{"id":971,"date":"2023-05-17T11:04:09","date_gmt":"2023-05-17T05:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/?p=971"},"modified":"2026-05-13T08:10:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T02:40:38","slug":"our-road-trip-to-south-india-in-xuv-700-detailed-itinerary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/blog\/2023\/05\/17\/our-road-trip-to-south-india-in-xuv-700-detailed-itinerary\/","title":{"rendered":"A 5,300-Kilometer Epic: Our 16-Day South India Road Trip in the XUV 700"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/InShot_20230514_135556669-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-972\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/InShot_20230514_135556669-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/InShot_20230514_135556669-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/InShot_20230514_135556669-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/InShot_20230514_135556669-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/InShot_20230514_135556669-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">May 1, 2023, marked the beginning of an adventure that had been months in the making. We packed our bags, loaded up our Mahindra XUV 700, and set out from Mumbai on a massive cross-country expedition. Over the next 16 days, we drove across six states\u2014Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana\u2014covering a staggering 5,300 kilometers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This journey was an absolute test of endurance and spontaneity. We managed to book all our hotels and homestays on the fly using AirBnB and Booking.com, embracing the true spirit of a road trip. The expedition logged exactly 109 driving hours, consumed 440.4 liters of diesel (costing Rs. 41,744), and incurred Rs. 4,337 in toll charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before diving into the daily miles, I want to highlight the profound spiritual core of this journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Spiritual Zenith: Jyotirlingas, Char Dham, and Shakti Peeths<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A primary driving force behind this expedition was seeking blessings at some of the most powerful and ancient sites in Hindu theology. We successfully integrated a Char Dham site, two sacred Jyotirlingas, and multiple Shakti Peeths into our route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple (Rameswaram):<\/strong> Reaching this island temple was a deeply moving experience. It holds the supreme and rare distinction of being both one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and one of the four original Char Dham pilgrimage sites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple (Srisailam):<\/strong> Resting high on the flat top of the Nallamala Hills, this temple radiates immense energy. It is incredibly unique because it is simultaneously a Jyotirlinga (dedicated to Lord Shiva) and one of the eighteen Maha Shakti Peethas (dedicated to Goddess Parvati).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundaraswara Temple (Madurai):<\/strong> Another immensely powerful Shakti Peeth, celebrating the divine feminine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sri Venkateshwara Temple (Tirupati) &amp; Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple (Trivandrum):<\/strong> We also had the privilege of securing darshan at the two richest temples in India, experiencing devotion on an unimaginable scale.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here is the detailed diary of our days on the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 1, 2023: Pushing the Limits from Mumbai to Gokarna<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We started early, dedicating the morning to critical vehicle preparation. I ensured the XUV 700&#8217;s tires were purged and filled completely with nitrogen to maintain pressure stability during the continuous interstate runs ahead. We then hit the highway, covering the long stretch from Maharashtra straight into Karnataka. We stayed in Gokarna, concluding the grueling day by spending two hours relaxing, enjoying the sunset, and eating dinner at a main beach shack as the Arabian Sea crashed against the shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 2, 2023: The Coastal Temple Run<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We checked out of Gokarna and drove right into a deeply spiritual sequence along the coast. Our first stop was the Shri Mahabaleshwara Swami Temple, where we had a peaceful 35-minute darshan. From there, we drove south to Murdeshwar, spending an hour standing in awe beneath the towering Shiva statue set against the ocean backdrop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Continuing inland, we spent two hours at the Sree Mookambika Temple in Kollur. We ended the drive in Udupi, completing a serene 30-minute darshan at the Shri Krishna Math. To wind down, we spent 45 minutes walking along the pristine sands of Malpe Beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 3, 2023: Leaving the Ocean for the Ghats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Departing Udupi, we cruised south toward Mangaluru. Driving past the New Mangalore Port gave us a fascinating look at the sheer scale of the local maritime shipping infrastructure. Soon after, the landscape shifted dramatically. We left the coastal highways and began ascending into the lush environments of Coorg, where we settled in for the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 4, 2023: Mist, Monasteries, and River Origins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We spent the entire day exploring the elevated heart of Coorg. We navigated the winding roads up to Thalacauvery, spending an hour and a half at the sacred origin point of the river Cauvery. Later, we visited the Namdroling Monastery, also known as the Golden Temple. Spending another hour and a half among the intricate Tibetan architecture and massive golden Buddha statues provided a striking cultural contrast to the ancient stone temples we had seen earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 5, 2023: Palaces, Tigers, and Endless Hairpin Bends<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We checked out of Coorg and drove toward Mysuru. We started the morning right, spending an hour enjoying authentic filter coffee at Cothas Coffee while waiting for the Mysore Palace to open. We dedicated an hour and a half to exploring this iconic, opulent structure of the Wadiyar dynasty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next, we proceeded to Nanjangud for a 30-minute darshan at the Shri Srikanteshwara Swami Temple, followed by a quick 15-minute exploration of the local Lord Shiva statue. The drive then turned wild as we crossed the state border into Tamil Nadu. We drove cautiously through the Bandipur National Park for 45 minutes, immediately followed by another 45-minute stretch through the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The real driving test began as we climbed the mountains. To avoid the notorious tourist crowds of Ooty, we made a strategic decision to stay in Kotagiri, which is an hour and a half further away. Reaching our destination required navigating a dizzying, hour-long ascent across an exhausting 39+27 hairpin bends. Trusting the XUV 700&#8217;s automatic transmission on these steep ghats was a brilliant new experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 6, 2023: Shivering in the Tea Estates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We woke up in Kotagiri and spent an hour taking in the breathtaking vistas at the Kodanad View Point. We then drove out to Coonoor. Along the way, we passed through the scenic 9th Mile, also known as Wenlock Down, stopping for 10 minutes to enjoy the landscape. We dedicated 45 minutes to exploring the High Field Estate, immersing ourselves in the fascinating processes inside their tea factory, oil-making facility, and chocolate-making factory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 7, 2023: Descending to the Adiyogi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We checked out of Kotagiri and executed a 30-minute descent across 7 sharp hairpin bends, driving out of the hills and into the bustling city of Coimbatore. Our primary objective was the Isha Yoga Centre. We spent 45 minutes exploring the serene campus and 30 minutes admiring the massive Adiyogi Statue. We stayed until dusk to experience the phenomenal 15-minute light show projected onto the sculpture, which was visually spectacular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 8, 2023: Entering Kerala via Madurai<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leaving Coimbatore, we charted our course toward Kerala, but we made a highly necessary detour into Madurai. We dedicated nearly two hours to seeking blessings at the Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundaraswara Temple. Experiencing the sheer scale of this ancient Shakti Peeth was humbling. After the visit, we crossed the border into Kerala and settled into our basecamp in Thiruvananthapuram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 9, 2023: The Richest Temple and the Giant Bird<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We dedicated three full hours to the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. Adhering to the strict dress code, we marvelled at the architecture and the overwhelming aura of the richest temple in the world. Afterward, we stopped for a quick lunch at Domino&#8217;s inside Lulu Mall before heading to Chadayamangalam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The afternoon was dedicated to the Jatayu Earth&#8217;s Centre, where we spent four incredible hours. Reaching the summit involved an exhilarating ride on the &#8220;Udaan Katola&#8221; cable car system to closely view the world&#8217;s largest bird sculpture. While at the top, we performed darshan at the ISKCON Jatayu Hare Rama Temple and observed the footprint of Lord Rama, imprinted on the rock during his legendary encounter granting moksha to Jatayu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 10, 2023: Standing at the Edge of the Subcontinent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using Thiruvananthapuram as our launchpad, we took a half-day trip to Kanyakumari, the true Land&#8217;s End. We took a boat ride across the choppy waters to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. We observed the footprint of the Goddess at Shripada Parai, viewed the towering Tiruvalluvar Statue, and stood silently at the Triveni Sangam to witness the confluence of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Returning to Kerala, we visited the Azhimala Shiva Temple for an hour to see the breathtaking Gangadhareshwara Shiva Statue looking over the sea. We ended the evening spending a joyful hour flying kites and enjoying the cool breeze at Kovalam Beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 11, 2023: The Bridge to Rameswaram<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We checked out of Thiruvananthapuram and drove back into Tamil Nadu, setting our navigation for Rameswaram. Approaching the island, we got a magnificent glimpse of the 100-year-old Pamban railway bridge while we travelled comfortably over the ocean on the parallel Anna Indira Gandhi Road Bridge. Upon arriving, we spent 45 minutes immersed in the spiritual gravity of the Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple, achieving our goal of visiting this sacred Jyotirlinga and Char Dham site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 12, 2023: The Ghost Town and a Sandy Rescue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before turning inland, we spent two hours exploring Dhanushkodi, the eerie ghost town swallowed by a cyclone decades ago. We got a distant glimpse of the Ram Setu and spent 30 minutes at Arichal Munai, observing the fierce confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The day also featured an unexpected adventure: we spent 30 minutes using our towing clamp to successfully rescue a Hyundai i10 that had gotten severely stuck between stone and deep sand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On our way toward Vellore, we stopped for 15 minutes at the Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple to marvel at the legendary floating stones. We ended the long day in Vellore, dedicating an hour to exploring the radiant Sri Lakshmi Narayani Golden Temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 13, 2023: Driving to Tirupati<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We checked out of Vellore and crossed into Andhra Pradesh, setting our sights on Tirupati. We took the evening to decompress, spending 45 minutes enjoying the peaceful tranquillity and securing darshan at the beautiful ISKCON Temple in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 14, 2023: Extreme Patience at Tirupati Balaji<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We dedicated this entire day to the Tirumala Hills. Seeking darshan at the Sri Venkateshwara Temple requires profound devotion and patience. We spent a grueling 12 hours barefoot, navigating the massive, highly controlled pilgrimage complex. The waiting tested our absolute physical limits, but securing our darshan at India&#8217;s richest and most visited temple was a spiritually overwhelming reward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 15, 2023: Deep into the Nallamala Forests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leaving Tirupati, we drove north toward Srisailam. The drive took us deep into the wild, as we spent an hour passing through the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve. Upon arriving, we dedicated 45 minutes to the Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Ammavarula Devasthanam. Securing blessings at the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, combined with darshan of Goddess Bhramaramba Devi at the Shakti Peeth, felt like a monumental achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 16, 2023: The 17-Hour Marathon Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With our spiritual and sightseeing goals achieved, it was time to head back to Maharashtra. We checked out of Srisailam, stopping for a quick 30-minute darshan at the Sakshi Ganapati Temple before passing through the Amrabad Tiger Reserve for an hour and a half into Telangana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We drove through Hyderabad, spending 30 minutes on the Airport Road and grabbing a 45-minute brunch at the Aerospace Plaza. We hit the 4-lane Nehru Outer Ring Road for an hour, making excellent time before ultimately getting bogged down for two hours in heavy Pune traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We executed a rigorous, non-stop solo drive lasting 17 hours. We covered 1,000 kilometers in a single day\u2014our highest daily mileage of the trip\u2014pulling into Mumbai utterly exhausted but triumphant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reflections from the Road<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking back at the 5,300 kilometers, crossing around 120 hairpin bends, and traversing five states, this journey taught us incredible lessons about life on the highway. We learned to always ask locals for route conditions rather than blindly trusting digital maps. We made it a point to stay hydrated and dive into the local food specialties wherever we went. On a more practical note, losing footwear at crowded temples taught us to simply leave our shoes safely inside the XUV 700 or our homestays. The vehicle carried us safely through diverse Indian terrain, leaving us with a wealth of memories and stories to tell.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>May 1, 2023, marked the beginning of an adventure that had been months in the making. We packed our bags, loaded up our Mahindra XUV 700, and set out from Mumbai on a massive cross-country expedition. Over the next 16 days, we drove across six states\u2014Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-my-travelogue"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=971"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/971\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2351,"href":"https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/971\/revisions\/2351"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sharanamshah.com\/mymusings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}