Long drive

It was a real long drive when we look back - 4900 km. The road went on & on criss-crossing hills, plains & touching the sea coast. It also meant passing through various cultural zones, visiting variety of temples, monuments & museums. This journey of 30 days resulted in 43 photo-blogs which were published in 2015 in instalments. In this present blog, links of all 43 photo-blogs have been brought together at one page for ease of reference.

* Not much of the planning went into this long drive. Lots of diversions took place if we compare to the proposed route map shown here. There were no advance bookings of hotels so as soon as we hit a new town we looked for shelter. That also meant testing mixture of Hindi plus English plus sign language. It was fun! We insisted on Senior Citizen discount but it was not easy to get. During the 30 day tour in Sept '14 min tariff paid was Rs. 500 for the night & max Rs. 3500.

* We stocked fruits, dry fruits, biscuits & namkeen & kept on replenishing. Tried local foods & delicacies also except for non-veg items just to avoid any possibility of sickness or indigestion though we do enjoy them at home. Of course tea, coffee, chach or lassi, cold drinks & packed juices were kept handy & are available all over.

* Our chariot Maruti 800 Alto never gave us any trouble. No puncture or breakdown occurred. We went along smoothly at 40 kmph to max 70 mostly with a/c on. Mid way we had wheel balancing done as a precautionary measure. Parking, manoeuvring Alto was easier but overtaking was not. There was no driving after 5 PM.

* Roads were better in Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Gujrat & Rajasthan but not so good in Kerala & in Maharashtra. Most of Kerala roads are 2 laned but at the same time least toll was paid in Kerala. Roadside greenery in general is pleasing in Kerala, Karnataka & Maharashtra whereas in TN, Guj & Raj it is comparatively less so. Vehicular population on Kerala roads was very high & in Raj it was pretty low. Drive to & fro Jog Falls was toughest - hills, jungles & lonely roads with sign boards mostly in Kannad warning of wild animals!

* GPS failed us couple of times as in some places local traffic police made the roads 'one way' temporarily. But by & large GPS Lady proved helpful. In number of places the pronunciation of the Lady made us laugh specially in Tamilnadu & Kerala. In lots of places mobile phones became useless for want of signals.

* For visiting inside of temples it was always a hassle - take off shoes, camera not permitted or mobile not permitted. In some place leather belts & purses are not permitted. At times camera was permitted but video camera was not. Or permitted with a fee. Wish they make it simpler. Similarly timings differed in temples, monuments & museums.

* Before start we had a basket with loads of 'ifs' on our heads - what if car breaks down? if we fall sick? if we are lost? if the car is stolen? if car is hit? & so on. But the ride finished without any such thing. We feel now that the basket on our heads can be lighter with no 'ifs'. We perhaps drum up imaginary obstacles!

* People all along were friendly & helpful in telling directions or locations of restaurants or monuments despite language mismatch. Variety of food items and of attire encountered is simply amazing. Of course food & clothes depend on geo-climatic conditions. Further we have some type of food here some have another. Here we wear such & such clothes elsewhere they wear other clothes. Therefore to say that me or my community has the best food or best life style is not done. The tour broadened our ideas about India.

Your comments are welcome.

The route 

43. चित्तौढ़गढ़ से
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2015/03/blog-post_25.html

42. Chittorgrh, Rajasthan.
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2015/01/long-drive-to-delhi-41-chittorgarh.html

41. Towards Chittorgarh, Rajasthan
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2015/01/long-drive-to-delhi-41-towards.html

40. Baroda City
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2015/01/long-drive-to-delhi-40-baroda-city.html

39. Vadodra - ii of ii - Luxmi Vilas Palace
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2015/01/long-drive-to-delhi-39-luxmi-vilas.html

38. Vadodra - i of ii
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2015/01/long-drive-to-delhi-38-vadodara-i-of-ii.html

37. On lonely roads in Dang, Gujrat - iii of iii
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/12/long-drive-to-delhi-37-on-lonely-roads.html

36. On lonely roads of Dang, Gujrat - ii of iii
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/12/long-drive-to-delhi-36-on-lonely-roads.html

35. On lonely roads of Dang, Gujrat - i of iii
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/12/long-drive-to-delhi-35-on-lonely-roads.html

34. On lonely roads of Mahrashtra

http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/12/long-drive-to-delhi-34-on-lonely-roads.html

33. Trimbkeshwar, Maharashtra
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/12/long-drive-to-delhi-33-trimbkeshwar.html

32. To Shirdi
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/12/long-drive-to-delhi-32-to-shirdi.html

31. Aga Khan Palace, Pune
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/long-drive-to-delhi-31-aga-khan-palace.html

30. Pataleshwar Temple, Pune

http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/long-drive-to-delhi-30-pataleshwar.html

29. On way to Pune
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/long-drive-to-delhi-29-on-way-to-pune.html

28. Panhala Fort, Kolhapur
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/long-drive-to-delhi-28-panhala-fort.html

27. Shree Chatrpati Sahu New Palace, Kolhapur
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/long-drive-to-delhi-27-shree.html

26. On way to Kolhapur
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/long-drive-to-delhi-26-on-highway-to.html

25. Jain Temple, Belgaum, Karnataka
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/long-drive-to-delhi-25-jain-temple-fort.html

24. Belgaum, Karnataka
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/long-drive-to-delhi-24-to-belgaum.html

23. Warship Museum, Karwar, Karnataka
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/long-drive-to-delhi-23-warship-museum.html

22. Om Beach, Gokarna, Karnataka.
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/long-drive-to-delhi-22-om-beach-gokarna.html

21. Jog Falls, Shimoga, Karnataka
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/long-drive-to-delhi-21-jog-falls.html

20. Murudeshwara Temple, Karnataka http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/long-drive-to-delhi-20-murudeshwara.html

19. Towards Murudeshwara, Karnataka
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/long-drive-to-delhi-19-towards.html

18. Bekal Fort, Kasargod, Kerala
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/long-drive-to-delhi-18-bekal-fort.html

17. Thalaaserry Fort, Kannur, Kerala
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/long-drive-to-delhi-17-thalassery-fort.html

16. Coast line, Calicut
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/long-drive-to-delhi-16-coastline-calicut.html

15. Guruvayoor, Kerala
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/11/long-drive-to-delhi-15-guruvayoor-kerala.html

14. Trichur, Kerala
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/10/long-drive-to-delhi-14-thrissur-kerala.html

13. In Munnar, Kerala

http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/10/long-drive-to-delhi-13-munnar-kerala.html

12. Around Fort Kochi
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/10/long-drive-to-delhi-12-around-fort.html

11. On way to Cochin
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/10/long-drive-to-delhi-11-on-way-to-cochin.html

10. Reached Trivandrum
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/10/long-drive-to-delhi-10-reached.html

9. Around Rameshwaram
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/10/long-drive-to-delhi-9-rameshwaram.html

8. Summary of places visited
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/10/long-drive-to-delhi-8-places-visited.html

7. In Kanyakumari
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/10/long-drive-to-delhi-7-kanyakumari.html 

6. Nayak Palace, Madurai
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/10/long-drive-to-delhi-6-nayak-palace.html

5. Minakshi temple, Madurai
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/10/long-drive-to-delhi-5-meenakshi-temple.html

4. In Madurai Tamilnadu
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/10/long-drive-to-delhi-4-madurai.html

3. Yercaud, hill station of Tamilnadu
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/09/long-journey-to-delhi-3.html

2. Preparing for long drive
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/08/long-drive-to-delhi-2.html 

1. Planning for a long drive
http://jogharshwardhan.blogspot.com/2014/08/long-drive-to-delhi-1.html

The vehicle, the driver & the navigator ready to start from Bangalore