This 2-month road trip, covering more than 100 cities across 11 states, is my way of contributing to this immensely important cause – road safety in India.
BHPian Getawaymax recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
Hi everyone,
Final stages of preparation for my 10,000 km solo roadtrip from Delhi2Kanyakumari2Delhi via the Coromandel Coast in my Grand Vitara. Look forward to advocating for road safety and 2 months of experiencing the underexplored east coast of Incredible India. The journey begins in November 2024.
Also excited to have CoERS, IIT Madras as partners for #roadsafety.
In 2023 I did an 11,000 km solo Delhi2Kanyakumari2Delhi drive via the Malabar Coast and it was awesome. That was my inspiration for this one.
The car –
I will be driving the same car that I used for my 2023 road trip – Grand Vitara Zeta Semi Hybrid 2023 model. No alterations have been done and I’m using the same tyres. Total distance covered till now is 20,000 kms appx.
Equipment for recording the drive –
I’m using a Qubo 4K Front and Rear Dash Cam with a 1 TB Card and 2 x 5 TB hard drives to record the entire journey. The data will go to CoERS for analysis. Will also be using a GoPro 13, Samsung S24 Ultra and an old Nikon DSLR for the photographs/videos.
First Challenge –
Maruti did not have a system to service the car because not enough miles had been done since the last service. They suggested that I get it done somewhere on the way. Finally, I had to find a personal connection who helped me get the car checked at Maruti.
Broad Route –
Delhi – Lucknow – Varanasi – Nalanada – Kolkata – Bhubaneshwar – Puri – Gopalpur – Araku Valley – Visakhapatnam – Vijayawada – Suryalanka – Chennai – Kanchipuram – Tirupati – Mahabalipuram – Puducherry – Thanjuvar – Kanadukathan – Rameshwaram – Kanyakumari – Trichy – Bengaluru – Gandikota – Kurnool – Srisailum – Hyderabad – Warangal – Bidar – Nanded – Tadoba – Nagpur – Jabalpur – Khajuraho – Orchha – Gwalior – Delhi
Road Trip Highlights –
- Distance 10,000 + kms
- Nights 60 / Days 61
- States 11
- Stayover Unique Cities 46
- Unique Experiences 400+
Look forward to learning from your experiences and sharing a few of my own. Would be keen to connect and learn from those who have done this or parts of this before.
A 10,000+ kms solo drive for #RoadSafety – Delhi2Kanyakumari2Delhi via the Coromandel Coast
People hear that India ranks high in road deaths, with thousands of lives lost and a huge 3% impact on our GDP. But often, we look at data and news and think it happens to someone else. For me, it’s personal. I’ve lost friends and family to careless, reckless driving. My own sister survived a horrific accident.
In my last 11,000 km #solodrive from Delhi to Kanyakumari and back via the Malabar Coast—I saw both the progress and the gaps firsthand. MoRTH and NHAI are really ramping up infrastructure, but there’s still so much more that needs to be done beyond road networks, quality, and design. We need a shift in mindset and a stronger approach to enforcement. Most importantly, we, the people, need to take responsibility when we’re on the road.
That was my inspiration for this 10,000+ km Delhi2Kanyakumari2Delhi solo drive via the Coromandel Coast. This 2-month adventure, covering more than 100 cities across 11 states of our incredible India, is my way of contributing to this immensely important cause.
It’s a privilege to partner with CoERS at IIT Madras, which is doing phenomenal work for road safety. Grateful to them for giving me an opportunity to share my experiences. Allianz Partners has also been kind enough to provide RSA support on this solo drive.
Please do support the cause and be part of my journey.
Day 1/ 61
Delhi2Kanyakumari2Delhi 10k km Solo Drive – Day1 – Buland Safar
It’s D-Day—the beginning of my 10,000 km+ solo drive from Delhi to Kanyakumari and back via the Coromandel Coast.
There were enough last-minute scares. A 10-day antibiotic course for a stomach infection hadn’t even ended when severe back spasms left me wincing in pain. I was told it was stress, but I’m pretty convinced it was antibiotics. Anyway, I slept at 1 am and got up at 4. A banana breakfast, last-minute packing, and a few goodbyes later, I was off.
Vrindavan is 159 km away, but at 5 am on the Yamuna Expressway, it was a breeze. My first stop: Katyayani Shaktipeeth—a Durga temple in the land of Krishna. By the time I reached, the morning aarti was over. A large group was singing bhajans, and you could see kids scampering around with “Radhe Radhe” painted on their faces. I sat for a bit, soaking in the atmosphere, and sought much-needed blessings for the adventure ahead.
The Shaktipeeth of Vrindavan
The city has a classic old temple-town vibe, with crowded, narrow streets that can shame Chandni Chowk in Delhi.
Just another Door of Vrindavan
On top of that, the route Google recommended made me wish I was driving a Toto (tuk-tuk or e-rickshaw—what’s in a name?). After a near Abhimanyu-like experience, I finally found parking. Private parking is a big business in most temple towns these days. The guy handed me a ticket and told me to put my specs and phone in my pocket. It seems the monkeys of Banke Bihari have taken a fancy to the latest models too.
The streets were filled with people of all hues and sizes, walking barefoot and chanting away. At Banke Bihari, Krishna can be seen in his most popular pose, Tribhanga—bent in three places. His image is supposed to be so beautiful that a curtain rhythmically covers his face so that no one can see him long enough to be mesmerized. Well, I didn’t get that far. A curtain of people stonewalled me, and a near stampede convinced me that today wasn’t my day. I could have paid a tout ₹1,100 for a peep, but where’s the fun in that darshan?
Krishna Janmasthan at Mathura was just 10 km away, so I decided to try my luck there. They were way better organized, and the security was extremely tight—I guess it had to do with the mosque in the temple complex. The hot topic of conversation in the queue, however, was the ₹2 fee for storing electronic items. Hardly anyone had change, so we cursed and crawled.
The Garbh Griha, or the room where Krishna was born, is a very simple space. You’re rushed in and out through narrow corridors, Mumbai local style. To get a typical Kanhiya feel, you will need to visit the other two main temples in the complex.
Next on my list was Vishram Ghat, but it was too hot (Novembers are no longer what they used to be). So, I decided to skip it and head straight to Fatehpur Sikri.
Gulistan, a UP Tourism hotel, is bang opposite the Fort. On its best day, it’s a two-star, but it’s my two-star. Just after COVID-19, when Mom ditched me for greener pastures, I came here for a month. I was the only guest then and got used to making my own beaten coffee in their kitchen. To my pleasant surprise, the entire staff remembered their coffee-wala guest and came to catch up. It was a total home-away-from-home moment.
After quick hellos, I was off as my favorite fort beckoned. It’s not very large and neither is it as grand as others I’ve seen, but it has a super special vibe. Akbar built it to be close to the Chishti Dargah but left it soon after due to lack of water. As a result, the architecture wasn’t corrupted by war or additions by other rulers. During my last visit, I made a habit of walking the fort early in the morning. I’d sit there working on my laptop with only a few peacocks disturbing my peace. Sure, it didn’t feel very Akbar-ish, but trust me, it beats WeWork any day.
The Fort at Fatehpur Sikri – My Favourite
Every Mughal fort has a Diwan-i-Aam and Diwan-i-Khas, but my favorite spot at this fort is Anup Talao. I can close my eyes and imagine Tansen singing, sitting on a pedestal surrounded by water.
Next door, Buland Darwaza is equally impressive. It’s one of the largest gates in the world and towers over you, especially if you look up from the bottom of the steps.
Buland Indeed
I walked in, and a group was singing Sufi songs in front of the Dargah. But I got distracted. A group of kids from the local madrasa were keen to know the model of my GoPro. The curriculum, it seems, has changed.
The Go Pro Kids
Another twelve-year-old kid offered to be my guide. He started at ₹100 and came down to ₹10 when I showed no interest. I laughed, and we struck a deal.
First stop: the door to Anarkali tunnels that you can’t see but can imagine extending to Delhi, Agra, and Lahore. Next stop: the guy who sold me a chaddar for the dargah and gave Samir (the kid) his cut. Then I was marshalled to the white marble shrine at the center of the Jama Masjid for customary prayers. I tied the three threads and made my three wishes, just like Akbar. A few clicks later, I was packed off to my hotel. The enterprising, sweet-talking kid made sure he got his original ask. I decided to walk back to the hotel but not before taking a detour around the fort to savor an awesomely serene sunset.
Dinner at the hotel was chirpy, with the staff venting their worries about UP Tourism leasing out all its properties one by one. But they agreed the place needed a serious upgrade. I said my goodbyes with a promise to visit again soon.
It was an eventful first day, but Day 2 looks equally packed.
Hope you enjoyed the read! I promise more action tomorrow (and fewer words!).
Continue reading about Getawaymax’s solo road trip for BHPian comments, insights and more information.
