Day 1
Bangalore to Kanadukathan (Near Karaikudi) Via Srirangam and Thanjavur - 486 Km Time 10 Hours including halts in between
Enroute saw Worlds largest Lord Murugan statue at Puthiragoundanpalayam near Salem
Srirangam temple (Temple closes 12:30 to 4)
Thanjavur Big Temple (Temple closes 12:30 to 4)
Lunch enroute (we skipped lunch so as to enjoy Chettinad fare at night)
Night halt at Chettinadu Mansion at Kanadukathan. Dinner at place of stay
Day 2
Kanadukathan to Rameswaram via Athangudi and Karaikudi - 195 Km (Travel time only 3 hours) Lunch and visits in between
Morning visited VVR Mansion and CVR Mansion at Kanadukathan.
Ganesha cave temple at Pillayarpatti (The Ganesha is supposedly growing. Temple closes at 12:30)
Athangudi Big house at Athangudi
Star Athangudi tile factory at Athangudi to see manufacture of the hand made tiles
Lunch at The Bangala, Karaikudi. Typical Chettinadu meal. Non-veg meal costs Rs 1360/- . Mutton is the speciality which was not on the fixed menu when we visited. We got Chicken and Fish. (overpriced rate)
Enroute to Rameswaram stopped adjacent to the Pamban Railbridge to watch a train crossing around 5:30 - 5:45 PM
Night halt at Jiwan Residency, Rameswaram
Day 3
Saw sunrise from the beach near temple.
Visited Rameswaram temple. Saw the longest corridor. (Cameras not allowed in the temple) however came out after temple visit and used a side entrance to see the corridor to take snaps.
Visited a Hanuman shrine to see the floating stones supposedly from Dhanushkodi.
Visited Dr APJ Abdul Kalam memorial (Cameras not allowed inside)
Visited Dhanushkodi closest point to Sri Lanka, point from where Adam's bridge or Rama Setu takes off. Place can be visited to see sunrise also, however entry to the area starts at 5:30 only and closes at 5 PM
Dinner at JKR Resort (Ex Hyatt property)
Night halt at Jiwan Residency
Day 4
Rameswaram to Kanyakumari via Thoothukudi 317 Km 5h 40 min including 2 hour break at Thoothukudi for lunch and to visit old buddy from the Army.
Night halt at Sparsa resort Kanyakumari (Strategically located near the beach)
Sunset.
Night halt and dinner at Sparsa resort (Has a good swimming pool)
Day 5
Sunrise
Kanyakumari to Thucklay and back - 80 Km 5 hours including halts
Visited St Mary's Orthodox church at Thiruvithamcode (Oldest Church in the world founded by St Thomas)
Visited Padmanabhapuram Palace at Thucklay
Visited Vattakottai fort at Kanyakumari (Can be skipped)
Visited Lady of Ransom church at Kanyakumari
Dinner at Capeista outdoor restaurant.
Night halt at Sparsa resort
Day 6
Visited Vivekananda Rock memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue (Statue access not there when we went)
Traveled from Kanyakumari to Tirunelveli 128 Km 2 hours
Visited Arulmugai Nellaiappar temple (With musical pillars) Temple closes at 12:30 PM so could not go inside..
Bought Tirunelvelli halwa.
Lunch at Urban Dhaba enroute
Travel from Tirunelvelli to Courtallam 80 Km 2 hours
Visited Main waterfalls and Old Courtallam water falls and Five falls (Unfortunately hardly any water in the falls so did not take a dip)
Old falls
Main falls
Five falls
Dinner at Famous Border Barkath Parotta Stall at Shencottah
Night halt at Saras Resort.
Day 7
Travelled from Courtallam to Madurai 165 Km 3 hours 45 Min
Skipped lunch to enjoy Foodies tour at night. (Foodies tour costs Rs 2500 per head if you go through the organisers we did it on our own as we had my car)
Foodies tour
Filter Coffee at Visalam Coffee
Halwa and sweets (Tirunelvelli and Muscoth halwa) at Prema vilas Sweets
Coconut heart (Thennathuruthu) on the roadside push cart
Cotton seed milk (Shop on Netaji road)
Parotta and mutta kari at Bun Parotta shop
Semolina onion dosai and Panniyaram at Meenakshi Bhavan
Kari Dosai at Konar Kadai
Jigarthanda at Famous Jigarthanda
Stayed at JC Residency Madurai.
Day 8
Visited Madurai Meenakshi temple
Madurai to Bangalore 435 Km 7 h 44 min
Total distance travelled including local visits - 2180 Km
Expenditure approx 90,000/- for four of us including diesel, food and acommodation
