[ishotmydog]

Hey Guys,

I have 9 days with me and we are group of 3 guys, out of which 2 of us are the drivers and the third guy is our navigator.

Our idea is to cover as much as we can in these 9 days. The above mentioned route is just an idea and you guys based on your experience can suggest new/ different routes. Even if there is a route which is longer that an alternative but the roads are good and it is scenic, we don't mind that. Though a few locations we would like to cover include Coorg and Ooty.

Like the title of the thread suggests, the route i have in my mind is:

Pune-Kochi-Madurai-Mysore-Pune

The only one issue is we don't have much time on our hands. We leave on this Saturday, ie. 2nd March 2013. Our chariot is going to be Fiesta classic

[jkrishnakj]

That's certainly a lot of drive time to pack in for 9 days. Was thinking like

Day 1 : Leave Pune, reach Coorg, spend the night at Coorg
Day 2 : Sight seeing around Coorg
Day 3 : Leave to Ooty, via Mysore
Day 4 : Sight seeing at Ooty/Coonoor etc..
Day 5 : Drive to either Madurai or Kodaikanal
Day 6 : Drive to Thekkady/Munnar or even Kochi if you may prefer
Day 7 : Return journey

Another alternate could be to go all the way to Madurai from Pune, cover Madurai - Rameshwaram - Madurai - Thekkady - Kodai - Ooty - Mysore - Coorg - Pune. This removes Kochi from the equation.

[ishotmydog]

Thanks for your reply.

For Route 1 the return journey would be via Mangalore - Hubli - Kolhapur and finally Pune?

Not to keen on Route 2 since we would want to halt at Kochi for a while.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ishotmydog

Like the title of the thread suggests, the route i have in my mind is:

Pune-Kochi-Madurai-Mysore-Pune

- What is it in Kerala that you want to cover ? Munnar ?
- Adjoining locations like Valparai Athirapally?
- Are you looking at Nilgiris ? Ooty/Conoor?
- Would you be interested in a circuit around Coorg/Chikkamagulur?
- Western ghats?

Because what you mentioned in the broad routes does not give an idea what all you want to cover?

[ishotmydog]

Originally Posted by ampere

- What is it in Kerala that you want to cover ? Munnar ?
- Adjoining locations like Valparai Athirapally?
- Are you looking at Nilgiris ? Ooty/Conoor?
- Would you be interested in a circuit around Coorg/Chikkamagulur?
- Western ghats?

Because what you mentioned in the broad routes does not give an idea what all you want to cover?

We have 9 days and want to cover as much as we can, with enough time to enjoy as well where ever we go. Yes, these are broad routes but they were selected because we though we'll be able to cover as much as we can with these routes(non of us have ever been to any of these places).

The entire route is flexible, we are ok to change the route as suggested by you guys since you all would would know where to go and what to do. The only place where we need to go for sure is Kochi, apart from that we are ok to add or drop locations.

I connected with hvkumar sir, and his suggestion was the following:

D1: Pune-Kolhapur-Belgaum-Hubli-Yellapura-Ankola-Gokarna (Om Beach) <dropped
Karwar>

D2: Gokarana-Honavar-Bhatkal-Kundapura-Udupi-Mangalore-BC
Road-Puttur-Sulya-Madikeri <BC Road-Sulya road pretty bad though>

D3: Madikeri-Mysore <leave after lunch from Madikeri, sightseeing in Mysore
in the evening>

D4: Mysore-Gundlupet-Ooty-Coimbatore <spending some time in Ooty on the way>

D5: Coimbatore-Udumalaipet-Munnar <spend most of day in Munnar><option to
reach Kochi the same day>

D6:
Munnar-Kothamangalam-Perumbavur-Angamali-Kochi-Alapuzha-Changanaserry-Kanjir
apalli-Kumili <meeting Kochi friend, boating in Alapuzha on the way, 2-3
hours>

D7: Kumili-Theni-Madurai <reach early before temple closes> -
Dindigul-Salem-Hosur-Bangalore <cheaper hotel in Hosur>

D8: Bangalore-Chitradurga-Hospet-Hampi <reach before 11 am, spend rest of
day in Hamp>

D9: Hampi-Hospet-Hubli-Belgaum-Kolhapur-Pune

This looks good to me. Your advice and suggestions are welcome.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ishotmydog

This looks good to me. Your advice and suggestions are welcome.

This definitely looks good. All you need to see, if you want to spend time in selected places or cover as much as possible. Based on that you should decide.

As I can see, you will cover all the places, but you would be pretty much on the road all the time. That aspect you need to decide.

[ishotmydog]

Originally Posted by ampere

This definitely looks good. All you need to see, if you want to spend time in selected places or cover as much as possible. Based on that you should decide.

As I can see, you will cover all the places, but you would be pretty much on the road all the time. That aspect you need to decide.

Yeah, that's what i just realized that i'm going to be on the road for most part of the route. Keeping Kochi constant, how can i alter so i'm able to relax as well, i just dont want to drive throughout the trip.

I am not hell bent on covering all these places. I can probably skip a few places based on your suggestions.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ishotmydog

I am not hell bent on covering all these places. I can probably skip a few places based on your suggestions.

- May be a day or two at Munnar would be really good.
- You can drop Hampi. That would be hot.
- Maybe instead of Coorg, you can also do Gokarna-Mysore via Honnavar/Shimoga/Chikkamagulur. That would give you very good roads.

[ishotmydog]

Originally Posted by ampere

- May be a day or two at Munnar would be really good.
- You can drop Hampi. That would be hot.
- Maybe instead of Coorg, you can also do Gokarna-Mysore via Honnavar/Shimoga/Chikkamagulur. That would give you very good roads.

Based on your suggestion about we driving for most part of the journey we have decided to concentrate on locations within Kerala only.

So within Kerala if you could let me know what all there is to do and see, i would be grateful.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ishotmydog

Based on your suggestion about we driving for most part of the journey we have decided to concentrate on locations within Kerala only.

What I would suggest is focus most within Kerala and utilise the rest locations while on the way to Kerala, to see places in Karnataka as well.

For example as HVK said :

D1 : Pune-Gokarna. Here you can do Pune-Yellapur. Stay at Yellapur and See Magod Sathodi falls, Jenukallugudda for example.
Next leg you can do : Yellapur-Sirsi-Sagar-Shimoga-Hassan-Mysore-CBE-Munnar. (Break accordingly).

Then in Kerala you Munnar/Thekkady/Gavi/Vagamon/Poovar etc.
Then on the way back, take the 4-lane all the way via Bangalore.

You can also time in a way to break at Yercaud close to Salem.

[ishotmydog]

Originally Posted by ampere

What I would suggest is focus most within Kerala and utilise the rest locations while on the way to Kerala, to see places in Karnataka as well.

You can also time in a way to break at Yercaud close to Salem.

Came back last night from my trip. After much changes we finally did the following:

Pune - Hossur - Kodaikanal - Chenangnur - Trivandrum - Salem - Hosur - Bangalore - Hubli - Pune

Thank you so much Ampere for all your help

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ishotmydog

Pune - Hossur - Kodaikanal - Chenangnur - Trivandrum - Salem - Hosur - Bangalore - Hubli - Pune

Now I get it ! That explains the food at MTR
Glad that you had a good ride.

[ishotmydog]

Originally Posted by ampere

Now I get it ! That explains the food at MTR
Glad that you had a good ride.

Ha ha yes we changed our route the night before we were leaving since one my friends wanted to go to Kodai and thank god for that because it was beautiful