Karnataka-Kerala

I hope I%26#39;ll get some responses to my itinerary. Whether it is logical or ambitious.

I will be travelling in late December throught the first weeks of January.

My plans (by day) are :

(total 13 days, minimum 11)

1 - arrive in Goa, 1 day at leisure - heritage areas, to make arrangements

2 - drive to Badami (sandstone hill, fort, temple, lake), onward to Hospet (overnight in Hospet)

3 - travel to Hampi, onward to Bangalore 9hrs (overnight in Bangalore)

4 - Bangalore - Lal Bagh, City, Nandi temple (take night train to Mysore)

5 - Mysore - Palace, Brindhavan gardens (overnight in Bangalore)

6 - Mysore afternoon to Cochin

7 - Cochin - town, historical place, spice market

8 - Periyar

9 - Munnar

10 - Munnar - Kumarakom (resort)

11 - Kumarakom-Allepey (houseboat)

12 - Allepey - Kanyakumari - Kovalam

13 - Kovalam -Cochin

But considering the travel time that I have, it becomes almost impossible for me to squeeze in 14 days and I need to shave off some.

1) Between Badami and Hampi, which one should I do? Or both?

2) Is Bangalore worth seeing on its own, or will I get a taste of it also by just going to Mysore? If I go straight to Mysore (skipping Bangalore), then the plans change to :

Badami - Hassan - Mysore (cutting down 2 days)

3)Is the sunset/moon rise at Kanyakumari ';life changing';? If not, maybe I can cut down by 1 day too

4) If I don%26#39;t go into Goa, is there anyway I can travel to Badami/Hampi or both and still maintain the rest of the itinerary.

5) Is public transport (trains) reliable or do I need to get a car+driver.

For 4 days in Kerala, I was given a price of 5400rs.

Karnataka-Kerala

I can only comment on Bagalore I%26#39;m afraid where I went with work 6 years ago and for a tourist on a short itinerary - I would definitely skip it. Mysore would be better.

Karnataka-Kerala

I suggest you look carefully at a map to get an idea of places in relation to each other. Hampi is definitely the place that%26#39;s worth a visit( I haven%26#39;t been to Badami yet, so I can%26#39;t comment on it).

One day in Goa is probably a bit too short.

You will normally need to transit through Bangalore to go to Mysore-though it is possible to go directly to Mysore if you hire a cab from Hampi, but be warned it%26#39;s a fairly long trip by road, and dont count on buses. Travel to Bangalore from Hampi by an overnight train, save a day travelling.

Also you can do Mysore Cochin by an overnight bus-very tiring, or come to Bangalore and catch an overnight train-recommended-one more day saved.

Factoring in the travel times to Periyar and Munnar-3-4 hours each way, so you will find it a bit too hectic ,in my view. I think you will need to cut some places out of the plan.

01 Day: Goa:

After breakfast, the day is free to enjoy the beaches and amenities available at the resort. You can take a sightseeing tour of Old Goa -10 km from Panjim, the basilica of Bom Jesus, the 16th century church dedicated to infant Jesus and enshrining the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, is one of the most important sight of Goa. The other Churches in the same area are St. Cathedral, with its vaulted interior, Church of our Lady of Rosary and Nunnery of St. Monica. The Aguada Fort built by the Portuguese commands the mouth of the Mondovi River and houses a lighthouse. And in the evening enjoy Cruise over Mondovi River. Overnight stay at hotel.

02 Day: Goa - Badami (200 kms - 4 hrs):

After breakfast check out the hotel and drive to Badami, on arrival transfer to hotel. After rest and relaxation visit Aihole and Pattadakal. After some rest and relaxation visit Monolithic Caves, which is 70 ft in length. Pillars inside the temple are cut in clinical precision and designs denote flowers and geometrical figures. Evidences reveal, Mangalesha, uncle of Pulekeshi II, constructed the cave temple in 578 AD. Each cave here indicates the architecture gradually evolved into perfection during the Chalukyan dynasty. Sculptures here also tell the empire had given equal importance to all existing faiths of its time: Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Buddhism and Jainism. After visit drive back to the hotel for overnight stay. Overnight at Badami.

03 Day: Badami 鈥?Hospet - Hampi (120 Kms - 3 hours):

After breakfast drive to Hampi, en route visiting the fascinating rock-cut caves of Badami - once the capital city of the Chalukyan Empire, rulers of the central Deccan from 4th - 8th centuries AD. Set in a ravine, the site is surrounded by fortifications, but most famous of all is the carved and inscribed temples cut from the solid rock. Proceed to Hospet. On Arrival check in at Hotel Mayura Bhuvaneshwari, in the afternoon sightseeing tour of Hampi visiting Virupaksha temple this temple is located at the base of Hemakuta hill and has been a place of worship since the 7th century. It began as a small shrine but was enlarged by the Vijayanagara kings, Hemakuta hill temples, Bal Krishna temples, Narsimha statue, Zenana enclosures, elephant stables, stepped tanks and kings鈥?palace. Evening also visit Vithala Temple to enjoy the light illumination at 1830 hours. After visit return to the hotel for overnight stay.

04 Day: Hospet - Hassan (355 kms - 7 hours):

After breakfast optionally you can visit once again to Hampi to see any places, which has been dropped yesterday. Later drive to Hassan, Optionally, if not too tired from the long journey, you can enjoy the splendor of Shravanbelgola. 51 kms south - east of Hassan, one of most important Jain Pilgrim centre. Here is the 17m high monolith of Lord Bahubali - the world鈥檚 tallest monolithic statue. Rest of the day you will remain free to explore the surroundings. Overnight at Hassan

05 Day: Hassan - Belur - Halebid - Mysore (170 km 3- 4 hours):

After breakfast leave for Mysore en route visiting Belur %26amp; Halebid, a beautiful example of Hoysala architecture. Famous of them is The Chennakesava Temple: which took 103 years to complete. The temples of Halebid bear mute testimony to the rich, cultural heritage of Karnataka. Proceed to Mysore. On arrival transfer to hotel. Evening is free at leisure. Overnight at Mysore.

06 Day Mysore- Banaglore- Cochin

After sight seeing in Bangalore over night train/bus to Cochin

07 Day Cochin-

Relax till after noon. Afternoon city sight seeing. Evening free for leisure

You can try this for the first seven days

Day 8 Munnar

Day 9 - Munnar

Day 10 - Munnar - Thekkady (resort)

Day 11 - Kumarakom-Allepey (houseboat)

Day 12 - Allepey - Kovalam-Kanyakumari

Day 13 - Kovalam -Trivandrum Airport or Railway station bak to your destination