[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by Mad Max

Burma Hotel

Thanks for this lead.Just curious,in the website's photo gallery on the second sheet of the album,there are huge bottles of some drink,any clue what is it?Some local cold drink?There is one really big bottle as well,unlike the usual cola bottles!

[naveenroy]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

Thanks for this lead.Just curious,in the website's photo gallery on the second sheet of the album,there are huge bottles of some drink,any clue what is it?Some local cold drink?There is one really big bottle as well,unlike the usual cola bottles!

Nice catch! I was expecting it to be Bovonto but it isn't. Man, interesting - anyone with clues to what it is?

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by naveenroy

Nice catch! I was expecting it to be Bovonto but it isn't. Man, interesting - anyone with clues to what it is?

Yesterday when I read his post even I was expecting it to be Bovonto which is famous down south.

Originally Posted by naveenroy

Hmm some people from Nagercoil here

May be we can plan for a meet in Nagercoil some time later.

[naveenroy]

Originally Posted by arun_josie

Yesterday when I read his post even I was expecting it to be Bovonto which is famous down south.


May be we can plan for a meet in Nagercoil some time later.

Yes, sounds like a plan

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

For those interested in Biriyani in addition to Venu and Thalapakatti Dindigul has Ponram as well who serve amazing Biriyani and the best raitha I have ever had.

Ponram Biriyani is available in Salem as well. So, if any one travelling via Salem and want to taste some good biriyani then you have an option here. Only thing is you will have to enter Salem, its on the Omalur Main Road after crossing Central Bus Stand. Its easy to locate as its just a straight road from the bypass, should be around 3Kms.

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=B...via=1&t=m&z=17

Dindugul Ponram Briyani

I was there yesterday and had mutton biriyani, the taste was awesome! May be the best mutton biriyani that I had till date.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by naveenroy

Nice catch! I was expecting it to be Bovonto but it isn't. Man, interesting - anyone with clues to what it is?

Are you talking about the 2nd row of tins in the cool drinks section ? Canada Dry's stay in India was fairly shortlived, it was there for a short while in early 90s (about the same time Crush came). I didn't know Dr. Pepper or any root beer brand being sold in India at the first place

Trio, Solo, Bovonto, Frutang don't exist these days, do they ? I've found them in in the Villupuram highway canteens as well. There used to be radio ads for them very regularly during the 90s

[rameshnanda]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Trio, Solo, Bovonto, Frutang don't exist these days, do they ? I've found them in in the Villupuram highway canteens as well. There used to be radio ads for them very regularly during the 90s

Bovonto is very much alive and available in Chennai too. I regularly buy Bovonto as this is one of my favorite drink .

Note that Bovonto is available in 500 ml and 1.5L pet bottles.

[pypkmsrikanth]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Are you talking about the 2nd row of tins in the cool drinks section ? Canada Dry's stay in India was fairly shortlived, it was there for a short while in early 90s (about the same time Crush came). I didn't know Dr. Pepper or any root beer brand being sold in India at the first place

Trio, Solo, Bovonto, Frutang don't exist these days, do they ? I've found them in in the Villupuram highway canteens as well. There used to be radio ads for them very regularly during the 90s

Canada Dry, Crush were part of the Cadburys Schweppes Operation. Their stay in India was not very long because of the worldwide acquisition of Schweppes by Coco-cola.

With regard to Bovonto, Kalimark still has operations. I have seen Bovonto in super markets as well. The other brands like Frutang is not so visible in the market.

Incidentally I am not sure how many remember Fruitnik, this has now been bought over by Amrutanjan, so expect some heavy duty promotion for this brand in the days to come.

[daisyb]

We are planning to do a road trip from Bangalore to Kanyakumari in Oct 2012. Looking for suggestions on the best places to visit. We are open to all kinds of places - historical, pilgrim, scenic etc. We have Rameswaram, Kanyakumari, Madurai in the list. Planning for a week to 10 days

[ampere]

Originally Posted by daisyb

We are planning to do a road trip from Bangalore to Kanyakumari in Oct 2012. Looking for suggestions on the best places to visit. We are open to all kinds of places - historical, pilgrim, scenic etc. We have Rameswaram, Kanyakumari, Madurai in the list. Planning for a week to 10 days

If you have ten days, you can at leisure do:

Trichy/Tanjore -> Rameshwaram -> Tirchendur -> Kanyakumari -> Madurai -> Bangalore

And if you knock off Trichy then:

Bangalore -> Rameshwaram -> Kanyakumari -> Madurai -> Munnar -> Bangalore

[rameshnanda]

Originally Posted by daisyb

We are planning to do a road trip from Bangalore to Kanyakumari in Oct 2012. Looking for suggestions on the best places to visit. We are open to all kinds of places - historical, pilgrim, scenic etc. We have Rameswaram, Kanyakumari, Madurai in the list. Planning for a week to 10 days

Think about including Tanjore and Darasuram (25 kms from Tanjore) too. The Big temple at Tanjore and the Airavatheswarar Temple at Darasuram are historical temples which are declared as World Heritage site by UNESCO.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by ampere

If you have ten days, you can at leisure do:

Trichy/Tanjore -> Rameshwaram -> Tirchendur -> Kanyakumari -> Madurai -> Bangalore

And if you knock off Trichy then:

Bangalore -> Rameshwaram -> Kanyakumari -> Madurai -> Munnar -> Bangalore

And you can include Karaikudi as well to explore the Chettinad places - Fauji'sTL

[daisyb]

Originally Posted by ampere

If you have ten days, you can at leisure do:

Trichy/Tanjore -> Rameshwaram -> Tirchendur -> Kanyakumari -> Madurai -> Bangalore

And if you knock off Trichy then:

Bangalore -> Rameshwaram -> Kanyakumari -> Madurai -> Munnar -> Bangalore

Thanks Ampere. We have already covered Munnar. So will skip that. Would you suggest to first visit Trichy/Tanjore, Rameswaram and then go to Kanyakumari. Where do I have to take a deviation from NH7 - (Bangalore-Kanyakumari) to go to Tanjaore/Trichy

Originally Posted by rameshnanda

Think about including Tanjore and Darasuram (25 kms from Tanjore) too. The Big temple at Tanjore and the Airavatheswarar Temple at Darasuram are historical temples which are declared as World Heritage site by UNESCO.

Thanks Ramesh. Will definitely include both. Aware of Tanjore, but did not know about Darasuram

Originally Posted by NPV

And you can include Karaikudi as well to explore the Chettinad places -

Thanks NPV. Totally new places for me. Will definitely check these out.

What are the best locations near Kanyakumari/Rameswaram to have a beach holiday. Planning for a day or 2 to enjoy the beach

[Tempelhof]

Originally Posted by daisyb

We are planning to do a road trip from Bangalore to Kanyakumari in Oct 2012. Looking for suggestions on the best places to visit. We are open to all kinds of places - historical, pilgrim, scenic etc. We have Rameswaram, Kanyakumari, Madurai in the list. Planning for a week to 10 days

If you wish to see religious places / temples, then you'll have a lot to see:

I'd suggest you have FOUR anchor places:

• Trichy
• Kumbakonam
• Madurai
• Tirunelveli / Kanyakumari

Plan for two days in each anchor place.

In Trichy:

• Rockfort Temple
• Thiruvaanaikaval
• Srirangam
• Samayapuram

I normally stay at Ramyaas at Trichy - good parking with restaurants.


In Kumbakonam:

• Darasuram
• Swamimalai
• Sarangapaani / Chakrapaani / Ramaswamy temples
• Oppiliappan temple / Thirunageswram temple
• Bruhadheeswara Temple (on the way from Trichy to Kumbakonam)

Hotel Rayaas for stay; Hotel Venkataramana / Meenakshi Bhavan for food.


In Madurai:

• Meenakshi Amman Temple
• Thiruparankundram
• Azhaghar Koil
• Pazhamudhir Cholai
• Thirumogghoor (~ 15 kms)
• Srivilliputhur (~70 kms - half-a-day)
• Rameswaram (one day trip)

To stay: Madurai Residency very close to the Railway Station


In Tirunelveli:

• Nellaiappar Temple
• Nava Thirupathi (refer the Team-BHP thread on 108 Divya Desams - half-a-day)
• Thiruchendur
• Vaanamaamalai
• Kanyakumari
• Suchindram
• Thiruvattaaru

Place to stay: Hotel Apple Tree, Tirunelveli

[ampere]

Originally Posted by daisyb

Thanks Ampere. We have already covered Munnar. So will skip that. Would you suggest to first visit Trichy/Tanjore, Rameswaram and then go to Kanyakumari. Where do I have to take a deviation from NH7 - (Bangalore-Kanyakumari) to go to Tanjaore/Trichy

Route Map

D1 : Start at 4AM : Bangalore - Trichy : Bangalore-Salem-Namakkal-Musiri (Or Thuraiyur) - Trichy (320 Km)
You should be there by 10AM. By evening you should be able to finish Trichy temples.
(Night in Trichy)


D2: Trichy - Tanjore - Adirampatnam - Thondi - Ramnad - Rameshwaram (311 km)

Start early from Trichy say 6AM, visit temple at Tanjore and continue to reach Rameshwaram by evening . (Night at Rameshwaram)

D3 : Visit Rameshwaram temple and dont miss Dhanushkodi
(Night at Rameshwaram)

D4: Rameshwaram - Tiruchendur - Kanyakumari (300km)

Now Tiruchendur is about 200 km from Rameshwaram. So I dont know, when you reach, if the temple would be open. Need to check
(Night at KK)


D5: Visit Kanyakumari and can also go around to see Nagercoil and Suchindram
(Night in KK)

D6 : KK - Tirunelveli - Madurai (300km)
Drive to Madurai reach by noon/evening.
Visit Temple by evening.

D7 Go around Madurai. There are many temples as @Tempelhof mentioned.
(Night at Madurai)

D8 : Drive back to Bangalore at leisure.
Maybe stay overnight at Yercaud to cool off your fatigue

D9/D10 Choose accordingly to come back to Bangalore.

Overall be prepared for about 300-350km of drving per leg.
Now if you add Kumabakonam to the list, you will have to knock-off most probably KK,
as Kumbakonam is a heavy weight! Another option can be Kumbakonam-Chidambaram-Papanasam/Vaitheeshwaran Koil - Tiruvannamalai circuit.