Cochin (3 nights) – Trivandrum (2 nights) – Kanyakumari (1 night) – Madurai (3 nights) – Tanjore (2 nights) – Tranquebar (2 nights) – Mahabalipuram (1 night)- Madras/Chennai.
Kerala, in case you didn’t already know, happens to be one of India’s most popular destinations (we’d argue that it’s now become too popular and touristy). International and domestic visitors alike flock to Kerala (especially during the winter). And, who can bIame them: Kerala has so much to offer. Temples, beaches, backwaters, yoga retreats, national parks, coffee plantations, historic sights. For a relatively small state it sure offers a lot.
Our itinerary combines popular Kerala with Tamil Nadu which in our opinion has just as much to offer as Kerala but doesn’t see the same number of tourists (so, it’s less touristy).
Cochin has a surprising number of museums for a city its size (the Kerala Folklore Museum, the Hill Palace Museum, the Indo-Portuguese Museum, and the Museum of Kerala History) and it’s worth visiting at least one of them. Spend the rest of the trip exploring Jew Town and sampling Keralan cuisine at Cochin’s numerous restaurants.
Next, head down the coast to Trivandrum which serves as a launch-pad for a side trip to Varkala (famous for the late 17th century Anjengo Fort). Trivandrum itself has a number of museums (it’s no surprise that Kerala has so many museums. It does, after all, have the highest literacy rates in India).
From Trivandrum, you’re only a short drive away from Kanyakumari (in Tamil Nadu), the southernmost tip of India. Stop at Padmanabhupuram Palace en route, it’s worth the visit. At Kanyakumari, where the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal meet, take a ferry out to the Vivekananda Memorial. Turn around and see waves lap the Indian mainland. Just a few hundred metres separate the Memorial from India.
Kanyakumari is a popular pilgrimage site and you’re likely to sense the aroma of incense and the ringing of temple bells as you explore the town.
Head right up country towards Madurai, where the Meenakshi Temple is the main attraction although we strongly recommend a visit to the Gandhi Memorial Museum.
Next up is Tanjore, where the massive Brihadeeshwarar Temple, Shivaganga Fort and Royal Palace will give you a heady ‘culture fix’!
By now, you will probably need to process everything you’ve seen and heard! The best place to do so would be in Tranquebar, an old Danish colony. There’s not much to do here apart from relax and eat well and, of course, explore the remains of Dansborg fort. Trust us, at this stage of the trip you won’t want to do much more!
Batteries re-charged? It’s time for one more cultural fix before concluding your trip. Spend the day exploring the temples, caves and statues at Mahaballipuram. If you’re feeling athletic, you can try your hand at surfing.
Your journey concludes in Madras, the busy, hot capital of Tamil Nadu.
