Thanks for the plan Aargee. Please see the shortened version of your itinerary:

Day 1 - Ernakulam - Thrissur
Day 2 - Thrissur - Alapuzha
Day 3 - Alapuzha - Kanyakumari
Day 4 - Kanyakumari - Trivandrum for Lunch
Day 5 - Trivendrum - Kumarakom
Day 6 - Kumarakom
Day 7 - Kumarakom - Vagamon - Thekkady
Day 8 - Thekkady site seeing
Day 9 - Thekkady - Munnar
Day 10 - Munnar
Day 11 - Munnar - Kalady - Angamaly - Chalakudi.
Day 12 - Chalakudi - Athirapalli falls - Nelliampathi
Day 13* - Nelliyampathy
Day 14 - Nelliyampathy - Ernakulam for lunch
Day 15 - Ernakulam

The bold days seem bit hurrid. Are they easy to do? Can we loosen up a bit? Many new names in this post too! Also, Neiiampathi worth spending two nights? The day 15 that you have kept for Ernakulam sightseeing, can it be moved to day 1. This is to keep buffer for any unforeseen event. So I will see ERS around on the day of reaching, and take rest as well, and follow the route on day 2 onwards. So on day 15, I will reach ERS for lunch, thus having enough time in hand to pack bike.

My comments inline...
You got it

Well, IMO, it should be possible as the distances are less, but I leave that to few experts to comment The distance from Thrissur to Kanyakumari wouldn't be more than 250 Kms altogether, yet I've a deliberate break at Alapuzha for you.

Day 4 - Kanyakumari - Trivandrum is breeze of 80 Kms, you should munch that in less than 2 hours of relaxing ride.

Day 5 - I don't say its impossible or hard ride as the distance is less. May be around 200 Kms & lets say you start even by 12:00 PM, you can reach Kumarakom by 5:00 PM.

Oh!!! Now has it turned that way now?

Hmm...no, I'd even suggest you to move from Nelliyampathy by mid of Day 13 instead of entire day, that way you can have more time in EKM to help you pack things also.

You can, but remember, don't start off with EKM site seeing. As such there's isn't much in EKM other than harbor, MG Road & an island (just forgot its name). Even if you skip seeing EKM, there's nothing big deal, its a pure commercial capital of KL with all tall buildings around. You idea of scenic rides defeats the purpose.

Don't worry saar, the buffers are incorporated in the day rides itself. For example, ride from Thrissur - Alappuzha etc.

Right...but...I leave the choice to you. If I were to do this, I'd start of from top & end in the bottom. Left brain

I didn't know the distances Aargee. Now that you mention it, they seem doable. I guess we can soon have the final itinerary! BTW what is the best place to shop sarees/dresses at good prices (perils of having women on journeys!)? Is it ERS? Because if it is, we will cover it on last day.

^^^ I know this would come up . Since you're in Thrissur, get to Kalyan Sarees. There're so many Kalyan outlets in Thrissur, but insist only at Kalyan Sarees as that specific shop is more of economical compared to all other outlets of theirs which are lifestyle ones.

If you mean ERS=EKM, then yes. EKM is well known for expensive stuff & wide options as EKM is financial capital of KL. You can find all Govt offices & more of middle class families at TVM compared to EKM. You may want to shop at Ramachandras or Paarthas in TVM.

Hey & another important thing, if you're wifey wants good Churidhars & blow your wallet, then you need to visit Red Chillis Churidhar showroom at Thodupuzha. But that's a little deviation from your regular route from Munnar to Kalady on Day 11 & will have about additional 30-40 Kms deviation from the regular. If I were you, I would do it as its more of factory showroom (not factory outlet), so its spread over about 6000+ sq ft & price ranges from Rs 300 to Rs 25000. But one word of caution, be prepared to spend atleast 2 hours in the showroom as it is bound to turn even you crazy due to the wide collection. Also the road from Thodupuzha - MVPA - Perumbavoor - Kalady is pure bliss. I once did Thodupuzha - MVPA (showroom to home including traffic) under 19 minutes of 22 Kms by car. Anyway, I was made crazy that day

I leave the choice to you, but do let me know if you plan to visit the showroom & I can replan. Nothing big to plan, just that you'll have more than sufficient time in the morning for shopping & plan to reach Kalady in the evening & then ride to Chalakudy by evening which is much more than possible.

EDIT - If you intent for Jewelery, then the entire KL is the right place So much of Jewelery shops all around with over countless designs & few of them are have their presence outside India.

Thanks for the inputs Aargee. Can you pls incorporate the following things in the itinerary:

1. Red Chillis Churidhar showroom at Thodupuzha
2. A night's stay in house boat (is it good/economical or is it too costly?)
3. One session of kerala ayurvedic massage (if you know any good place), where it is safe and proper
4. I read about a junta boat ride that goes across for about 3 hours. It was a regular public transport for locals but it went through scenic locations. The post-writer even recommended that above the touristy one. Any such routes?
5. this being an off season, will we get a tourist backwater ride, considering it will take time to fill completely?

Rest all seems perfect as of now. I read about a hotel that conducts cooking class too. I know this is more of a firung attracting thing, rather than proper course, but still, would it be possible somewhere? I think if we reduce 1 night at Nelliampathi and also maybe one night at ERS (yes, ERS = ERM, ERS is in indianrail's term), then it can be added.

This time I am planning to buy some shells from Kanyakumari. Also some shankhas that sound.

Lastly, one more off beat request. Can you list some south indian delicacies, except regular idli/dosa?

Sure, give me sometime pls...

I know most of them costs a lot, but give me sometime, since a distant relative of mine stays at Kundra, let me see if some bargains could work out, no commitment though. May be some xBhpian can help too. Pls let me know the tentative dates.

Sure Kumarakom will work out for you

Err...I'm not sure which place this is about, may be I'll leave this for experts to comment.

Where? At Alapuzha or Kumarakom? But IMO, nothing to worry including accomodation.

Sry, again leaving this for experts to comment. I'm not aware.

You already have 2N1D at EKM, are you saying you want 3N2D at EKM?

Enjoy . TVM xBhpians will be more knowledgable on this. Last time when we were there, there were shops that engraves your name (& some scenics, depending on the size) on sea shells beautifully. May be you want to do that.

Sure, if you're a non veg guy, then, Boiled Tapioca & fish curry is famous in KL. You need to have that at some local shop (called as naadan). Anyway, since I'm pure veg guy, I don't know much about non-veg dishes other than this.

From veg & KL dishes point of view...
1. Puttu & kadala curry (small size black channa)
2. Aapam & side dish (side dish available in veg & non-veg & mosty its coconut milk that's sweet or egg curry or fish curry)
3. Unni appam is a sweet dish, but worth a try
4. Idiyappam & side dish
5. Kappa Puzhukku or Boiled Tapioca as snacks (probably with Onion+Green chilly chutney as side dish, we sometimes eat it as even the main course )
6. Last but not the least, buy hot banana chips that are deep fried in coconut oil from any shop in KL & I bet you'll love it. As you go on the trip, I'll suggest some good places where you get those. At EKM, try Varkey's & KR bakery you'll love the pastries.

I can recall these as of now. Request KL guys to add more here.

PS - Animeher, I feel hijacking your thread . No offense, I'm going to stop responding for sometime after reworking on the Thodupzha route & allow other members to comment so that you can get the best suggestion

Reworked plan to include Thodupuzha

Day 1 - Ernakulam; Have BFast & leave towards Thrissur for Lunch. Post lunch visit surrounding places, have dinner & call it a day

Day 2 - Ride to Guruvayur early morning, have darshan, BFast & then come back to Thrissur for Lunch. Post lunch ride towards Alapuzha for dinner. En route, visit Vembanattu Kayal & Alapuzha backwaters. Stay at Alapuzha for the day

Day 3 - Have BFast at Alapuzha & ride towards Kanyakumari before evening for Sunset. You can spend some morning time after BFast at Alapuzha & then start towards Kollam around 10 or 11 AM so that you can have lunch at Kollam. Post lunch you've to ride hard to cover the rest of the distance to Kanyakumari. Stay at Kanyakumari.

Day 4 - Witness Sunrise, have BFast. Spend sometime upto 11 AM & then start towards Trivandrum for Lunch. Meet xBhpians & spend evening at Veli & Shangumugham beach.

Day 5 - Visit Pazhavangadi Ganapathy & Padmanabhasamy temple for sure, have Bfast & then leave to Varkala OR may be some local site seeing by skipping Varkala Krishnan temple. Anycase, have lunch at TVM & head towards Kumarakom for dinner. This might also require a little hard ride. Since I've not done this route, I leave some experts to comment on this point.

Day 6 - Kumarakom. One suggestion is, try to spend a night OR day in the boat, but I'm not sure if they allow motorcycles along . There're WIDE options ranging from basic hut to A/C rooms & full fledged kitchen, cook live fish from the backwater & massage therapies which all depends upon the cost. But I'd suggest you need to enjoy atleast the cheapest one for an experience.

Day 7 - Have BFast at Kumarakom & head towards Vagamon. Not sure, if you get Lunch at Vagamon & then head towards Thekkady. Kumarakom - Vagamon - Thekkady, though the distances are shorter, expect some bad roads. In any case, this is doable in a single day. Stay at Thekkady (I hope you need to book here in advance)

Day 8 - Thekkady site seeing

Day 9 - Have BFast at Thekkady & reach Munnar for lunch.

Day 10 - Munnar

Day 11 - Have an early BFast at Munnar & head towards Thodupuzha which is about 90+ Kms that you can reach in 3-4 hours. Plan to reach Thodupuzha by 10:00 AM. So that you can shop & have lunch at Thodupuzha. Also you can visit Emmanuvel silks (good place for sarees) & few other Jewellry shops (mini or window shopping) & then start from here around 3:30 PM. You can reach Muvattupuzha in 30 minutes & another 45-60 minutes to Kalady. The road condition is BEST on any day of the year, two lane though. You can reach Kalady (Sringeri village about 2 Kms from main road) by 4:30 - 5:00 PM for the temple darshan (again, no crowd here for sure). Then ride towards Chalakudy easily by 6:00 - 7:00 PM. Have dinner & stay at Chalakudi.

Day 12 - Have BFast at Chalakudi & then leave to Athirapalli falls & then head to Nelliampathi.

Day 13 - There're 2 options for you here...
13a. Visit Athirapally falls & then head back to EKM & I'm sure you can reach by even early evening.
13b. Visit Athirapally falls, head to Nelliyampathy & head back to EKM same day, probably you can reach EKM by late evening. So that next day morning you're at EKM & get SOLID 2 days. But I'm not sure about how Nelliyampathi ride would work out as I haven't been there. Try pinging to Kochu who's been there to get a fair idea.

Day 14 - BFast, Lunch & Dinner at Ernakulam. Have a site seeing around EKM. How the *** I forgot about Bholgatty palace, Poornathrayeesha & Chotanikara Bhagavathy temple ? They're worth visiting. Don't miss them.

Day 15 - BFast, Lunch & Dinner at Ernakulam. This also helps you to prep for the next day morning journey to Pune

PS - I strongly suggest you take some experts opinion on this over ambitious plan

Reworked map...

Thanks a lot for the plan Aargee. And don't worry about thread hijacking, so far you are the only person helping me with Kerala

I have posted your itinerary on other forum as well. If I get any input from there, will post it here and keep you updated. Meanwhile, will continue to study about KL and if something comes up, then will update it here. So far, we can take the above plan as final.

When I said one less day at Nelliampathy, it should not necessarily mean one additional day at ERS only, it can be spent any any other place.

This is exactly my worries too!!! May be ppl think that they don't want to interfere when both of us keep discussing

Time to bump up this thread. Its been a week now ever since the last update & I guess it should be a perfect time for someone to pitch in to provide some good suggestion as well as Animeher, for you, to share the progress on this trip. How's it going mate?

Thanks for the bump! Well aargee, you are yet my sole advisor! Other forums I got some replies, but they seem to be far too relaxed, or some seemed starting from mysore. I want to keep the Banglore-Mysore-Ooty circuit seperate from this one. So till this point, the last itinerary you posted at two posts above is the one I am eyeing. The tickets are in hand, and praying to God that all goes well this time

Animeher.. given the time you are traveling, I'd really hope people from Kerala post in some info on how places like thekkady would be at this moment.. the last time I went there I felt a little disappointed with all the boat ride and stuff..

I think it's at its best beauty during monsoons.. all green stuff like they show in the tourism ads.. but i'm really not sure how pleasing it'd turn out to be during March..

if you think over it.. with 15 days at your disposal you could easily do all the hillstations in that area.. munnar, kodai, ooty, wyanad .. and any spare time in areas in between like valparai..

I remember some temples in Kerala required Lungi for men and saree for women. Is white color compulsory for both? Can saree be replaced by Punjabi dress?

Oh!!! God!!! Its not Lungi, its Dhothi. Lungi's are no where allowed.

Also remember that most temples in KL forces men to remove shirt, so less weight in pocket helps to stay free from much bother to keep a tab on keys, wallet, camera etc.

The temple in Kalady does not require you to remove the shirts, but Lord Krishna's temple adjacent to it, requires. You'll need to remove the shirt only when you get inside the temple & not within the temple campus.

Sorry aargee! Not lungi, Veshti! Here in MH, dhoti is something different.



That's why I confused dhoti with lungi. I meant veshti only. So white veshti is going to be in the bag. But can we replace saree with punjabi dress? Is white color compulsory?