Family road trip to Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram in Tata Safari Dicor

What began as a drizzle, turned into a blinding rainstorm. But since the traffic was scarce, it did not hamper our progress much.

BHPian darklord recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Another December, time for another road trip with the family. Our last two December road trips were long trips, ~6000 km and ~4000 km. Photolgoues are in our forum, Gujarat and Ajanta-Ellora.

This time we wanted to do something similar and I was looking at Ujjain as a possible destination. As December approached, another possibility for a long trip in May 2025 opened up and since that would be an extra long-range road trip, we decided to curtail our December trip to a short one. Right on cue, my cousin and family decided on a vacation at Chennai and Mahabalipuram, and they invited us to join in the Mahabalipuram leg of the trip.

The trip plan was finalized as thus, I and family would drive from Attingal to Bangalore, pick up my sister and kids (BIL had no leave this time around), do the Mahabalipuram trip and if possible, have a dekko at Kanchipuram as well and return to Attingal as the vacation ends.

The trip at a glance:

Attingal to Bangalore:

Me, mom, wife, and kid set off from Attingal at 2 p.m. after catching a bit of a shuteye after my night shift. The route taken was Kilimanoor-Nilamel-Thenmala-Elathur-Puliyangudi-Sankarankoil-Kovilpatti-Krishnagiri-Bangalore.

The day before, the Safari got washed and cleaned:

Ready to roll:

At Kadakkal, we stopped for a diesel fill:

Since it was Sabarimala season, there was traffic buildup from Thenmala onwards, reaching its peak around Aryankavu. Luckily though, we were not held up anywhere and we crossed the ghats and reached the plains of Tamil Nadu:

Though NH744 is a single lane road here...

...it offered exquisite views:

We left NH744 at Puliyangudi and turned onto SH76 onwards to Sankarankoil:

Sun began to set as we approached Sankarankoil:

There was a bit of town traffic around Sankarankoil and Kalugumalai, but otherwise, the going was smooth except for speed humps and the traffic was minimal.

By 6:45 p.m. we reached Kovilpatti and entered NH44 and stopped for a tea break soon after:

We continued our journey and crossed Etturvattam toll plaza at 8 p.m., accompanied by a slight drizzle, which luckily did not last long:

Dinner was had from Ayyankottai Temple City:

Drove nonstop thereafter, crossing Karur at 11:45 p.m.:

Took a breather at Paramathi for bio/fuel:

As we took a break at Dharmapuri for tea at 2:15 a.m., what began as a drizzle...

...soon developed into a blinding rainstorm:

This continued off and on and for varying intensities for quite some time, but since traffic was scarce, did not hamper our progress much.

We rolled into Attibelle and entered Bangalore accompanied by foggy conditions at 4:15:

Dad, sister, niece, and nephew were awaiting our arrival with hot tea.

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