My partner and I need help on where to go and any advice that you might give.
My friend and I are going to be travelling around India & South East Asia from March - July. We will be volunteering in Haldwani until the 29th March and then will be making our way back to Delhi to fly to Kathmandu and backpack around Nepal for 2 weeks. Our problem is that we want to go to Kerela and travel around the western side of India however we don't really know where to go or how to get from Kathmandu to Kerela in the most cost effective and some how quickest way.
We want to spend around 7 weeks traveling southern India and during that time we would like to visit an Ashram and definitely travel through the backwaters.
If possible, could you guys review the mock itinery belowand maybe recommend places that aren't worth visiting as we would like to fit in acouple of days in there where we could visit an ashram.
London - Delhi 28th April
Delhi - Hadwani 1st March
Hadwani - Delhi 29th March
Delhi - Kathmandu 31st March
Kathmandu - Channai 17th April
Channai - Trivandrum 24th April
Trivandrum - Kovalam 27th April
Kovalam -Kollam 30th April
Kollam - Alleppey 3th April
Alleppey - Kumarakom 6th May
Kumarakom - Kottayam 10th May
Kottayam - Cochin 13th May
Cochin - Kozhikode 16th May
Kozhikode - Wayanad 20th May
Wayanad - Kozhikode 23th May
Kozhikode - Goa 26th May
Goa - Mumbai 1st June
Mumbai - Delhi 4th June
Delhi - Bangkok 5th June
Thanks
Reply to this Hi Jared,
Why not fly directly to Trivandrum from Kathmandu? The KTM-TVM route costs about the same as the KTM-Chennai route, at least on Kingfisher Airlines. Worth checking out. Unless you really want to stay in Chennai; but April-May are Chennai's hottest months, you know.
I also see you have several days earmarked for Kozhikode. The city proper doesn't have too many attractions, so you may want to cut down the number of days you spend there. But if you do want to stay, the ancient ship-building industry at Beypore is worth a visit, as is the hill town of Nilambur (70 km). Check out Nilambur.com for some lovely pics. Have you selected an ashram to visit already? If not, you could add Bangalore to your itinerary and do an Art of Living course at the Sri Sri Ravishankar ashram!
Whatever your route, have a safe and fun journey!
Reply to this Not really much wrong with the itinerary, does seem as though you are spending a big chunk (2 weeks) in the backwaters though. You also seem to be rushing through Tamil Nadu, a place that I would def recommend spending longer in, especially if you want an ashram (Pondichery, Auroville).
Also, did you know that with an Indian 6 month multiple entry visa, you now have to spend at least 2 months outside India between visits? It is possible to get an exemption for this. The embassy in Kathmandu can organise this for you. We failed to do this and were refused re-entry. Had to pay some hefty backsheesh to a government official to get our stamp.
Enjoy
Reply to this Ah thanks for the advice guys,
I have changed the itinerary so we are only stopping off in Trivandrum and making our way to Kovalam. We are unsure of which ashram to use, we have been told of many however we are only looking to spend around 5 days in one, preferably in Kerela, would you recommend any?
With regards to the Visa, we got a triple visa which entitles us to re-enter the country after only 2 weeks of staying in the other country,
Thanks once again
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