[Shur'tugal]

Hi all. I need some help in planning the best possible route for a big, solo road-trip this year.

Essential information:

Vehicle: Himalayan 450
Duration: October 19th to 29/30th
Objective: Visit the southernmost tip of the country, Enjoy myself, RIDE
I will start from Mumbai, and end in Goa. My parents are there, and I need to reach in time for Diwali.

Last year, I'd ridden down the Konkan Coast, and really enjoyed it. I'm not too worried about staying, I want to see places on the bike.

I'm open to any and all suggestions for a better route, places to stop, or general advice.

Here's my plan as of now

Mumbai to Goa
Goa to Mangalore
Mangalore to Ooty
Ooty to Tanjore
Tanjore to Kanniyakumari via Rameswaram
Kanniyakumari to Munnar via Varkala
Munnar to Madikeri
Madikeri to Hampi
Hampi to Goa
Few days at home
Goa to Mumbai

Thank you!

[MileCruncher]

Originally Posted by Shur'tugal

.

Here's my plan as of now

Mumbai to Goa
Goa to Mangalore
Mangalore to Ooty
Ooty to Tanjore
Tanjore to Kanniyakumari via Rameswaram
Kanniyakumari to Munnar via Varkala
Munnar to Madikeri
Madikeri to Hampi
Hampi to Goa
Few days at home
Goa to Mumbai

Thank you!

Your route looks like a lot of criss cross and too much travel. If I were you, I will just catch hold of NH66 and go all the way to Kanyakumari, then make way to Rameshwaram, then get back Munnar, Madikeri, Hampi, Goa, Mumbai. Actually just go to Kk and trace back with route planned such a way that you don't stay in the places

The NH66 is a beautiful belt and not to be missed. Some beautiful locations are
Goa
Gokarna
Marvanthe (NH66 runs with sea on one side and river on another)
Kundapur ( The home of Chicken Ghee Roast)
Udupi ( The land where Masala Dosa was invented)
Mangalore (Pabbas, Hangyo and Gadbad)
Bekal (The fort made famous by Dil Chahta Hai)
Calicut (Moplah cuisine)
Guruvayur
Cochin
Trivandrum
Kovalam
Varkala
Kanyakumari

Each of the above locations need a day if not more. Each place has a history as well as character.

Happy planning!

[Shur'tugal]

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

Your route looks like a lot of criss cross and too much travel. If I were you, I will just catch hold of NH66 and go all the way to Kanyakumari, then make way to Rameshwaram, then get back Munnar, Madikeri, Hampi, Goa, Mumbai. Actually just go to Kk and trace back with route planned such a way that you don't stay in the places
Happy planning!

Thank you!

Catching NH66 and just taking it all the way south does sound like a fun idea.

I might do KK - Munnar - Ooty - Chikmagalur - Goa on my way back. Was in Ooty at the age of 5 and 6 and want to go back for the nostalgia.

I'll do some more research on planning the NH66 part as well. Thanks again.

[kozhissery]

Originally Posted by Shur'tugal

Hi all. I need some help in planning the best possible route for a big, solo road-trip this year.
I'm open to any and all suggestions for a better route, places to stop, or general advice.
Thank you!

1: Mumbai to Goa
2: Goa to Mangalore
3: Mangalore - Bekal - Madikeri (2 days in Madikeri to see Kushal nagar and other places)
4: Madikeri - Kozhikode (food time evening)
5: Kozhikode - Guruvayoor - Cochin (You can skip cochin, if not interested in seeing synagogue/hill palace etc - needs extra day)
6: Cochin - Alleppey - Munnar (1 day for site seeing, if boating in Alleppey then extra 1 more day)
7: Munnar - Varkala - Trivandrum (Need 1 full day to see the temple and explore the beaches)
8: Trivandrum - Kovalam - Kanyakumari (with visit to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padmanabhapuram_Palace on the way to kanyakumari)
9: Kanyakumari - Tuticorin - Rameswaram (sunset at Dhanushkodi and don't miss the train across the pamban bridge)
10: Ramaeswaram - Tanjore
11: Tanjore - Ooty
12: Ooty - Hampi (you need at-least 2 full days to visit hampi)
13: Hampi - Goa
14: Goa - Mumbai

[Shur'tugal]

Thank you @kozhissery and @Milecruncher.
Made a revised plan, and have made notes about places to see thanks to your detailed notes.

Day 1 - Mumbai to Goa (567 km)
Day 2 - Goa to Mangalore via Gokarna, Marvanthe, Kundapur, Udupi (350km)
Day 3 - Mangalore to Kozhikode via Bekal Fort (233 km)
OR
Day 3 - Mangalore to Guruvayur via Bekal and Kozhikode (326km)
Day 4 - Guruvayur to Trivandrum via Alleppey and Varkala (289km)
Day 5 Trivandrum to Kanyakumari via Kovalam + Rameshwaram (390km)
Day 6 Rameshwaram to Munnar (333 km)
Day 7 Munnar to Ooty (237km)
Day 8 Ooty to Chikmagalur (288km)
Day 9 Chikmagalur to Goa (417km)

I'll likely stay in two places for an extra day. Thinking Chikmagalur and maybe Munnar. What do you think?

[MileCruncher]

Originally Posted by Shur'tugal

I'll likely stay in two places for an extra day. Thinking Chikmagalur and maybe Munnar. What do you think?

Chikmagalur is a beautiful. Small beautiful city surrounded by hills and coffee estates. My suggestion would be to stay in a coffee estate homestay.