[ranjitp1]

Wayanad is more rugged in nature,with a 5month old,I would suggest stick to GVR & Munnar and give Wayanad a miss.Instead you could stay a couple of nights at this place called Kadavu Resorts.

For the Munnar-Thekkady trip,you might want to take this car guy,we have used his services as well as reccomended him to quite a many.Eldose-09447523493,he would be glad to do the necsry arrangements.

http://www.kadavuresorts.com/

[ampere]

I totally agreed to what Ranjit says. In fact I had been to Waynad when my kid was 5 months! Could not move out much.

Good to directly go to GVR and spend more time at Munnar. Its worth it.

In fact if you also like to visit temples, there are many good ones apart from Madurai Meenakshi. You can spend another day at Madurai.

[bijuks]

Originally Posted by neo45007

Wed : GVyoor - Munnar

Guruvayoor - Thrissur - Angamali (left) - Kaladi - Perumbavoor (left) - Kothamangalam - Adimali - Munnar route would take minimum 6Hrs, as @ampere mentioned. With probable stops for food, it would take even longer.

You may not need much sight seeing stops as the waterfalls on the way are all almost dry. If we have summer rains at Adimali/Munnar in coming days, you may get lucky.

Originally Posted by neo45007

Fri : Munnar - Thkddy - Munnar (By local taxi)

I would suggest driving down to Thekkady. It's around 90Kms between Munnar and Thekkady. Traveling up and down same day would be extremely tiring. From Thekkady, you can easily get on to TN plains and avoid the ghat roads considerably. Even you can select Kambam or Theni for night stay.

For sightseeing on ghat section, you can probably divert little at Kambam or Theni to climb up a some 15-25Kms either on Kambam mettu road or bodi mettu road.

[neo45007]

Thanks Ampere, Ranjit & biju for suggestions.

I agree with all your points and hence decided to stick to Guruvayoor and Munnar. Then, via Madurai - back to Bangalore.

@ Ampere : Which are the other temples in / around Madurai ?
@ Biju : Staying at Theni / Kambam sounds good option. Any stay options you know in these areas ?
@ Ranjit: Yes, will speak to this guy. Thanks !

[neo45007]

Originally Posted by bijuks

I would suggest driving down to Thekkady. It's around 90Kms between Munnar and Thekkady. Traveling up and down same day would be extremely tiring. From Thekkady, you can easily get on to TN plains and avoid the ghat roads considerably. Even you can select Kambam or Theni for night stay.

For sightseeing on ghat section, you can probably divert little at Kambam or Theni to climb up a some 15-25Kms either on Kambam mettu road or bodi mettu road.

I am thinking of this option suggested by you now :-

Option 1 : Do Munnar - Thekkady - Munnar and next day Munnar - Madurai
Option 2 : Do Munnar - Thekkady (Stay @ Theni / Thekkady / Kumily) and next day proceed to Madurai.

Now, which is a better road (Munnar - Madurai) or (Thekkady - Madurai) ? What about distance / time required to reach Madurai ?

[ampere]

Few Good Temples around Madurai worth visiting

1. Pillayarpatti (pillayarpattitrust.com)
2. Azhagar Temple (Alagar Koyil - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
3. Pazhamudhir cholai temple (Pazhamudircholai - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

[buz]

Hi Neo. I went through parts of your route recently. Hope my post helps you with tidbits on the journey. Have a great one!

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...n-sojourn.html

[ravib]

Originally Posted by ampere

Few Good Temples around Madurai worth visiting

1. Pillayarpatti (pillayarpattitrust.com)
2. Azhagar Temple (Alagar Koyil - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
3. Pazhamudhir cholai temple (Pazhamudircholai - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Also include,
4) Tiruparamkundram (Just outskirts of madurai)
5) Thriumohur (Sakkarathaazhvaar temple near melur - can be covered along with pillayarpatti)
6) Kundrakudi (2 kms from pillayarpatti)

-Ravi

[bijuks]

Originally Posted by neo45007

Option 1 : Do Munnar - Thekkady - Munnar and next day Munnar - Madurai
Option 2 : Do Munnar - Thekkady (Stay @ Theni / Thekkady / Kumily) and next day proceed to Madurai.

Now, which is a better road (Munnar - Madurai) or (Thekkady - Madurai) ? What about distance / time required to reach Madurai ?

Munnar [0] - Pooppara (left) [33] - Bodinaykannur (left) [35] - (left) Theni (right) [16] - Madurai [60] is around 150 kms. It would take 3hrs to 5hrs. Roads condition - ok to good.

Thekkady [0] - Theni [60] - Madurai [60] is around 120kms and may be 2.5hrs to 4hrs. Roads are good.

Munnar-Thekkady is 90Kms and travel time is 3 to 5hrs.

At Theni, there are few hotels named "Western Gatz", "Theni International", etc. Theni is a small town and my experience is that you would get accommodation easily - without prior booking too.

[neo45007]

Thanks all of you !

[neo45007]

Just completed this trip.
It was finally a '5 day trip'.

Quick update :-

Day 1 : Bangalore - Guruvayoor (Via Avinashi - CBE) - 502 Kms - 'work In progress road' starts 23 kms before Avinashi till CBE. Rest of the route is fine.

Day 2 : Guruvayoor & Around

Day 3 : Guruvayoor - Munnar (good roads) - Patchy roads around Munnar only

Day 4 : Munnar

Day 5 : Munnar - Bangalore (Via Udumalaipet - Salem) - Patchy roads till the exit of National park.

I shall be writing the 'travelogue' soon.

Thanks to all of you again for valuable inputs. The trip was excellent.

Places stayed at :- Kanoos Residency (Guruvayoor) & Ayur County Resorts (Munnar) - Both excellent.