The Journey from Mumbai to Tarkarli and Kolhapur

RoadTrip to Tarkarli - Malvan, and Kolhapur (Exploring Beautiful Beaches in Maharashtra) 
Shree Sai Mauli aropg Picnic
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Tarkarli is one of the famous tourist destinations situated on the west coast of India (Konkan Coastal lines), in Sindhudurg District (Malvan taluka) in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Tourists attract towards Malvan Tarkarli because of beautiful beaches, Fort, resort, food, water sports and many activities.

Kolhapur Tarkarli trip 

Malvan - Tarkarli trip vlog video link:
https://youtu.be/RPD00Uwly88

Kolhapur trip vlog video link:
https://youtu.be/qkckWSVMRHc

How to reach Tarkarli from Mumbai by train and road:

By Train: Tarkarli does not have a railway station but, It can be accessed from nearest railway stations i.e. Sindhudurg Railway Station (31km approx.), Sawantwadi (53km approx.), Kudal (32km approx.) and Kankavli (50km approx.) station by the Konkan Railway route. From station, hire a cab or take an auto to Tarkarli. Also you can travel by State Transport Buses from the station to Malvan.

By Road: The distance from Mumbai to Tarkarli is approximately 540 km. (via Mumbai Kolhapur). Tarkarli is easily accessible by road from Malvan by st bus and auto. MSRTC and other road transports provide connectivity from several towns across Maharashtra to Malvan also daily bus services available from various places in Mumbai and Goa to Malvan (via Mumbai Kolhapur and Mumbai Goa road).

Sindhudurg Fort, Malvan

Tourist attractions / things to do in Tarkarli / Places to visit in Tarkarli: (must visit place for the beach and nature lovers Located on the Konkan Coastline)

• Water Sports - Scuba Diving, Snorkeling can be enjoyed in Tarkarli.
• Parasailing - Fly high above the ground on a safety parachute and enjoy the beach and surrounding areas with a bird's eye view.
• Boat Ride - Boating Point & Water Sports point
• Beach - Tarkarli and other adjacent beaches, enjoying a picturesque beach environment. Tarkarli is among the most popular beaches in Maharashtra.
• Fort - Sindhudurg Fort at Malvan
• Shopping - Malvan Market
• Sightseeing - Enjoy sightseeing in and around Tarkarli.
• Dolphin Spotting
• Kunkeshwar Temple (A Shiva temple on the beach)
• Sea Facing Resort - Stay in a beach resort at Tarkarli

Sindhudurg Fort, Malvan

Kolhapur is a city and district in the Maharashtra state of India and it is located on the banks of the Panchaganga River, city situated in the south-west part of the state. Kolhapur is famous for tourist spot located in the city and nearby as well as for Kolhapuri cuisine, non-veg food recipes "Kolhapuri pandhara rassa, tambadaa rassa" and spices.

How to reach Kolhapur by train and road:

By train:

The city is served by Kolhapur railway station Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj T (It is a major railway station on Pune-Miraj-Kolhapur section of the Central Railway). It is well connected with almost all major cities in India by railroad, hence you can reach Kolhapur from anywhere in the country by travelling on a train. Mahalaxmi Express, Koyna Express and Sahyadri Express are daily running trains (belonging to Indian Railways) which connects Kolhapur to Mumbai via Pune in Maharashtra. The total journey between Mumbai and Kolhapur takes around 11 hours by train.

By Road:

Reaching Kolhapur by road is also a good option due to a well-maintained network of roads. The driving distance between Mumbai and Kolhapur is approximately 385 km and it is around 8 hours drive by road. State Road Transport and private operators operate daily buses (AC & nonAC) between Kolhapur and other major cities across Maharashtra (like Mumbai, Pune, Solapur etc.) and important cities in the neighbouring state.

Places to visit in Kolhapur and around:

• Temple - Mahalaxmi Temple, The famous Mahalakshmi temple is situated here (Goddess Mahalakshmi).
• New Palace - palace situated in Kolhapur, one of the top tourist attractions in Kolhapur having a small lake, museum, zoo.
• Rankala Lake.
• Fort - Panhala Fort
• Jyotiba temple
• Narsobawadi - Narasimhawadi (Narsobawadi or Narsobachi Wadi)-Narsobawadi gets its name from the presence of 'Shri Narasimha Saraswati', the Purna Avatar (incarnation) of the Lord Shree Dattatreya.
• Museum - Siddhagiri Gramjivan Wax Museum (Kaneri Math) at Kaneri, Kolhapur (Shri Kshetra Siddhagiri Math, Kaneri)

 

Palace, Kolhapur

Kolhapur Tarkarli Trip details

We went on the next road-trip to tarkarli (in December 2018) which is around 540 km from Mumbai via pune-kolhapur-malvan route.

Day 1: The journey to Kolhapur and Tarkarli began on Saturday night at 11:45 PM from Parel. (Mumbai) by 2×2 luxury bus.

Day 2: Around 9:30 in the morning, we reached Kolhapur.

In Kolhapur, we visited the following tourist attractions.

1.Siddhagiri Gramjivan Wax Museum (Kaneri Math)

2.New Palace Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj

3.Mahalakshmi Temple

4.Shopping in Kolhapur.

(Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Kolhapur.)

Day 3: At around 7 in the morning, We started our journey towards Tarkarli from Kolhapur. By 11:30 AM, we reached the next destination of our tour, a beach resort in Tarkarli.

Activities: We spent the most time of the day on Tarkarli beach, Scuba diving, Boating, outdoor games etc.

(Dinner and overnight stay at the Resort in Tarkarli.)

Day 4: we checked out of the hotel at 7:30 AM and after that, proceeded towards jetty to collect our ferry tickets and board the boat from the jetty for visiting Fort.

Ferry-boat ride to reach Sindhudurg fort. There are regular ferry services available between jetty and the Fort that would take you to and fro with nominal fare.

Sindhudurg fort, a beautiful place, surrounded by sea water.

Malvan Market - Shopping.

After lunch, we proceeded towards Kunkeshwar.

Visited Kunkeshwar Beach, the temple of Lord Shiva and had a peaceful Darshan.

After taking a darshan and visiting beautiful places, we started our return overnight journey towards Mumbai via Mumbai Goa Highway.

Day 5: We reached home safely in the morning around 9.

Kunkeshwar Beach

Details of expenses during the journey to Kolhapur and Tarkarli:

• Tour cost: 2999Rs pp (Including Bus, Accommodation, resort at Tarkarli and Kolhapur, lunch, dinner, breakfast)
• Siddhagiri Museum Kolhapur (Kaneri math) entry fees: 120Rs pp
• New Palace kolhapur entry fee: 35Rs pp
• Scuba diving At Tarkarli: 500Rs pp
• Ferry ticket from jetty to fort (Malvan): 90Rs pp
• Food and Refreshment during the journey:
• Shopping:

Tarkarli Beach

Best time to visit Tarkarli:

winter (October to February)

Trip Duration: 3 days (23-25 Dec, 2018)

Note- To get more details regarding traveling to Kolhapur and Tarkarli, you can take the help of internet (official website of railways and other transport) or travel guide.

Keep traveling because Every travel teaches you something new, create memories and connect to other cultures and people, which surely helps in your education as well.

Malvan, Tarkarli Beach

Tarkarli Beach

Malvan Jetty port Beach

Kaneri Math, Kolhapur

All of the images and videos on this travel blog were taken on J7 cam. 
Hopefully my blog is helping traveller in planning their tours... feel free to put QA comment if you need help planning a trip to Tarkarli.

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HAPPY JOURNEY

Mumbai Pune Mumbai Monsoon rail journey

Bhor Ghats in Monsoon - Experience one of the most beautiful train journey during monsoons. (Onboard Deccan express # Intercity express)

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Curves and Tunnels, The beauty of the Bhor Ghat rail-ways. Onboard Deccan Express

The Bhor Ghats in Monsoon (Bhor Ghat rail-ways...Mumbai – Pune rail trip). If you are a rail-fan as well as nature lover then you should plan for this trip as the journey through scenic rail-routes is every rail-fan’s ultimate dream. About Bhor Ghat, It is a mountain passage, situated between Palasdari/Khopoli and Khandala in Maharashtra. To experience the beauty of ghat, you can either take a long drive from Mumbai or opt for a train journey, both are equally beautiful as per my experience. As you might know, travel by the train is my favourite. For most of the time in rail journey, I enjoy moving scenery by looking outside of the window. If you are planning for Mumbai to Pune rail-trip, I would recommend you to prefer a train which runs during the daytime between Karjat and Lonavala, so as you will be able to view beauty of the Bhor Ghats and Monsoon season is recommended for this rail-trip as train travel through the ghats that offers lush green views and scenic waterfalls which makes it one of the most beautiful train journeys during Monsoons and being a railfan as well as a traveller this is one of the best things you can experience. There are many Intercity/Mail/Express/Passenger trains operated by Indian Railways that run between Mumbai and Pune Junction in India. I remember the first time I had travelled through Bhor Ghats was on 23rd, February 1993 from Kalyan to Bangalore in Udyan Express. It was really one of my memorable rail trips ever. This year, I travelled from Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai by intercity trains. Actually, I had gone to Pune to visit the MSRTC workshop and for attending a conference next day. Hence due to lack of time, I visited very few tourist places in Pune. Coming to my trip plan, In order to enjoy the journey more in the ghat section and to capture beautiful photographs in the morning, I decided to book tickets on the Deccan express to travel from Dadar to Pune as this train enters Bhor ghats in the morning hence I got chance to click beautiful snaps on Palasdari-Khandala-Lonavala stretch and In return journey (i.e. Pune to Mumbai), I booked tickets in Intercity superfast express so as to have an experience of a high-speed journey through LHB coaches and making the journey more comfortable as well.

The DECCAN EXPRESS and INTERCITY EXP are one of the most popular sets of intercity passenger trains meant for intercity travel between Mumbai and Pune, the cities of the Indian state of Maharashtra. These trains run by Indian Railways (under the Central Railway zone of IR) for commuters travelling between Mumbai CSMT and PUNE Junction. As per my tour plan, we travelled on the Deccan express while going and returned in Intercity.

(Note: Please go through the official website of Indian Railways for getting details about railway stations, reservations, train arrival and departure etc.)

The Beauty of Sahyadri Mountain range in Monsoons, as viewed from the train

Coming to my trip..... The day has come when I have to start the journey From Mumbai to Pune......It was a daytime journey of around 3-4 hours and there was a lot to see outside the window while onboard Deccan and Intercity exp.

Day 1: Early morning…I was pretty excited as I was going to travel in one of my favourite trains, the Deccan express, after a long time. I packed my bag and proceeded towards the Dadar railway station to board the train for Pune. I guess this may be the third train after Indrayani and Intercity that leaves Mumbai and takes you to Pune junction. That day, I reached the station quite early to check the position of my coach as I had a confirmed ticket and the seat allotted to me was in coach number D4. The train hauled by a WCAM electric loco, arrived on-time at Dadar station. I boarded the train, got into our coach and sat on the window side. The announcement was being made that the train is ready to depart from Dadar and after some time the pilot honked the horn. A memorable journey was about to begin. The train slowly started moving from the platform and the journey towards Pune began. We left Dadar at 07:15 am and after crossing Sion, train picked up a good speed to cross upcoming stations. Our coach was empty at Dadar but got filled up heavily at Thane and Kalyan junction. Many EMU locals and mail/express long-distance trains crossed us in the journey. We left Kalyan as per scheduled departure and picked up more speed, I guess train was running at 100-105 km/h. We were heading towards next station Karjat. Our train arrived at Karjat railway station around 8:57 am. At Karjat, the train gets attached two or three banker locomotives that temporarily assist a train that requires additional power to climb a gradient i.e. to push and balance the train in the ghat section between Karjat and Lonavala. Mostly all trains halt here for attaching banker locomotives. Karjat is well known for its famous cuisine, Vada-Pav. You can get it everywhere at Karjat railway station. After departing from Karjat, now it was time to enjoy the Ghats from there on till Lonavala. Lonavala is amongst the best places to visit during monsoon in Maharashtra. If you are living in Mumbai and if you wish to visit one of the best places during the rainy season, I would recommend you to visit this place when the monsoon sets in. It is a famous hill station surrounded by green valleys and there are many things to do in Lonavala like sightseeing, trekking, camping and adventure activities etc.

Onboard Deccan Express, Bhor Ghat

The train started journey up the ghats to reach Lonavala and passed through magnificent scenic spots filled with full of hills, lush forests, mountains, valleys, tunnels etc. Near Khandala, train passed through one of the longest tunnels on the same route. The scenery viewed from the train was just amazing and the climate was awesome. On both sides, we can also view beautiful waterfalls along the route. That’s why I would suggest you undertake a journey during the monsoons. You can see some of the photos I captured through my camera during the entire trip. Throughout the ghats, speed was normal, probably due to the gradient and the curves. Around 9:50am we reached Lonavala, a popular hill station in Pune district. Most of Southbound mail/express trains passing between Karjat and Pune have a major stop at Lonavala. Banker locomotives, which were attached at Karjat, were detached here. In the train, We purchased some Chikki which is famous in Lonavala. There are different varieties of chikki which are packaged and sold to train travelers between Pune and Mumbai. Also, there are many chikki shops in Lonavala so you can buy it anywhere in Lonavala.

Dark clouds, Mountain and Greenery as viewed from the train in Bhor Ghat. We can see, hills and mountains got carpeted with lush greenery

Train rapidly picked up speed after departing from Lonavala. I observed that the railway line and Pune expressway are in parallel to one another for some distance and we could see the race between some vehicles and our train. Max Permissible Speed has been defined for rail-routes i.e. The highest speed permitted for a train in a particular section hence I think speed was being maintained at MPS, except speed restrictions. The next halt was at Talegaon, which is situated on highest altitude between Mumbai and Pune as per info on the internet. Train was running at good MPS speed to reach the destination. Around 11 am, we reached Pune railway station. I enjoyed the entire journey i.e. travel along the scenic mountains of Western Ghats, a breathtaking view of lush valleys, green hills, beautiful waterfalls, picturesque villages, woody forests, long tunnels etc. You will find full of greenery everywhere. After reaching Pune, I proceeded to my work and other activities.

Onboard Deccan Express, Indrayani River, Kamshet....river comes close to the line

Day 2: The return journey was by Pune-Mumbai Intercity express. After local sightseeing and shopping in Pune, I took an auto and proceeded towards Pune railway station to board the train for Mumbai. Around 5 pm, I reached Pune railway station. In return journey, I purposely selected Intercity express so as to travel in LHB coaches, for enjoying high speed as well as a comfortable journey from Pune to Mumbai. The rake of Intercity was waiting for departure from platform no. 2. Mumbai Pune Mumbai Intercity Express is a superfast express train belonging to Indian Railways that runs between Mumbai CSMT and Pune Junction in India. This express train presently has advanced LHB coaches for safety and speed and It is hauled by AC-DC WCAM series of electric locomotive, occasionally hauled by pure AC locomotives as well. 

During my trip, at around 5:30pm, the WCAM3 loco arrived from Pune loco trip shed and got attached to the rake of the intercity ex. Another beautiful journey was about to begin. The horn was being blown by the loco-pilot for alerting the passengers that the train is ready to depart and after a couple of minutes, We departed from Pune as per schedule of departure and the journey towards Mumbai started. After crossing Shivajinagar, train accelerated rapidly. I ordered a sandwich for evening snacks. We reached the next station, Lonavala at 06:45pm.

Onboard Intercity express, Bhor Ghat

Train departed from Lonavala and started moving slowly towards Karjat through Bhor ghat. We slow down near Khandala, might be for brake testing halt. Throughout the ghat, speed was normal with unofficial halts due to signal clearance. In the ghat, our train was running parallel with one freight train. The race between passenger and freight train was really amazing. It seemed like both the trains were trying to overtake each other. Actually, It was not the race, both the trains were running in the same direction on parallel tracks by following their signals on the route. I was enjoying parallel action between the two trains in Bhor Ghat but due to this situation, I could not take photos as that side of the train was blanked by the rake of the Freight train and clouds were everywhere hence, I could not get a good view of the scenery. Finally, we overtook the freight train before Palasdhari. But again I could not take photos of the scenery outside because of the darkness. As soon as we left Karjat, the train accelerated and ran at good speed till the next scheduled halt, Thane. One thing I have observed, the acceleration of electric loco is superb. 
I got enriched by viewing beautiful scenery throughout the journey. Around 08:38pm, I reached Dadar railway station and from there, i booked the cab and reached home safely by 9pm. The overall experience of the journey was excellent.

The Ganesh temple in Saras Baug, Pune

Pune is one of the largest cities in the Indian state of Maharashtra and it is well connected to almost all major cities across India by mode of Air, Road and Rail transport. Pune Junction is one of the major railway stations in Maharashtra. Also, there are some major bus stands like Pune station (near railway station), Swargate and Shivajinagar that connect Pune to several locations across Maharashtra as well as neighboring states. From outside the Pune railway station, visitors can also hire a taxi, cab or auto to reach anywhere in the city. 
By plane (Pune Airport): The city is well connected to other major cities of India and abroad with the help of airways. 
There are various types of tourist attractions in Pune like Museums, Forts, Temples, Palace, Parks, Hill stations, Wildlife Sanctuary, Shopping Markets etc.
The following are the places I visited during my trip to Pune.
Saras Baug: A well-maintained place having a picturesque garden and a beautiful temple of Lord Ganesh Ji (known as Talyatla Ganpati). The temple has a large garden around it. It is a perfect place to spend time with family and friends. There are many food stalls available in the vicinity of the Park so as to enjoy a variety of food. Pune railway station to Saras Baug approximate distance is 6 Kms and it takes about 20 minutes by cab from station.
Dagadusheth halwai Ganpati temple: It is one of the most famous Ganpati temples in India.
Approximate distance of Dagadusheth halwai Ganpati temple from Pune railway station is 4 Km.
Tulsi Baug Market: One of the famous shopping places in Pune which is at walking distance of about 4-5 minutes from Dagdusheth halwai Ganpati temple.

Peshwe Energy Park, near Saras Baug, Pune

Details of expenses during the journey:

• Train Reservation ticket from Mumbai to Pune (DECCAN EXPRESS): 90Rs (second sitting)
• Train Reservation ticket from Pune to Dadar (INTERCITY EXP): 100Rs (second sitting)
• Karjat Vadapav: 10Rs pp
• Tea / Coffee in train: 10RS (X4 times)
• Water Bottle: 10RS (X6 bottles)
• Lonavala chikki: 50Rs (X3 packets)
• Taxi (Cab) from Pune railway station to Saras Baug, Pune: 140Rs
• Auto from Saras Baug, Pune to Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple: 30Rs
• Auto from Tulshibaug shopping market to Pune railway station: 70Rs
• Food and refreshment during the journey: 400Rs
• Accommodation Charges: As per duration of the trip.

Tulshi Baug Ganpati, Tulsi Baug, Pune

Onboard Deccan express, Bhor Ghat....Chocolate liveried WCAM2 in charge of Mumbai Pune ride

Deccan express entering the tunnel, Bhor Ghat

Mountain range as viewed from the train

Monsoon clouds over the hill-top as viewed from the train

It offers beautiful views of lush green hills, as viewed from the train

Link passing through the valley, as viewed from the train

Places in Ghats are noted for its surroundings comprising lush green hills and scenic waterfalls.

Curves and back to back Tunnels, Beauty of the Bhor Ghats

Lush green hills, Pleasant climate, Bhor Ghat, Khandala

Beautiful Place surrounded by Mountains and Picturesque Valleys

Train entering the Tunnel, Bhor Ghat

Deccan exp approaching Karjat, Twin WCAM3 bankers are awaiting the signal to get attached to the train for banking duties in Bhor Ghat.

Saras Baug, Pune

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The Journey from Mumbai to Kanyakumari (Kanniyakumari) and Kochi (Cochin)

Journey from Mumbai to Kanyakumari (Kanniyakumari) and Kerala - Kochi (Cochin)

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          During my earlier tour to Kerala, we had planned to cover Kanyakumari as well after visiting Thiruvananthapuram, but due to lack of time, we were not able to visit Kanyakumari. So this time, we planned a separate tour from Mumbai to Kanyakumari. Of all the mode of travel, travelling by train is my favourite; We travelled to Kanyakumari on the premium train via Ernakulam (through Konkan) so as along with the coastal route, we can also enjoy the beautiful Konkan rail route and making such a long journey more enjoyable as well as comfortable due to high speed LHB coaches. Since It is a long journey, We divided our Rail-journey into two parts; In the first part of our journey towards Kanyakumari, we travelled from Mumbai to Ernakulam in my favourite Duronto express and the second was, travelled from Ernakulam to Kanyakumari on the Island express i.e. remaining distance towards Kanyakumari covered by another train.

Kanyakumari (also known as Kanniyakumari) is a coastal town and is a popular tourist destination in Kanyakumari district, in the state of Tamil Nadu, on the southernmost point of the India and is located at the confluence (meeting point of) of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. The famous beach of Kanyakumari, where you can experience a beautiful view of the sunrise and sunset over the sea waters. Best season to visit Kanyakumari would be between September and February.

Places of attraction: Below mentioned places are the most popular places in Kanyakumari and are major tourist attractions of India. (We visited all these places in my tour to Kanyakumari)

• Vivekananda Rock Memorial - Vivekananda Rock Memorial is monument in Kanyakumari, located approx.  hundred meters from the shore and is one of the major tourist attractions in Kanniyakumari. There are regular ferry services available between jetty and the rock.
• Thiruvalluvar Statue - The memorial statue (133 feet tall statue) of Saint Poet Thiruvalluvar is in Kanniyakumari.
• Kanyakumari Temple - Name of the place from the goddess Devi Kanya Kumari
• Sunset at Kanyakumari – You can capture a picture of the moon-rise and the sunset in the same sky at same time.
• Beautiful view of the Sunrise with Thiruvalluvar Statue and Vivekananda rock in the foreground
• Light House, Kanyakumari

How to reach Kanyakumari from Mumbai (How to go from Mumbai to Kanyakumari): The nearest city is Thiruvanathapuram (96km) and the nearest town is Nagercoil.

By Rail-Ways: Kanyakumari is well connected by rail-roads with almost all major cities across India.

Option 1 (our choice) – Mumbai to Ernakulam by superfast Duronto express that departs from Mumbai LTT at 8.50PM (20:50) and reaches Ernakulam Junction around 5.50PM next day (17:50). (overnight stay at hotel in Ernakulam). Next day, board another train for Kanyakumari from Ernakulam town i.e. Bangalore - Kanyakumari Island express from Ernakulam town railway station at 7:35 in morning and Arrives Kanyakumari at 15:20.

Option 2 – You can board the train from Vasai road (3:10) or Panvel - New Mumbai (@4:25) whichever feels comfortable and proceed towards Thiruvananthapuram Central (Trivandrum) by Hazrat Nizamuddin - Thiruvananthapuram Central Rajdhani Express.  (Note: Please check details of train arrival and departure timetable on the official website of railway). Arrives Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station at 4:55. From there you can hire a taxi to Kanyakumari or travel by bus. Buses are frequently available from Thiruvananthapuram bus station. (Approximate distance of Kanyakurmari from Thiruvananthapuram station is 95Kms- 2.5hrs journey) or you can also board another train from Thiruvananthapuram to Kanyakumari like Dibrugarh - Kanniyakumari Vivek Express which departs from Thiruvananthapuram Central at 7:10 in the morning and reaches Kanyakumari at around 9:50.

Option 3 - Mumbai CSMT to Kanniyakumari Jayanti Janata Express is well connected and direct train between Mumbai and Kanyamukari. (It departs from Mumbai CSMT at 15:45 and Arrives Kanniyakumari at 12:35 on 3^rd day of the journey). Another option is you can board Mumbai Nagercoil Express. Nagercoil to Kanyakumari approximate distance is 20Kms by road (half an hour journey).
Note: Railways timetable, schedule arrival and departure, reservation-availability of seats, the routes, PNR status etc can be checked on the official site of railway or other online recognized services.

By Road: You can enjoy a long drive by driving or hiring a car from the nearby cities like Trivandrum to Kanyakumari.

By Air: This is a better option if you want to avoid more than 24hrs journey by train also it is more comfortable and faster. The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), in the neighbouring state, Kerala; Approx. 95 Kms, from Thiruvananthapuram, from there you can travel by train, bus or taxi to reach Kanyakumari. It takes approx. 2-3 hours to reach Kanyakumari from Thiruvananthapuram.

Beautiful view of the Sunrise with Thiruvalluvar Statue and Vivekananda rock in the foreground

Details about my tour plan and experience of my journey to Kanyakumari :

Since travelling from Mumbai to Kanyakumari is a long journey, we divided our journey towards Kanyakumari into two parts, First from Mumbai LTT to Ernakulam Junction in Duronto express and second is from Ernakulam Town to Kanyakumari by Island express. The same way we followed during our return journey from Kanyakumari to Mumbai via Ernakulam by Himsagar and Duronto express trains. This is the 2nd time, I travelled through the Konkan Railway from Mumbai (Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-LTT) to Kerala on the Duronto express, one of the most popular rail routes in India. Making a train journey through the scenic Konkan Railway is every Indian rail-fan’s dream. If you are a fan of railway and if you really want to enjoy the beauty of Konkan and enjoy travel along the scenic mountains of the Western Ghats and beautiful coasts, then you should plan for this trip. This is for all rail-fans as well as nature lovers, I would suggest you travel by trains which run during the daytime like Duronto or TVC Rajdhani express etc, so as you will be able to view the beauty of Konkan railway in the daytime also, these are the fastest trains, so your travel time can be maintained.  
Coming to my tour, 
Day 1: On the first day of my tour… We packed our luggage, had dinner at home and booked a taxi to reach the railway station. Around 8.30pm, We boarded the train from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Mumbai and the journey began. We travelled on the Duronto express that departs from LTT at 20:50 and reaches Ernakulam Junction next day at around 17:50. Duronto is one of my favourite trains due to the features of a comfortable and high-speed journey. This train passes through 4 states in India namely Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. It takes around 21 hours to finish the entire journey from Mumbai LTT to Ernakulam via Konkan and South rail route. (Note: you can get details about train timetable/schedule on the official website of railway/railway enquiry system-helpline). 

Kanyakumari sea view from Vivekananda Rock Memorial

Day 2: After taking an overnight journey, when I woke up, it was around 6 am and the train was entering the Madgaon Junction railway station. As usual, my train was running on the right time. During the daytime, I got the chance to click some beautiful snaps. We were served morning and evening breakfast and lunch in train at regular interval. Around 6pm, we reached Ernakulam Junction in Kerala. There is an auto-rickshaw stand just outside the railway station where visitors can hire an auto to get to the venue. After reaching there, we proceeded to check into our hotel in Ernakulam by taking an Auto rickshaw. Since, I had booked a hotel near the railway station (within walkable distance), the journey from railway station to the hotel was over within minutes and the next day in the morning, we could reach station early on time to board another train to start our journey towards Kanyakumari. (Accommodation- Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Ernakulam).

The Chinese fishing nets, Fort Cochin

Day 3: We woke up early in the morning, and after freshening up, we checked out of the hotel at 6:30 and after that, proceeded towards the Ernakulam town railway station to board the train for Kanyakumari. We reached the station with our luggage quite early and had our breakfast at railway canteen. Our train arrived on-time at Ernakulam. We boarded the train (Island Express) for Kanyakumari from Ernakulam town railway station at 7:35AM and occupied our berths in 3-tier AC Sleeper class compartment. I sat at the window side and enjoyed the scenery all along. The train passed through few short tunnels in the ghat section near Kanyakumari. Our journey from Ernakulam to Kanyakumari was more enjoyable. After such a long journey from hometown, at last, around 3.15 pm, we reached our destination, the Kanyakumari Railway Station. Upon arrival at the station, we booked a taxi and proceeded to check into our hotel which was very close to the beach of Kanyakumari. Quickly we freshened up, had our lunch in the nearby restaurant and after taking a short break, we commenced our sightseeing tour in Kanyakumari. First, we headed for Sunset Point and after that we went to Triveni Sangam, a beach where you witness the confluence of three oceans (Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea). After sightseeing, we started walking towards our hotel. We had our dinner early and retired for the night since we were tired from the long journey. Next day we planned to watch the Sun-rise.

Thiruvalluvar Statue and Vivekananda rock, Kanyakumari

Day 4: Next day morning, we freshened up to head out for sight-seeing. We had our breakfast at beach-side restaurant and walked to board the boat from the jetty for visiting the Vivekananda rock memorial, which is a popular tourist monument in Kanyakumari. There is Ferry service available from the jetty that would take you to and fro with nominal fare (There are two types of queue; a normal and express queue which are eventually merged into the same ferry). In a boat, we were provided safety jackets, that everyone has to take and you have to return those when you are getting down. I fully enjoyed each and every moment I spent at the rock and ferry ride as well. View of shore from the rock-island was really breathtaking. It is a beautiful place, surrounded by sea water. After spending some time, we returned back to the main jetty on the ferry. Quickly we finished our lunch by 1pm, checked out from the hotel and headed towards Kanyakumari Railway Station to board the train for Ernakulam. At the station, wait for our train was a bit longer than expected. The train arrived about an hour late at Kanyakumari. At 3pm, we boarded the Himsagar Express for Ernakulam, Kerala and started our return journey from Kanyakumari. Around 9 pm, we reached the Ernakulam Town railway station. Next plan of our tour was sightseeing and shopping in Kochi.
It was my second visit to Kochi; the first one was in 2013. We checked in at one of the hotels near the station for a stay. (Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Ernakulam as per our tour plan.) 

Kanyakumari, Ferry Boat to Memorial 

Day 5: Coming to the 5th day of our Kerala Kanyakumari tour. That day, we woke up a little late in the morning as we slept late last night. We had our breakfast at a nearby restaurant and left for sightseeing in Kochi. That day we had planned to roam about in the city and shopping. 
The Chinese fishing nets, Fort Cochin – This is one of my favourite places in Cochin. We were lucky to see the Chinese fishing net operations and capturing fishes. There is a fish market where you can choose and buy fresh fish from the market itself and have it cooked by one of the restaurants nearby. There are many food restaurants available near the market, which offer quality food and are hygienic. We spent the evening on a private boat and Marine drive.
Cherai Beach (Vypeen Island) – One of the most visited beaches, a short journey by ferry/boat from Fort Cochin takes you to Vypeen Island. Ernakulam to Vypeen boat service available. (Approx. 15 mins travel).
Mattancherry Palace - You can take a boat to reach the Mattanchery boat jetty. (by boat, 20 mins)
Cochin shipyard
You can also plan to visit Athirapally waterfall – situated in Athirappilly, Thrissur district of Kerala. In monsoon season, this waterfall appears like The Niagara falls. The Distance of Athirappilly water falls from Cochin (Ernakulam) is approx. 60Km might be one and a half hr journey from Ernakulam.

Ferry from Ernakulam boat jetty

Day 6: After breakfast, we took an auto and went to the Ernakulam jetty-boat station for ferry service. There we bought our tickets and enjoyed a ride on the ferry from Ernakulam jetty to Fort Kochi and other places. Ernakulam to Fort Kochi, journey by boat will take around 20 mins. From there, you can also see the arrival and departure of big ships/large vessels from Cochin port i.e. boats going in or out of the harbour. There are frequent ferry services available from the Ernakulam Jetty. We spent the most time of the day in the market and beach area of the Fort Kochi and shopping over there. 
After local sightseeing and shopping in Ernakulam, we came back to our hotel, took some rest & checked out of the hotel at 8 pm and headed towards the Ernakulam railway station which was at walking distance from our hotel. Before that, we had our dinner at a good restaurant near the station and then moved to the station. As soon as I reached the station, I noticed that the rake of our train was waiting for departure from pf 1 of Ernakulam and the coach positions were being displayed on indicators to locate the right coach. Around 9:30 pm, We boarded the Duronto express from Ernakulam Junction and started our return journey towards Mumbai. 

Kanyakumari

Day 7: After completing part of the overnight journey from Ernakulam, when I woke up, it was around 8:40 am and train was just entering the Madgaon Junction railway station. It was time to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the Konkan coast in the daytime. The journey from Mumbai LTT was in the night so I could not see the Konkan rail-route till Kudal but while returning back, I ensured to travel during the day-time so as we did not miss experiencing the entire journey through the Konkan. The train entered into Konkan rail region and passed through many tunnels. We observed alternative tunnels and bridges at many places. The incomparable natural beauty of the coast and greenery can be experienced on this route. I enjoyed train travels along the scenic mountains of Western Ghats, beautiful coasts, picturesque villages, bridges and long tunnels which are the highlight of the journey. I was enriched by viewing beautiful sceneries along the rail-route. We were served morning and evening breakfast and lunch in the train at regular interval also we were provided bedsheet, pillow and blanket due to AC coach. 
Around 6:15 pm, we reached Lokmanya Tilak Terminal in Mumbai. I had already booked a cab through the online app, and our driver was waiting to take us home. By 7 pm, We reached home safely. It was indeed a very amazing and informative tour.

Kanyakumari

Details of expenses during my journey to Kerala and Kanyakumari:

• Train reservation ticket (Mumbai to Ernakulam by Duronto 2nd AC two tier ): Rs. 4000/- pp (including return journey fare from Ernakulam to Mumbai)
• Train ticket (Ernakulam to Kanniyakumari by Island express 3rd AC): Rs. 1010/- pp (including return journey fare of Himsagar express from Kanniyakumari to Ernakulam town)
• Note: Please check the official site of Indian Railways to get updated details about ticket fare, train arrival and departure schedule, seat availability etc.
• Taxi from Kanyakumari railway station to the hotel: Rs. 100/-
• Taxi from hotel to Kanyakumari railway station: Rs. 100/-
• Auto in Erankulam: Rs. 200/-
• Ferry ticket in Ernakulam and Kanyakumari:
• Tourist Entry fee in Kanyakumari:
• Food and Refreshment during the journey:
• Shopping:
• Accommodation:

Photographs

Vivekananda Rock Memorial

Kanniyakumari tourist map

I would be delighted to answer your travelling related questions; you leave in comment section of the blog. You can also leave a comment to suggest where I should plan to travel next.

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Happy Journey