Bekal is a small town in Kasaragod district on the West coast of the state of Kerala, India. Its calm, quiet, walking distance from the beach, not a destination which is usually crowded with travellers. So we thought why not explore it out as a weekend trip to bekal.
The post How to plan a road trip to Kodaikanal from Bangalore appeared first on RoverTales.
]]>Little about Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal is the crown of the Palani Hills in the western ghat section and is surrounded and protected by dense forests at 7200 feet above the sea level. It is a small city in the hills of the Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu, India.
Kodaikanal’s name in the Tamil language means “The Gift of the Forest”. It is also referred to as the “Queen of Hill stations” and has a long history as a retreat and popular tourist destination. It’s a town where all the places of interest are within a radius of 15 km approximately, making it easy to navigate.
Our Stay in Kodaikanal
We all wanted to stay together and had fun, so for accommodation this time, I used Airbnb and booked a cozy 3BHK home for 3 nights to the telescope house in Kodaikanal.
Day 1
Journey to Kodaikanal
As usual, we plan to leave early on Friday morning. Hardik & Sneha has booked a Bajaj Avenger for this trip from the wicked ride (Bike rental company). We heard that it’s raining and pretty cold weather in Kodaikanal during October. I cross-checked the weather for the next 5 days in Kodaikanal to plan accordingly and not overpack things.
“Most important thing while you plan a road trip is packing things very smartly, don’t overpack things but don’t forget about taking the necessary items.”
What to pack for a trip to Kodaikanal?
- Depending on the weather, you should pack for the trip, but it’s best to wear layered clothing that you can remove or put on in response to the weather. Be sure to carry a jacket for cold nights & carry an umbrella or a waterproof jacket for unannounced rain.
- Pack some extra pairs of socks and shoes, as it’s a hilly area and not advisable to wear slippers while riding.
- Also, take a mobile cover to save it from the rain.
- Don’t forget to carry some creams with you. This will help you to stay moisturized and avoid dry lips and skin.
As per the plan, we wanted to start our road trip to Kodaikanal from Bangalore at around 2:30 am, but we were 1 hour late due to late last night’s sleep. It is always a good idea to leave early to avoid city traffic near Electronic city. For now, the sky looked clean, and we were all geared up. For my friends, it will be a new experience. We kick-started our journey and followed the route map. Bangalore’s distance to Kodaikanal is 465 km (tell you guys a secret, my friends did not know about the total distance).
(Bangalore – Hosur – Dharmapuri – Salem – Dindigul – Batladundu – Kodaikanal)
Our first pit stop was Hotel Anapurna after Krishnagiri for our tea and breakfast. It’s a pocket-friendly place with good hygienic tasty food. We had excellent coffee and Dosa. Also, there is a small park beside this hotel.
Our next tea break was in Dindigul. We had some tea & stretched our back. I made some phone calls to confirm my accommodation. Also called Madhan but came to know he got stuck due to some family emergency. Till here, the roads are national highways with majorly buses, trucks, and local cars.
From Dindigul to Kodaikanal, it’s only 90 Km, and we were on time. It’s a forest area from here, and after 30 Km from here, it’s an uphill journey (inclination of 60 degrees). Also, all this 90 Km is a 2 lane state highway. Before starting the ghat section, there is a police check post where they do check for your details, drink, and drive as the ghat roads are pretty narrow and steep with many 21 hairpins and blind turns.
“It’s advisable to climb any ghat section before the sundown to avoid any kind of surprises. So plan your trip accordingly.”
Moving forward, the trees on both sides created a canopy to ride through the ghat section. The road is in excellent condition. The ghat section welcomes us with pleasant weather.
Maruthanathi Dam in Dindigul
All the tiredness of the journey just vanished after we saw the spectacular view of Maruthanathi Dam. It’s only 10 Km from Batladundu in Dindigul. Since we visited just after the monsoon season, Maruthanathi Dam was full of water. We clicked some nice pictures from the Maruthanathi Dam viewpoint, and rested there for a few mins, soaked all the pure oxygen, and started for Kodaikanal.
Our next stop was Silver cascade waterfalls
Silver Cascade is a tiny waterfall near Kodaikanal. The location was fully crowded and had a good amount of traffic due to people flocking around and cars stopping just to take a picture without parking the vehicles on the side. As this place is on the way to Kodaikanal people, try to cover it before reaching Kodaikanal. There are good street foods around like bhaji and other stuff. We enjoyed hot bhajis and some tea, much needed in this weather. It’s already started drizzling by now, so the rain jacket is out now.
The next stop to our accommodation. There are lots of resorts, hotels, and homestays in Kodaikanal. So if you don’t book and just come to Kodaikanal, you won’t be disappointed but no assurance on the stay quality. I would recommend booking your stay from any of the travel portals.
We reached Deepak’s place around 3:30 pm. We took the keys from the caretaker lady and entered the house. It was nice and clean. All the rooms had pillows, bed sheets, blankets, towels, heaters. The best part about the house was all the 3 rooms are different levels. There are a working fireplace and swing in the living area. The kitchen had all the amenities, and even utensils were available to cook food. We asked the caretaker to arrange some firewoods, which costs an additional INR 500.
All in all, it’s a great place to stay if someone is seeking for quiet and isolated accommodation and traveling with friends.
While Sneha and my wife went to freshen-up, Hardik and I went out to buy some food, snacks for the evening, and the next day’s breakfast (Food can be arranged by the caretaker if informed well in advance). We didn’t go out for sightseeing that particular day. I just went to the Kodaikanal market, which is near to Kodaikanal Lake, hardly 1 Km from our stay. In the evening, we chit-chat in our living room and lit up the fireplace. It was nice and cozy, but it was still raining outside. We order our dinner well in advance as it’s a tiny town; people close the restaurant well in advance.
Day 2
We had a nice sleep, and the next morning we woke up with a surprise that it was still raining. We had our breakfast, which we prepared, and by now, the sun has appeared, and it is past 10 now. So for the day, we planned to visit 4 of the places, at least.
Guna Caves
The Devil’s Kitchen in Kodaikanal
Guna Caves are also known as The Devil’s Kitchen. As per Hindu mythology, it is believed that Pandavas used to cook their meals in these caves. Later on, the name changed as the film Guna was shot here. We cannot visit the caves anymore since they have been jailed for people’s safety. But we felt worth visiting this place.
And the raindrops started again, and we all got thoroughly soaked. So we head to a nearby snack place to have some of the hot mushroom pakoras, fresh masala chai, and other mushroom snacks.
Timings: 08:00 am to 06:00 pm
As the rain was not stopping, we had no other options, and we headed back to the accommodation. On the way back, we packed some Kodaikanal Biryani from Hotel Imran. It’s a small place but prepares excellent Biryani wrapped in Banana leaf.
In the evening, we shared some fun stories and had a lot of fun sitting in the fireplace’s living room. We also planned all the places to see the next day.
For dinner, we asked the caretaker to prepare chicken for us well in advance. And the nice lady also prepared fish along with the chicken for us. It was delicious. We bought some chapati from outside for dinner. We slept early so that we could get up early and go out.
Day 3
We woke up early and had our breakfast ready. But it started raining again. We don’t have any other option, rather than waiting. So we started roaming in the garden.
“Kodaikanal witnesses its rainfall any time of the day, so be prepared.”
The rain has stopped now. Without wasting any more time, we took our bag and rain jacket left.
As per the above map, which we prepared last night, our first stop was the Echo point covering the Dolphin Nose in Kodaikanal. We were excited. I carried an extra battery pack for my camera, though my Procus Action Camera was giving little issue.
Dolphin Nose View Point in Kodaikanal
This viewpoint is among one of the best places to visit in Kodaikanal. Dolphin Nose viewpoint is a flat rock, which is approx. 6600 ft. above the sea level that resembles the shape of a Dolphin’s nose.
This place has very steep flat rocks and tends to be slippery in some areas. We walked for 20 to 30 mins to reach the viewpoint. Due to the fog, we weren’t able to spot any mountain. And the cool breeze made the place very serene. There are juice shops along the trail to offer resting places.
Echo point in Kodaikanal
As the name resembles, this place is famous for the natural echo process where we can hear back the voice when we shout. This place is always a paradise for travellers. The echo rock point is just 1 km after the Dolphin Nose viewpoint. This path is narrower than earlier trails and surrounded by more trees. But the place has a breathtaking view around.
Vattakanal Falls Kodaikanal
The distance between Kodaikanal town to Vattakanal falls in only 3 km. This place is one of the main attraction points in Kodaikanal, also be careful with the rock as they are very slippery. It’s a calm and quiet place to relax. We saw people taking a bath in the waterfall as there is no restriction yet. If you have any doubt, don’t hesitate to ask any local about this place.
“There’s no better place to find yourself than sitting by a waterfall and listening to its music“
Roland R Kemler.
Liril Falls Kodaikanal
This waterfall is only 4 km from Kodaikanal town. It’s surrounded by lush greenery, and this place is famous for camping. Originally this place is known as Pambar falls as the water comes down from the Pambar river and drops to 40 feet approx. On uneven steps. This place got its name Liril falls because a lot of advertisement for famous Liril soap was shot here. This place was not far from Vattakanal falls.
Wax Museum in Kodaikanal
Wax museum is 4 km from the Kodaikanal main town. The place doesn’t have many statues, and it is maintained very badly. It didn’t take much time to explore the whole place as we were also in a hurry to go to Pillar rocks.
Pillar Rocks at Kodaikanal
This is one of the best places to visit in Kodaikanal. It’s about 7 km west of Kodaikanal town, known for the three strange rock formations that look like a tall pillar. These three massive rock pillars stand shoulder to shoulder, become visible in the absence of Fog and clouds 400 ft high in the sky, and we could even see the Devil’s Kitchen from a distance. It’s located in between two of the pillars. As Pillar Rocks one of the popular attraction points, there are many monkeys to be careful.
Upper Lake View Kodaikanal
Next was the visit to the Upper lake view, which is located 3 km away from the Kodaikanal town on the Solar Observatory Road and upper lake road. The star-shaped Kodaikanal Lake with a sharp contrast of blue water surrounded by the green valley can be seen from here. There are lots of purple flowers in this location, and the view looks absolutely magnificent. Now we move toward our next stop, Kodaikanal Solar Observatory.
Kodaikanal Solar Observatory
The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory was established in 1899 as Solar Physics Observatory and owned by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore. The observatory is located 4 km from the Kodaikanal town. I heard that this is a great place full of fascinating stuff about space science unfortunately, the observatory was closed being a Sunday when we went.
Kodaikanal Lake
It’s almost evening, so our next stop is Kodaikanal lake, which is also known as Kodai Lake. Kodaikanal Lake is an artificial lake built by Britishers in 1863. This lake is planned at the height of 2285m above sea level and has a depth of 3.0m approx. It’s located near the bus stand, and it doesn’t take any effort to reach here. Activities like boating, horse riding, cycling, etc., which add more enjoyment and significance. There are many souvenir stalls nearby. There are no entry fees.
Kodaikanal Local Market
Kodaikanal local market is near the lake, and you get fresh fruits, spices, and vegetables. We wanted to visit the local market to buy some homemade local chocolates, aromatic oils, natural spices, and not forget avocado (also known as butter fruit). What you get here, you will not get anywhere else in the city!
And now it’s time for us to head back to our accommodation, as in the evening, the temperature decreases drastically, and local shops also close early, so we packed our dinner from the market itself. After reaching Airbnb accommodation, we lit up the fireplace. I was super tired from roaming all day, everybody wanted to sleep early.
Sharp at 7 AM, the alarms went off, we just ditched it to enjoy another hour’s sleep. We packed all our luggage and grabbed a bite (special mountain Maggie). By 9:00 am we were back on track. We bid goodbye to the beautiful Palani hills and slowly turned our wheels towards the 21 hairpin road that will lead us back to city life.
So how did you like our journey? Are you planning your trip to Kodaikanal anytime soon? Or do you want to share your Kodaikanal experience with me? Let us know your feedback by commenting below.
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Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Kodaikanal, or Ooty?
Both Ooty and Kodaikanal are famous hill stations. Ooty is at a higher altitude than Kodaikanal, and Ooty has more sightseeing places. But Kodaikanal has its own charm; it’s not very crowded and a pocket-friendly destination.
Which is the best time to visit Kodaikanal?
Kodaikanal is an all-season destination, but the ideal time is visiting during summer between March to June as the climate will be very pleasant. But if you like chilled winter with freshly brewed coffee, and cool do visit from October to January.
Do check out weather watch for updates on temperatures and rainfall to make for a good Kodaikanal trip any time of the year without a problem!
How many days do you need to see Kodaikanal?
To explore all the best tourist places in Kodaikanal, I suggest a minimum of 2 night’s stay. But to relax and experience everything, 3 nights is ideal.
What are the best places to visit in Kodaikanal?
The following are some of the best places to visit in Kodaikanal.
– Guna Caves (The Devil’s Kitchen)
– Pillar Rocks
– Echo Point
– Dolphin Nose View Point
– Vattakanal Falls
– Liril Falls (Pambar Falls)
– Bear Shola Falls
– Upper Lake View Point
– Kodaikanal Lake
– Kodaikanal Solar Observatory
– Kodaikanal Local Market
– Kodaikanal Chocolate Factory
– Kodaikanal Cheese Factory
– And more…
Which airport is near to Kodaikanal?
Madurai Airport is the closest airport to Kodaikanal. From Madurai to Kodaikanal, it’s about 116 Km approx…
How to reach Kodaikanal?
Kodaikanal is well connected to all the places. Either you rent a car or take any public transport (bus or train). If you are taking a train, you can get down at Kodai Road railway station and hire a cab. Overnight buses are also available to reach Kodaikanal.
What to pack for a trip to Kodaikanal?
As it’s a hill station, most of the time, the climate is cold, so plan clothes accordingly. Click here to know more.
What is famous for buying in Kodaikanal?
Homemade chocolates from the Kodaikanal chocolate factory, natural oils, and spices from Kodaikanal local market. You also try delicious cheese from Kodaikanal Cheese Factory.
The post How to plan a road trip to Kodaikanal from Bangalore appeared first on RoverTales.
]]>Why go for Bekal for a short trip?
I would say why not? Who wants to miss a chance to visit Kerala, and usually the unexplored areas?
I wanted to pick something different than the usual, someplace which is not very crowded, as I actually like the idea to travel like a local. But as it was a long weekend (Holi weekend) so obviously most of the hotels will run full. Then I searched for places to visit in Kerala and came to a fellow blogger’s page which introduced me to the majestical world of Bekal and had my heart set on to experience it.
This post is long and full of details, pin the image above to save it and read again later.
The first huddle – find accommodation.
This trip too was one of those unusual trips where we decided one day prior to the trip. Firstly we had to figure out our stay keeping in mind the simplicity as we wanted it to be a refreshing natural experience as most locals do.
We wanted accommodation which is close to the beach and has beds without bed bugs. For me, MakeMyTrip always gets a thumbs up for this, as I got the best deal available from any other travel website and I cross-checked the Hotel reviews from Tripadvisor. We finalized on Bekal Palace, its only 2.9 km from Bekal beach and there are lots of eating points nearby to the hotel so all set.
Next – our customised road map to Bekal.
Thanks to Google maps, we could add the exact route we followed on the map above. Google maps show its only 380 km via NH275, NH45, and NH65 in Kasargod. Like always our plan for starting the journey was fixed at 3 am to cross all the city roads before it greats crowded.
Roads are good and scenic too on both sides. But be careful as there are some blind turns without the curve mirrors and these roads cut through the forested hilly areas and run parallel to a river (I don’t remember the name of the river and will be more than happy if someone can help in the comments). I especially love the entry to Kerala border, it gives the impression that yes we are going to enter the God’s Own Country. It almost took 9.5 hours to reach our hotel including all my smoke breaks, breakfast break, etc. not so bad huh?
“My recommendation will be travelling via road, rather than taking a train or a flight otherwise you will miss all the beauty of nature, which can’t be explained in words. Road trips never fail to make the journey more exquisite. And yes, I keep telling this every time and in no mood to end it any sooner.”
Reached Bekal – what next?
Due to summer-time, it was hot, or should I say super-hot. We reached before 1:30 pm and entered the hotel, and placed ourselves on the couch at the hotel lobby. The hotel is easily accessible via road and Google map position is also exact. The gentleman at the reception offered us cold water while he finished all the formalities before check-in to the room.
The room is okay nothing extraordinary, a big comfy bed with the TV placed just in front to exploit us and working AC. We didn’t waste too much time and ordered a simple food from their menu and their service was quick enough, by the time we freshened up the food was ready. We were damn hungry and hogged all the food, it was tasty enough. We took a little nap before we could explore the beach as we were fully exhausted.
“A hot water bath and a good meal after a long journey can make you sleep like a baby. A nap after this is very important as this will re-energize your body and will rejuvenate you for the next round.”
As we had two days of holiday so we started the evening by exploring the near beach. It’s a nice & calm beach with almost no crowd, only locals, just the way I like. The beach also had a park for the kids to play and small eateries to indulge in the local cuisine. After spending some quality time there we came to the hotel, had food and slept off.
Next day- Exploration of nearby areas
The morning was a little lazy wake-up and left the hotel for breakfast. We tried Appam and Chicken curry from the local joint, it was amazing. There are several attractions in the areas and we planned to visit at least 3 to 4 nearby places and spend the rest of the day at the beach.
Places to visit in Bekal / Things to see in Bekal
- Bekal Fort: It was built almost 300 years ago in 1965, Bekal Fort is considered as one of the largest and most preserved forts in Kerala. In 1992 it’s declared as a special tourism area by the Government of India. It offers a mesmerizing view of the Arabian Sea from its high observation tower where once the cannons were placed. The keyhole-shaped Fort spread across 40 acres of land the beautiful walkway, the beach and the grand architecture of the Bekal Fort makes this place completely worthy of a visit.
This fort was featured in the famous A R Rahman song ‘ Tu hi re‘ reminded of my nostalgic childhood memories. We spent almost 2 hours in the fort. We entered the Bekal Fort and explored the interiors of the fort.
- Bekal Beach: The beach is spread over an area of 36 acres and it’s located near the Bekal Fort and maintained really well. The breathtaking view of the sea, the golden thick sand, dense palm trees, and the grand walls of the Bekal Fort makes it perfect for a picture. We took a nice long relaxing stroll across the beach and just enjoyed the sunset. The view of the beach from the top of the fort is breathtaking.
- Kappil Beach: This is one of the few beaches in India which still has expansive golden sand and clear blue waters of the Arabian Sea. Kappil beach is only 5 Km away from the fort and has a long sandy stretch of 5 Km which is apt for taking strolls across the coastline. This place has everything one can imagine from the sun, the sand, the clear sea lined by lush green coconut trees. The picture-perfect location of the beach is sure to mesmerize us. People lazed on the sand, enjoying a drink some are reading books. The sea usually has strong currents which the Arabian Sea famous for so we stayed out of the waters.
- Chandragiri Fort: One of the best places to visit near Bekal Fort, Chandragiri Fort was built in the seventeenth century by Siyappa Nayak of Bednore. It is perfectly situated on the banks of the Chandragiri River. What makes it a beautiful vantage point is its wonderful views to watch the sunset. It’s only 6 km from our hotel. We missed the sunset but heard about it from the locals.
- Valiyaparamba Backwaters: Someone told me once that if I want to go on a Bekal tour, I must include Valiyaparamba to my itinerary. It is a beautiful island situated in River Tejaswini and is widely known as one of the most picturesque backwater destinations in Bekal. It is also a fishing centre that adds to the beauty of the island. Many natural beauties such as a huge variety of seabirds, coconut lagoons are available there.
“I would suggest keeping a minimum an hour for enjoying each of these places if not more.”
And we ended our Bekal expedition like this for now until next time. We had dinner from the local joint. The next day we had the plan to come back to Bangalore. It took us almost 9 hours to reach, but that is thanks to minimal traffic.
And we ended our Bekal expedition like this for now until next time. We had dinner from the local joint. The next day we had the plan to come back to Bangalore. It took us almost 9 hours to reach, but that is thanks to minimal traffic.
Some more trip pictures
So this what our weekend trip to Bekal was. Browse through the gallery to glimpse the kaleidoscope of experiences and moments from our trip!
Vintage view from Bekal Fort
Landscaping from Bekal Fort
Landscaping from Bekal Fort
Vintage view from Bekal Fort
Sea view from the Bekal fort
Bekal Fort view from the beach
Keyhole shaped Fort
Mountains on the way to Bekal
View before Bekal
View while returning from Bekal
Open Bekal Road
View from Bekal Fort
View before Bekal
Frequently Asked Question
Best time to visit Bekal, Kasargod?
There are many hotels and homestay in Bekal at various price ranges starting from Rs.1000 per night. Check Airbnb, Makemytrip, and Booking.com for better rates.
Are there any places where the entrance charges are there?
- Bekal Fort: Entry 15, Timing 08:30 am to 05:00 pm
- Bekal Beach: Entry INR 10, Timing: 24 Hours
How many days required to visit Bekal?
A minimum of 2 – 3 days is required to see the best of Bekal.
Are there any places where the entrance charges are there?
- Bekal Fort: Entry 15, Timing 08:30 am to 05:00 pm
- Bekal Beach: Entry INR 10, Timing: 24 Hours
Is Bekal safe for solo travellers?
Bekal is a small village in Kasargod, Kerala which is absolutely safe for all kinds of tourists including solo female travellers.
How is the food in Bekal?
One can enjoy the authentic taste of South Kerala Cusine (Non-veg & Veg) with the sea and the backwaters as the backdrop.
What is the weather of Bekal?
The temperature in Bekal is quite high during the summers. It receives a decent amount of rainfall during monsoon and in winters, the weather of Bekal varies from a pleasant and mild cold. For more information and current weather of Bekal Click here
Research about the place before the journey
- Weather Updates on Bekal: AccuWeather
- Route Map from Bangalore to Bekal: Google Maps
- Local Attraction: TripAdvisor
The post Weekend Trip to Blissful Bekal in Gods Own Country appeared first on RoverTales.
]]>If you love to travel on your own like me. Then the opportunity of driving on International roads are something not to miss. Just rent your vehicle from a local renting shop near you. Yes, it’s that easy similarly like in India. But make sure the insurance of the vehicle is up to date, as safety comes first. And most importantly carry your International Driving Permit.
Probably now you are planning for a holiday abroad. And looking to explore on your own by hiring a vehicle? Worried as you don’t have an International Driving Permit (IDP). Don’t worry getting International Driving Permit is very easy similar to cracking a nut. You just need to know the right process.
There are several countries where we can simply drive with an Indian Driving License in addition to the IDP issued by the RTO. As most of the people will have an Indian Driving License (DL), and getting the International driving License is a hassle-free job now a days.
List of countries in which Indian Driving License is valid.
| The United States of America | Germany | Australia |
| France | South Africa | The United Kingdom |
| New Zealand | Switzerland | Mauritius |
| Norway | Italy | Canada |
| Austria | Malta | Hong Kong |
| Malaysia | Iceland | Finland |
| Singapore | Ireland | Sweden |
Hence, in above-mentioned countries, you can ride with a valid Indian Driving License for 6 to 12 months. Therefore no IDP is needed. (depending on countries please check for validity while making your plans).
So here is the list of the countries you can ride with Indian Driving License. In addition, with an International Driving Permit.
| Afghanistan | Algeria | Angola | Argentina |
| Armenia | Bahamas | Bahrain | Bangladesh |
| Belarus | Belize | Benin | Bhutan |
| Bolivia | Bosnia | Botswana | Brunei |
| Bulgaria | Burkina Faso | Cameroon | Cape Verde |
| Central African Republic | Chad | Chile | Colombia |
| Comoros | Congo | Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | Czech Republic |
| Djibouti | Dominica | Dominican Republic | Egypt |
| El Salvador | Equatorial Guinea | Eritrea | Ethiopia |
| Gabon | Gambia | Georgia | Ghana |
| Guadeloupe | Guam | Guatemala | Guinea Bissau |
| Guinea Republic | Guyana | Haiti | Honduras |
| Hungary | Indonesia | Iran | Israel |
| Japan | Jordan | Kazakhstan | Kenya |
| Kiribati | Korea (South) | Kuwait | Laos |
| Lebanon | Lesotho | Liberia | Libya |
| Macao (Macau) | Macedonia | Madagascar | Malawi |
| Malaysia | Mali | Mauritania | Mexico |
| Montenegro | Mozambique | Myanmar (Burma) | Namibia |
| Nepal | New Caledonia | Nicaragua | Niger |
| Nigeria | Oman | Pakistan | Panama |
| Papua New Guinea | Paraguay | Philippines | Portugal |
| Qatar | Reunion | Russian Federation | Rwanda |
| Sabah (Malaysia) | Sao Tome and Principe | Saudi Arabia | Senegal |
| Serbia | Seychelles | Sierra Leone | Spain (including Balearic and Canary Isles) |
| Sri Lanka | St. Lucia | St. Vincent | Sudan |
| Surinam | Syria | Taiwan | Tanzania |
| Thailand | Togo | Trinidad & Tobago | Tunisia |
| Turkey | Uganda | Ukraine | Yemen |
| Zambia | Zimbabwe |
So below mentioned are the documents required for applying for International Driving Licenses
- Pan Card copy. (only for verification)
- Click here to download the official website announcement of Visa on Arrival countries. (only for verification)
- Indian Driving License. (only for verification)
- Adhaar Card Copy. (for verification and applying online)
- Air tickets and with the return journey. (for verification and applying online)
- Passport copy. (for verification and applying online)
- Form 4A – Application for Issue of International Driving Permit to Drive a Motor Vehicle in Other Countries. Click here to download the form and fill it up. (for verification and applying online)
- Form 1 – Application cum Declaration as to Physical Fitness. Click here to download the form and fill it up. (for verification and applying online)
- Form 1A – Medical Certificate. Click here to download the form and fill it up and get it signed by a Government hospital doctor. (for verification and applying online)
- 2 Copy of Passport size photographs. (3.5cm X 4.5cm on white background)
- International Driving License Permit Fee of INR 1000/- (Increased from INR 500/-)
The process to get an International Driving Permit from India?
The application is made online by Sarathi Service. Visit parivahan.gov.in to apply for IDP, Firstly, select online services & choose Driving License related services from the drop-down. Secondly, select your state and click on apply online. Thirdly, choose services on driving license and proceed to the next page. Fill all the details and hit continue.
“Most importantly your address mentioned on your passport and driving license should be same otherwise you can face issues. However, It’s not a big deal in making the corrections.”
Your online process is over after finishing the process of payment page. However, if you’re getting an error on the payment page, visit your RTO contact someone in the IT team. Give them your application number which you have received through SMS and they will cancel the payment. Now you have to make the payment in the counter. Maybe this is a common issue faced by most of the user. Now, wait in the line for the verification of your papers. Finally after finishing all these wait for 7 working days. Visit RTO for collection of IDP from the same counter where you have given the final verified file.
“Also note in the VISA field for Visa on arrival countries you just have to fill up any number and processed further. In other words, as it’s a mandatory field which it shouldn’t be.”
Now that you’ve got the license to ride. The IDP is valid for a period of one year from the date of issue or until your Indian driver’s license expires, whichever is earlier. And you know the countries where Indian driving license is valid with an IDP, how about the money to pay for petrol/gas. By money, I mean the currency of the country you’re going to visit. Well, you can get a better rate in Thomas Cook if you bargain. However, you can get a fixed rate from the Oriental Bank.
Finally
- Carry your original and valid Indian driving licence and passport along with your IDP.
- Valid visa!
- Pack responsibly, don’t over pack.
- Carry your own GPS.
- Do some research before opting for any vehicle rental.
- Most importantly you will be only able to hire type vehicles if you have permission to drive as per your Indian driving licence.
- Usually, cars in abroad have automatic gears. So, make sure you are renting something in which are comfortable with.
- Check for the insurance.
Excited? So brush up your skills and prepare for the road trip you have been already dreaming off! Ride safe – Godspeed
(nope we are not getting paid for tagging others in my blog. It’s just helping another fellow traveller to get complete information.)
Research to get an International Driving Permit
- Forum: TripAdvisor | Quora | Wikipedia
- Blog: Bookmyforex | Western India Automobile Association
The post How To Get International Driving Permit in India appeared first on RoverTales.
]]>It was turning out to be another boring week, nothing interesting happening even at the workplace. And my inner guide said, “Go somewhere, it’s almost a month you haven’t travelled anywhere”. So I decided to go out of the city, but where???
Then one of my friends suggested to me, “Munnar”. Munnar is a hill station situated in the Idukki district of Kerela. The name Munnar refers to the meeting point of three rivers (Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly).
As I have never been to Munnar, research about the place, weather & route needs to be done at first. So the plan for 2 nights & 3 days trip is finalized, I already started dreaming about the place. Now when the plan was mentioned to my better half, she simply asked, “why haven’t I made the booking yet?”
As this was not my first backpacking trip, I had a fair idea of what to look for. We looked for accommodation which is not on the main road but also not far from the main town all thanks to the reviews on MakemyTrip & TripAdvisor and finally fixed on Westwood Riverside Garden Resort as we never look for a luxury stay, and exploring the place and trying local cuisine is the main agenda.
This post is long and full of details, pin the image above to save it and read again later.
15th April 2017
– Kick Start Our trip to Magical Munnar
So finally it was Saturday-the day of our journey. Do you know what the difficult part of the trip is? Getting up early in the morning at 3:00 am. Due to the summer season, riding in the early morning is always beautiful and it helps to get out of town without any traffic hassles. It’s a 477 km ride so I had a lot of time on the road which we enjoyed completely. Personally, I like long roads for some reason and sometimes it’s the winding road and sometimes it is a completely straight road, full of fun.
Random Clicks on the Road
We took a couple of breaks in local shops and continued our journey towards Munnar. Local routes are always amazing completely green on both sides. Finally, we reached around 1:00 pm. We quickly did our check-in to our hotel which was pretty decent and left for lunch outside.
I wanted to have lunch at Butler’s Creek which is a small open restaurant and heard good things about food (a very important thing about my journey): they serve you local cuisine. But unfortunately that day it was crowded and I didn’t have the patience to wait and hence went to a different restaurant and thought of having from there the next day. We came to Royal Retreat for lunch which is located close by and the food was not bad.
Royal Retreat Resturant in Munnar
And after such nice food, we thought of taking the rest of the day off and going sightseeing the next day morning after breakfast, so we headed back to our hotel and slept soundly. We were so tired and due to the cold weather, we slept like a baby and only woke up to have our dinner at the hotel which is beside the lake. The location and the food here was super.
Next day morning we woke up fresh and had a nice quick breakfast beside the lake & left for local sightseeing.
Day 2 – 16th April 2017
Exploring the magical munnar
Our route plan to exploring the magical munnar
We started with Photo point followed by other places.
- Photo Point: In TripAdvisor, this place is ranked 8th out of the 50 places to visit in Munnar. Photo Point is only 5.8 km from the hotel. As the name suggests, it offers magnificent scenic views that one can never imagine! This place is quite ideal for leisure travellers and nature lovers alike. This point offers some amazing points for photography. One can even hire local attire and take pictures. We spent a half hour here and we hopped on to our bike to go to the next spot.
Photo Point in Munnar
- Mattupetty Dam: In TripAdvisor, this place has been ranked 12th out of the 50 places to visit in Munnar. Mattupetty is only 12 km from the hotel and only 6.2 km from Photo Point. Here we enjoyed the green valleys & amazing climate. The most attractive part of the dam is that its still water in the lake reflects the tea garden around.
People can engage themselves with water sports organized by the District Tourism Promotion Council of Idukki and enjoy the scenic natural surroundings. There are also options for trekking in the Shola forest for trekking enthusiasts. People also refer to this as Echo Viewpoint which is ranked by TripAdvisor as 27th out of the 50 places to visit in Munnar.
Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point in Munnar
- Kundala Dam Lake: In TripAdvisor, this place is ranked 6th out of the 50 places to visit in Munnar. Kundala Dam is only 26 km from the hotel and it’s on our way to the Top Station, so we decided to stop there and trust me we didn’t regret one bit. In this place, the famous Kurinji flowers bloom once in 12 years. There is also a dam which we missed, unfortunately. There is a boating experience at this dam. Pedal boats, Kashmiri shikara boats and row boats are available on rent. As there are no fixed charges mentioned, we didn’t try it. Now from there, we moved to our next destination.
Kundala Dam Lake in Munnar
- Top Station: In TripAdvisor, this place is ranked 5th out of 50 places to visit in Munnar. This is the highest point (1700m)of Munnar on Munnar-Kodaikanal road. From here, we enjoyed the 180-degree view of the Western Ghats and the valley of Theni district of Tamil Nadu. As this is the highest point, it feels like the clouds are just a hand touch away. In this place as well, the famous Kurinji flowers bloom once in 12 years. The next flowering season of Neelakurinji is on 2030.
Top Station in Munnar
- Kannan Devan Tea Museum: In TripAdvisor, this place is ranked 16th out of 50 places to visit in Munnar. This is the country’s first ever Tea Museum and only 3.3 km from the hotel located at KDHP’s Nullatanni Estate. The best part of the travel is getting to know lots of new things like Munnar is a part of Kannan Devan Hills Plantation that’s the reason their famous tea is also known as KDHP tea. Tata Tea established this museum in 2005 which has photographs and machinery and shows the journey of tea growing in the area. We observed the history and growth of tea estates. We got to watch various stages of tea processing, which includes the making of black tea & green tea.
Timings:- 09:00 to 16:00 hrs.
- The museum is closed on Monday.
Tea Museum in Munnar
- Locks Heart Gap: In TripAdvisor, this place is ranked 4th out of 50 places to visit in Munnar. Lock Heart Gap is only 15.5 km from the hotel located in Mattupetty on the way to Munnar-Madurai National Highway. An experience of the green valley, vast grassland, rolling hills was waiting for us there. The air was filled with the aroma of tea, don’t miss to savour the taste of local tea before heading out. The best time to visit is either during the sunrise or during the sunset. But we can’t see the sunrise due to the low hanging clouds. A trek up those winding roads leading up to the viewpoint is always amazing we missed it because were super tired. Now it’s time to go back to the hotel.
Locks Heart Gap in Munnar
So we reached back to our hotel, and went for dinner and ended the day. (Please note most small hotels don’t serve alcohol and we didn’t notice any liquor shop nearby so carry your own stuff.) Next day, as planned we headed back to Bangalore. So we started just after breakfast and reached Bangalore at night.
There were so many more places on my list, but I think we got to experience a few great spots, but we will go back and explore the other places on the next trip! So that was my backpacking trip to magical Munnar, Kerala for 2 nights & 3 days. Above was my full list of to do’s and to eateries, and places to visit, so that if you are planning your trip it sure can be of some use. (nope we are not getting paid for tagging others in my blog. It’s just helping another fellow traveller to get complete information.)
On our way to Bangalore (Day3)
Research about the place before the journey
- Weather Updates on Munnar: AccuWeather
- Route Map from Bangalore to Munnar: Google Maps
- About the Place: travelwithneelima | UnTravel | TripAdvisor
- Local Attraction: TripAdvisor | Thrillophilia
The post Backpacking Trip To Magical Munnar, Kerala appeared first on RoverTales.
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