The thought..
This was our unplanned trip in the month of December, 2011. My in-laws had come to visit us during that time & suddenly I asked my wifey if we can go for a trip to Kanyakumari via Madurai as it was long pending & a long weekend was approaching. Friday was a declared holiday & we both planned to take a day off coming Monday for the trip. My father-in-law agreed to our plan & started preparing for the trip. Only worry was regarding our daughter who was then only 7 months. Will she be able to cop with such a long journey?? Keeping all these thoughts aside we decided to go ahead & do the trip.
Teaser Pics..
Preparation..
The car was given for a servicing at Pratham motors who does the job farely well. Special attention was given to the car & detailed check up was done for preparing the car for a long trip (1400 Kms approx.). As usual I gathered information from googling & prepared a 10 page well documented guide. Thursday the day before our journey I came home early from office. Did some shopping for the trip like; snacks, cool drinks, juices, baby food, medicines etc. Took a trial of the car & went to petrol bunk at night for getting the the car tank full to avoid delay in the morning.
Route detail as follows:
Bangalore-->Chandapura-->Hosur-->Krishnagiri-->Karimangalam-->Dharmapuri-->Omalur-->Salem-->Rasipuram-->Namkkal-->Padamudipaliayam-->Vedasandur-->Dindigul-->Vadippatti-->Madurai-->Tirumangalam-->Virudnagar-->Sattur-->Kovilpatti-->Kayattar-->Tirunelveli-->Munradiaippuo-->Nanguneri-->Kanniyakumari
Travellers:
Sumit the solo Driver, wifey, daughter Saanvi & my in-laws
Day1
Plan was to leave Bangalore by 5:00AM but was late by 45 mins & we left from home at 5:45AM. We took the route from HSR layout & took a left turn towards electronic city flyover & in no time we reached Hosur. Stopped at Ghar Dhaba for a breakfast at 7:45 AM. Had Idlee-Vada & Dosha followed by hot tea. After a good 30 mins of break we started towards the first destination Madurai. Our schedule time to reach Madurai by 12:00PM as the temple closes at 12:30 for 1 hour or so. Reached Madurai at around 12:10 PM (450 Kms in 6 hours - fast indeed) & straight proceeded for the temple. Reached temple & did the darshan & spent time for about an hour there. Was fully samazed to see the beauty of the temple architecture & surroundings.
Few Pics..
Small replica of the Meenakshi temple
Started at 2:00PM from Madurai & at around 2:30 PM we had a simple south India lunch in a not so famous road side restaurant, we call it as a dhaba in North.
Lunch time
Beautiful road
approaching Kanyakumari
Reached Kanyakumari at sharp 5:00PM as targeted. Straight away we went to the Vivekananda Ashram where we stayed in a cottage (2 bedroom, haal & dining area with AC) inside the Ashram. It was a wonderful feeling as the cottage was inside the Ashram on the other side where there you can feel your breath, can hear the sound of your heart beat. A complete Divine experience!! After taking some rest & tea we headed for the sea shore which was 5 mins drive from the ashram. The ashram also has its own private beach which we planned to visit next day. From the sea shore we went to visit the famous Kumari Amman temple late in the evening. The Kumari Amman or the Kanyakumari Temple, located on the shore, is a Shakti Peetha dedicated to a manifestation of Parvati, the virgin goddess who did penance to obtain Lord Shiva's hand in During the darshan we were asked to remove our shirts & the banyan. Had darshan within 10-15 mins & headed towards the local market.
Day2
Wake up in the morning at around 5:30AM to catch a glimpse of sun rise. But we were not so lucky that day as it was cloudy & was raining since night. We stayed back & waited patiently for the rain god to help stop raining. At around 8:30AM post tea & bath we headed for the Rock memorial. We had to wait in a queue for at least 2 hours under the scorching sun to get into the steamer. Then it took us to the famous rock memorial where Swami Vivekananda swam to this rock and meditated about the past, present and future of India. It is said that he attained enlightenment on the rock, and henceforth became a reformer and philosopher. We spent around 4 hours at the Rock memorial as it was so refreshing, calm & tranquil.
Few Pictures of Kanyakumari
Thiruvalluvar_Statue_at_Night
Rock Memorial
Sun rise at Roack Memorial
Light_House_Kanyakumari
Seen from the steamer which ferried us to the Rock memorial
Sunrise seen from the cottage
Swami Vevekanda statue at Rock memorial
Cottage where we stayed
Seen from Rock memorial
Swami Sumitananda on the rise
St. Xaviers Church in Kanyakumari
Our darling Saanvi trying to get attention of the crowd there at Rock memorial
Seen from Rock memorial
At Ashram seen from the cootage
Rock memorial from backside
Peacocks grazing around the ashram freely
inside the ashram
My car parked outside the ahram cottage
Photo gallery of Swami Vivekanand
On Day4 we started at 9:00AM after having paratha's in breakfast. We reached Bangalore exactly at 6:00PM, a 675 Kms stretch in 9 hours, unbelievable!! Thus end of a serene & refreshing tranquil trip to Kanyakumari. Wish to go back again and this time to stay at least a week at Vivekananda ashram in nature's lap!!
Highlights:
Fuel efficiency - 16.5 Kms/ ltr
Max speed attained - 145 Kms/ hour
Total distance covered - 1400 Kms
Road Condition - Never seen a road so beautifully laid all the way till Kanyakumari
Caution - watch out for the incoming traffic on the wrong way & cattle's grazing on the divider
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