Drive to Kolukkumalai in Tamilnadu to see the sunrise and world's highest orthodox tea estate

Kolukkumalai is a small village/ hamlet in Bodinayakanur Taluk in Theni district of Tamil Nadu bordering Idukki district of Kerala. Situated at a height of 7900 ft above sea level, it is home to the highest orthodox tea plantations in the world with the tea grown here possessing a special flavour and freshness because of the high altitude.



Route: Munnar - Devikulam - Chinakkanal - Suryanelli (jeep stand) - Kolukkumalai.

Established in 1935, the estate, located on Kolukkumalai Hills, is around 34 km from Munnar and takes about 2 hrs to reach by shared or hired Jeep from Munnar town.The hill top village is accessible only by jeep due to rugged and rain drenched roads. Regular vehicles are not permitted to ply upwards from Suryanelli town and in any case cars will not be able to make it to the top. Munnar to Suryanelli is approx. 24 kms.

There are a lot of leeches in the tea estate. Therefore, it's advisable that roadies should carry salt with them.

112 is the National Emergency Number in India

112 is the National Emergency Number in India.
Use it during any emergency.

Road trip to Adalaj ni Vab Stepwell, Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Adalaj ni Vav or Rudabai Stepwell is a stepwell located in the village of Adalaj, Gandhinagar district in Gujarat (close to Ahmedabad).

@tinksk had gone for a small drive to the stepwell.

Road trip to Nepal from Kolkata via Birganj and back in 12 days in November 2017

An IndianRoadie follower with wife and another couple drove to Nepal from Kolkata and back for a relaxed 12 days trip in their Maruti Swift Dzire Petrol in early November 2017.

Day 1: Kolkata (5.30am Dankuni toll plaza) - Muzaffarpur (6.30pm) via Asansol, Topchanchi, Barhi, Nawada, Biharsharief, Patna, Mahatma Gandhi Setu, Hajipur.

Day 2 : Muzaffarpur (6.30am) - Motihari - Raxaul border - Birganj - Chitwan (2.30pm).

Day 3 : Elephant safari + Jeep safari.

Day 4 : Chitwan (7.00am) - Pokhara (3.00pm).

Day 5: Pokhara sightseeing.

Day 6: Pokhara local.

Day 7: Pokhara (7.30am) - Kathmandu (3.00pm).

Day 8: Kathmandu and surroundings, viz. Bhaktapur, Patan, Sunset point.

Day 9: Kathmandu local sightseeing.

Day 10: Kathmandu (6.00am) - Birganj - Raxaul - Motihari - Muzaffarpur - Patna (7.00pm).

Day 11: Patna (6.30am) - Bodh Gaya (12 noon) .

Day 12: Bodh Gaya (9.30am) - lunch at Topchanchi - Asansol - Durgapur - Kolkata (7.30pm). 

Note:
NH19 is in excellent shape all along. 
NH31 after the Tilaiya Dam upto Biharsharief is in very bad shape with huge craters. They found atleast 6 - 8 trucks with broken axles in that stretch.
Bakhtiyarpur to Patna is toll road and a great pleasure to drive on.

Explore Nagaland - Morungs on display during Hornbill Festival at Kisama heritage village

What are Morungs?
Essentially a boys hostel. In the Naga way of life these huts were the training ground for boys to turn into men.
Although not in use anymore, during the Hornbill Festival (2017-12-01 to 2017-12-10) at Kisama heritage village, each tribe (17 Major tribes) gets to showcase their culture and tradition and take you back in time.

Source: Chalohoppo

Explore Nagaland - Kohima War Cemetery

A drive to Nagaland and the Hornbill festival is incomplete without a visit to the Kohima War cemetery. Built as a tribute to the fallen soldiers of the second world war in April 1944 after a war between the Allied forces and the Japanese. In 2013, the British National Army Museum voted the Battle of Imphal and Kohima as "Britain's Greatest Battle".

The memorial is right in the heart of Kohima city and happens to be one of the places to visit in Kohima for tourists because of the location and the beauty of the place, where roses bloom in season. There are others who come to pay homage to their family members who were martyrs.

Photo credit: unknown

Mumbai to Kolkata road trip via Nashik, Dhule, Amravati, Nagpur, Raipur, Sambalpur, Angul, Balasore, Kharagpur (Version - 1)

If one intends to drive from Mumbai to Kolkata, the ideal route is via NH3 (upto Dhule), NH6 (upto Sambalpur, Odisha), NH42 (upto Manguli, near Cuttack), NH5 (upto Balasore), NH60 (upto Kharagpur), NH6 (upto Kolkata).

The route via NH3 and NH6 is:
Mumbai - Nashik - Dhule - Khamgaon - Akola - Amravati - Nagpur - Durg - Bhilai - Raipur - Areng - Saraipali - Bargarh - Sambalpur.

Driving distance from:
Mumbai (Gateway of India) - Thane - Igatpuri - Nashik via NH160 (erstwhile, NH3) = 180 kms.
Nashik - Dhule = 160 kms.
Dhule - Jalgaon - Bhusawal - Khamgaon via NH6 (new, NH53) = 220 kms.
Khamgaon - Akola Airport via NH6 = 58 kms.
Akola Airport - Amravati via NH6 = 90 kms.
Amravati - Nagpur (crossing of NH6 and NH7) = 170 kms.





Pune, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Buldana drivers will touch NH6 at Khamgaon.







After reaching Sambalpur, it's best to avoid driving on NH6 via Deogarh, Keonjhar, Baharagora, Chichira, Kharagpur because it's not a pleasant drive through a predominantly double laned road with uneven surface.

From Sambalpur, it's best to follow NH55 (erstwhile, NH42) from Junction with NH6 to Junction with NH16 (erstwhile NH5) at Manguli near Cuttack via Rairakhole - Angul - Dhenkanal bypass - Chowdwar (261 kms).





NH55 (erstwhile, NH42) is mostly good double laned road barring a few sections where it's also four laned.
Strictly avoid driving the Sambalpur - Angul (140 kms) double laned highway which passes through dense forest section after sundown. Facilities are almost non-existent. However, an early morning drive from Sambalpur to Angul is a great feeling with the sunrays peeping through the tall saal trees.



Angul became famous since mid 1980s for Asia's largest Aluminium smelting plant owned by NALCO Ltd, a Government of India enterprise.

From the Manguli crossing of NH55 with NH16, follow NH16 via Manguli toll plaza - Chandikhole - Bhadrak - Soro - Balasore.







From Balasore (Phulwari Chowk) drive on NH60, a newly relaid concrete road via Jaleshwar, upto Kharagpur which is 123 kms away.





Kharagpur to Kolkata is almost entirely six laned NH16.

Day 1: By leaving Mumbai by 4.30am, a sedate driver/ rider should be able to reach Amravati or an additional 100 kms upto Nagpur.
Day 2: Amravati/ Nagpur to Sambalpur .... good hotels are available.
Day 3: Sambalpur to Kolkata (either via Angul, Bhadrak or via Deogarh, Keonjhar, Baharagora).  

Edit: Roadies can drive Mumbai to Kolkata via Pune, Hyderabad, Vizag, Bhubaneswar and follow the map in the link. 

https://indian-roadie.blogspot.com/2020/12/indian-roadie-preferred-route-motoring.html 

Explore Bangalore - Six face Muruga Temple in Rajarajeswari Nagar

The Six Face Muruga Temple in Rajarajeswari Nagar is a unique temple in Bangalore dedicated to Lord Shanmuka (Muruga). The exceptional feature of Shanmukha Temple in Shrungagiri Hill is the Gopuram ( temple tower ) which has the six faces of Lord Shanmukha.

The Gopuram featuring the 6 faces of Shanmugha (Shanmukha) is visible from a distance of 2 - 3 kms.

Photo & content: Bharath (@wander__n__wonder)

Explore Hampi - View of Vittala Temple from the end of Vittala Bazaar street

View Vittala Temple from the end of the Vittala Bazaar street.

Vittala Temple Bazaar - This is one of the many ancient bazaars (market) in Hampi. As the name indicates, Vittala Bazaar is attached to the iconic Vittala Temple. This street is still intact and functional.

On either sides of the bazaar are chains of boulder hills. The river and the boulder hills make an natural backdrop form the bazaar.

During the functional days of Vittala Temple, the temple tank, Kudure Gombe Mantapa in the Vittala street were significant sites. During the annual festival the idol of the god used to be taken on a chariot on this bazaar street.

Photo & content: Bharath (@wander__n__wonder)