India Travel
Kozhikode (Calicut) Arrival and information in Kerala
The railway station (0495/701234), served by a handful of coastal expresses and several passenger trains, is close to the centre. Trains heading north on the Konkan Railway include the fast, all a/c Rajdhani Express #2431 (Fri & Sac) which stops at Madgaon (Goa) on the way to Delhi, but the most convenient, in terms of departure time, is the Netravati Express #6636 (daily 9.45am). Neither trains stop at Mangalore but at a nearby town. Kankanadi-Trains south include the Mangala Lakshadweep Express #2618 (daily 7.35am) to Ernakulam and the overnight Malabar Express #6330 (daily 10.40pm) to Thiruvananthapuram. O£ the three bus stands, the most important is the KSRTC stand, Mavoor Road (aka Indira Gandhi Road), from where buses run daily to destinations as far afield as Bangalore. Mysore Ooty, Madura
Coimbatore and Mangalore. From the New Mafussil private stand, 500m away, on the other side of Mavoor Road, you can get local buses and services to northern Kerala. The Palayam stand is for city and infrequent long-haul buses aIid destinations further south, such as Palakkad, Thnssur, and Guruvayur. private deluxe buses to Thiruvananthapurani or Kochi leave from in front of the KSRTC bus stand.
Kozhikode’s airport (nearly always referred to as Calicut in timetables) lies at Karippur, 23km south of the city. Taxis cost Rs300, or take an auto-rickshaw to the Kozhikode-Palakkad highway, from where you can catch a bus. Indian Airlines flies twice a day to Mumbai. daily to Delhi and Coimbatore, and twice a week to Chennai; Jet Airways also flies twice a week to Mumbai. Indian Airlines flies twice a week (Mon & Fri) to Goa and has several international flights to Sharjah, Kuwait and Bahrain in the Gulf. Air India also flies to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Muscat. For airline tickets try Century Travels, Bank Road (0495/766522); or directly at Indian Airlines, Eroth Centre, 5/2521 Bank Rd (0495/753966) or Jet Airways, 29 Mavoor Rd (0495/356518). Air India is also at Eroth Centre (0495/673001).
The friendly Government of Kerala tourist information booth (Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; 0495/700097), at the railway station, can tell you about travel connections and sites around Kozhikode. KTDC Information Centre (0495/722391) in their Malabar Mansion Hotel, at the corner of SM Street, can supply only limited information about the town and area. There is a left-luggage facility at the railway station but, as is always the case, they only accept locked luggage. With so much Gulf money floating around. you shouldn’t have any difficulty changing money in Kozhikode. A good place to change any currency or travellers’ cheques is at PL Worldways, 3rd Floor, Semma Towers, Mavoor Road (0495/722564). Banks that change money include the Standard Chartered Bank on Town Hall Road and the State Bank of India at Manachira Park. Internet facilities are available on the first floor (10am—10pm daily), in the block to the right of Nandhiniee Sweets, MM Ah Road, at Rs30 per hour.
For backwater cruises in the Kozhikode region try the small, friendly and efficient Malabar House Boats at either of their three city offices including 1/335 Purakkatri. Thalakalthur (0495/452045, 765066).Their kettu vallam cruises start at Purakkatri, 12km north of the city but they will arrange transport to the boat with prior notice. A 24hr cruise costs Rs6250 for two people, including meals; a day cruise will set you back Rs3000 for up to six people.
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Kozhikode (Calicut) in Kerala
The busy coastal city of KOZHIKODE (Calicut), 225km north of Kochi, occupies an extremely important place in Keralan legend and history. It is also significant in the story of European interference in the subcontinent, as Vasco da Gama first set foot in India at Kozhikode in 1498. However, as a tourist destination, it's a dud, with precious few remnants of its historic past. The few foreigners that pause here invariably do so only to break the long journey between Mysore and Kochi. Kozhikode s roots are shrouded in myth. According to Keralan tradition, the powerful king Cheraman Perumal is said to
North of Kozhikode in Kerala
The beautiful coast of Kerala, north of Kozhikode, is a seemingly endless stretch of coconut palms, wooded hills and virtually deserted beaches; the towns hold little of interest for visitors, most of whom bypass the area completely. However, then you miss out on the fun of a search through the villages for Teyyattam, the extraordinary masked trance dances that take place throughout the region during winter.
Thrissur in Kerala
The breezy bazaar town of THRISSUR (Trichur), roughly midway between Kochi (74km south) and Palakkad (79km northeast) on NH-47. is an obvious base for exploring the cultural riches of central Kerala. Near the Palghat (Palakkad) Gap - an opening in the natural border made by the Western Ghat mountains - it presided over the main trade route into the region from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. For years Thrissur was the capital of Cochin State, controlled at various times by both the zamorin of Kozhikode and Tipu Sultan of Mysore. Today, it justifiably prides itself on being the cultural capital of
Travel details for Travel details in Kerala
For details of ferry services on the backwaters - primarily between Alappuzha and Kollam. Trains Kochi/Ernakulam to: Alappuzha (3-5 daily; 1hr 20min): Bangalore (1 daily; 14hr); Chennai (3-5 daily; 12hr45min-14hr40min); Coimbatore (3-4 daily; 4hr 45min-5hr 30min); Delhi (2 daily; 40hr 30min-49tir), Kanniyakumari (2-3 daily; 8hr); Kollam (8-9 daily; 3-4tir|; Kottayam (8-9 daily; 1hr 5min); Kozhikode (6-7.daily; 3hr 20min-6hr 20min); Mumbai (2-3 daily; 28hr 20min 10hr 25min); Palakkad (5-6 daily; 3hr 20mm); Tliiriivananthapuram (9-11 daily; 4hr 20min-5hr): Thrissur (12-14 daily; 1 hr 30min-2hr). Kozhikode to: Kochi (6-7 daily; 4hr 30min-5hr 10min); Mangalore (3-4 daily; 5hr 40min-6hr); Mumbai (2-3 daily; 16hr 20min-23hr); Thiruvananthapuram (4-6
Thiruvananthapuram Information and tours in Kerala
All the tourist offices at the airport are open during flight times. The Government of India's counter (0471/501498) offers general information regarding Kerala and the adjacent states, while the Government of Kerala has two counters, one at the domestic terminal (0471/501085) and the other at the internacion.il terminal (0471/502298), offering Kerala-specific information including, for example, on backwater cruises. The Government of Kerala also has an office in the main block at the Thampanoor bus stand (Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; 0471/327224) which is good for general information and maps and sells tickets for backwater cruises between Kollam and Alappuzha. They have another counter
North of Kozhikode Kannur (Cannanore) and around in Kerala
KANNUR (Cannanore), 92km north of Kozhikode, was for many centuries the capital of the Kolathiri rajas, who prospered from the thriving maritime spice trade through its port. In the early 1500s, after Vasco da Gama passed through, the Portuguese took it and erected an imposing bastion, St Angelo's fort, overlooking the harbour, but today this is occupied by the Indian army and closed to visitors. If you come to Kannur at all, it will probably be on the trail of Teyyattam, spectacular spirit-possession rituals that are an important feature of village life in the area from late October until May.
Arrival and information in Kerala
The international airport (connected to most major Indian cities, as well as Sn Lanka, the Maldives and the Middle East), with tourist information and foreign exchange facilities, is 6km southwest of town and serviced by an airport bus and bus #14 to and from the City bus stand. Auto-rickshaws will run you into the centre for around Rs40 and there's also a handy prepaid taxi service. If you're heading straight out to Kovalam, you may find that a prepaid taxi is i nost as cheap as an auto-rickshaw. The long-distance KSRTC Thampanoor bus stand (0471/323886) and railway station (0471/329246 or 132)
Kozhikode (Calicut) The City in Kerala
Few traces remain of the model city laid out in the fourteenth century, which followed a Hindu grid formula based on a sacred diagram containing the image of the cosmic man, Purusha. The axis and energy centre of the city was dictated by the position of the ancient Tali Shiva temple (closed to non-Hindus) which survives to this day. Everything, and everybody, had a place in the scheme. The district around the port in the northwest was reserved for foreigners. Here, a Chinese community lived in and around Chinese Street (now Silk Street) and, later, the Portuguese, Dutch and British
Arrival and information in Himachal Pradesh
State-ran buses from Manali, Mandi, Pathankot, Kangra and Delhi pull into the bus stand in the very south of the lower town, though some continue after a short stop all the way up to McLeod Ganj - the usual arrival point for private and deluxe buses from Delhi and Manali. The nearest point of arrival for trains from Delhi, Punjab and Jammu Tawi is Pathankot - the narrow-gauge train linking Pathankot to Jogindernagar also stops at Kangra and at Nagrota. Dharamsala's airport, 11km to the south at Gaggal, has three Indian Airlines' flights a week to Delhi. The tourist office (Mon-Sat
Alappuzha Practicalities in Kerala
The shambolic KSRTC bus stand, on the east of town, is served by half-hourly buses to Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakukm; less frequent buses run to Kottayam, Thrissur and Palakkad. The boat jetty is just one minute's walk west from the bus stand. As the backwaters prevent trains from continuing south beyond Alappuzha, only a few major daily services and a handful of passenger trains depart from the railway station, 3km southwest of the jetty. Among these are the Bokaro/Tata Express #8690 at 6am, the Trivandrum-Mumbai CST Express #6332 at 7.20am and the-Alleppey-Chennai Express #6042 at 3pm; all three stop at
Arrival, information and orientation in Central Tamil Nadu
Trichy's airport, 8km south of the centre, has flights to and from Chennai (daily except Thurs & Sun), Cochin (Tues.Thurs & Sac) and Calicut ("Wed & Sun).The journey into town, by taxi (Rs100) or bus (#7, #28, #59, #63, #122 or #K1) takes less than half an hour; for enquiries and bookings go to Indian Airlines, 4A Dindigul Rd.There are also flights (4 weekly) from Colombo on Air Lanka, based in the Femina hotel. Trichy's main railway station, Trichy Junction - which has given its name to the southern district of town - provides frequent rail links with Chennai, Madurai and
Arrival of Chennai in Tamil Nadu
Chennai airport in Trisulam, is comprehensively served by international and domestic flights; the two terminals are a minute's walk from each other, 16km southwest of the city centre on NH-45. Out in the main concourse, you'll find a 24hr post office, Thomas Cook and State Bank of India foreign-exchange counters, several STD telephones, and a couple of snack bars. It's by no means certain that anyone will be staffing the Government of Tamil Nadu Tourist Information Centre booth at the arrivals exit, but if you're lucky you may be able to fix up accommodation from here, or at the "Free
Arrival and information in Delhi
Delhi is India's main point of arrival for overseas visitors, and has two airports, one domestic and one international. State buses from all over the country pull into the Inter-state Bus Terminal in Old Delhi, while private buses stop in the more central location close to New Delhi railway station. Trains arrive at the railheads in Old or New Delhi, both well connected to Connaught Place, the commercial centre of the city, by rickshaw and taxi. For a summary of the kinds of accommodation available in different areas of the city, which may well determine where you head first, see p.
Kochi (Cochin) Arrival and local transport in Kerala
Kochi's brand new international airport is at Nedumbassery, near Always (aka Alua), 26km to the north of Ernakulam. Kochi is served by daily flights from Mumbai. Bangalore. Thiruvananthapuram and Delhi, and six each week from Chennai. Two weekly flights depart from Goa, Hyderabad-Kozhikode. and Coimbatore, as well as the Lakshadweep Islands and the Gulf States of Doha. Dubai. Kuwait. Sharjah and Muscat. There are three railway stations - Ernakulam Junction (131), closest to the centre, is the most important; Ernakulam Town lies 4km to the north. No trains run to For Cochin or Mattan cherry. The Cochin
Varkalanorthwest Arrival and information in Kerala
Varkala's railway station, 2km east of the village, is served by express and mai trains from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam (hourly; 45min), and most other Keralan towns on the main line. An auto-rickshaw to the beach costs around Rs20-30. Regular buses also run from Thiruvananthapuram's Thampanoo stand, and from Kollam (lhr-2hr 30mm). A few go all the way to the bead" but most stop in the village centre, a five-minute auto-rickshaw ride away. 1 you can't get a direct bus, take any "superfast" or "limited stop" bus along th main highway, NH-47, and change at Kallamballam from where you can ho onto
Kochi (Cochin) Information in Kerala
If you are based on Willingdon Island, head for the helpful Government of India tourist office (Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-noon; 0484/668352) between the Taj Malabar Hotel and Tourist Office Jetty. They offer information on Kerala and beyond, can provide reliable guides and also have a desk at the Airport. KTDC's reception centre, on Shanmugham Road, Ernakulam (0484/353234), reserves accommodation in their hotel chain and organizes fehtseeing and backwater tours. Another KTDC counter can be Found at the airport, and there's a DTPC desk at the Old Collectorate Park Avenue, Ernakulam (0484/371488). The tiny independent tourist desk (daily 8am-7pm: 0484/371761), at
Kozhikode (Calicut) Accommodation and eating in Kerala
Kozhikode's reasonably priced city-centre hotels, most of which operate a 24-hr check-out, can fill up by evening, especially during conventions. The beach area is a quiet alternative. Your best bet for a proper meal is to eat at your hotel, though you can get south Indian snacks in town at the dependable Indian Coffee House on Kallai Road. The open-air Park Restaurant, by Mananchira tank, makes an appealing city centre oasis in the evenings. Mezban at the Asma Tower on Mavoor Road is comfortable with a tasteful a/c section where you can get Continental and local breakfasts. The strong menu
Arrival and information in Gujarat
Arriving in Junagadh by bus or train, you're within easy walking distance of nearly all the hotels. From the long distance bus stand, turn right, then left at the main road and straight on across the railway tracks into the town centre; from the railway station, take a right down Station Road and a left at the end, by the petrol station. Local transport is provided by auto-rickshaws, though bicycles are great for getting around; with a bit of leg-work you can even cycle to the foot of Mount Girnar. Run-of-the-mill bikes can be had from 3 shop just west
Charter flights
Various package specialists (see overleaf) operate winter (Oct-May) charters to Goa and Kerala. Leaving from Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow and Newcastle, these are usually for stays of two weeks (though 1-6 weeks are also possible) and often work out cheaper than a standard scheduled deal to Mumbai. Your fare must include some form of accommodation, which you can occupy on arrival and then ditch when you're ready to move on. Charter tickets are generally sold through high-street travel agents, and are also advertised in the travel pages of newspapers. Limerick and Waterford.
Information of the Agra in the Uttar Pradesh
Agra has two tourist offices, one run by the Government of India, at 191 The Mall (Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-1pm), and one run by UF Tourism, close to the darks Shimz, at 64 Taj Rd (same hours); there is also an information booth at Cantonment station. The Government of India office is better organized and provides information about other destinations, though both supply information on hotels and local sights, and details of tours that start and end at Agra Cantonment railway station.