Solo Drive to Tiruchendur and Thoothukudi- Travelogue of a Techie

TechnoparkToday.com>>  I always prefer to travel any where all alone. If I get a chance to drive through out India all alone, Im always ready for it. Hope will make it one day for sure. We can have our own freedom if we do a solo drive. No disturbance, No late comings, etc etc. We can set our own limits. Might sound bit crazy, but I mean it. Lol.
This time I prefer to do a solo drive from my home town → Nagercoil → Kanyakumari → Thiruchendur → Thoothukudi → Thirunelveli → Nagercoil →back to home town. The total distance is approximately 365 kms. Earlier I planned to drive in my Hero Honda HUNK. But since it was raining in the parts of the areas I visit, it might spoil my entire trip. So zeroed down to drive it in my THAR. Its a 2WD DI model. This drive will be done in the day time as 60% of the route will be like a no-mans land. I mean there wont be any humans at all.

I started in the morning at 9 AM from home. When I started from home, it was raining like hell. I was thinking if I could able to take any photos of the drive. I was driving towards Kavalkinaru and from there I was driving towards Kanyakumari. From Anjugramam I had to deviate towards the Koodankulam route. It was pouring out like anything.

By the way, I have a huge collection of Illayaraja songs. Driving the vehicle in the rain, and hearing those songs is really awesome. I bought lots of snacks too and was driving while eating those. Hmm.. superb.

The road was really worse at some places. This road is said to be a highway, but there is no road at all. In no time I was crossing the Koodankulam nuclear plant.

The weather began to change as well as the roads now began to change. It was superb at some places. Till koodankulam can able to see the houses and vehicle coming by. But after that its totally a deserted area. There might be one vehicle passing every 5-7 kms. But road is awesome. In some areas can able to see the costal areas as the highway is said to be as East coast road. I have to drive till Thiruchendur.

After traveling some distance, found a village. I saw a village hotel. I love eating simple food in village hotel rather than eating in star hotels. I had lunch over there and spoke to the people. Spent around 1 hour there and began to continue my drive.

I reached Thiruchendur around 3 PM. I had to drive inside the town and further drive to Thoothukudi. There is no by-pass I guess.

Now the climate and roads were totally different. I cant even switch over to 3 rd in some places, such a horrible roads. The govt bus were overtaking casually in a high speed. I was thinking how the people inside the bus were experiencing the ride. Lol. I was drained out by then. Parked the jeep in a place and took some rest for 30 min. Refreshed further and drive till Thoothukudi. Had tea and snacks, and was cruising towards Thirunelveli. This highway is a four lane road. It was great to drive the THAR. It was a bumpy ride but was feeling the ride in THAR.

It was 6 PM by then. I was getting excited for a night drive. Took for break for over 1 hour and wanted to do a night drive. Started at 7 PM and reached Thirunelveli at 7:30. From Thirunelveli I had to drive to Nagercoil.

The 4 lane is good over here too. I was maintaining an average speed of 80 KMPH in most of the places. Driving in night in jeep is simply superb and that too it was fantastic by hearing the ever green melodies of Illayaraja. At 8:30 I reached Kavalkinaru, had tea and snacks and further drove till Nagercoil. Had a heavy dinner and reached home at 10 PM.

Overall, the drive was superb. And that too it was a solo drive, it was really amazing.

Stephen Jawahar