Southern India: West to East Coast – Self-Launched

Arrive into Cochin International Airport (COK) or Ernakulam Junction railway station at any time. Head to your guesthouse in Fort Kochi — the atmospheric heritage quarter is ideal for budget stays and walkable to everything. In the evening, stroll down to the Fort Kochi waterfront to watch the iconic Chinese fishing nets at sunset. Join an optional group dinner at a local Kerala restaurant — try the fish curry and appam.

🚌Auto-rickshaw or prepaid taxi from airport/station to Fort Kochi — approx. £3–5

🛏Budget guesthouse in Fort Kochi (e.g. Zostel Kochi or similar) — approx. £10–14/night

• →Arrive and check into a budget guesthouse in Fort Kochi
• →Walk to the Chinese fishing nets at sunset (free)
• →Self-organised welcome dinner at a local Kerala restaurant (£4–6)

Enjoy a free morning exploring Fort Kochi independently — grab a breakfast at a bakery cafe on Princes Street. Then take a self-guided walking tour of Fort Kochi's cobblestone streets: visit St. Francis Church (India's oldest European church, free entry), the Dutch Palace at Mattancherry (£0.30 entry), and the Jewish Synagogue quarter. Check out in the afternoon and make your way to Ernakulam Junction station. Board the overnight Bangalore Express — a scenic, comfortable sleeper journey through the Western Ghats.

🚌Auto-rickshaw to Ernakulam Junction (£1–2). Overnight train Kochi to Bangalore (~12 hrs, £8–12 for 3AC sleeper)

🛏Overnight train (3AC sleeper berth) — approx. £8–12

• →Self-guided walk through Fort Kochi — St. Francis Church, Dutch Palace, Jew Town (£0.30–1 entry fees)
• →Browse Mattancherry spice market
• →Board overnight train to Bangalore (Yesvantpur/KSR Bangalore) — book 3AC sleeper on IRCTC, approx. £8–12

Arrive into Bangalore (KSR/Yesvantpur) in the morning after your overnight train. Drop bags at your guesthouse and fuel up with breakfast — idli, vada and filter coffee at a local Darshini (street canteen) for under £1. Head to Lal Bagh Botanical Garden (entry ~£0.40) for a wander through its glasshouses and colourful flower displays. The rest of the day is free to explore: browse Commercial Street's market chaos, visit the Vidhana Soudha exterior (free), or grab a craft beer in Indiranagar. In the evening, do a self-guided orientation walk down MG Road and Brigade Road.

🚌Namma Metro from city centre (£0.30–0.60 per journey), auto-rickshaws for shorter hops (£1–2)

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in central Bangalore (e.g. Treebo or OYO rated property, Indiranagar or MG Road area) — approx. £12–16/night

• →Breakfast at a local Darshini — idli, vada, filter coffee (under £1)
• →Lal Bagh Botanical Garden (entry approx. £0.40)
• →Self-guided walk: Vidhana Soudha, Cubbon Park (free)
• →Evening orientation walk along MG Road and Brigade Road

Catch an early morning KSRTC bus or train from Bangalore to Mysore (3 hrs, £2–4). Break the journey at Srirangapatna — alight at the town stop to visit the magnificent Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (free entry, £0.30 camera fee) and Tipu Sultan's Gumbaz tomb complex (entry ~£0.30). Continue the short distance to Mysore by local bus or auto. Check into your guesthouse and enjoy a free afternoon exploring Mysore's famous silk saree shops. In the evening, join the orientation walk through the vibrant Devaraja Market and grab dinner nearby.

🚌KSRTC Volvo bus Bangalore to Mysore (~3 hrs, £2–4), local auto-rickshaws in Srirangapatna and Mysore (£1–3)

🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Mysore (e.g. Hotel Maurya or Zostel Mysore) — approx. £10–14/night

• →KSRTC bus or express train Bangalore → Srirangapatna → Mysore (£2–4 total)
• →Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna (free entry)
• →Tipu Sultan's Gumbaz tomb (entry ~£0.30)
• →Evening self-guided walk through Devaraja Market, Mysore

Pack in Mysore's greatest hits today on a full self-guided day. Take a shared auto or local bus up to Chamundi Hills to visit the Chamundeshwari Temple (free, donations welcome) and enjoy panoramic views over the city. Descend back and visit the extraordinary Mysore Palace (entry ~£1.50 — worth every penny, especially if you catch the Sunday illumination). Finish the day at the peaceful St. Philomena's Cathedral. Book a Mysore palace tour via GetYourGuide for added context, or simply use the free audio guide available at the palace entrance.

🚌Shared auto-rickshaw to Chamundi Hills (£1–2 each way), local city autos (£1–2 per hop)

🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Mysore — approx. £10–14/night

• →Chamundeshwari Temple at Chamundi Hills — shared auto up (£1–2)
• →Mysore Palace — entry approx. £1.50, free audio guide included
• →St. Philomena's Cathedral — free entry
• →Devaraja Market for silk, sandalwood, and spices
• →Optional: palace illumination on Sunday evening (free to view from outside)

Check out of your Mysore guesthouse and head to Mysore Junction station. Board a direct train to Chennai Central — the Mysore–Chennai Express is a scenic journey (~8–9 hrs, £6–10 for sleeper/3AC). Arrive into Chennai in the evening. Drop bags at your guesthouse in the Triplicane or Egmore area, both budget-friendly and well-connected. Grab a South Indian thali dinner near Egmore before an early night ahead of the coastal day tomorrow. Alternatively, if you prefer to spend more time in Mysore, take an afternoon departure and arrive late evening.

🚌Auto-rickshaw to Mysore Junction (£1–2). Train Mysore to Chennai (~£6–10 for 3AC sleeper)

🛏Budget hotel in Chennai Egmore or Triplicane area (e.g. Hotel Himalaya or similar rated guesthouse) — approx. £10–15/night

• →Morning at leisure in Mysore — visit any missed sights or browse silk shops
• →Train Mysore to Chennai Central (~8–9 hrs, £6–10 for 3AC sleeper — book via IRCTC)
• →Arrive Chennai evening — dinner at a local tiffin restaurant (£2–4)

Start the morning in Chennai with a visit to Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore (free entry) and a stroll along Marina Beach — one of the world's longest urban beaches. Then hop on a SETC or local bus from Koyambedu or Thiruvanmiyur bus stand to Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), about 60km south (~1.5 hrs, £1–1.50). Spend the afternoon exploring the stunning UNESCO World Heritage shore temples, the carved rock panels of Arjuna's Penance, and the Five Rathas chariot temples. Entry ticket covers all sites (~£4). Watch the sunset from the Shore Temple — one of South India's most magical moments.

🚌Metro + local bus Chennai to Mamallapuram (£1–1.50). Auto-rickshaws around Mamallapuram (£1–2)

🛏Guesthouse in Mamallapuram (e.g. Hotel Mamalla Heritage or budget beach guesthouse) — approx. £9–13/night

• →Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore, Chennai (free)
• →Marina Beach morning walk (free)
• →Local bus Chennai to Mamallapuram (~1.5 hrs, £1–1.50)
• →Mamallapuram UNESCO sites: Shore Temple, Arjuna's Penance, Five Rathas (combined entry ~£4)
• →Sunset at Shore Temple
• →Optional: seafood dinner on the Mamallapuram beachfront (£4–7)

Enjoy a final morning in Mamallapuram — grab breakfast at a beach cafe and visit the Government Museum of Sculpture (entry ~£0.30) if you missed it yesterday. Browse the famous stone-carving workshops that line the town streets. When ready, take the local bus or a pre-booked taxi back to Chennai for onward travel. Chennai International Airport (MAA) is approximately 65km from Mamallapuram (~1.5–2 hrs by road). Budget an extra day if you have an evening or next-day flight.

🚌Local bus or pre-booked taxi Mamallapuram to Chennai Airport (£1.50 bus / £7–10 taxi)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Breakfast at a Mamallapuram beach cafe
• →Government Museum of Sculpture (entry ~£0.30)
• →Browse stone-carving workshops (free)
• →Local bus or taxi back to Chennai Airport or city (£1.50–8 depending on mode)