Long drive to Delhi - 2

Preparations:

Now that Bangaluru - Kanyakumari - Delhi journey has been decided, preparations are on.

The Buggy - Lord Ganesha uses a mouse to ride around the universe, Goddess Laxmi uses an owl to fly around but we heathens shall be using Maruti Alto 800 for the journey. This Buggy has been got serviced, a kit to repair punctures, a tool kit supplied by manufacturer, a spare tyre, a litre of coolant, perfume for a/c are on board. Music system is there to listen to ghazals in the evening & puzzles in the morning.

Herbals & non-herbals - As is customary home remedies are must which include honey, pudin hara,  लौंग-cloves, इलायची-cardamom,  गुड़-jaggery, अजवाइन, इसबगोल, हल्दी-turmeric and mustard oil which shall be used by travellers to massage each other! Besides my समधी Dr Anil Taneja has given a long list of prescriptions for common cold, body ache, vomiting, fever, stomach upsets, for loose motions & for no motion!

Clothesline - Weather for Sept & Oct should have cool mornings & evenings all over India. Ocassional shower could greet us which is welcome. Jeans & T's suit well in this weather & there is no need of woollens. I guess Lungi would be a better option than jeans in Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka & white Dhoti for Maharashtra, Gujrat & Rajasthan. 

Misc items - Yoga mats, mobiles with GPS & an iPad to write daily blogs on. Shoes, chappals & caps. There is always a problem of carrying a camera. In some temples they allow camera on a fee some do not permit camera at all. Visit to monuments is also on payment of fee + camera fee + parking fee. Com'on have mercy on Sr Citizens!

Tolls - In our 2011 road trip of Delhi - Ahmedabad - Somnath - Dwarka - Diu and road trip of 2013 within Karnataka - Mysore, Manglore, Badami, Chitradurga, Hassan & Pondicherry shortage of coins & small currency notes was irritant. On many toll booths we ended up paying more than required. This is being kept in mind this time.

Besides toll for the bad roads, there were many tolls for bridges & sometimes even for entering the municipal limits! We argued in Hindi & they would reply in local language & only solution was to pay. 

द होल थिंग इज़ दैट की भैया सबसे बड़ा रूपैय्या । 

We never understood as to how they calculate the tolls & for what distance. Their calculations are similar to hidden charges levied by Firangi banks!

The Buggy with KA & MA 

Long drive to Delhi - 1

Bangalore was established by Hiriya Kempe Gowda in the year 1537. Since then Bangalore has patented its beautiful weather & non-stop cool breeze. IT people re-discovered the place in 1970 & have made it a metropolis having a population of over a crore ( in fact IBM was here in 1966 ).

While visiting my son Mukul & daughter in law Sippy in Bangaluru discussion veered around to various places of interest like Rameshwaram, Kanykumari, Munnar etc. Sippy was ready to loan her car for this tour. 

- What if we explore more say neighbouring Goa & Maharashtra? 

- Keep exploring till you reach Delhi !

That settled it. Bangalore to Delhi via Kanyakumari in Maruti Alto 800 - wot an idea sirji !

Broad parameters of the journey were settled:

Driver - Harsh Wardhan Jog

Navigator - Gayatri Wardhan with the help of maps & GPS in mobiles. Of course desi method of enquiring from passers by, rickshaw wallas & auto wallas is always there. ओए पुछदा पुछदा ते बंदा काबल कंधार वी पौंच जांदाए !

Route - Nothing fixed. We take main roads & highways from Kanyakumari towards Delhi. In between places of interest shall be explored. Option to short circuit or to a longer route is always open. In any case a tentative route has been decided.

Long journey to Delhi - that's the likely route to be taken from Bangaluru to Delhi

Time Schedule - Nothing fixed. We stay in major / minor towns for a day or two or more if we feel like it or weather God asks us to. Driving hours 6 AM to 4 PM or a max distance of 300 km per day. शाम को छोटा लगाना है या नहीं ?

Luggage - At minimum level. Essentials - Tooth paste & brush to freshen up, Yoga mats for morning Yoga to ward off fatigue & hair dye to look younger!

Budget - Babe di full kirpa!

ETD - Expected time of departure from Bangaluru is first week of Sept 14.

Suggestions from friends & well wishers are welcome. Those on size of car shall be summarily rejected as that is the only choice available at the moment.

Friends max two in numbers with driving license are welcome to join for part journey. For full journey please bring your own Buggy else it may become a madhouse!