Ride from Rameswaram to Kanniyakumari

Ride from Rameswaram to Kanniyakumari

As there are fewer buses going direct to Kanniyakumari, i took a bus for Trichendur. The bus left at 11.14 am, going past pamban bridge at 11.29, mandapam at 11.32, uchipulli at 12. 05, perunakulam at 12.14, sathankulam at 12.23  and ins purundu at 12.28. Somewhere on outer point of mandapam an old lady wanted to deboard and despite repeated requests the driver dropped her about one and a half kms away from her desired stop. This may be happening repeatedly but such instances need to be corrected.  Somewhere i come across Deekshanya water tanker. Reach ramanathapuram around 12.35. This is followed by Keelakaral at 1.18, Kothankulam at 1.56 and Keelaselavanur at 2.03. Finally at 2.25 we reach Sayalgudi, from where Rameshawaram and Kanniyakumari  are 110 kms apart. As far as bus stand at Sayalgudi is concerned, it is not in a good running condition and waste can be seen collected with passengers too showing attempts to add to the unbearable surroundings. Where the bus stops on the right is a food outlet, if possible one can have tea with a reminder of what the sum and substance of the tea should be. A little further on the left the place looks to be relatively sound. Perhaps Sayalgudi as a bus stand needs a major uplift with a conscious attempt to raise relieving points and commuters being told about the same.

Bus leaving Sayalgudi

The bus leaves Sayalgudi at 2.40, Vembar comes at 3.14, Kolathur at 3.50. Around 4.14 we are on a highway. At half past four we reach another bus stand. At 4.40 we reach Tuticorin bus stand. Here Joy bakery and cool bar for tea can be tried. As one leaves Tuticorin bus stand few kms away come across a board pointing to on the right side Tirunelveli and on left Tiruchendur. From hereon the transport we are in glides on the road vis-a-vis between 12.45 and 2.10 in the afternoon when the road on which the bus navigates is narrow with its share of hiccups. Perhaps 10 kms away from Ramanathapuram, the road begins to invite suggestions on how it could be upgraded and mind you during this 80 odd minutes travel (12.45 to 2 .10 pm) there are fewer visible vehicles on this road. At 5.30 we go past Kamlavati study centre followed by Kamlavati higher secondary school.

Reaching Trichendur
We reach Kapalyapattinam at 5.50. Between five and six in the evening i come across banana plantations on either side (more prominent on the right side of the direction the bus is moving) that raises an understanding that they can be plucked at will. Perhaps this is the sense one can get with no barbed wires to secure them. At 6.05 we reach Tiruchendur. A fairly well maintained bus stand which sees orderly arrival and departure of buses. There is a toilet on the extreme right and opposite the platform where my bus is parked there are a host of stores including one joint that serves tea.

The bus leaves Trichendur at 6.30. From Trichendur i am told that there is a diversion so we have taken a road that goes through a set of houses/colonies. At 7.30 we reach Sattankulam. Sometime after nine we reach Nagercoil and after 10.30 we reach Kanniyakumari.

In Kanniyakumari try in Ganesh lodge and Bhoopathi lodge; finally get in Raja Palace. Ganesh lodge was the one where i made enquries in October 2010 that i wish to come and stay, what are the options. The manager seem to be in receptive mood. This time round they had a different excuse on table: rooms booked, food cooked.

In raja palace, room no 301 on ground floor is where i stay for two days.