Kanyakurmari-Rameshwaram bike ride -Day 7

Day 7: 05/11/2010

Wish you Happy Diwali!

Woke up early in the morning by 4 am, it was raining heavily. We thought lots of devotee will be present on the occasion of Diwali but because of the rain few people were able to reach the temple. We were inside the temple by 4:30am for darshan.After the temple darshan decide to head for DhanusKodi  at 6.15am. 

 On the way to Dhanuskodi

road to infinity

Reached the check post, where we asked for permission to take the bike till Dhanuskodi but with our own risk. The toughest part of ride was going through the sand till the sea side.

The toughest part to ride on sand!

Dhanuskodi was around 4-5km from the check post, usually people go to Dhanuskodi by bus or fishermen vehicle. If you are interested to go further you have to heir a jeep from Rameshwaram. we have to follow the tracks of the bus & ride till Dhanuskodi.

ocean ride!

After riding for another 5km reach the ruined city (Ghost town) - Dhanuskodi

remains of the ruined city

ruined church

Spent the time roaming around the ruined city, saw the old railways station, the broken rail track, old school building .....where ever you see all broken building, temple and church submerged in sand. the Government declared the town as ghost town and unfit for living after the storm.Only few fisher-folks now live there. Planed to go further to see the coral reef, but local people advised not to go by bike as it was high tide most of the jeep tracks will be submerged. So finally decided to head back. Stopped in few places on the way to take photos.

Normalize effect on the photo!

 The Man & the Machine!

We were back in Rameshwaram by 9:45am, spent time roaming around the city exploring few temples. Had lunch and planned to head back to Bangalore, original plan was to pass through Madurai - instead we planned to go to Trichy. We left Rameshwaram at around 2pm and headed for Trichy. On the way we stopped at Pamban bridge to take photos.

Pamban bridge!

  Railway double-leaf bascule bridge section that can be raised to let ships pass under the bridge

Once we reach the ECR raod took the diversion into NH-210 which goes toward Trichy. Once we crossed Devakottai we could see the black clouds on the horizon heading towards our path, we stopped and prepared our self to tackle the rain. It rained cats & dogs. We didn't want to stop & wait for the rain to stop so slowly moved ahead. Most of the road was submerged in water, when we entered a small town, roads are almost not visible knee deep water was flowing in it, we just ripped through the running water, people were thinking we have gone mad. After driving for almost 3hrs fully drench in rain we reached pudukkottai. Oh boy! people are happy as the rain stopped and everyone are ready with there crackers to celebrate Diwali. Now we were driving carefully as most people are bursting cracker in the middle of the road. This was the second diwali i spent my time on road trip. We reached Trichy by around 8pm, then decided to go to Srirangam and stay there, visit the Sri Ranganathswamy Temple in the morning. We got a lodge near the raja gopuram, had dinner and went to bed.

Route: Rameshwaram-devakottai-Puddukkottai-Trichy-Srirangam

Distance cover: 250km

Kanyakurmari-Rameshwaram bike ride -Day 6

Day 6: 04/11/2010
          Left Kanyakumari early the morning and reached Vattakottai by 7:10am. We didn't know that the fort gate opens at 9am. We requested the the care taker to let us in, we paid the entry fee. Vattakottai circular fort is a seaside fort built in 18th century as a coastal defence-fortification and barracks in the erstwhile Travancore kingdom.

few pics of Vattakottai fort

       We left Vattakottai by 8am as the care taker has to go out to town. We planned to follow the road which goes by the sea side, most part of the ride was like roller coaster ride as the road was too uneven. But the road was in good condition without much potholes. We were driving mostly alone in this road as the traffic was very less, occasionally few vehicle cross. 

we hit the magical number!

When we were nearing Koodankulam we saw more traffic and many people waiting to go for work. This place is famous for Nuclear Power plant, this the 9th power plant in India. After driving for another 25km our luck run out once again, rear tyre got puncture. we were just 10km away from Tiruchendur, people advised us to go back 5km to find a puncture shop. It is difficult to ask help in the plane area where people are afraid to stop. after trying few times one guy stopped and helped me to take the rear tyre to near by puncture shop. This time i was adamant and asked the guy to check it thoroughly, found out that from inside the tyre was teared. I asked him if i can get a new tyre, he told me that he going to put one extra tube inside so that it will protect the main tube, asked me to get the tyre at Tuticorin. I couldn't get anything to return back, so hired on jeep that dropped to the point where the bull was parked.

      Now we were driving very careful not to hit any potholes or stones. After 4th puncture you will always feel like anytime the tyre may flatten out. So decide to have lunch at Tiruchendur, had lunch and were ready to start for Rameshwaram when a guy came up & asked "Are you willing to sale the bike, will pay you in cash". This guy was asking the bull for his son, who was on top of the building beside the restaurant, supervising in construction. Asking his father from top to ask us weather we will sale the bike. That guy took our phone and said once you reach back will give you a call. Once again we hit the road and reached Tuticorin by 1pm. I searched many shops for ceat tyre but couldn't find anywhere so decide to put a Dunlop tyre, after bargain we got it for 1500 bucks. We went to near by puncture shop got it replaced and left Tuticorin by 2:30pm. We stopped near Sayalgudi to tank up the bull. We didn't knew the route, so we were checking the route on google map, but it doesn't show the road which we were traveling. We came to know that this was the new ECR road that goes up till Chennai. 

New East Coast Road

      The ECR road is still under construction at same places. We didn't go to Ramanathpuram instead we took the ECR and took a right into NH49 which goes to Rameshwaram. Driving for another 56km we reached Rameshwaram by 7:30pm. Once again we started to hunt for a good lodge, finally got one which was recently opened for Rs 500 for double room was too good, where other lodges we charging more and rooms were not good. Finally settled and went out to take dinner. by 10pm we hit the bed, as we have to get up early to visit the temple.

Route: Kanyakumari-Tiruchendur-Tuticorin-Rameshwaram

Distance covered: 350KM