Journal · South India · India
Chennai to Kochi: how to cross south India coast to coast
This route crosses the tip of India from one sea to the other. It begins on the Bay of Bengal at Chennai, works down through the temple towns of Tamil Nadu, climbs over the Western Ghats at Munnar, and comes down through Kerala to the Arabian Sea at Kochi.
Why go from east to west?
Because it puts the busiest part first and the most restful part last. Tamil Nadu is temples, towns and long days of looking. Kerala is hills, water and slower travel. Ending with a houseboat and the sea air of Kochi lets the trip wind down on its own.
Both ends have large airports, so the route never needs to return to where it began. The plan closes the loop to Chennai only to give it an end.
What does the Tamil Nadu half cover?
- The coast. Chennai, then Mahabalipuram for its rock-cut temples and Pondicherry for the old French quarter.
- Thanjavur. The Brihadeeswarar Temple, the palace of the Maratha rulers, and the bronze casters. The Chidambaram temple is a stop on the way in.
- Chettinad. A night among the mansions built by the Chettiar merchants.
- Madurai. The Meenakshi Amman Temple, including the procession held there each night.
How do you cross into Kerala?
By road over the Western Ghats, the mountain range that divides the two states. From Madurai the road climbs to Munnar, a hill town surrounded by tea estates, and to Eravikulam National Park above it. The next stop, Thekkady, sits beside the lake of the Periyar reserve, in country planted with spices.
These are single nights, and the mountain roads are slow. Start early on both days.
What are the backwaters, and how long do they need?
A chain of lakes, rivers and canals behind the Kerala coast. Kumarakom is on Vembanad, the largest of the lakes, and two nights there allow a day on a houseboat and a walk in the bird sanctuary.
Kochi ends the route: the fishing nets at the harbour mouth, the old palace and the spice markets at Mattancherry, and an evening of Kathakali, the dance drama of Kerala.
Quick answers
How long does it take to cross south India from Chennai to Kochi?
About seventeen days at this pace, with ten stays. It can be shortened by dropping a stop on the Tamil coast or one of the single nights in the hills.
Should you visit Tamil Nadu or Kerala first?
Tamil Nadu first. Its temple towns ask the most of a traveller, and Kerala’s hills and backwaters are an easier way to finish.
Is one day on a houseboat enough?
For most people, yes. A day on Vembanad Lake shows the backwaters well, and a stay on land at Kumarakom is more comfortable for the nights.
Before you book: check the whole trip at once
Ten stays, four of them a single night, is where bookings slip: a night in the hills counted twice, or a houseboat day that overlaps the hotel beside it.
Trips by Manr.ai puts your hotels and transport on one timeline and checks for gaps, overlaps and missing legs. Type a booking in, drop in the PDF, or paste the confirmation email. With an account and sync switched on, you can also forward confirmations to trips@manr.ai from the address you signed in with. Nothing joins your trip until you have seen it and added it.