Things not to miss in Southern India

[Thimble Queen]

We are flying in Mumbai, there the place we really want to see is Elephanta Island. We are definatly going to Hampi and go on a backwater cruise in Kerala. We'll be staying in Goa for quite a while as well...

What do people reccomend thats not to be missed

 

[Belushi]

Elephanta Island.

Its 120 steps up the mountain in the boiling Mumbai heat, I stayed in the cafe at the bottom, unlike some of my friends who paid to be carried up

Theres another thread on here I started a couple of weeks ago about Kerala.

 

[moonsi til]

I'd suggest Munar for tea planations....

apologies for crap link

www.keralahoneymoon.com/MUNNAR/Munnar.htm

 

[Brainaddict]

I wouldn't class it as unmissable but if you're passing by, Varkala in Kerala is a very nice place for a couple of days by the sea.

 

[Thimble Queen]

Cool thanks for suggestions....

I go to get my visa tomorro, yeses

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Hampi

 

[Thimble Queen]

Hampi's already on the list?

Anymore suggestions... there musdt be more to Soputhern India than this

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Sorry, didn't read it properly...

Hampi and goa were all i really did in S.India.

Must go back one day and do it.

 

[Lazy Llama]

Some of the bits we did when in Southern India:

The Spice Market at Kochi.
We did a backwater houseboat at Allepey which was great.
The hills up to Kumily, Periyar wildlife park, Kodaikanal for a hillstation experience without going up North. Try the Tibetan momos there.

We had to miss most of the coastal areas, especially to the East as we were there a month or so after the tsunami. Madurai is supposed to be interesting if you're not templed-out.

 

[Thimble Queen]

Where/what is Kumily?

 

[Lazy Llama]

Kumily is a town in the Cardamom Hills near Thekkady and the Periyar wildlife reserve in Kerala.
We hired a driver and did tours of the tea and spice plantations, and went to Periyar to see the elephants.
Periyar was very busy and if you do go, take some binoculars.

I think we stayed at Coffee Inn there.

 

[Thimble Queen]

I want to see welliphaunts!! x x

 

[Thimble Queen]

I

www.keralahoneymoon.com/MUNNAR/Munnar.htm

Munnar looks

 

[Brainaddict]

Munnar looks

Hehe, that's a good sales pitch anyway Munnar is probably worth it for the surrounding countryside - gorgeous tea plantations and so on. The town itself is kind of run-down and, well, a bit rubbish really. It didn't help that it rained most of the time we were there, but even so, be warned that the town is not what you might imagine when you think 'hill station'.

I found this photo with a caption that expresses it quite well:
http://picasaweb.google.com/r2jrules/MunnarCochin#5154525767245915250



Of course if you stay in a nice hotel out of town or something then it won't matter too much.

 

[Thimble Queen]

Love da caption of dat photo, ha!