Tamil Nadu
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Coimbatore to Coonoor
After my brief stop over at Coimbatore I headed off to the cooler climate of the Nilgiris hills and the town of Coonoor. The Nilgiris district has three hill stations: Ooty which this the largest and most well known; Coonoor which is smaller; and Kotagiri which is the least developed. I chose to stay in Coonoor as the guide books suggested it would be quieter and I read some great reviews about the Birdhouse Backpackers Hostel located on the edge of the town. I left Coimbatore later than I hoped as the chain on my bike needed replacing. It was 5 pm before I was finally on the road which…
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Madurai to Coimbatore via Theni and Pollachi
I left Madurai and continued my journey north. I decided to stop in the transit hub of Theni as the motorbike was due a service as I had already clocked up over 1500 km. The ride to Theni was good along the highway and took me towards the base of the Agamalai Forest Hills. Once I arrived in Theni I checked into the hotel and headed out to explore the surrounding area as the town was a busy and dusty transport hub. I looked on Google maps and saw that the large Melmangalam reservoir and dam were located 30 minutes from the town. I rode out to the reservoir which…
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Kanyakumari to Madurai
I left Kanyakumari to start my journey towards the north of India. My first stop was Madurai which is one of the oldest cities in India and the cultural centre of Tamil Nadu. It was a 4 hour drive to Madurai but I stopped off occasionally to take in the scenery and to have a chai break. I arrived in Madurai at mid-day and checked in to the homestay I had booked. The homestay was on the outer edge of the city in a quiet residential area. I had a great room on the top of the families house with a roof terrace for myself. After refreshening up I explored…
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Kanyakumari and surroundings
I had planned to start my first full day in Kanyakumari watching the sunrise but woke at 5 am to the sound of heavy rain. The rain continued till 9 am and so I was able to have an extra few hours in bed. Once the rain had stopped I went down to the seafront to do some sightseeing. Kanayakumari is the most southerly point of India and the place where the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet and is considered to be a sacred site. Just off of the coast are two large rocks upon which monuments have been built. The first monument is dedicated…
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Rameswaram to Kanyakumari via Thoothkudi (Tuticorin)
I left Rameswaram and headed south towards Thoothukudi where I had planned to stop over to break my journey towards the most southern point of India. Thoothukudi is a port city and also known as ‘Pearl City’ due to the pearl fishing that takes place near the town. The port has a long history as dating back to 6th century AD. The district is also the largest sea salt producing region of India with the town surrounded by salt pans which are a major employer for the area. The town is also a major industrial hub with a large Thermal Power Station dominating the horizon. The fishing harbour in the…
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Trichy to Rameswaram
I woke early to avoid the rush hour traffic out of Trichy and headed south east to coastal town of Rameswaram. It was a great 4 hour bike ride along quiet highways stopping every hour for a chai break and some Indian snacks. I arrived at Rameswaram just after midday. I first crossed the impressive Pamban bridge which runs alongside the famous Pamban Bascule Railway Bridge which is undergoing extensive renovation. The views from the bridge were great. The signs on banned vehicles from stopping but this was ignored as worshippers on their pooja stopped to throw offerings into the sacred waters around Pamban Island. I arrived in Rameswaram which is…
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Tharangambadi to Trichy via Kumbakonam and Thanjavur
I left Tharangambadi just as the sun was rising. I headed out on the highway towards the temple town Kumbakonam. Arrived mid-morning and parked by the large Mahamaham tank in the centre of the town. It is a sacred sight for Hindus as they believe every 12 years India’s holiest rivers including the Ganges flow into it. The town is famous for the large number of temples (18 in total) which all are adorned with decorated temple gates. was The base of the temple chariot used for various festivals was parked in the street near one of the temple gates. Inside the temple was the thick rope used to pull…
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Pondicherry to Tharangambadi
I woke early to explore the beach and backwaters that were close to the hotel I was staying at just outside Pondicherry. Paradise beach is next to an extensive network of backwaters. It was great to arrive just as the sun was rising and the mist was clearing from the backwaters. Locals were out fishing and the estuary was teeming with birdlife. I watched a beautiful white bearded kingfisher diving into the water just next to where I parked the bike. A large fishing community stretches along the beach. I watched as the last of the night fishing boats arrived back on shore and observed the other fishermen prepare their…
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Pondicherry, Auroville and Gingee Fort
I set off early to see the Aurobindo Ashram which was established in 1926 by a french lady called Mirra Alfassa who is known as ‘mother’ by her followers at Aurobindo. In 1968 she established an international township called Auroville. The township now has over 2000 residents from all around the world exploring alternative sustainable ways of living in harmony with the planet. The ashram is also a recognised research and educational centre. Visitors are allowed to visit the grounds of the ‘Matrimandir’ which is a large globe in the centre of the grounds and a focal point for the community and meditative practices. It was interesting to walk around…
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Chennai to Pondicherry
This morning I rose early to start my bike adventure to the Southern tip of India. I packed up my bag, loaded the motorbike and put on my protective gear before saying goodbye to Bavrah and Ashlin. They have been wonderful hosts over the past week and helped me prepare for the adventure. I will miss them both but will see them again on my return back to Chennai at the end of the trip. I pulled out onto the streets of Chennai which were relatively quiet early in the morning. I set Pondicherry (Puducherry) as my destination on Google maps and linked my phone to the helmet speakers. This…
