We had been to a recent trip to Kanyakumari and Trivandrum through IRCTC package and following is our experience which I thought of sharing so that it could be useful for anybody's planning.
Following is the link to IRCTC package which we took:
http://www.irctctourism.com/TourPackages/RailTour/Chennai-Kanyakumari-Trivandrum-Tour.html
Following are the pros and cons of this package:
1. Since few tickets (4-6) are blocked for this package and so late planning (just around 4 days ahead) might work if they are available.
2. All we need to do is pay the money and they will take care of the tour.
However, here are the issues we faced:
1. Hotel Rooms are available from 12:00PM and so a temporary room is allotted (may be due to year end rush, we went during 30/12).
2. In Kanyakumari, no complimentary breakfast.
3. The tour operator seem to be focused on getting a minimum 4-5k profit for trip and so cut the costs.
4. Hotel booking in our case was done in someone else name and we had some confusion. After speaking to IRCTC contact, it got resolved. Not even Water bottle was offered in the room. But the hotel was fine, sea facing. We got in to Singaar international for a day's stay in Kanyakumari.
5. Tour operator in KK, Trivandrum, stick to the itinerary and so if there are any other things to see, they won't help.
6. Since we opted out of seeing Wax museum (already we saw in SFO, CA, USA), the driver took us to beach at 4.00 PM itself for sun set. (Weather was very hot).
7. Driver is from Core TN and so do not expect him to speak any other language. Our driver was a 23 year old and his communication skills were extremely poor. He just did not have customer orientation as he was only 20 days in to the job.
8. We met other customers on the tour and they too had similar issues. Their car was not good. At least this complaint we did not have.
In Kanyakumari, every important site was nearby. Hotel is near to Railway station. We do not need the package practically, since the bus stop is also near.
Things we did on the tour:
1. Started on 29th Dec. Boarded Kanyakumari Express from Egmore at 5.30 PM. We took comfort package so got good tickets 41, 42. Reached kanyakumari next day.
2. Hotel guys gave temporary room as the checkin is only after 12.00PM. Got ready and had Breakfast buffet (Rs 175 per head).
3. Driver dropped us near the temple compound and told everything is nearby and left.
4. We unfortunately did not prefer standing in Line for ticket for Vivekananda memorial which already had a km queue. So went for Bhagawathy amman temple.
5. Darshan was smooth. There was a 20 Rs ticket for quick darshan. Temple closes at 12.00 PM.
6. By the time we are out, the line for memorial was 4km long and so we went to the rear part of the temple where there are other things to look at i.e. Three seas merging point, Adi sankara temple, Gandhi mandapam.
7. Spent some time near three seas merging point and did some shopping.
8. There are some cheap items for Home interior decorations like wall hangings and plastic flowers. Hangings made of sea shells we got a dozen for 120. Here in mahabalipuram, it was 30Rs per one hanging. The hanging is around 6ft. problem is they do not accept credit cards.
9. Got back to Hotel and had lunch. Took rest for an hr, and then driver picked us.
10. We thought we will be taken to some far off place for sight seeing. But he took us to Wax museum which was walkable from the hotel. We opted not to go as we saw a better museum before.
11. He took us to Sun set point which was 30 min away. it was a beach again. We would have enjoyed had it been little late in the evening. But still, the beach was good. One can go deep in to the water.
12. Came back after sunset and took rest in the hotel.
13. Next day, early morning, we checked out and driver took us to suchindram temple.
14. Followed it with a boat ride in Neyyar backwaters on the way to Kovalem.
15. Ride was priced at 3500 for 2 people for 1.30 min. for each additional person, 500 Rs. Midway of the ride along the waters, there are floating restaurants where we can get lunch for fair price. Non vegetarians can enjoy much. Rice was basmati and food was reasonably good.
16. Proceeded to Kovalem and had a nice fast motor boat ride. For a 20 min tour around the sea, we paid 1500 rs. It would be advantageous if more people are there since the charge is per ride and not per person. Ride was good. But only for the people who can dare it.
17. Checked in to KTDC hotel. This hotel is just opposite to the Trivandrum railway station and Bus stand. Old hotel. Offered complementary breakfast.
18. Did some shopping along the MG road and took rest for the night. AC was not controllable.
19. Early morning started to Padmanabha swamy temple. Unfortunately, it was closed for Nivedyam at 7.00 AM and opened at only 8.30 AM. Following are the timings.
Pooja cost is 180 or 150 for 2 people. You will get prasadam free :-)
Only Dhoti is allowed for Men. Women should wear saree. If not, they have to tie a dhoti around. Girls should not wear any western wear. Completely ethnic wear. Please check the site for more details: http://www.sreepadmanabhaswamytemple.org/
20. After darshan, had breakfast and checked out of the room. Went to Kanakannu palace which was closed on Sunday. (IRCTC planning really sucks here). Nearby there is Napier museum which has antiques since Xth Century.
21. Our return journey was from nagarcoil which is 100 KM away from Trivandrum. Had to waste 3 Hrs just to catch train back. Return train is also Kanyakumari Express which starts at 5.30 PM.
Had IRCTC planned the return journey from Trivandrum, it would have been good. On the way back we did not have time for lunch. Picked up some snacks and started back to Chennai.
Overall, the package is really not so worth. If we take our own cabs we can go to any place and see it.
if you are planning in advance, better do it yourself. Everything is nearby. Just go to kanyakumari, hire pvt cabs or if comfortable, travel by buses.
Following is the link to IRCTC package which we took:
http://www.irctctourism.com/TourPackages/RailTour/Chennai-Kanyakumari-Trivandrum-Tour.html
Following are the pros and cons of this package:
1. Since few tickets (4-6) are blocked for this package and so late planning (just around 4 days ahead) might work if they are available.
2. All we need to do is pay the money and they will take care of the tour.
However, here are the issues we faced:
1. Hotel Rooms are available from 12:00PM and so a temporary room is allotted (may be due to year end rush, we went during 30/12).
2. In Kanyakumari, no complimentary breakfast.
3. The tour operator seem to be focused on getting a minimum 4-5k profit for trip and so cut the costs.
4. Hotel booking in our case was done in someone else name and we had some confusion. After speaking to IRCTC contact, it got resolved. Not even Water bottle was offered in the room. But the hotel was fine, sea facing. We got in to Singaar international for a day's stay in Kanyakumari.
5. Tour operator in KK, Trivandrum, stick to the itinerary and so if there are any other things to see, they won't help.
6. Since we opted out of seeing Wax museum (already we saw in SFO, CA, USA), the driver took us to beach at 4.00 PM itself for sun set. (Weather was very hot).
7. Driver is from Core TN and so do not expect him to speak any other language. Our driver was a 23 year old and his communication skills were extremely poor. He just did not have customer orientation as he was only 20 days in to the job.
8. We met other customers on the tour and they too had similar issues. Their car was not good. At least this complaint we did not have.
In Kanyakumari, every important site was nearby. Hotel is near to Railway station. We do not need the package practically, since the bus stop is also near.
Things we did on the tour:
1. Started on 29th Dec. Boarded Kanyakumari Express from Egmore at 5.30 PM. We took comfort package so got good tickets 41, 42. Reached kanyakumari next day.
2. Hotel guys gave temporary room as the checkin is only after 12.00PM. Got ready and had Breakfast buffet (Rs 175 per head).
3. Driver dropped us near the temple compound and told everything is nearby and left.
4. We unfortunately did not prefer standing in Line for ticket for Vivekananda memorial which already had a km queue. So went for Bhagawathy amman temple.
5. Darshan was smooth. There was a 20 Rs ticket for quick darshan. Temple closes at 12.00 PM.
6. By the time we are out, the line for memorial was 4km long and so we went to the rear part of the temple where there are other things to look at i.e. Three seas merging point, Adi sankara temple, Gandhi mandapam.
7. Spent some time near three seas merging point and did some shopping.
8. There are some cheap items for Home interior decorations like wall hangings and plastic flowers. Hangings made of sea shells we got a dozen for 120. Here in mahabalipuram, it was 30Rs per one hanging. The hanging is around 6ft. problem is they do not accept credit cards.
9. Got back to Hotel and had lunch. Took rest for an hr, and then driver picked us.
10. We thought we will be taken to some far off place for sight seeing. But he took us to Wax museum which was walkable from the hotel. We opted not to go as we saw a better museum before.
11. He took us to Sun set point which was 30 min away. it was a beach again. We would have enjoyed had it been little late in the evening. But still, the beach was good. One can go deep in to the water.
12. Came back after sunset and took rest in the hotel.
13. Next day, early morning, we checked out and driver took us to suchindram temple.
14. Followed it with a boat ride in Neyyar backwaters on the way to Kovalem.
15. Ride was priced at 3500 for 2 people for 1.30 min. for each additional person, 500 Rs. Midway of the ride along the waters, there are floating restaurants where we can get lunch for fair price. Non vegetarians can enjoy much. Rice was basmati and food was reasonably good.
16. Proceeded to Kovalem and had a nice fast motor boat ride. For a 20 min tour around the sea, we paid 1500 rs. It would be advantageous if more people are there since the charge is per ride and not per person. Ride was good. But only for the people who can dare it.
17. Checked in to KTDC hotel. This hotel is just opposite to the Trivandrum railway station and Bus stand. Old hotel. Offered complementary breakfast.
18. Did some shopping along the MG road and took rest for the night. AC was not controllable.
19. Early morning started to Padmanabha swamy temple. Unfortunately, it was closed for Nivedyam at 7.00 AM and opened at only 8.30 AM. Following are the timings.
| Morning |
| 03.30 am to 04.45 am (Nirmalya Darshanam) 06.30 am to 07.00 am 08.30 am to 10.00 am 10.30 am to 11.10 am 11.45 am to 12.00 Noon |
| Evening |
| 05.00 pm to 06.15 pm 06.45 pm to 07.20 pm |
Only Dhoti is allowed for Men. Women should wear saree. If not, they have to tie a dhoti around. Girls should not wear any western wear. Completely ethnic wear. Please check the site for more details: http://www.sreepadmanabhaswamytemple.org/
20. After darshan, had breakfast and checked out of the room. Went to Kanakannu palace which was closed on Sunday. (IRCTC planning really sucks here). Nearby there is Napier museum which has antiques since Xth Century.
21. Our return journey was from nagarcoil which is 100 KM away from Trivandrum. Had to waste 3 Hrs just to catch train back. Return train is also Kanyakumari Express which starts at 5.30 PM.
Had IRCTC planned the return journey from Trivandrum, it would have been good. On the way back we did not have time for lunch. Picked up some snacks and started back to Chennai.
Overall, the package is really not so worth. If we take our own cabs we can go to any place and see it.
if you are planning in advance, better do it yourself. Everything is nearby. Just go to kanyakumari, hire pvt cabs or if comfortable, travel by buses.
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