17 days in South India Itinerary

Situated among a collection of low hills that lead up to the coastline, state capital Thiruvananthapuram acts as a base for exploration of the southern tip of the country.

Appreciate the collections at Puthenmalika (Kuthiramalika) Palace and Napier Museum. Shop till you drop at Moon Stone Arts and Parthas. Get out of town with these interesting Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) side-trips: Varkala (The Art of India, Varkala Beach, & more) and Kovalam (Lighthouse Beach & Kovalam Beach). There's still lots to do: admire the landmark architecture of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, look for gifts at Ramachandran, and take in the spiritual surroundings of Sree Mahadeva Temple.

To find other places to visit, traveler tips, ratings, and more tourist information, read Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) trip itinerary app .

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) is an approximately 7.5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of bus and flight; or drive. The time zone difference moving from Arabia Standard Time to India Standard Time is 2 hours. When traveling from Jeddah in May, plan for a bit cooler days in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), with highs around 37°C, while nights are about the same with lows around 30°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 6th (Sun) so you can travel to Kochi (Cochin).

A flourishing port city and magnet for the spice trade since the 15th century, Kochi (Cochin) proudly bears its distinct international influence and local Keralan culture.

Kerala Folklore Museum and Kashi Art Gallery will appeal to museum buffs. You'll get in some beach time at Marari Beach and Cherai Beach. Change things up with a short trip to Cheraman Juma Masjid Mosque in Kodungallur (about 1h 25 min away). There's lots more to do: browse the different shops at LuLu Mall, look for gifts at Joe Ikareth, and admire the masterpieces at Gallery OED Cochin..

To see reviews, other places to visit, and other tourist information, refer to the Kochi (Cochin) trip itinerary maker website .

Getting from Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) to Kochi (Cochin) by combination of flight and taxi takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a train. In May in Kochi (Cochin), expect temperatures between 38°C during the day and 30°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 9th (Wed) early enough to drive to Thekkady.

Affectionately known as Alleppey to locals and tourists alike, Alappuzha acts as a major transport and cultural hub on the Kerala backwaters.

Keep things going the next day: enjoy the sand and surf at Mararikulam Beach and then look for all kinds of wild species at Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.

For other places to visit, traveler tips, more things to do, and more tourist information, use the Alappuzha travel itinerary planner .

You can take a train from Kochi (Cochin) to Alappuzha in an hour. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. May in Alappuzha sees daily highs of 38°C and lows of 30°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 11th (Fri) so you can drive to Thekkady.

Centered on an artificial lake, Thekkady provides a sanctuary to a diverse set of animals and plant species.

Get a sense of the local culture at Mangala Devi Temple and Green land spice garden. For shopping fun, head to Abraham's Spice Garden or Tropical Chocolate Factory. Step out of Thekkady to go to Vagamon and see Pattumala Matha Church, which is approximately 44 minutes away. There's still lots to do: identify plant and animal life at Periyar Tiger Reserve, steep yourself in history at Shiny Tours & Travals, take in the spiritual surroundings of Mangladevi Temple, and relax and rejuvenate at some of the top local wellness centers.

To see where to stay, ratings, maps, and other tourist information, refer to the Thekkady tour itinerary planner .

You can drive from Alappuzha to Thekkady in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 14th (Mon) so you can go by car to Munnar.

Sitting at the point where three mountain rivers meet, the hill station of Munnar has become known as a tea-growing center in the south of the country.

On the 15th (Tue), see the interesting displays at Tea Museum, take in the architecture and atmosphere at C.S.I Christ Church, then get into the urban bustle at Kalari Kshethra, and finally take in nature's colorful creations at Tea Gardens.

For ratings, maps, more things to do, and more tourist information, refer to the Munnar trip planner .

Traveling by car from Thekkady to Munnar takes 2 hours. In May in Munnar, expect temperatures between 39°C during the day and 29°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 16th (Wed) early enough to travel to Hyderabad.

Teeming with history and heritage, Hyderabad draws visitors from all over the world with its old Indo-Islamic buildings, forts, and museums.

On the 16th (Wed), explore the historical opulence of Golkonda Fort and then take in the spiritual surroundings of Birla Mandir.

To find ratings and tourist information, you can read our Hyderabad day trip site .

You can do a combination of taxi and flight from Munnar to Hyderabad in 4 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a bus. While traveling from Munnar, expect a bit warmer days and about the same nights in Hyderabad, ranging from highs of 46°C to lows of 31°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 17th (Thu) so you can travel back home.