Shoestring Budget: Southern India Tour

1. Day 1: Chennai
   0 minutes from starting location (0 miles)

   Explore the Kapaleeswarar Temple and Marina Beach, and experience the hustle and bustle of Chennai's street markets.

2. Day 2: Rameshwaram
   9 hours (340 miles) from Chennai

   Visit the Ramanathaswamy temple, the Dhanushkodi Beach, and the Gandhamadhana Parvatham peak for scenic views.

3. Day 3: Kanyakumari
   4 hours (180 miles) from Rameshwaram

   Visit the southernmost tip of India, and see the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the Thiruvalluvar Statue on the rocky shoreline.

4. Day 4: Trivandrum and Kochi
   4 hours (100 miles) from Kanyakumari

   In Trivandrum, visit the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple and the Napier Museum; in Kochi, take in the colonial architecture and visit the Fort Kochi Beach.

5. Day 5: Munnar
   4 hours (95 miles) from Kochi

   Take in the scenic hills and greenery of the Munnar tea plantations.

6. Day 6: Coimbatore
   5 hours (100 miles) from Munnar

   Visit the Marudamalai Temple and the Parambikkulam Wildlife Sanctuary for a taste of nature.

7. Day 7: Ooty
   2 hours (85 miles) from Coimbatore

   Enjoy the cool breeze and greenery of the Ooty Botanical Gardens and the Doddabetta Peak.

8. Day 8: Wayanad and Mysore
   6 hours (170 miles) from Ooty

   Visit the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and the Chamundi Hill Temple before departing from Mysore.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Kapaleeswarar Temple (1 hour, free)
• Marina Beach (2 hours, free)
• Ramanathaswamy temple (2 hours, free)
• Dhanushkodi Beach (2 hours, free)
• Gandhamadhana Parvatham (1 hour, free)
• Vivekananda Rock Memorial (2 hours, INR 300)
• Thiruvalluvar Statue (1 hour, INR 100)
• Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple (1 hour, INR 250)
• Napier Museum (1 hour, INR 20)
• Fort Kochi Beach (2 hours, free)
• Munnar tea plantations (3 hours, free)
• Marudamalai Temple (1 hour, free)
• Parambikkulam Wildlife Sanctuary (4 hours, INR 100)
• Ooty Botanical Gardens (2 hours, INR 30)
• Doddabetta Peak (1 hour, INR 15)
• Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (4 hours, INR 250)
• Chamundi Hill Temple (1 hour, free)
• Total Estimated Costs: INR 1165

Useful Tips

If you have more time, add the Bandipur National Park or the Hampi UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you have less time, skip Coimbatore and Ooty or shorten your stays in cities to fit your timeframe.