The Plan was to do the following:
Madras-Thirukoyilur-Thiruvarangam-Srirangam
This is the only day in the whole trip where things went as per plan.
As per plan we started at around 5.15 AM from home. Fuel tank was 3/4 full. I wanted to top up in a Shell nearby or a BPCL COCO on the Highway. But since the initial two bunks were closed forgot this completely! Starting before 6 was a mistake since the roads were very dark and considerably reduced my vision. I also din’t know how to get rid of the fogging in the inner walls of the windshield. Later I found that I had to keep the windows open for a minute or so to make the temperature on both sides same.
Crossed the following points:
6 AM – NH45 – Paranur Toll – INR 20
6.46 AM - NH45 - Athur Toll – INR 20
7:21 AM - NH45 – GMR Ulundurpet Toll – INR 62 (Is there a way to bye pass this toll? too costly 
)
7:34 AM – Villupuram Govt Hospital Turn.
8:33 AM – Reached Tirukoyilur.
Between Villupuram and Tirukoyilur we stopped for around 15 Minutes to take some snaps.
Excellent Roads, Zero Traffic.
A nice darshan at the Tiruvikraman Perumal Temple and breakfast at Arya Bhavan we started again towards Adi Tiruvarangam.
9:25 AM – Started from Tirukoyilur. There is an old bridge crossing Thenpennai river which is blocked for 4 wheeler traffic and hence there is a diversion through another route nearby.
10:05 AM – Reached Adi Tiruvarangam. The roads to this place is via Manalurpet and except for the last 2 KMS the entire stretch of 20 KMS is in good condition. The Temple is open for public from 8 AM in the morning to 9 PM in the night without any breaks and hence can be visited any time of the day.
10:26AM – Left the temple and headed back to Tirukoyilur. Just before you reach Tirukoyilur there is a diversion which says Ulundurpet Byepass to your right. Going by some blind faith I took this road. This road is really excellent and almost a straight line. Be wary of some nasty speed breakers with or without markings. They are huge and might scrap your car under body if you are not careful. It crosses the Salem Highway and I joined that route to reach Ulundurpet since the fuel was almost empty and I wanted to hit NH45. Or else one could proceed straight till Asanur to join NH45.
- Ulundurpet-Asanur Byepass
11:54 AM Re-fuelled at an IOCL near Veppur for INR 1000.
12:11 PM – NH45 Thirumandurai Toll – INR 40
12:52 PM – NH45- Samayapuram Toll – INR 35
1:15 PM – Reached Home in Srirangam.
Since this is my first day and my first trip I was nervous all through and I could not manage a decent speed. But at the end of day Iwas happy that I could reach safe!
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