[dkcrpl]

Dear all,

Am planning for a trip to Kerala (Holidays) for 7 days. It has been a long Pending demand from my better half but pocket has not allowed so far. Before it reaches a Flash point, its high time i fulfilled it.
So Guys, request your help in guiding as to :

a) What places should i visit.

b) Should i go for some package tour or should i plan myself.

c) If i have to plan it myself then ur valuable in puts are request.

d) We shall be going by train from mumbai /Delhi (Am in mumbai but on a searchout for a job in Delhi NCR)

e) Budget can be about 30k-40k.

f) Duration : 1 week

g) Wife is interested in some thing so called back-waters.

Shall be taking our 7 year Kids - 2 nos with us and this shall be our first trip down south (except for a trip to Goa in 1994)

Thanx in advance.

[ampere]

Makemytrip has some good packages. You can look at them.
Not sure if you will get THE BEST option, but yes within budgets.

Access: Train till Ernakulam. (Center for most of the places)
Places choose from: Munnar/Thekkady/Kumarakom/Idduki

Tentative plan:
1. 2-3 days for Munnar (Tea Estates)
2. 1-2 days for Thekkady (Wild Life)
3 2-3 days for Kumarakom (House Boats)

That way you get three different flavours of Kerala.

Back to Ernakulam to take the Mumbai train.

Added bonus: views through Konkan railway.

[dkcrpl]

Thanks ampere.
Any specific places you have in mind worth staying.

[sbraj]

Originally Posted by dkcrpl

Wife is interested in some thing so called back-waters.

So called backwaters? Why so?

Adding to ampere's suggestions, you can consider Alappuzha as well if backwaters are on the radar. Or Kumarakom/Ernakulam have similar options.

Wayanad gives dense forests. Kannur has backwaters, beaches, forts.

Almost all of Kerala are good tourist destinations. Hence you might get numerous suggestions. I suggest you do one round of research to narrow down on the areas/districts.

[jkdas]

Check out Sam's thread.

Alapuzha for back waters; a night at a house boat is a must. See if you can include Wayanad,

+1 to ampere's post. Visit 3 places,stay for a night atleast.

[vrprabhu]

Originally Posted by ampere

Tentative plan:
1. 2-3 days for Munnar (Tea Estates)
2. 1-2 days for Thekkady (Wild Life)
3 2-3 days for Kumarakom (House Boats)

That way you get three different flavours of Kerala.

Back to Ernakulam to take the Mumbai train.

Added bonus: views through Konkan railway.

+1 to that Ampere. But speaking of, err, 'flavours of Kerala' - that too over seven days, can I make a small change?

1. Mumbai to Alleppey (via Pune-Solapur-Cuddapah) route. Bit roundabout, but Konkan Railway has some if and buts due to landslides. Alleppey - Backwaters exploration on house boat and see kuttanad.

2. Alleppey to Ernakulam - See the beach, chinese fishing nets, Jew Synagogue and other local sights. Go to Munnar next day.

3. Munnar to Thrissur - See Vadakkunathar Temple and visit Guruvayoor. Why not have a darshan of Lord Krishna (as a child) if you have travelled all the way?

4. Decide about going to Thekkady.

5. Else, decide between Kozhikode (Calicut), Kannur (Cannanore), Bekal - beaches and forts.

6. Proceed to Mangalore. If Konkan Railway is OK, go ahead by train. Else take the KSRTC Volvo to Mumbai. Leaves Mangalore at 3.00 PM and reaches next day morning by 10 AM. If time permits visit any place near Mangalore.

[sbraj]

Originally Posted by vrprabhu

Else take the KSRTC Volvo to Mumbai. Leaves Mangalore at 3.00 PM and reaches next day morning by 10 AM.

Might be too long a bus journey, especially with kids on board.

[ampere]

Some notes on stay:

- I found Kumrakom to be costly. Easily 4-5K per day at the minimum
(Sorry if I dont know. Most properties looked like a 5 Star ones only)
- Munnar has many options. I stayed at Sienna village, which was very good. I got a package for 18K for 3 nights and 4 days, which included BF and dinner. Found it to be extremely good. Stunning views as well. (It is a km away from Club Mahindra) This was dec 2009. Moonsoon offers would be cheaper.
- Thekkaddy again has CM and also Kerala Govt's own property. Not much idea about this. (Not been there yet).

Some notes on Travel:

- Ernakulam to Munnar is about 100km (Munnar-Adimali-Kothamangalam-Muvattupuzza-Ernakulam). Not sure if buses ply
- Munnar-thekkady is about 130 Km via Devikulam.
- Thekkady-Kumarakom/Idukki (per your choice) would be about 120 km.
- Kumarakom-Ernakulam (50Km approx) Goes via Vaikam where you can visit the temple as well.

Over all I feel you will need to hire one cab for the complete circle. That would be really comfortable. Given the fact that it would be raining and there are two kids involved, this would again be helpful.

[Antonian]

I suggest, Ayur county resorts in munnar. A perfect place to chill out.
From their 'Sunrise suite',you can enjoy the Sun rise through misty medows. tariff is around 3K including BF
Most of their customers are from other states.
AFAIK, Even Club mahindra resort does not have this facility which is very near to Ayur county.
Check this website :--AYUR COUNTY--
to reach there - From munnar town 15 km to wards devikolam route
Have happy hangout ...Enjoy!!

[yzfrj]

Originally Posted by ampere

Kumrakom
Munnar
- Ernakulam to Munnar is about 100km
- Munnar-thekkady
- Thekkady-Kumarakom/Idukki
- Kumarakom-Ernakulam

I guess you already know this. Its the rainy season and it ain't gonna be any fun. Especially hill stations like munnar will be foggy, muddy and drizzling always.

Allapuzha and a rented house boat will be a good option but its is expensive and "rain" you ain't gonna be seeing anything else. Having said that this house boat trip and the route they take are fabulous and each frame will be a worth for a post card snap, but if it rains... you know.

Its rains pretty heavy in these parts.

[sbraj]

Originally Posted by yzfrj

Its rains pretty heavy in these parts.

Yes, that is a good point.

@dkcrpl, when are you planning to travel? Nov/Dec are good months.

Monsoon is a good experience, I personally like venturing out during the rains. But it rains pretty heavily in Kerala. Family may not enjoy it that well, especially while on a vacation.

[ampere]

Perfect point guys (Raj and YZFRJ).

If you want to travel even I would recomment Dec first week as the best.

Why? During late of Dec X-mas prices shoots up hotel rates.
Last week of nov, due to Diwali vacations, rates again shoot up. Dec1-15 is the perfect time!

[aargee]

Originally Posted by ampere

- Ernakulam to Munnar is about 100km (Munnar-Adimali-Kothamangalam-Muvattupuzza-Ernakulam). Not sure if buses ply

Ernakulam (EKM) - Muvattupuzha (MVPA) - 45 Kms
Muvattupuzha - Munnar - 91 Kms

By bus, it takes about 60 to 90 minutes from EKM to MVPA & about 3-4 hours from MVPA to Munnar.

Plenty of busses ply from Ernakulam-Muvattupuzha (MVPA) but there're about 3-4 private busses plying between MVPA to Munnar & few Govt busses (not sure on numbers). Your best bet would be is to take a cab from EKM or MVPA.

Additionally, if you're interested visiting temples, you can visit Chottanikara temple on the way from EKM-MVPA.

[ampere]

Thanks for that correction Aargee.
Ernakulam Munnar is not 100, but about 140 Km.

[nairrk]

IRCTC (Railways) orgnaise tours to various places.
For kerala, they have Mumbai/Ernakulam package at Rs.7866/- per person basis 3A/C travel with all transportation and hotel stay. The Train depart from Mumbai LTT on Fridays and Mondays. They cover Ernakulam/ Munnar / Thekkady/Kumarakom and back and package is for 6 days. For more details see IRCTC website.?