Bangalore to Kanyakumari & back in my trusy old Figo: An epic trip!

While the roads in Tamil Nadu were thoroughly adequate, Kerala's lack of it therein was made up for with splendid views and sceneries.

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The itch to go on a long road trip began when I saw a Ford Figo Duratec Titanium (2014) in Manali, the same model I own. It had the same colour, the same specs and literally the same number plate, minus one lone digit (the last digit on mine is 5 and this was 4). It seemed like these cars were literally purchased at the same time, one after another.

A heavy snowfall during my visit made Old Manali extra chilly and anyone who's been there knows how hard it is to drive a car up that hill, through its narrow roads and especially the dry ice that forms during winters. This got me thinking, if this car was really driven all the way from Bangalore to Manali in such harsh conditions, this car definitely is a beast! I might have been speculative back then but that was exactly the push I needed. I decided it was high time I took Spider (because I like the way it sticks to the road) out for a long drive and stretched it's revv band. I've done multiple trips of 300 to 600 kms with ample breaks in between but never more than 1000 kms at a time. And hence I got down to planning.

Bangalore - Pondicherry - Pichavaram Mangrove Forest - Tanjavur - Madurai - Kanyakumari - Trivandrum - Varkala - Kochi - Coimbatore - Bangalore.

A total of 2200 kms!

After a quick inspection of Spider, we set off towards our sojourn at Pondy, but encountered a minor hiccup right at the beginning. An unexpected flat tyre ensured our loss of precious time. We promptly got it fixed and it was smooth sailing the rest of the way till we reached Pondy. After a chaotic walk through the Promenade and White Town later that evening, we grabbed a quick bite and headed back to our room for some necessary shut eye. We planned a historic walk through Mahabalipuram the next day and we set off as soon as the sun rose. The ride to Mahabalipuram was marred with numerous potholes and diversions, testing our patience and questioning our decisions but Mahabs (as we fondly like to call it) offered us enough to keep the history buffs in us alive and forget the gruesome ordeal on the road.

We made a move towards Madurai the following day via Pichavaram Mangrove Forest and Tanjore. We followed Google Maps and to our surprise, we sailed over some recently laid white topped roads with lush greenery to occupy our peripheral vision. In spite of the road being slightly bouncy, we appreciated this route especially after our ordeal en route to Mahabs.The Pichavaram Mangrove boat trail was pretty standard. One can enjoy the boat rides there, given the gods permit a pleasant weather. Next came the Tanjore Temple and this was one monument I've always wanted to visit. The massive scale of the temple and its beautifully carved intricacies still stands tall today attracting hordes of devotees and tourists. This proves its testament against time.

Our next stop was Meenakshi Amman temple and the Thirumalai Naikar Palace in Madurai. The roads again were proper and we reached our destination without much hassle. Since entering the temple proved to be impossible, we quickly made our way to the palace which offered us a small vision of the grand scale at which it was initially planned and constructed. If you are someone who appreciates grandeur and scale, you will appreciate this palace as much as you do the Mysore Palace. Then came Kanyakumari!

After a day of much needed rest, we were pretty excited to meet the wise sage standing atop an isolated rock in the middle of the sea. The four lane roads were quite scenic with windmills as far as the eyes can see. The roads were well maintained and the heat did little to prevent us from reaching our destination. Although the drive was good, the crowd at Kanyakumari was not! A mile long queue to board the ferry completely capsized our plans of visiting the two beloved monuments. We walked along the coastline, had dinner and called it a night.

While the roads in Tamil Nadu were thoroughly adequate, Kerala's lack of it therein was made up for with splendid views and sceneries, thus ensuring a serene driving experience through lush greenery and beautifully winding roads. We departed from Kanyakumari and headed towards Trivandrum on pretty much non-existent roads. Construction work coupled with ongoing traffic gave the clutch a good workout but halfway through, we merged onto a national highway and it was smooth sailing from thereon. A small pitstop at the Padmanabapuram Palace showed a stark contrast in the vibrant lifestyles led by kings in the late 1600s, just separated by a few hundred kilometres west from Madurai. The Padmanabapuram Palace, while being huge from the outside, looked minimal with tiny rooms and low ceilings inside. It somehow still carried that old time charm of intricate wood carvings and rustic architectural aesthetics we associate Kerala with. We ticked off the Napier museum from our "list of touristy things to do" but we were side tracked again by the sheer number of people at the Padnabaswamy temple. We accepted our defeat and set our sights on Varkala. The drive to Varkala was probably the most peaceful, serene and satisfying experience of my life. Lush greenery, quaint bungalows, narrow yet beautiful roads lined with the sea and backwaters on either sides garnished our eyes with nothing but bliss. Varkala welcomed us with open arms and beautiful sunsets. The captivating view from the cliff, the slow drives through it's numerous narrow streets, the food, the people... Varkala had our hearts, in whole! After cafe hopping, taking in the views and meeting some amazing people, it was time to say good bye.

The road back to Bangalore was standard and as expected. I've covered this route multiple times to know it like the back of my hand. The only exceptions were the Varkala - Kochi route which was still under construction and the 6 minor diversions from Krishnagiri to Attibele in Bangalore. A pitstop at Coimbatore gave our battered bodies some necessary downtime so the last leg of the journey was peaceful.

The entire journey wouldn't have been possible without a car like the Figo. I believe it is an extremely underrated car which flew under the radar. The chassis holds extremely well at triple-digit speeds. Its low slung design helps it glide over well laid asphalt and its solid suspension contains body roll around tricky corners. The steering response and precision keeps the car well planted and inspires confidence while maneuvering. It also eats up minor undulances like a piece of cake. I do yearn for certain features like ventilated seats, navigation controls etc. and I do look forward to these creatures comforts in my next purchase. But I understand well that this little Figo is all about the pleasure of driving and nothing else.

I hope to keep this little beast as fit as I can to add more miles and smiles!

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