We have traveled to India three times: in 2010, 2014 and 2018-19. During our first two visits, we didn’t have this blog and we didn’t take any notes, so don’t be surprised if we mostly talk about our last trip here. A superb two-month tour in South India starting from Kerala, going up to Karnataka before diving back towards Tamil Nadu.
Our opinion on India
India is a country apart. The mere mention of his name thrills as much as it thrills. For us, the best synonym for India is “adventure”. Or maybe “a change of scenery”. Because a trip to India is necessarily a surprise at every moment, the unexpected lurks around every street corner. That said, it would be simplistic to summarize India as a fun country. It is also a country of incredible beauty: the landscapes, the colors of the saris, the radiant smiles of its inhabitants (cliché? and yet so true!)… In short, we caught
Dirt: in the streets, on transport, everywhere (dust, waste, unpleasant odors, etc.)
Contents
- The itinerary of our trip to South India
- State of Kerala
- State of Karnataka
- State of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry
- Which region to choose for a first trip to India?
- What itinerary for two or three weeks in India?
- Traveling to India for nomads
The itinerary of our 3rd trip, to South India
State of Kerala
We started by crossing Kerala from south to north in 2 ½ weeks. It is probably one of the Indian states with the most powerful charm! It is also one of the cleanest and most zen. The variety of landscapes is incredible and the coconut food is a treat.
Trivandrum (2 nights): A first stop near the southern tip of the country, in the capital of Kerala. It turned out to be calm, airy and surrounded by lively beaches at sunset.
Munroe Island (3 nights): Our favorite! An island covered with coconut trees in the middle of the backwaters, these freshwater canals which have made Kerala’s reputation. Staying with an adorable family, we spent three days in this little natural paradise, between feasts and bike or canoe rides.
Alleppey (2 nights): The big city of Alleppey didn’t dazzle us, but it makes a good base for exploring the backwaters without going all the way to Munroe Island, for travelers in a hurry.
Munnar (3 nights): The tea plantations that cover the hills all around Munnar are superb. We took some beautiful walks there, including a memorable one in the morning mist.
Cochin (4 nights): This city is teeming with tourists and souvenir shops, especially its old center Fort Cochin. That said, it is relaxing, offers good restaurants and sunsets in the background of the famous Chinese fishing nets.
Kannur (2 nights): In the very north of Kerala, we discovered almost deserted beaches, lined with coconut trees, whose water remains warm from morning to evening. The dream, right? A good place in India to slow down.
We have written an entire article dedicated to Kerala here: ➤ Travel to Kerala: our itinerary and all our advice
Sunrise and mist in Munnar, Kerala, South IndiaSwimming at sunset on Alleppey beach, IndiaBoat on the backwaters, Kerala, India
State of Karnataka
After Kerala, we continued north and explored Karnataka for almost 4 weeks. More dusty and disorganized, it is nevertheless a very surprising state, particularly in terms of heritage.
Coorg (2 nights): Looking for mountains to hike in, we set our sights on Madikeri and the Coorg region. It’s a slight flop! Waste litters the trails and the landscapes are nothing short of incredible.
Mysore (5 nights): We really liked the city of Mysore. In addition to housing a sumptuous Maharaja’s palace, it offers a frenetic but not stressful atmosphere. And then, it’s the city par excellence where to taste dosas , the famous Indian pancakes!
Bangalore (8 nights): The capital of Karnataka did not really appeal to us. It is so congested and polluted that it seemed unlivable and difficult to visit.
Bijapur (3 nights): Clearly, Karnataka is full of little-known gems. Bijapur is home to magnificent mausoleums said to have inspired the Taj Mahal. As the only tourists, we ourselves became attractions for Indians and broke all records for selfie requests per minute!
State of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry
Finally, we headed south again, but on the East Coast this time. Even though we only traveled part of Tamil Nadu, there were many discoveries!