Day 9: Panaji to Murudeshwara

 

 
August 15 is Indian Independence day. To commemorate it, the Goa round table had arranged a school visit for that morning. This was planned well in advance and teams Two, Three, Four, Five and Six took part in it.
By the time we arrived, the flag had been hoisted in the premises and the kids were performing the skits they themselves had prepared. The Teams enjoyed the show and rewarded the children with the gifts they had prepared, together with the gifts from Round table. We waved them goodbye just before 10 a.m., and went on our way.
When I had crossed Karwar and was heading for Batkal, I ran into Team Eight who had a technical glitch in the vehicle. I checked it and it transpired that the tuk tuk had had this issue since day four. We suspected that a bottle cap was causing a blockage in the fuel tank, interfering with transmission and dampening Team Eight’s spirits. I called the service team, who promptly replaced the tank that same day. Thankfully, all went smoothly for Team Eight after this.
I’ve noticed that that there are two distinct clans that the groups have formed: the first comprises Teams One to Six, the second Teams Seven to Nine. The first one calls on the support team and staff as a matter of course, while the second one is more self-sufficient. They took care of all their own repairs as they came up and also ended up filming all the hidden treasures of India.
I reached Murudeshwara at around 2.30 p.m.; the first team to arrive caught up with me at 4.30 p.m. Some of the teams visited the beach of Agoda as suggested in our day plan. They found the big Shiva statue and the tower exciting. They also admired the view that the base hotel had. We wound up the day sharing our meandering Indian storied over a few beers at Naveen residency.

Day Ten: Murudeshwara to Mangalore

 
Driving through the state of Maharastra has made the participants experts drivers. They had negotiated some tough terrains, challenged by heavy rains and bad roads – all this had made them adept at handling any situation. In contrast to Maharastra, the drive from Murudeshwara is an easy task for everyone because it is pretty much a good road all the way.
Udupi is the stop in-between for a moderate challenge; most of the teams visited it and some even tried the food served in the local temple. Time just flew by on Day Ten, so we ended up discussing the next day’s drive well in advance during the debriefing. Teams were well aware that there was to be a school visit the next morning, followed by an 250-odd km drive to Mysore.

Day 11: Mangalore to Mysore

 
 

 
Only four teams, One, Two, Three, and Six took part in the Maglore school visit in the end, because the day is one of the longest day in the entire journey, and the rest of the teams wanted to leave early as possible. After the school visit, the teams were flagged off by the roundtable people.
On the road, I saw Team Nine attending to a glitch, and when I stopped next to them to offer help, they gave me thumbs up to show that everything was under control. They were soon back on the road.
I later learnt through Facebook that Team Eight had had some silencer issues and they had also taken care of it themselves. The long day turned out to be an uneventful one and all the teams arrived well in time and enjoyed the view of the lit-up Palace in the evening. Teams gathered in the Opium bar in the base hotel; it was a rocking session for them.

Day 12: Mysore to Bangalore

 
The morning in Mysore started with a school visit; we went there with all refreshed and reinvigorated. All the teams came and every one had a super time with the children at school. Many Participants danced and asked the kids to show off their moves. The kids happily obliged.
After this, Team Two and Team Six danced to a salsa tune and the kids enjoyed the small gesture from our Participants. Even though our distance from our destination was not a concern, the day’s drive ended up longer than planned, from having to negotiate the Banglore traffic and find the base hotel. In the end, all the teams made it in style except Team Three who needed some help with navigation to find the hotel.
Team Two participant Hector Gabriel from Puerto Rico had his birthday that day. He threw a party in Bangalore in the base hotel’s new pub space. All the teams went. I heard the next day it had been a wild party: some of the team members could not even get out of bed the next morning.

Day 13: Bangalore to Vellore

 

The morning in Banglore also kicked off with a school visit, but because of the birthday bash after-effects, Teams One and Six couldn’t make it. Nor did Teams Seven to Nine, who had stayed in a different hotel and decided to have early start. So in the end only four teams made it to the school. The school had a terrific band and the welcome no participant will forget. Such a warm welcome and greetings blew the teams away; everyone wanted to stick around for the rest of the day.
But we had to set off to keep to schedule. It was a smooth drive to Vellore. All teams wanted to arrive and rest early as they were still somewhat worn out from the previous day. The teams had mixed feelings about the last day: most of them were sad that the fun rally was coming to end.

Day 14: Vellore to Chennai

 
The final day started with a project visit and ended in a school. All had gone accoerding to plan and all teams had made it all the way through the rally. The school visit and the atmosphere the students created gave a fitting farewell to the great rally of Mumbai Xpress 2016. After the school visit, all teams gathered in the Elements hostel to celebrate. Everyone agreed that the countless memories from the 14 days of the rally will be staying with all the participants for a long time yet.

The Salamander is powered by your choice of either a a 5kW electric engine or a 250cc gasoline motor which is used to move the rear wheels when the vehicle is on land, or a little propeller when it’s in the water. This prototype is made of molded fiberglass and is completely watertight so no adjustments need to be made before it can go for a swim.

Via: BoldRide

Salamander Rickshaw

Bajaj RE is a name deeply inscribed in every Indian’s heart. Since 1961 it has changed the way millions of Indians travel, touching their lives every single day.

Auto Rickshaws India

Indian tuk tuk

So with Far Cry 4 set to be released this november 18th Ubisoft asked me to turn driving a tuk tuk and shooting (something you can do in the game) into a reality so what fool would i be to turn down being paid to create such an experiance. So armed with someone elses cash i bought a Tuk of ebay and thought they need to spend some money on some power as if you going to shoot from this thing you need to be able to keep up with what ever your chaseing and with a normal top speed of 40mph i took pride in buying a CBR600 to boost performace, its also more fun when its not your cash hehe.
The TUK600 the most insane tuk tuk rickshaw ever created or even imagined. Check it drift,light up the rears, shoot, wheelie and donut while spitting 15ft flames in fact just writing that sentence make me realise what a bad ass machine this is.

The ULTIMATE Tuk Tuk

“Malabar Rampage entails riding across the Malabar Coast of India (west coast) covering the states of Kerala, Karnataka and the Union Territory of Goa. With a distance of close to 1100 kms (680 miles), the ride encompasses some breath taking scenic views and historical cities.”

Tuk Tuk Ride

” Bajaj RE is a name deeply inscribed in every Indian’s heart. After all, it has been a tried and trusted companion since 50 years. By being world’s largest manufacturer of 3 wheelers and the largest exporter of 3 wheelers in India, it has been the highest employment generator. Other than India, the brand enjoys a strong presence across 36 countries”

Bajaj RE Auto Rickshaw

So what’s it all about then?

The Deccan Odyssey kicked off on the beaches of Goa, and will take our racers through Indian history, by magnificent forts and palaces and cave systems.
Seven days of the nine-day event will actually be spent on the road, and our teams are already in motion. Day one and two are just getting all the usual registration and briefs ready for the trip, and learning how to drive the great beast.
Despite the Monsoon already wrecking havoc, nothing dampened the spirit of the Challengers, even if they got soaked themselves.
So far everything is fairing well, and day two the teams got to chill out and check out the events in Panaji before rocketing off in their ‘shaws.

Route

Yesterday, the teams left Goa and headed off to Belgaum, based in the State of Karnataka. They will then rattle their rickshaws and toot their horns over to Kohlhapur, before going to India’s eighth largest city, Pune.
From Pune, our challengers will dive deep into the India’s culture in Aurangabad, a city famed for its medieval monuments. The team will take a break from their rickshaws, and go and visit the Ellora caves, which date back to the 5th and 10th centuries, and are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Once the teams have rested and got cultured, time to hit the road again to the town of Nasik for more temples and culture, and then finally one more 200km jolt to the city of Mumbai for the end of the challenge, where we expect to party hard!
Rickshaws are pretty darn unpredictable vehicles, so it’s likely that one of the wheels may come off in the middle of the Indian countryside in the middle of a downpour, so we’re prepared not to be far too behind with help.
Teams on the deluxe package can call our Service Car and we can come and sort out any issues. We also have a medical team on stand by should you need them too. We actually have a list of services we offer on the Rickshaw Challenge, cause we know riding a rickshaw for 1000 of miles is hard enough as it is.

1. The Temples

The state of Tamil Nadu dominates India when it comes to temples. The Ancient Madruai in Tamil Nadu is home to one of India’s most impressive structures – the Meenakshi Temple, which covers 15 acres, with over 4500 pillars and 12
towers.
Other South Indian temples that should make your bucket list include Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Rameshwaram and Chidambaram. You’ll also find the largest temple in India, Tiruchirappalli, dedicated to lord Vishnu, measures up to 156 acres, where the main tower is 73 meters high, making it the second tallest temple in Asia.

2. The Beaches

With Goa and Kerala in the area, South India wins when it comes to India’s best beaches and one of the best in the area is Varkala beach, which lies about an hour north of Kerala.
Palolem Beach in south Goa ticks all the boxes for the ideal beach, with its thick forest of coconut palms and golden sands. Easily Goa’s most beautiful beach, but for those who want more action, then head up north to Baga Beach.
For travelers who prefer going off the beaten track, then check out Marari Beach near Kerala, is quiet and underdeveloped.
But if you’re stuck in Chennai, have no fear, you’ve got plenty of amazing beaches nearby. Mahabalipuram is a good choice, especially since it comes complete with its own shore temple!

3. The Food

South India’s hot and humid climate influences its food, since there is a fresh supply of fruit, vegetables and rice. Like the weather, Southern Indian cuisine is fiery, and often centered around rice and served up with coconut based chutneys.
You’ll find a rich selection of seafood dishes, particularly round Kerala, along with nutty and fruity tastes and textures from Hyderabad.
Rice plays a huge part in Southern Indian cuisine, with Idlis, steamed cakes made from rice batter, Dosas or Uttapams, pancakes from rice and lentil flour, and Daals, curried lentils dominate the cuisine.

4. The People

The people you’ll find in South India are known for their friendly, laid back attitude and are known for their religious tolerance, when compared to the north of India.
In South India, the people from this region are Dravidian, which means they speak languages coming from the Dravidian family, like Tamil.

5. The National Parks

India has some of the most beautiful countryside in the world, and fortunately for us, most of which is preserved since there are over 80 national parks in India.
Bandipur National Park in Tamil Nadu is listed as a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its wildlife featuring elephants and leopards.
For those who prefer mountains, Eravakulam National Park, another UNESCO candidate, encompasses the Western Ghats Mountain Range. In the Idukki district of Kerala, this park boasts some impressive animal residents, from jungle cats to gaurs.

6. The Coffee

Coffee is a big part of South Indian culture, and the filter coffee made in the region is particularly unique, with coffee beans grown in the hills in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The coffee is then brewed with a metal device resembling two cylindrical cups, where the upper cup is loaded with a mix of fresh ground coffee and chicory. The grounds are compressed and boiling water is poured inside and the coffee drips through.
South Indian coffee is very strong and often served with boiling milk and preferred amount of sugar. It has become a cultural icon in the region and a must have.

7. A Taste of Adventure

If you’re looking for adventure, than look no further. You can do water sports in Goa if you want some watery fun, but if you want something crazy and memorable, then do some Auto Rickshaw Rampaging.
Get to see a different side of South India, from its countryside, culture, food, contribute to charity – all while driving a whacky three-wheeled rickshaw across India. If you’re interested in getting involved, check out our tours here on the Rickshaw Challenge.

South India’s Mood

Laish La: Rickshaw Challenge