Day 8

 

 
As the distance was short, all the teams took their time before they could leave the hotel. This day was like an illusion act of a magician. I could not remember any event on the day as all the teams reached the base hotel safe and hit the bar as usual. I started about 2 pm from Thoothukudi and reached the base hotel in Tirunelveli at around 4 pm. There was a small drunken brawl with the locals with a team member but all was fine: it ended up in many crazy selfies with the locals involved.
 

Day 9

 

 
If you look at the google maps the route to Trinelveli to Kanyakumari (the Southern tip of India) is straight forward drive in highway. But we had detour the rally route through Papanasam. The Main attraction is Manimuthar dam, which was unfortunately closed due to bridge damage in the recent heavy rains in the district.
 

 
All the teams had to drive through a tiger reserve and eventually everyone agreed that it was the most scenic route of the rally. Team 15 met with a small accident but luckily there was no damage for both the parties and they continued driving. Team 7 had their fuel mix wrong and the mechanics had to reach them to make them drive back on road.
 

 
The final destination is a wonderful hotel in Kanyakumari and teams viewed the sunset of Kanyakumari in the Sunset point. The day as usual finished at the pub of the base hotel and it was probably the longest day for all the teams.
 

 
 

Day 7: Pongal Challenge

 
Day 7’s activity was kept as a surprise for the participants and only during the daily briefing were things revealed to them. We had planned a Pongal festival in Bremajothi farm at Sayarpuram and for the earlier part of the day we gave a small tour of close-by Tiruchandur and Manapad. As it had been a long day before, all the teams had a chance to relax. Some teams skipped Manapad tour and drove straight to farm, reaching there before 2 pm, about half an hour before the schedule.

 
All the teams assembled at 2.30 pm at the farm and found the arrangements ready for them. The quiet and natural set-up of the farm did not fail to impress all the teams. Aravind and his wife Gayathri came down at 2:30 pm and by 3 pm all the teams were briefed about the activity. Aravind and Gayathri handed over the dhothi and sarees for the teams, while locals were on-hand to help everyone wear them properly! After they got ready we had a photo session and after that it was time for the competition.
 

 
The Pongal event has always been a grand event and it attracts lot of media attention. Finally, after an hour and half the teams lined up for the Pongal competition results. The judging team (pictured above, in tense discussions) had to arrive after that and it took about 6.30 pm to have the results. Team 1, The Tuktators, won the competition for the taste, consistency and presentation.

 
After that the teams had their dinner given by Aravind and being dark we decided to drive them in convey to the hotel. It all ended up superbly and without a hitch we reached the hotel and the teams made it to the pub to finish their day. Knowing that the next day’s drive was pretty easy all the teams were in super relaxed mood that night. Those who burned the oil late into the night were Team 2 ‘the Hasselhoffs’, Team 4 ‘The Death-Shaw’, Team 6 ‘The Valkyrie of Valhalla’, Team 7 ‘Vibes Spice’ and Team 8 ‘Curry me to the Alter’ are the fantastic bunch. Known for their long night drink parties. they continued the habit in Thoothukudi as well.
 
 

 
 

Day 5: Rest day at Madurai

 
The beautiful temple city town of Madruai was the place where the teams had their deserved rest after the long night parties. Even though the teams got up late no one missed the chance to visit the Meeneakshi amman temple there.
 

Day 6: Madurai to Thoothukudi

 

The short day is piece of cake for all the 15 teams. In fact some of the teams had their best moments in Thoothukudi (also known as Tuticorin), driving around the small town having a lot of fun with the locals. So far the Classic Run is going well and let us has the glimpse of the finish in the next report. Until then you can follow our page for more updates, until then bye from me.
 
 

 
 

Chennai

 
Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is Tamilnadu’s capital and by far the largest city in the state. One of India’s major cities, it’s a perfect first stop when visiting India. Not quite as crazy as the very largest cities, and a little less “showy”, there’s still lots to do. You have to have a stroll along Marina beach (pictured above), the longest natural urban beach in India, and see nearby Fort St George, a relic of the city’s colonised past.
 

Pondicherry

 
The second stop on the Classic Run provides a chance to experience a very different atmosphere. Pondicherry (now officially known as Puducherry), is technically not part of Tamilnadu: instead it is located on Union territory, ruled by central government. In fact, Pondichery was French territory until the mid 20th century, and when it comes to cuisine, architecture, and overall feeling of the place, their colonial legacy is still very apparent today.
 

Thanjavur

 
The third city we visit is Thanjavur, the religious and cultural heart of Tamilnadu. One of India’s oldest cities, you can see relics of ancient empire, alongside impressive modern temples. Of particular note is Brihadeeswara Temple, a treasure of Indian architecture, over a thousand years old. The city is filled with life, famous for painting, music, and dance.
 

Madurai

 
Madurai is a city of temples, and it is impossible not to be impressed by the many intricately designed gopurams which tower over historic sites. An ancient city, which once traded with Rome and Greece, it has long been an important center for Tamil culture. However, the city is also flourishing in modern times, and it bustles with energy, especially during festival season.
 

Tuticorin

 
The Pearl City, Tuticorin, is Tamilnadu’s gateway to the sea. Also known as Thoothukudi, it has been an important port for centuries: once ruled by the Pandyan kingdom, it was taken over by the Portuguese, Dutch, and then British. Make sure you try the speciality of the city: the famous Macaroon!
 

Tirunelveli

 
Tirunelveli, variously known as Nellai or, historically, Tinnevelly, is located on the banks of the river Thamiraparani. Once the capital of the Pandya kingdom, there has been a settlement here for over two thousand years. The city’s most famous site is the impressive Nellaiappar Temple, dedicated to the god Shiva.
 

Kanyakumari

 
It’s easy to find Kanyakumari on a map: it’s located at India’s southern tip, and was known in Colonial times as Cape Common. Surrounded on by the Laccadive Sea on three sides, Kanyakumari offers fantastic views, particularly at sunset. It’s also home to many religious monuments, like the Vivekananda rock memorial (pictured above) and the Kumari Amman temple.
 

Trivandrum

 
The final stop on the Classic Run Rickshaw Challenge is Trivandrum, officially known as Thiruvananthapuram. This is the capital of glorious Kerala, known as “God’s own country”, the third state we will have visited. The city is blessed with a phenomenal location, between hills and ocean, and there are too many fantastic beaches to count. With its strategically useful position in the very south-west of the peninsula, Trivandrum has a long history and some great buildings to show for it: check out Kowdiar Palace (pictured above) and Padmanabhaswamy temple.
 
 

 

Classic Run Day 5: Glorious Madurai

 

 
The buzzling city is home to one of the biggest and surely one of the most beautiful temples of South India. With a bit of luck you will even meet some elephants there. It is a bit hard to get in, but it is totally worth the trouble. Woman have to be dressed modestly and men are not admitted without wearing a traditional dothi (a sarong worn in a skirt-like manner). Meanwhile, other teams chose just to relax and chill out (ie recover from the night before…).
 

Classic Run Day 6: Hitler’s Tea Stall…

 

The next day promised only a short drive on the way to our Head Scientist Aravind’s hometown Tuticorin, once an important center of pearl trade. Today’s challenges led our teams to search for the famous Hitler’s Tea Stall in Tuticorin (don’t ask, just accept it…), which most of them managed marvelously, but with a bit of understandable confusion. Finding the beautiful blue and white church Our Lady of Snows was a bit easier on the Western history and nobody failed.
 
 

 
The day ended with the Travel Scientist’s promise of some amazing events and a huge party for the next evening – more about that to come soon!
 

East Coast Road Trip