11 days
Kochi to Chennai
Across the south of India from coast to coast, in eleven days.
All journeys
A shorter crossing of the south.
From Kochi it goes through the backwaters and the tea, over the Western Ghats at Munnar, then east across Tamil Nadu through Madurai, Chettinad, Trichy and Thanjavur to Pondicherry and the Coromandel coast. With this much ground in eleven days, every stop is chosen with care.
- How long
- 11 days
- Where
- Kerala & Tamil Nadu
- Kind of journey
- The South
The route
10 stops
- Fort Kochi
- Alleppey
- Munnar
- Madurai
- Chettinad
- Trichy
- Thanjavur
- Pondicherry
- Mahabalipuram
- Chennai
Highlights
Along the way
- 01A night on the backwaters before heading east
- 02The crossing of the Ghats at Munnar, where the landscape changes
- 03The Meenakshi temple in Madurai in the evening
- 04Chettinad: the merchant mansions, and lunch in one of them
- 05The Brihadeeswarar temple at Thanjavur
- 06Pondicherry, then the Pallava carvings at Mahabalipuram on the way to the airport
Day by day
The plan
- Days 1–2Arrive in Kochi. Fort Kochi on foot, and Kathakali in the evening.
- Day 3Down to Alleppey and onto the water.
- Days 4–5Up to Munnar for the tea estates, and Eravikulam early on the second morning.
- Day 6Over the Ghats into Tamil Nadu, reaching Madurai for the evening ceremony.
- Day 7East through Chettinad to Trichy, and on to Thanjavur.
- Day 8The Chola temples, then up the coast to Pondicherry.
- Day 9Pondicherry: the French quarter in the morning, Auroville in the afternoon.
- Day 10Mahabalipuram: the Shore Temple, the rathas, and the stone carvers at work.
- Day 11On to Chennai and depart.
Tell us about your journey
Since 1997
Our team has been in tourism since 1997. Scenic Escapes India Private Limited is a private company registered in Kerala and based in Karunagappally, Kollam. Its registration details are published for anyone to check.
Company details