Southern India Coast to Coast Ride

Flights usually depart London in the morning.
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Day 2

Those who are on the group flights will land in Chennai early in the morning.
Those not on the group flights will need to be at the airport when the group
land if they would like to join the group transfer. Once everyone has arrived
we will then depart on the 3½ hour drive to Pondicherry with a break at
Mahabalipuram which is famous for its shore temples and rock carvings.
Carving in stone is still a living art here and we will see stonemasons
chipping away along the roadside, practicing skills that have flourished for
centuries. On arrival in Pondicherry we assemble the bikes and explore this
former French colony, a short 6km ride, before an evening briefing about our
cycling adventure.
*Comfortable Hotel*

Day 3

Circular ride to Auroville, a new-age spiritual commune. Founded in 1968 by
'The Mother' and named after her Guru Sri Aurobindo, it offers a more
balanced way of living. Revitalized by some earthly fruit juices, we ride the
15km back into town, seeing some fishing communities and cycling along the
promenade, which still retains some of its Gallic charm. Depending on time,
lunch may be at Auroville or back in Pondicherry, and the rest of the day is
free to explore. 
*Comfortable Hotel*

Day 4

Starting from our hotel, we ride out of Pondicherry and soon leave the bustle
of the city for quiet backroads, experiencing rural life where simple mud
huts contrast with the brightly coloured saris worn by the local women. This
is the real India and in true Indian style we stop at a roadside restaurant
for a tea break. Back on our bikes we cycle another 66km to Chidambaram.
Staying in the grand mansion of the village we sleep in the extended family
villa – with its own temple it’s almost like stepping back in time. 
*Standard Hotel*

Day 5

Scenic morning ride following quiet roads and tracks along the banks of the
Cauvery River to Thanjavur. Previously a capital between the 9th and 13th
Centuries, it regained its status under the Nayaks in the 16th Century who
rebuilt the Royal Palace, Durbar Hall and libraries. After lunch, we take a
vehicle transfer to the Thanjavur Hotel. Late afternoon we visit the palace
which houses one of the finest collections of bronze sculptures and stone
carvings in southern India and the famous vegetable market at Tanjore
followed by a visit to the huge Brihadishwara Temple, one of the largest in
India and known locally as simply the 'Big Temple'. 
*Standard Hotel*

Day 6

Leaving the city by the old road, we head out into the Tamil Nadu heartland,
visiting the oldest clay horse temple en route, to an area renowned for its
impressive mansions built by wealthy traders known as Chettiars. Some of
these palatial houses have been converted to boutique hotels, offering a
glimpse of the past. The grand interiors of Burmese teak and elaborate
plaster work retain much of the traditional architecture of a bygone age. But
it's from the kitchens tucked away at the rear of the house that the real
flavour of India comes to life: Chettinad cuisine is as traditional as its
buildings, the piquant curries are slow cooked in copper pots over a wood
stove and are as memorable as the ride to get here. 
*Standard Hotel*

Day 7

Today we have a scenic ride to Madurai. Another rocky outcrop is the sacred
abode of Lord Murugan, the son of Shiva and also know as Skanda, the most
revered god in Tamil Nadu. Staying at Madurai we avoid the worst of the busy
traffic. 
*Comfortable Hotel*

Day 8

Morning free to explore the old city and Sri Meenakshi Temple, one of the
largest temple complexes in India and one of the highlights of Tamil Nadu.
Thousands of huge stone pillars line the hallways, each adorned with
different deities, are said to represent the 3,333,333 gods of the Hindu
cosmos. A constant flow of worshipers, offering pujas, (rituals performed by
the temple priests to the various deities) add to the heady atmosphere of
incense and camphor smoke, and make this an unforgettable experience of Hindu
culture. Blessed, we leave the heat of Madurai for the cool air of the
Cardamom Hills. We transfer by vehicle to our lunch stop at Theni. After
lunch we will be dropped off at Cambam, from where we ride to Kumily. Hidden
behind the banana plantation are the vineyards of southern India's new
venture into wine making. These give way to the forested slopes of the
Western Ghats and a slow but beautiful ascent up through the rainforest to
Thekkaday, a small town close to the entrance of Periyar National Park and
our accommodation for the next two nights. 
*Standard Hotel*

Day 9

Today is free to relax or go on one of the trekking and boat safaris to the
nearby Periyar National Park. Centred around a man-made reservoir, it is
possible to see wildlife all year round, although the best time is the dry
season (March-May) when herds of elephant come to the lake to graze by the
shore; if you are very lucky you may even see a leopard or tiger coming down
to quench their thirst.
*Standard Hotel*

Day 10

Riding from the hotel we cycle through cardamom and tea estates, stopping
mid-morning for tea and to visit the local tea factory, learning more about
the tea making process. Refreshed, we continue along hilly tea plantation
roads with a lunch break at a small roadside restaurant en route to Vagamon,
an area of outstanding natural beauty and one of the most scenic roads in
Kerala. We end the ride with a superb winding descent on a quiet road and
stay at an old plantation bungalow. 
*Basic Hotel*

Day 11

Today we ride through rubber and spice plantations en route to Kottayam,
known as the Syrian Christian heartland of Kerala. Here grand churches dot
the landscape and we break at Palai to visit St Thomas Church, its white
washed facade and distinct gilded ceiling predates its Portuguese renovation.
All roads converge into Kottayam City, and we avoid the city by following
country roads and stop for a lunch break at Erttumanoor Town. Then entering a
world in which the author Arundhati Roy set in her book 'The God of Small
Things', close to the shore of Vembanad Lake. 
*Standard Hotel*

Day 12

Free morning to relax and enjoy the lake view; or ride to the nearby
Kumarakom bird sanctuary and then take a sightseeing ride along the shore of
the lake. Midday we board our houseboats for a stunning backwater cruise. The
houseboats, converted rice barges now come with a captain, cook and crew; we
just sit back, sip long drinks and watch the world go by. 

*Houseboat*

Day 13

In the middle of the morning we disembark at Muhamma. Riding along the
backroad we cross over to the coastal road to the Arthingal Beach for our
first view of the Arabian Sea, and finally know that we've cycled across
India from coast to coast. We then ride on to Fort Cochin for lunch. 
*Comfortable Hotel*

Day 14

A free day to explore the town of Cochin, its bazaars and old harbour area.
Warehouses filled with the smell of tea and spices are limewashed bright
green, yellow and blue; rickety old bikes and handpainted trucks piled high
with goods, fill the narrow streets and food stalls stand on every corner.
Further along the road we come to Mattancherry and the Dutch Palace. Next to
the Palace is the synagogue, built in 1568 for the Jewish members of Cochin's
trading communities, adorned with hand-painted tiles from China and elegant
Belgian chandeliers, all donations from wealthy merchants. The area around
the synagogue is excellent for shopping. For food, try the fish market near
the Chinese fishing nets, where you can buy the day's catch and have it
cooked to your own taste. There are also plenty of shopping opportunities
here.
*Comfortable Hotel*

Day 15

If you are on the group flight you will have an early morning transfer to the
airport for the flight back to London. Those not flying with the group will
leave us at the hotel in Cochin.
**