a print out and walk to station with an ID of yours.

Also I think train to KK is more frequent than to Rameshwaram. (I am not sure of it though).

[ravib]

Most of the information you need is covered by ampere and others.

Couple of more points:
At Rameshwaram, English/Hindi are fairly understood. But in general, all over TamilNadu Hindi is not common. Local people don't understand it. English will be better option atleast.

Pondicherry can be covered in a day or little more and is not hectic when done from chennai.

BTW, if you want to book train tickets, you need to book very very well in advance. Atleast 60 days minimum, because these days almost all trains run full mainly because of fare advantage & convenience factor compared to other modes of transport. What is the time period you/your parents plan to travel to south?

-Ravi

Originally Posted by chevelle

here is what we have thought about right now.

since we will be coming back from andaman nicobar island and land in chennai, we will have return flight to baroda from chennai.

we will get a taxi from chennai to pondicherry. come back to chennai in a day or two. then take train to rameshwaram if any, go to kanyakumari from there if time permits or else take train back to chennai and fly back from chennai. my parents don't wanna go to rameshwaram from pondicherry in taxi since it is long drive and would be expensive too.

what are your thoughts on this?

i found this website for train booking. is it legal one?

Southern Railway Welcomes You

Also will there be any language problem while doing a trip there? My parents are good in English and Hindi, but don't know the local language. Hope it is not a big hindrance especially when getting a taxi.

Please advice

[chevelle]

Originally Posted by ravib

Most of the information you need is covered by ampere and others.

Couple of more points:
At Rameshwaram, English/Hindi are fairly understood. But in general, all over TamilNadu Hindi is not common. Local people don't understand it. English will be better option atleast.

Pondicherry can be covered in a day or little more and is not hectic when done from chennai.

BTW, if you want to book train tickets, you need to book very very well in advance. Atleast 60 days minimum, because these days almost all trains run full mainly because of fare advantage & convenience factor compared to other modes of transport. What is the time period you/your parents plan to travel to south?

-Ravi

Thanks for the info.

The trip is being planned for between late october and late november. we are searching for the train names, as soon as we find it, we will book it. i think it is rameshwaram express or something like that. hope we are not wait listed.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by chevelle

Thanks for the info.

The trip is being planned for between late october and late november. we are searching for the train names, as soon as we find it, we will book it. i think it is rameshwaram express or something like that. hope we are not wait listed.

Rameshwaram Express runs twice a day daily (starts evening and at night).
Kanyakumari Express is a daily train starting in the evening to reach KK early morning.

Do note that all these trains don't start from Central central, but Egmore.

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by chevelle

The trip is being planned for between late october and late november.

That is the peak NE Monsoon season in coastal TN. If a spell sets in when you are here, it will rain bucketfuls for days together with no respite. And the spells will usually be accompanied by (or rather due to) depressions/cyclonic storms in the Bay of Bengal. Rail,Road and Air traffic can get disrupted.

The first half of October / second half of December / entire January - September will be ideal.