Coastal Malabar Road Trip ~ Summing up

 In the last blog of the Coastal Malabar road trip series, I am providing the trip summary. Do let us know if you require any help in planning your Kerala travel.

Route Map:

Bangalore - > Nagercoil ->Kanyakumari -> Kovalam -> Varkala -> Odayam ->  Kochi ->  Kasargod.

Total distance - 135 km

Road condition: 

Bangalore -> Nagercoil : Excellent

Nagercoil - > Kanyakumari : Excellent

Kanyakumari to Kovalam: Excellent till you are in highway. Inside roads are bad at places.

Kovalam -> Varkala : Excellent

Varkala -> Odayam :  Very Good

Odayam ->  Kochi : Good but with diversions at places, not properly marked.

Kochi ->  Kasargod : Low Average. Also people do rash driving.

Itinerary :

Day 1: Bangalore to Nagercoil

Night halt at Nagercoil at Hotel Udupi International. Booked through Goibibo.

Hotel Udupi International is old but good hotel.

Places to see:

1. Nagaraja Temple : The main temple after which the city is named.

2. Padmanabhapuram Palace : A beautiful Palace and museum made in Kerala style of architecture.

3. Kanyakumari: The southern most tip of India, Kanyakumari is very close to Nagercoil
4. Mathur Aqueduct: The aqueduct was built in 1966 to carry water for irrigation from one elevated region to another. We skipped it, because of time constraint.
5. Triveni Sangam: Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea meet and get a good view of Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruuvalluvar Statue.
6. Kovalam beach of Tamil Nadu, not Kerala

7. Vattakkottai Fort

Day 2:  Nagercoil to Kovalam

Night halt at Kovalam at Pebble Coast Beach Resort. Booked through Goibibo.

Pebble Coast Beach Resort is very BAD.

Places to see:

1. Explore Kovalam night market on the beach.

Day 3: Kovalam sightseeing

Night halt at Kovalam in Golden Sands beach resort. Booked through Goibibo.

Golden Sands beach resort is old but good. Just walking distance from Kovalam lighthouse and beach.Car parking is a little away from resort.

Places to see:

1. Kovalam beach
2. Kovalam lighthouse
3. Kovalam night market on beach

There are a. few other places as well but we skipped them because of priority and time.

Day 4: Kovalam to Trivandrum 

Night halt at Trivandrum in a hotel booked through Goibibo. 

Places to see :

1. Shangumugham beach: The city's beach.
2. Vettukadu Church

3. Napier Museum

4. Puthen Malika Palace Museum

Day 5: Trivandrum to Ernakulam/Kochi via Varkala and Odayam beach.

Night Halt at Ernakluam in Nambiar's Hotel booked through Goibibo.

Hotel is nice and clean and spacious.

Places to see on the way:

1. Sri Padmanavaswamy Temple: A very rich and important temple for the Hindus.
2. Varkala Beach
3. Odayam Beach, a black sand beach

4. Alappuzha Beach sunset

Day 6: Kochi sightseeing 

Night Halt at Ernakulam in Nambiar's Hotel.

Places to see:

1. Fort Kochi
2. Kochi city
3. Sunset from Fort Kochi
4. Chinese Fishing nets
5. Lulu Mall

6. Kerala Kathakali centre

7. Dutch Cemetary

Day 7: Ernakulam sightseeing 

Night Halt at Ernakulam in Nambiar's Hotel.

Places to see:

1. Ernakulam 'Marine Drive' bay
2. Boat ride on Vembanad Lake

Day 8: Ernakulam to Cheruvathur ( between Kannur and Kasargod)

Night Halt at Cheruvathur in Kavvya Riveria Resort.

Places to see on the way:

1. Kazhimbram beach
2. Guruayoor Sri Krishna Temple

Day 9: Kasargod sightseeing

Night Halt at Cheruvathur in Kavvya Riveria Resort.

Places to see :

1. Bekal Fort
2. Kappil beach
3. Bhoota Kola
4. Theyyam if you come knowing the dates.

Day 10: Drive back to Bangalore