The Landscape Does Not Make Sense until You Drive through It
The coastal state of Kerala borders the state of Tamil Nadu, but in reality, they are completely different from each other. Kerala has its coast, then backwater lakes, rubber, and spice plantations in midland areas, and dense forests in the Western Ghats. However, on crossing into Tamil Nadu, you will see the landscape change; the region sees the rising Palani Hills, mists in the Kodaikanal plateau, and Nilgiris in Ooty, filled with Eucalyptus and Tea.
There is nothing more revealing about the change than the road. You have the feeling of watching the landscape transform from a height of zero meters to 2,000 meters in just a few hours. You notice that the landscape changes in terms of flora as well. This physical sensation that you experience while traveling is what makes road trips such an important experience.
The road trip from Thekkady to Kodaikanal through Ghat Roads in South India ranks amongst the most scenic mountain roads with twists, turns, valleys, and falls.
7 Reasons Why This Road Trip Is the Best You Can Choose for This Destination
1.This Trip Takes You To Places Where You Won’t Find Railways
If you travel from Alleppey to Thekkady, there will be no train for you. There will be no railway lines connecting to Kodaikanal and Ooty too. Thus, all the way up in the hills – the best part of this route - you can only get access through roads. You don’t have a choice here but rather a need.
2.Stop Over Anywhere You Want
It is not those big sites which attract people to come to this region. Rather it is those plantation tours you can take outside Thekkady, the guest houses in rubber plantation farms in Kottayam, the view points inside Munnar’s tea estates or the tribal handicrafts stalls near Palani where you stop over and enjoy yourself.
3.The Ghat Roads Make Up the Whole Attraction
There are many spectacular roads in India; however, the Western Ghats mountain routes, such as the climb to Thekkady, the Poombarai descent into Kodaikanal, and the Kalhatty Ghat road to Ooty, are probably the most impressive. Waterfalls spring from nowhere. Deep valleys can be found just after hairpin turns. Moreover, the Nilgiri Mountain railway travels along the road route that leads to Ooty, creating another short but wonderful parallel of the World Heritage train ride. Of course, none of these views can be seen from the plane.
4.The Least Expensive Option for Tour Groups
The road journey to Ooty via the most beautiful places around is much cheaper when traveling in a private car for a couple or a family. For instance, the GoRoute7 tour package from Trivandrum to Ooty, via Alleppey, Cochin, Kodaikanal, and Thekkady includes all the required travel and accommodation services.
5.Travel According to Your Own Internal Clock
The dawn light of Alleppey backwaters and sunset views of Kodaikanal can only happen during very particular times of the day. With a road trip, you have the flexibility to plan around your own time table – leaving in the morning, arriving before sunset, spending as much time at each stop as you want. This cannot be done with flights and trains with set departure times.
6.Local Encounters Are Part of the Trip Itself
Encounters such as roadside chai stands, village drinking places called toddy shops, fish market interactions in Cochin, spice shops near Periyar, among many other similar experiences occur easily on road trips and will rarely happen on organized air/train tours. These are the experiences that will last much longer than the actual snapshots captured in photos.
7.One Continuous Story, Not Six Disconnected Episodes
Road trip provides a sense of continuity to your story. Starting by leaving the beaches of Trivandrum, floating through the backwaters in Alleppey, walking through the colonial streets of Cochin, entering into the forests of Thekkady, traveling over the hills in Kodaikanal, and ending up in the highlands of Ooty. This story can only be understood if you traverse it all in one continuous journey.
The Route: Trivandrum to Ooty – Point to Point
Here is the complete route of GoRoute7’s unique journey from Trivandrum to Ooty, via Alleppey, Cochin, and more, along with some interesting stops and distance between destinations.
Days 1–2: Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)
Starting point · The capital city of Kerala
First head to Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kovalam Beach, and Napier Museum. Trivandrum is your first stop that will give you the initial exposure to culture — temple architecture, Kerala food, and Arabian Sea ambience.
Day 3: Alleppey (Alappuzha)
~155 km from Trivandrum · 3.5 hrs drive time
The backwaters of Kerala. Enjoy a one-night houseboat ride on Vembanad Lake, surrounded by paddies, Chinese fishing nets, and village life. It is a very unique experience that can be had only from a road trip to and from Trivandrum.
Day 4: Cochin (Kochi)
~85 km from Alleppey · Drive ~1.5 hours
Fort Kochi is a pedestrian's dream in terms of historic architecture — Dutch colonial structures, the famous Chinese fishing nets, spice markets of Mattancherry, and the Jewish Synagogue in Jew Town. It is an easy drive from Alleppey but it feels like a world away.
Day 5-6: Thekkady (Periyar)
~190 km from Cochin · Drive ~4 hours
The drive from Cochin to Thekkady winds through the coffee estates and cardamom hills. Periyar Tiger Reserve provides safari rides along Periyar Lake (see elephants, bison and sambar deer, jungle treks and the best spice plantation tours). The journey through the Western Ghats to Thekkady is one of the best drives in Kerala.
Day 7-8: Kodaikanal
~110 km from Thekkady · Drive ~3 hours · Entry into Tamil Nadu
Kodaikanal, the "Princess of Hill Stations" is the first stop after crossing from Kerala into Tamil Nadu. At an elevation of 2,133 meters above sea level, it offers cool temperatures, pine and eucalyptus forests and misty mornings. The highlights include Kodai Lake, Coakers Walk, Pillar Rocks, Silver Cascade falls, and the Palani Hills drive up.
Ooty (Udhagamandalam): Days 9–10
~160 km from Kodaikanal; 4-hour drive
Queen of the Nilgiri Hills. Botanical Garden (est. 1848), boating on Ooty Lake, Doddabetta Peak (highest point in the Nilgiris, 2,637 m above sea level), and the world-famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway, which is now an UNESCO World Heritage toy train that takes you to Coonoor through the hills.
Why each destination is unmissable
Trivandrum
Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kovalam Beach, Napier Museum, local cuisine of Kerala.
Capital of Kerala · Beginning of the journey
Alleppey
Experience houseboat stays at Vembanad Lake, sunset cruises, rural villages amidst the paddy fields.
Distance from Trivandrum – 155 km
Cochin
Explore Fort Kochi and its history, Chinese fishing nets, spice trail of Mattancherry.
Distance from Alleppey – 85 km
Thekkady
Boat ride in Periyar Tiger Reserve, spice garden excursions, cardamom mountains.
Distance from Cochin = 190 km
Kodaikanal
Kodai Lake, Pillar Rocks, Coakers Walk, pines forests at elevation of 2,133 m.
Distance from Thekkady = 110 km
Ooty
Botanical Gardens, Doddabetta Peak, UNESCO Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
160 km from Kodaikanal
When to Plan Your Road Trip?
- Between October and March is perfect. Kerala post-monsoon has a lot going on in terms of nature. The backwaters are abundant with water; Western Ghats are lush green; and the skies are clear. The Tamil Nadu Hills have pleasant temperatures suitable for hiking and exploring Kodaikanal and Ooty.
- Between April and June is good time for visiting hill stations like Kodaikanal and Ooty, which are favorite holiday destinations of South Indians during the summer months. The weather there is cool even when it is unbearably hot in plains.
- July-September (the monsoons), although challenging to plan your journey with – the Ghat roads will be very slippery and many scenic places will be shrouded in mist, it is extremely picturesque period for those who have traveled through Ghat road before and GoRoute7’s drivers know every inch of Ghat road inside-out.
FAQ
Which is the best mode of transportation for traveling from Trivandrum to Ooty?
Road travel is the best choice. There is no train or flight connecting these two cities via the other main destinations in between. Road travel from Trivandrum to Ooty would include visits to Alleppey, Cochin, Thekkady, Kodaikanal, and Ooty – giving you an experience of five different landscapes in one journey. GoRoute7 offers a package that will cover all these six destinations.
How many days do I need to complete this Kerala Tamil Nadu road trip?
An ideal amount of time to spend on such a trip would be eight to ten days. If you want to cut down the duration to seven days, then chances are high that you won’t be able to enjoy the spontaneity and freedom of a road trip.
Would you recommend this trip for a family with kids?
Definitely. At each location covered in this trip itinerary, you have something special to offer your kids such as enjoying a houseboat in Alleppey, watching elephants at Periyar, taking the toy train ride in Ooty, boating on Kodai lake, playing at Kovalam beach, etc.
When should one plan a road trip from Kerala to Tamil Nadu?
The best period would be October to March, when Kerala is greener and Tamil Nadu hill stations cooler than before monsoons. April to June is perfect for the hills (popular hill stations include Kodai and Ooty that turn into popular summer getaways).
Is the road trip in Kerala and Tamil Nadu safe?
Yes, the national and state highways in these states are well-maintained. However, for ghat roads, an experienced driver is required. GoRoute7 offers its services with drivers who have a ghat road driving experience as part of all their packages.
Could you please customise GoRoute7 Trivandrum to Ooty Package according to my requirements?
Certainly, GoRoute7 plans customized trips according to individual customer requirements. They provide packages based on your budget, preferred dates, group size, and other such factors. You can add stops in the package like Munnar, Varkala, Kanyakumari etc.
