A Solo Train Journey Across South India: Finding Peace in the Chaos

Introduction

When you think of solo travel in India, the mind often jumps to the Himalayas or the beaches of Goa. But for me, peace came riding the rails of South India—crisscrossing Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka on a budget, with nothing but a backpack, a rail pass, and a restless heart.

This is the story of how I discovered a different rhythm of life through a solo train journey across the south of India—a route that was never planned but ended up becoming a deeply transformative experience.

The Inspiration Behind the Journey

In early 2022, after months of remote work burnout, I decided I needed a break—not the beach resort kind, but the kind where you blend into unfamiliar crowds, share chai with strangers, and listen to life stories at railway stations under yellow lights.

I booked a South India Tourist Rail Pass, packed a 35-liter backpack, and boarded my first train: the Chennai Egmore Express to Madurai.

Stop #1: Madurai – A Spiritual Awakening

Madurai wasn’t just another stop—it was a revelation. The Meenakshi Temple, alive with vibrant rituals and centuries of devotion, overwhelmed my senses. I spent hours wandering the temple corridors, then chatted with a flower vendor who told me, “People come here to ask the goddess for what they want. But sometimes, she gives you what you need.”

Those words lingered with me as I boarded the next train, heading west into the green heart of Kerala.

Stop #2: Alleppey – Life in the Backwaters

Alleppey, or Alappuzha, welcomed me with slow boats and slower conversations. I skipped the luxury houseboats and instead took a ₹10 public ferry that wound through sleepy villages, schoolchildren waving from the banks, and coconut trees bowing to the canals.

That evening, I stayed at a homestay in Kainakary, sharing dinner with my host family. We ate fresh fish curry and rice while they told me stories of floods, resilience, and rebuilding. It was a moment of pure connection—strangers turning into something closer to kin.

Stop #3: Kozhikode – Where Food Is Poetry

Next stop was Kozhikode (Calicut)—a coastal city often overlooked by guidebooks. But if you're a food lover, it’s a paradise. I tasted Malabar biryani at the legendary Paragon Restaurant, tried banana chips fresh off the fryer, and drank cardamom-spiced milk at a roadside stall.

A retired railway guard I met there told me his dream was to write a book about Indian trains. “Each track has a story,” he said. And I started to believe that each stop on my journey had become part of mine.

Stop #4: Gokarna – The Quiet Alternative to Goa

I made a last-minute decision to head north to Gokarna, a small beach town in Karnataka. Unlike the party-packed beaches of Goa, Gokarna offered serenity and solitude. I stayed in a cliffside hut at Kudle Beach, watched the sun rise barefoot, and practiced yoga with travelers from Japan and Argentina.

It was here, one evening under a sky full of stars, that I realized how this journey had quieted the storm inside me. No luxury, no itinerary—just movement, conversation, and stillness.

Why Train Travel in South India Is a Must-Try

If you're considering budget travel in India or looking for offbeat destinations in South India, train travel is a goldmine. It’s affordable, safe (especially for solo travelers), and gives you a front-row seat to real Indian life.

Trains like the Island Express, Ernakulam Intercity, and Chennai-Mysore Shatabdi offer scenic routes, clean coaches, and a deep sense of nostalgia.

Final Thoughts: The Beauty of Going Nowhere Fast

This journey across South India wasn’t about bucket lists or Instagrammable moments. It was about surrendering to the unpredictability of travel, listening more than speaking, and finding peace in motion.

For anyone feeling stuck, I highly recommend it—book that pass, pack light, and let the rails take you somewhere unexpected.

Sometimes, going nowhere fast is exactly where you’re meant to be.