A Mega Nano Trip to Kanyakumari

Date: 13-Aug-16 to 17-Aug-16

Finally, the time had come to seriously plan our long-pending dream trip to Kanyakumari. Ever since the Tata Nano became our travel companion, we had wanted to drive all the way from Bengaluru to the southernmost tip of India.

If not for the Nano, many of our trips over the previous two and a half years would never have happened. Hassle-free parking, an impressive fuel efficiency of 21–22 km/l, easy maneuverability on narrow and winding roads, and not a single breakdown during any of our journeys had made us extremely fond of this car. Contrary to what many people assume, it also offered surprisingly good interior space. Over the years, our Nano had comfortably handled some of the worst roads we had encountered. Naturally, we felt it was time to test both ourselves and the car on an even bigger adventure.

The Independence day long weekend provided the perfect opportunity. By combining the holiday weekend with two additional days of leave, we had five days available for the trip.

Since simply driving on a highway to reach the destination never appealed to us, planning the route became an important part of the journey. While I was busy with office work, Thilak took complete responsibility for designing the itinerary. He came up with a longer but far more rewarding route that included several of Tamil Nadu’s most iconic attractions, including Gingee Fort, Pondicherry, the three Great Living Chola Temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram, Rameshwaram, and Madurai. The commonly used NH44 route was reserved for the return journey.

When we discussed the plan with my in-laws, they agreed instantly to join us. Their enthusiasm made us extremely happy. In fact, they handled our tightly packed schedule with remarkable energy throughout the trip.

Our five-day itinerary

• Day 1
  • Start from Bengaluru at 3:30 AM.
  • Have breakfast in Thiruvannamalai around 8:00 AM.
  • Visit Gingee Fort.
  • Proceed to Pondicherry.
  • Have lunch and check into the hotel.
  • Visit Matrimandir (Auroville), Aurobindo Ashram, White Town, and Rock Beach.
  • Have dinner and retire for the day.
• Day 2
  • Check out from the hotel in Pondicherry by 8:00 AM.
  • Visit Sacred Heart Church.
  • Proceed to Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
  • After exploring the temple, have lunch in Kumbakonam.
  • Visit Airavatheswara Temple at Darasuram.
  • Continue to Thanjavur and visit Brihadeeswarar Temple in the evening.
  • Leave Thanjavur by around 5:30 PM and proceed towards Rameshwaram.
  • Have dinner en route and check into the hotel at Rameshwaram.
• Day 3
  • Start from the hotel at 8:00 AM after breakfast.
  • Visit Ramanathaswamy Temple.
  • Check out before noon. Have lunch and proceed towards Dhanushkodi.
  • If private vehicles are not permitted, use the local tempo services to explore Dhanushkodi.
  • Stop at Pamban Bridge while returning and continue towards Kanyakumari.
  • Visit a relative’s home in Tuticorin on the way.
  • Check into the hotel in Kanyakumari at night.
• Day 4 
  • Wake up early and reach the sunrise viewpoint by 5:15 AM.
  • Witness the sunrise at the confluence of the three seas.
  • Return to the hotel and freshen up.
  • Visit Bhagavathi Amman Temple and Gandhi Mandapam.
  • Check out from the hotel and visit Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the Thiruvalluvar Statue.
  • Have lunch and begin the return journey.
  • If time permits, visit Padmanabhapuram Palace near Nagercoil; otherwise proceed directly to Madurai.
  • Check into the hotel in Madurai for the night.
• Day 5 
  • Start from the hotel at 8:00 AM after breakfast.
  • Visit Meenakshi Amman Temple.
  • Return to the hotel and check out.
  • Visit Gandhi Memorial Museum.
  • Have lunch and begin the drive back to Bengaluru via NH44.

With the planning complete and excitement at its peak, the four of us were ready to begin our much-awaited road trip. At exactly 3:30 AM on 14 August 2016, we started our journey towards Kanyakumari.

Detailed travel logs

The detailed day-wise travel experiences of this trip can be found the following posts:

• Day 1 – Gingee Fort (Senji Fort)
• Day 1 – Pondicherry (Puducherry)
• Day 2 – Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram Temples
• Day 2 – Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur
• Day 3 – Rameshwaram
• Day 3 – Dhanushkodi
• Day 4 – Kanyakumari
• Day 5 – Madurai

Travel snapshot

Some journeys begin long before the engine starts. This Kanyakumari road trip was one such dream that had been taking shape for years. What made it special was not just the destinations we planned to visit, but the excitement of sharing the journey with family, travelling through places rich in history, culture, and spirituality, and setting out with complete faith in our little Nano. As we left Bengaluru before dawn, we knew we were beginning an adventure that would stay with us for a long time.

• Onward route (first day): BTM Layout > Hosur > Thiruvannamalai > Gingee Fort > Pondicherry
  Return route (last day): Madurai > Dindigul > Namakkal > Salem > Hosur > BTM Layout
• Total distance (To & Fro): 1882 km
• Mileage (Car): 19 km/l
• Fuel expense: 5890 Rs
• Total expense (4 people): 25,631 Rs
• Photos:
  • Gingee Fort Album
  • Pondicherry Album
  • Great Living Chola Temples Album
  • Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi Album
  • Kanyakumari Album
  • Madurai Meenakshi Temple Album
  • Gandhi Memorial (Madurai) Album

Route Map