Friday, October 23, 2009

3 seas Ride - South India

DSC06953
Route Plan : Bangalore - Mysore - Alapuzha(Arabian Sea) - Kollam(Arabian Sea) - Kovalam(Arabian Sea) - Kanaykumari(Indian Ocean) - Rameshwaram(Bay of Bengal) - Dhanushkodi(Bay of Bengal) - Rameshwaram(Bay of Bengal) - Madurai - Salem - Bangalore


View Larger Map


Ride Gang
Akshay(Myself) on Std
Pratap on Machismo 350
Willy(Wilson) on Std
Body(Bharat) on Machismo 500
DJ(Diwakar) on Thunderbird TS

Saturday 26th Sep 09

Started from home(Bangalore) at around 1600 hrs to Mysore. After hefty traffic reached Kengari around 1700hrs. After a stop for pee near Bidadi headed to Mysore nonstop and reached Mysore around 1900 hrs. Met the gang around 2000hrs for Ayuda Pooja at Yoganarasimha swamy temple. Pooja got over by around by 2100 hrs. Meanwhile we all were discussing about how to execute the ride plans which was already made. Ta ta bye for the night. I was staying at one of my friends place that night in Mysore.
(Bangalore to Mysore 150 kms)

Sunday 27th Sep 09

At around 5:30am in the morning we met at the Mysore Check post. DJ was late by 10 min. once DJ arrived headed towards Guudulur passing through the beautiful forests of Bandipur and Madumalai in the wee hours of morning. We stopped at 9:00am for Breakfast and Suta in Guudulur. The roads between Gundalpet and Bandipur were as usual bad, so we had lost some time there. After breakfast and Suta we headed towards Kochi passing through
Nilambur, Manjeri, Malappuram, Kuttipuram, Trissur for Lunch, Ernakulam, Alapuzzha for some pics in the beach and reached Kollam by 1900hrs. Halted for the Night at Kollam. Spent some late night hours at the beach. Suta and relaxing on the shores only.
(Mysore to Kollam 490 kms)

Monday 28th Sep 09

Headed towards Kanaykumari which was around 2.5 hours drive from Kollam. we started around 7:00 am in the morning and stopped for breakfast in Kovalam after some pics in the beautiful beach of Kovalam. Breakfast at the beach is pretty expensive. One plate poori will cost you around 60Rs. We had some paratas and dosas in the city. Then reached Kanyakumari by around 11:00 am, checked into the room. Spent the entire day in Kanaykumari visiting Kanyakumari temple and the nearby places, waiting for evening to watch the sunset.
DSC07001
After the sunset had some party at a local open Bar with Beer and a wonderful Chettinad Style dinner.
(Kollam to Kanyakumari 165 kms)


Tuesday 29th Sep 09

Supposed to leave Kanyakumari by 5:30 am in the morning which did not happen. we were ready by 6:00 am, the sun rise was around 6:15 am. We planned to view the beautiful sun rise, then had some Tea and light breakfast and left Kanyamumari by 7:00 am . We headed towards Rameshwaram passing through Kudangalam where it drizzled for about 25 min which proved a wrong one for Pratap who had a slip of the road , Toothukody (Tuticorn) where we had stopped for breakfast, ECR (Flat, Dry and Windy as usual) most of the time on ECR the wind was so strong I thought wind will carry me along with Bullet off the road, Ramanathapuram is where we stopped for lunch and ATM. Then on the way to Rameshwaram Stopped over the huge bridge for some pics and reached Rameshwaram by around 1600 hrs. Took an a/c accommodation for around Rs 250 per head. We were instructed by our homes to take bath with 22 theertas inside the temple. Taking bath in the temple is as usual scheduled to end by 18:30 hrs. So we had to rush to the temple to take bath before it is closed for the day. all 5 of us took bath with 22 theertas had good darshan of the lord Shiva and rested for the day. Had plans viewing sun rise at Dhanushkodi the next day. only Pratap would join me since the rest wanted to rest for some more time in the morning.
(Kanyakumari to Rameshwaram 325 kms)



Wednesday 30th Sep 09

woke Pratap at 5:30 am in the morning and left to Dhanushkodi. Reached there by 6:00 hrs to see the sun rise, but the clouds had played the spoilt sport. we waited near the Indian Navy Post for 10 min. Had a walk around enquiring how to reach the end point of India. Then we both were guided by a local. After that we headed towards the end point. We knew it would be a little tough riding in the smooth sand. So I came up with an idea of riding over the Jeep Tracks which also would help us in navigation and better grip. Mind you it worked out well even though we had got stuck in a couple of places. Once we reached the end point felt that road towards the end point of India was shorter than we expected. We took some pics and saw the ruins of Danushkodi and headed straight back towards the Indian navy post.
DSC07030
On the way back to Rameshwaram myself and Pratap met Willy, DJ and Body on their way to Danushkodi. We gave them some instructions how to reach the end point of India. we then headed towards our room and then breakfast. The 3 of them arrived at around 11:00 am then we left for Madurai which was around 170 kms from Rameshwaram. We stopped for lunch at Madurai, Belted mast biryani at Bell hotel and headed towards Salem. In Madurai traffic Body had a small fall avoiding a rickshaw who took a turn without indicating. Just few scratches first aid was done on the spot. Lost a good couple of hours next stop was at Karur for a TT injection for Body which took a another hour and headed towards Salem, reached Salem by 2200 hrs after dinner at a roadside hotel. Hunted for accommodation and settled in there by 2300 hrs.
(Rameshwaram to Salem via Madurai 440kms)


Thursday 1st Oct 09

Myself and Body headed towards Bangalore. Pratap, Willy and DJ headed towards Mysore which was around 280 kms from Salem. We stopped for breakfast at Krishnagiri which exactly is 100kms between Salem and Bangalore. We reached Bangalore at around 1200 hrs. Body got lost in Silk Board Traffic. Pratap, Willy and DJ reached Mysore at around 2100 hrs after visiting the Hogenakal Falls on the way to Mysore.
(Salem to Bangalore 210 kms)

One of the Dream Destinations was reached on my Bullet.

Trip Story on the Royal Enfield Website : http://www.royalenfield.com/community/trip/i-call-it-3-seas-ride.aspx#

Link for the pics