The 6800 kms - 19 days mega drive from Kolkata wef 2015-03-18 (Wednesday) to all five South Indian states, Konkan coast, Goa in my VW Vento TDI with wife, daughter, brother-in-law & his wife concluded on 5th April 2015.
I was the sole driver.
18th March 2015 - (872 kms) (4am - 8.15pm) - Kolkata - Visakhapatnam
via Kharagpur, Balasore, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Brahmapur, Ichapuram, Tekkali, Srikakulam.
19th March 2015 - (1003 kms) (6am - 1.15am of 20th April) - Visakhapatnam local & Vizag - Puducherry
via Rajamundry, Tanuku, Vijaywada, Nellore, Gudur, Naidupeta, Chennai Outer Ring Road, Tindivanam.
20th March 2015 - (51 kms) - Puducherry and Auroville.
21st March 2015 - (501 kms) (6.30am - 6.30pm) - Puducherry - Madurai Meenakshi Temple (12noon to 1.20pm) - Rameshwaram
via Villupuram, Tiruchirapally.
22nd March 2015 - (338 kms) (7am - 4pm) - Rameshwaram - Dhanushkodi (7.45am to 10.30am) - Rameshwaram - Pamban Bridge - Kanyakumari & Kanyakumari local
via Tirunlveli.
23th March 2015 - (114 kms) (12noon - 5.45pm) - Kanyakumari local & Kanyakumari - Thirparappu Waterfalls - Poovar backwater boat ride - Kovalam
via Nagercoil, Choozal.
24th March 2015 - (42 kms) (10.35am - 6.30pm) - Drove around Kovalam & Trivandrum.
25th March 2015 - (315 kms) (6.50am - 6.15pm) - Kovalam Beach - Varkala Beach - Allepey backwaters - Kumily/ Thekkady
via Trivandrum, Kallambalam, Kollam, Allapuza Medical College, Allepey/ Kalarkod (turned right immediately after Sanatan Dharma College), Changanacheri, Ponkunnam, Mundakayam, Kumily (Thekkady).
26th March 2015 - (120 kms) -
Thekkady/ Periyar Lake 3 kms away for boat ride & back (8.40am - 11am).
Thereafter, 12noon to 4.30pm slow but very enjoyable hill drive through lush green tea estates from Thekkady to Munnar
via Harrison Malayalam Tea Gardens at Poopara.
Also drove around for 6 kms around Munnar.
Stayed at Hotel Green Ridge @ Munnar.
27th March 2015 - (185 kms) (10am - 8pm) - Munnar - Kochi - Fort Kochi - Ernakulam - Angamaly
via Adimali, Kolenchery, Prathapnagar, Aluva.
28th March 2015 - (260 kms) (9am - 6pm) - Angamaly - Kannur (Baby Beach)
via Thrissur, Choodal, Kunnamkulam, Edapal, Kottakhal, Calicut University, Kozhikode (Calicut) bypass of 21 kms, Atholi, Mahe.
29th March 2015 - (377 kms) (8.30am - 8pm) - Kannur - Bekal Fort (10.50am to 11.45am) - Kappil Beach - Murudeshwar - Gokarna
via Pariyaram, Payyanur, Nileshwar, Kathargod, Kasargod, Mangalore, NIT Surathkal, Udupi, Shiroor, Bhatkal, Shirali.
30th March 2015 - (215 kms) (9am - 8pm) - Gokarna (Om Beach) - Karwar (Tagore Beach) - Colva Beach & entire South Goa - Candolim in North Goa
via Pollem, Cancona, Bom Basillica, Panjim, Verem, Nerul.
31st March 2015 - (76 kms) - Drove around Goa.
1st April 2015 - (50 kms) - Drove around Goa.
2nd April 2015 - (997 kms) (5.35am - 11.30pm) - Goa - Vijaywada
via Chorla Ghat, Belgaum, Bagalkote, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Sedam, Pargi, Chevalla, Hyderabad ORR Exit 11.
3rd April 2015 - (592 kms) (9am - 6.45pm) - Vijaywada - Baruva Beach (near Sompeta)
via Tanuku, Rajamundry, Vizag, Srikakulam, Palasa, Tekkali.
4th April 2015 (Saturday) - (5 kms) - Baruva Beach.
5th April 2015 (Sunday) - (687 kms) (5.50am - 6.30pm) - Baruva - Kolkata
via Ichapuram, Brahmapur, Bhubaneswar, Balasore, Kharagpur Uluberia Azad Hind Dhaba (2.45pm to 4pm).
.
.
.
* Indian Roadie Beach Drive
* Beach Drive
