rje

And if this appeals to you, you could go a good part of the way to Kovalum by boat or houseboat, and then have a driver take you the rest of the way. I think you can go as far as Varkala, and then there is a tunnel, but I don't know much about this.

thursdaysd

The Guruvayur-Chennai Express runs from Ernakulam (the station for Kochi) and Allepey - and Varkala for that matter - to Madurai. It is a night train, with AC2 class. (See seat61.com for what AC2 means.)

rje

I guess the question is will BostonWriter's mother be comfortable on an 11 hour Indian train ride? Actually, longer, after the inevitable delays.
http://indiarailinfo.com/train/timet...s/281/1505/779

The word "Express" in India isn't what it sounds like, the train will make many stops. We found it hard to sleep on the night trains in Southern India, with all the shaking, noise and commotion at each stop all night long. But of course, very sound sleepers may not be bothered.

I actually like Indian trains as a mini-adventure, but she should be aware that it may not be restful.

CaliNurse

Completely counterintuitive, as it is such a short distance...there are no direct flights between Madurai and Cochin. When I last looked, t hinking it may be a shortcut, all the flightsroute trhough the larger airports.

I love that itinerary RJE posted, which will take you 'round the coast, avoiding the nausea-roads.

Something else to think on, Boston Writer : IF coming in the opposite directoin, you could go from Kovalam and then "do" the backwaters near Kollam, instead of Alleppey or Kumarokom. There 's a resort near Kollam called Fragrant Nature.( If my daughter wanted to take me there, I'd be very happy ) There's also an intriguing homestay on Munroe Island, but it looks pretty rustic.

If you did the backwaters "experience" there, you could drive (be driven) straight to Cochin on the national highway after...or if a bit more time and sprit of local adventure, , even take a boat up to the Alleppey area backwaters, then to Cochin.

CaliNurse

or, of course you could do this in reverse, starting in Cochin, heading south toward Kovalam, via whatever backwater stop you want in between...then finish on the Tamil Nadu coast and leave from Chennnai

BostonWriter

Ok - before I get further into the itinerary suggested (thanks!), am I making a mistake missing Munnar? We are capable of dealing with roads (have you been to Orvieto in Italy? Those are hairpins...and yes, nauseating). And I worked on a boat, so it's not that we can't do it, but is it worth the real discomfort??

Otherwise,
Kochi - Backwaters - Kovalum - Madurai - where in Tamil Nadu ?? (mysore?)- Pondicherry - fly home from Chennai??

2 nights in each? Wanted 3 nights at Niraamyaya to relax at end...can we reverse the order, starting in Chennai? What would those drives look like? I think I can convince my mom to do one interior flight but not more...

BostonWriter

One other thought...what if we split our trip into 2 parts.

1st would be fly into Chennai, see there and Pondicherry - probably 2-3 nights

Then flying to Kochi - 2 nights
Alleppey/backwater/Houseboat - 2 nights
Niraamyaya spa for 3 nights at end
flying home from TRV

How do I get Madurai in there? Or Mysore? Impossible with roads/flights/timing?

thursdaysd

Mysore is in Karnataka, not Tamil Nadu, and you would want to do it before Kochi. In Tamil Nadu there are other temple towns, plus the Chettinad region. I would have thought the drive from Chennai to Pondy too long to be worth doing twice, and Pondy is really not that interesting except as a contrast.

CaliNurse

The best way for you to see "virtually" where Madurai fits in, is to check a map. Just plot tentative itins using google maps, or whatever, adding the places .

there is no point splitting it up as you described.

I understand your very good question about if Munnar is worth the nausea. I too have wondered that, and until I finally make it there on third trip to Kerala, i can't answer. However, two friends who've each been numerous times to India, did not think it was essential.