India’s West Coast to East Coast – RoadTripping

From watching the sunset on the Arabian Sea to witnessing the sunrise over the waters of the Bay of Bengal

Post Topic. Road trip across India. The Indian subcontinent, a distinctive geographic entity, is divided into a) the Indian peninsula, b) the Himalayas, and c) the Indo Gangetic plains. The Indian peninsula is a triangular-shaped landscape of ancient landmass jutting deep into the Indian Ocean. It is flanked on either side by the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Both oceanic regions are as ancient as the Indian Ocean itself, destined to be separated by a 2,000 km-wide landmass.

Road trip across India

There comes a time when we must undertake journeys due to various factors that govern our lives. I was supposed to relocate to Eastern India from the West Coast. So, here I was, musing about driving on a Road trip across India, crossing 2,000 km of the Indian Peninsula from the West Coast, sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats, and ending my journey on the Eastern Shores.

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A thought which germinated and grew as if a goblin had taken residence inside my head, who finally created such a din that I went into a flow to undertake this Road trip across India. A journey from the West Coast to the East Coast by ambling my way through the various states/regions that came en route.

The Journey!

State of Goa- Sarve Bhadrani Pashyantu ma Kashchid duhkhamapnuyat

Goa has always held a special place in my heart. This region has always tugged at my heartstrings with its blue skies, white-crested emerald waters, lush green foliage, and red stones scattered throughout. This state always made me feel ME. It has given me time to introspect, as well as moments to power through life; the energy in the air has constantly refreshed me.

I spent my last few days in Goa listening to the sound of the waves and gazing at the various shades of blue that the sky took on as the day progressed from dawn to dusk. I said my goodbyes some up close, while most from afar, as I knew in my heart that my life was going to change as soon as I left the borders of the state of Goa.

After bidding my silent goodbye to this place, I loaded my packed bags onto my ride, called Truck. As I turned him eastwards, we knew that the destination lay somewhere up ahead, deep into the distance, in this direction on my Road trip across India.

The exit out of Goa can be less gloomy if one decides to take the adventurous routes that go into the Western Ghats. I opted to take the one which passed through the Doodhsagar forested area, eventually entering Karnataka.

State of Karnataka- Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate

Karnataka, a state that has it all, be it mountains, waterfalls, urbanisation, architecture or wildlife. One needs to decide where the inclination lies. On previous occasions, I had visited some of the incredible waterfalls nestled in the Western Ghats.

As a part of a Road trip across India, this time, I wanted to see the architectural significance. Hence, I was moving towards the region of Hampi, Badami, Aihole, and Pattadakal. These four regions form an essential part of the Northern Karnataka road trip. Hampi is undoubtedly a gorgeous Indian destination, and yet it has a relatively low visitor rate, which adds to its charm.

Hampi , the jewel of the Vijayanagara

The erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagara Kingdom was in existence even before that. Hampi has also been mentioned in ancient scriptures. In this setting, I found myself standing amongst ancient temples, palaces and monuments. The remnants of these speak to the grandeur that once existed in this region, and now it is a shadow of its former self. What images a visitor would have been privy to when the temples were in their full glory, with the deities worshipped by the people, can only be imagined.

As I walked along the ancient streets, I saw signs of a world that once existed here, now long gone. Of a time which proclaimed the glory of India and its achievements. It is said that the temple builders and artisans practised their craft at Hampi and Aihole, showcasing their expertise to the world at Pattadakal. I realise that only when one undertakes long-format travels like the one which I was undertaking, a Road trip across India, will one be able to understand the depth and magnitude of the various regions that lie next to each other in this country.

Aihole & Pattadakal : The mastery of the Chalukyas

True to the sense of the word, Aihole is a wonderland where the imagination of the artists has run wild in their creations of the temples, and Pattadakal is where all their finery is on display. If you are visiting this region, be sure to see all three places to get a sense of what I am trying to convey.

Badami Cave temples

Badami is renowned for its cave temples and rock-cut sculptures, which are rich in Hindu and Jain symbolism. The mastery of these sculptures is awe-inspiring. I was seeing this kind of art for the very first time. It left an indelible mark on my inner consciousness. It is said that Badami, along with Hampi and Pattadakal, formed the cradle for “temple architecture” in this region in those times and served as a model for later Hindu temples.

From Karnataka, I ambled on numerous state highways, always running eastwards on this Road trip across India. Crossed into Telangana right over the Krishna River. The river systems in India are truly underrated; numerous great rivers crisscross the entire subcontinent.

State of Telangana-Jaya Jaya He Telangana Janani Jayakethanam

Telangana, which was recently established, welcomed me with open arms as I breezed through and entered Hyderabad. I did not visit any of the famed architectures out here because Hyderabad deserves an altogether separate visit at a later point in time. I just lazed in the urban version of Hyderabad, visiting the coffee hubs and urban metropolis for some time.

Some piping-hot idlis, followed by two cups of tea in the morning, and I was well on my way out of Hyderabad. Telangana soon gave way to Andhra Pradesh as the town of Eluru came into view mid-morning. Since my childhood, this region has been prominent due to a variety of factors, including commerce, education, and agriculture. After Eluru, one reaches Tanuku, Rajahmundry, and the mighty Godavari River.

State of Andhra Pradesh- Maa Telugu Thalliki

Visakhapatnam is a rising star on the East Coast, a city poised to grow exponentially as the years roll by. As it stands today, Vizag is unrecognisable from the earlier version that I knew so well. There is this fast-paced life of urbanisation around which I somehow did not sit well. I was kinda lost in this city, which was once sweet and gentle in its outlook. However, I suppose urbanisation is also needed and inevitable.

Post Visakhapatnam, the cultural state of Odisha beckons the traveller. There is a marked change in the artistic presence of the people out here.  Odisha was all about lovely wintry mornings and early dusks. I could sense that I was in the Eastern part of the country.

State of Odisha – Bande Utkala Janini Odisha

I chose to visit the northern shores of Lake Chilika in this Road trip across India, specifically the village of Mangalajodi. Out here, the villagers have started harnessing the beauty of the ecosystem. Mangalajodi wetlands are home to numerous migratory birds. The villagers actively participate in conserving the lake and its ecosystem. This ensures that the bird’s habitat remains unchanged, and in exchange, the visit of bird enthusiasts and tourists boosts the local economy.

From Mangalajodi, I digressed towards Puri, where I spent the evening visiting the Jagannath temple. This is so that we can witness the evening aarti (prayers), followed by an early morning visit as well. The early morning visit was soothing, as the wintry dawn in such an atmosphere is so fulfilling. Please note that phones and wallets are not allowed inside the temple perimeter. I soon sampled the distinctive breakfast fare served at the street eateries. In this country, every region has its unique cuisine and culture.

Bhubaneswar, I exited early in the morning and soon crossed the Mahanadi River, yet another iconic river of India. The Odisha landscape of wide-open spaces with fields on both sides of the highway soon gave way to the iconic Bengal landscape.

State of Bengal – Dekha Hobe Ei Banglay

It was a moment of anticipation to see the signboards proclaiming arrival in Bengal. The entry was extremely smooth, and I breezed into Kolkata in a few hours, despite being warned about the notorious truck traffic that accumulates on the border near Jaleswar, Odisha. Kolkata and this region have filled me with a sense of anticipation of further wanderings deeper into the Northeast.

Road trip across India

This is a meandering journey from the West Coast to the East Coast during my Road trip across India. The Safari proved to be a pleasure to ride … a true-blue-blooded highway cruiser indeed. Hope typo enjoyed this unfiltered journey and thoughts.

What is my blog about ?

My blog focuses on nature-based places and offbeat destinations. India has an abundance of these kinds of places. Read about the forest magic of Odisha out here, or read an in-depth story about the trek to Sandakphu to see the Kanchenjunga up close. A visit to Haflong, the only recognized hill station in Assam, is recommended. I did visit beaches in Benagl as well. If the word Bakkhali triggers your imagination, then read it here.