London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 80 – 15 November 2016
From French Elegance to the Sacred Island of Rameswaram
Determined to avoid Chennai’s notorious morning traffic, Team Kontiki made an early start today and headed south towards Pondicherry, now officially known as Puducherry.
The journey itself was a pleasure.
We travelled along the famous East Coast Road (ECR), one of India’s most scenic coastal highways. Running alongside the Bay of Bengal for much of its route, the road offered beautiful sea views, fishing villages, palm trees, and long stretches of coastline.
With the weather warm and sunny, it was a wonderful drive.
After around three hours and approximately 160 kilometres, we arrived in Puducherry at about 10:00 am.
Puducherry is unlike any other town in India.
Formerly a French colony until 1954, traces of its European heritage can still be seen everywhere. Wide boulevards, mustard-coloured colonial buildings, elegant villas, and tree-lined avenues give parts of the town a distinctly French character.
Walking through the streets felt almost like stepping into a small corner of Europe while still remaining firmly in India.
The beautifully maintained seafront promenade added further charm to the town, making it one of the most attractive places we had visited during our journey through India.
For us, however, Pondicherry held an even deeper significance.
During our school days, we had been introduced to the teachings and philosophy of Shri Aurobindo, the renowned philosopher, poet, spiritual leader, and nationalist who spent much of his life in Pondicherry.
His ideas had influenced our school and many aspects of its educational philosophy.
Because of this connection, visiting the Sri Aurobindo Ashram was something we particularly wanted to do.
As we entered the ashram, the atmosphere changed immediately.
The noise and bustle of the outside world seemed to disappear.
Visitors moved quietly and respectfully through the peaceful surroundings. The gardens were beautifully maintained, and an air of serenity filled the entire complex.
We spent some time sitting in silent meditation and reflection.
It is difficult to put into words exactly what we experienced there.
There was a sense of calmness, peace, and spiritual energy that can only truly be appreciated by being present.
Of all the places we had visited during our journey, this was undoubtedly one of the most tranquil.
I am very glad that we made the effort to come here.
It was an unforgettable experience that will remain with us for a long time.
Unfortunately, our schedule did not allow us to stay longer.
Our next destination was Rameswaram, approximately 450 kilometres away, and we wanted to reach the area before it became too late.
Reluctantly, we left Puducherry around midday and continued south.
The afternoon was spent covering mile after mile across Tamil Nadu.
The roads were generally good, and with Mahesh helping with the driving and navigation, progress was steady.
As darkness fell, we pushed on towards our destination.
By around 8:00 pm, we reached the outskirts of Rameswaram, one of Hinduism’s most sacred pilgrimage destinations.
Rather than driving directly into the town at night, we stopped at a hotel to enquire about accommodation.
The hotel turned out to be comfortable, and the staff proved extremely helpful.
When we mentioned that we wanted to visit the famous temple, they advised us to go early the following morning before the crowds arrived.
Their recommendation was to leave around 5:00 am by auto-rickshaw and hire a local guide to help us navigate the temple rituals and history.
The advice sounded sensible.
We checked into the hotel immediately and arranged both a rickshaw and a guide for the following morning.
With our plans set, we headed to the restaurant for dinner.
Being so close to one of India’s holiest sites, the menu was entirely vegetarian.
The meal was simple but very satisfying after a long day on the road.
As we settled into bed that night, we reflected on what had been a remarkable day.
We had begun the morning exploring the French colonial elegance of Pondicherry and ended it preparing to visit one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in India.
Only on a journey like this could two such different experiences fit into a single day.
Distance travelled: Approximately 610 km (380 miles)
Route: Chennai – Puducherry – Rameswaram
Weather: Sunny, warm, and pleasant
Highlights: Visiting Puducherry and experiencing the peaceful atmosphere of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Most memorable moment: Sitting in silent meditation at the ashram and experiencing its remarkable tranquillity
Places visited: Puducherry seafront, French Quarter, Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Accommodation: Hotel on the outskirts of Rameswaram
Dinner: Traditional vegetarian South Indian meal
Tomorrow’s plan: Early morning visit to the famous Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram
Mood of the day: Reflective, peaceful, and spiritually uplifted
“Some journeys feed the mind, others feed the soul. Today, in the peaceful surroundings of Pondicherry, we experienced a little of both.”
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki visits the sacred island of Rameswaram, one of India’s most important pilgrimage destinations, before continuing the final stages of our London-to-Mumbai road adventure.
