Decision on timing and places:
We decided that we need to go for a short trip. Where to go was matter of discussion and availability. We had around six days on hand. Being in Chennai, South India, we were deliberating on following options:
1. Kerala > Kochi – Munnar* – Thekkady* – Peermedu – Kumarakom* – Kochi*
2. South India > Yercaud*, Ooty*, Mudumalai, Mysore*, Medikari*, Thala kaveri, Bangalore*, Vellore Sripuram Golden Temple.
3. Tamilnadu > Pondicherry, Pitchavaram, Chidambaram, Vaitheswaran Koil*, Nagore, Velankanni, Thanjavur* Rameswaram*. Suchindram, Kanniyakumari*, Madurai*, Kodaikanal*, Trichy*.
4. Coorg > Coorg & Mysore
5. East – West Coast > Thiruvannamalai, Yercaud*, Mudumalai, Coimbatire*, Guruvayur, Kaladi, Cochin*, Alleppey, Thiruvananthapuram*, Kumarakam, Kottayan*, Munnar*, Palani, Tiruchi*
6. Others > Other options were to go to only one place like Kodaikanal or Vythiri or Ooty etc.
We originally had plans to do this in Christmas vacation but it was too late and most of things were booked as also everything was at premium so we planned for Pongal holidays but that too was more or less booked. Finally we said forget about vacation let us go ahead whenever we get. So that was on timing.
On places, we thought Tamilnadu we can do in our own car covering 1-2 at a time on weekends so why to spend one week time on this trip. So finally we started zeroing down on Kerala.
Decision on mode and places: