The exams getting over in another few days, the kids and children’s are awaiting their summer special vacation plan. Now, I could think as parent how much it is difficult to plan such a beautiful trip. To my knowledge, I can suggest some places that would get a top priority for this summer vacation.
Most of us know few places and few more plans you might have in mind. The plan might be visiting a Hill station or a forest trekking or a River base. My choice is to go and visit the Hill station and enjoy the mighty heat buster weather. When I say hill station, I would say Ooty, Kodaikanal, Coorg, Munar, Valparai, Yelagiri hills etc. These places are in south India and would be more preferable place with good reasonable cost. Ooty (Ootacamund or Udhagamandalam), Yelagiri, Kodaikanal, Valparai, Coorg and Munar out of these places, Ooty, Yelagiri, Kodaikanal, Valparai are part of Tamilnadu. Coorg or Kodagu (Origin place of river Cauvery) or Madikeri is in Karnataka. The mighty Munar is in Kerala.
Ooty, Kodaikanal, Munar have the same type of money expenditure and the weather would be awesome. Munar, you might have to afford little more from your pocket since it has become a honeymoon destiny and become more commercial.
To reach Munar, you can either go via Coimbatore or Madurai from Tamilnadu. Ernakulam or Cochin or Kottayam are places which are near to Munar from Kerala. The nearest Airports are Madurai and Cochin. The nearest railway stations are Ernakulam and Kottayam. Munar is in Idikki District, also if you are great lover of trekking then you can go to Anamudi the top point of Western Ghats of the same Idikki district of Anamalai hills. Anamudi is at the peak point of 2695mts higher than the sea level
To reach Ooty you can go from Chennai to Mettupalayam using Niligiri Express, which you can board from Chennai Central railway station. Most of the time this train would be full as the season is already started. The nearest Airport would be Coimbatore. From Coimbatore, Ooty is less than 100Kms where you can take a bus or book a cab in advance.
If you have a plan to go to Kodaikanal from Ooty, you can try the below route if you are going by your own travel by a Cab or own Car. From Ooty get down to Kothagiri, then Mettupalayam, Annur, Somanur, Palladam, Tharapuram, Palani, Kodaikanal. Since I visited few times Annur and I thought this route would be useful too.
To reach Kodaikanal, you can go from Chennai to Madurai by Air or by train you can reach to Kodai road junction. From there Kodaikanal is less than 80Kms. The world famous Palani temple is also the nearest location which you can visit and have Dharsan of lord Murugha or Subramanya.
To reach Valparai, it is again very near from Coimbatore about 95Kms. I would say Valparai is kept undisturbed and the tourism is less in Valparai. Those who want to stay for a week in peace without much noise and disturbance can choose Valparai. If you are planning to go via Coimbatore, do not miss the beauty of Pollachi, Aliyar Dam. If possible please also try and visit Athirappalli falls which is near to Valparai.
There are some details which I have shared in my other post on Munar, Coorg, Ooty, etc
