Tiruchendur to Kanyakumari - Drive by car

Day 4 of Hyderabad to Kanyakumari Drive: Trip to Kanyakumari

The event of day 4 was the crux of our whole travel. We had to perform pooja at our village temple @ Karungulam , which is located 40 km west of Tiruchendur. Its located in the Tiruchendur to Tirunelveli Road. We intended to be there at 11.00 am. From past experiences, we aware that the SH40 that connects Tiruchendur -> Karungulam -> Tirunelveli is narrow & got lot of patches hence hard to keep up the speed. We planned to start travelling by 9:45 am. Ain't it common in a travel, that nothing goes as planned? Aaargh., the plan was in vain and we started only by 10:30. 

Luckily, SH40 is now mended and in good shape. Still narrow, but since the road is free of potholes and patches, drove at the max safe speed possible. Either sides of the roads are fertile paddy fields and banana saplings. Occasionally the villagers and farmers share the road, hence need to be careful.

SH 40 Road condition, Tiruchendur to Tirunelveli

Stopped at Kurumbur for 15 minutes to buy Garland & other pooja items.  The sides of the road were so cool and green to the eyes. Many a times, the roads pass through villages and small towns, where we can get a peek in to rural life. 

SH 40, Road condition near Alwar Thirunagari, Tiruchendur to Tirunelveli

One of the prime plantations in Tiruchendur and surrounding villages is the Palm Tree. Starting from the healthy toddy, palm liquor, palm fruit, the tree offers many edible items including the center yoke of its trunk. Pathaneer (in Tamil) is the drink obtained from palm tree, which otherwise is the non fermented version of toddy. 

SH 40 Road condition, Tiruchendur to Tirunelveli

City dwellers would get lot of peace on gazing those shadows of huge trees & green pastures on the sides of the roads.

SH 40, Green Fields on either sides of road, Tiruchendur to Tirunelveli Road

SH 40, Banana plantations on either sides of Roads, Tiruchendur to Tirunelveli

Finally we reached Karungulam by 11:10 AM. From SH40, we need to take a left turn (as shown in picture) to get in to the village. Karungulam is a small village surrounded by ponds and banana plantations. But now due to dry weather and insufficient rains, hardly water gets collected in the ponds. Couple of temples in the village include Lord Venkateswara, Lord Ayyappa. There are few other temples of deities who are believed to protect the village and its people. Sokkar Koothar Saastha temple is a prominent temple among those. The presiding deity is Saastha (Lord Ayyappa).  

Take Left Turn from SH40 to enter Karungulam

Take Left to reach Sokkar Koothar Sastha Temple, Karungulam

One could feel the time tends to go a little slow here, looking at the contented life of these village people. They   perform farming jobs in nearby fields. In Part time, few people work as priests in temples. Some make their livelihood by making clay pots. Some eke out a living by rearing cattle. But what was very visible is; the people are content with what they earn and keep moving on with the life. Another thing to admire is, most of their offspring are graduated in colleges and now few of them got placements in neighboring cities. That  is really a good sign. 

By lanes of Karungulam Village

By lanes of Karungulam Village

The deity of Sokkar Koothar Saastha temple is a Suyambu (Formed by nature, not man made). Legend says that long time back, a cattle keeper observed one of his cow voluntarily milked over a specific place, that was covered by some bush. Curious at this behavior, the cattle owner and keeper dug the place, only to find Statue of Ayyanar (Lord Ayyappa) hidden underneath. Later a temple was built to host the presiding deity.  Over generations, developments happened and owing to much efforts by the priests, the temple is in good shape now.

Sokkar Koothar Saastha Temple, Karungulam Village

After performing Pooja and other offerings, we started by 3:00 pm.

Banyan Tree near the Temple

Next plan was to have lunch @ Tirunelveli, which is 22 km west. Reached Hotel Semeen @ Tirunelveli Junction Bus stand. Counting on the past experiences, i had chosen Hotel Semeen, which used to be good place for non veg dishes. But much to our disappointment, the food was utter worse. Chicken 65 and prawn 65 were toooo salty.. the mutton, fish gravy were stinking.. anyways, din't have any other choice, we just tuck n the food for namesake and left the place for good.

Started to Kanyakumari by 4:22 PM. The route we went was Tirunelveli Junction -> Palayamkottai -> Muppandhal -> Aralvaimozhi -> Nagercoil -> Suchindram (Suseendram) -> Kottaram - > Kanyakumari. Although its 16 km longer than the NH7 route, chose this for nostalgia reasons.

We wanted to have a sneak peek on Muppandhal temple; those huge wind mills @ Aralvaimozhi; traditional kerala style of houses - shops at Nagercoil city; tranquil beauty of the stretch connecting Nagercoil and Kanyakumari; .. we dint want to miss any of these.. so skipped the NH7 route for right reasons :)

There is toll booth few km after Tirunelveli, where we need to pay Rs 65.

Reached Muppandhal Devi Temple, Aralvaimozhi by 5:20 PM. The deity is Devi, who is believed to be care taker of travelers and passerby. Its so common to see people throwing coins (offerings) from their vehicles while on the move.

Muppandhal Devi Temple, Aralvaimozhi

Aralvaimozhi: Aral - Mountain; Vaimozhi - opens & gives way;
The word in Tamil means, the mountains opens and gives the way for the travelers.
At either side of the roads we could see mountains of western ghat section.
Another fascination @ Aralvaimozhi is the Massive wind mills. One could really feel its size by having a physical look at it.

NH 47B Road Condition, Aralvaimozhi to Nagercoil

Aralvaimozhi Road

NH47B, Towards Nagercoil

We crossed by the commercial streets of Nagercoil and proceeded towards Kanyakumari via Suseendram - Kottaram Road.

NH 47 Road Condition, Nagercoil to Kanyakumari

NH47 Road Condition, Nagercoil to Kanyakumari

NH47 Road Condition, Nagercoil to Kanyakumari

We reached Kanyakumari @ 6:30 pm.
Yippee... :)
We reached the southern most point of India :) :)
The place where a ocean and two sea merges..
So far from Hyderabad we had traveled 1516 km.
 I felt little proud about it :)
We were half way through with flying colors.. And still wanting to drive more..

Our Travel so far..From Hyderabad to Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari welcomes us.. Yeah with a Toll fee of Rs 25 :) I think its only for other state vehicles

Hotel Sivamurugan, Kanyakumari

Finally we reached Hotel Sivamurugan @ Kanyakumari by 6:41pm. The room was in a very good condition. Jumped in to the bed for the much deserved R & R.

That brings Day 4 of our travel to rest.

Will tell about the our return trip to Madurai in next blog.