Thread by @Zishaan

In the last week of 2023, I spent a few days riding in Tamil Nadu. Here are some highlights from the trip 👇🏽

Rode out of Bangalore towards Kolli Hills. Beautiful roads, rivers, paddy fields.

And fascinating village temples

Rode up to Kolli Hills, a small mountain range part of the Eastern Ghats. The ascent was through a ghat road with 70 hairpin bends.

Caught a beautiful sunset

And an inspiring sunrise

Crossed the Kolli Hills mountain range to descend on the other side

The serene and stunning Chola temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram (Brihadeeswara Temple). Completed in 1035 AD and part of the Great Living Chola Temples, a world heritage site.

The magnificent Chola temple in Darasuram near Kumbakonam (Airavateswara temple). Built in 12th century AD and part of the Great Living Chola Temples, a world heritage site.

The bustling temple town of Kumbakonam with its numerous temples and throngs of devotees

The imposing 'big temple' of Thanjavur (Brihadeeswara temple / Rajarajesvaram). Completed in 1010 AD and part of the Great Living Chola Temples, a world heritage site.

Where people came with devotion

And where people came to find peace

The lush green paddy fields around Thanjavur, the historical 'rice bowl of Tamil Nadu' in the Kaveri delta

Kanadukathan, a heritage town in the Chettinad region, with its opulent mansions from the late 19th and early 20th century.

Skyline of the Kanadukathan town from a mansion terrace

Rode across the Pamban bridge to Rameswaram

Rode to Dhanushkodi and back. The sea ran along both sides of the road.

Karaikudi town and Athangudi village (known for its tiles) in the heart of Chettinad

Rode along the south bank of Kaveri river. And the north bank of Kaveri river.

Rode through fort towns, through forests, crossed rivers, and rode through hills.

Ate so many amazing meals along the road. Podi idli at Murugan Idli, Krishnagiri. Brain fry and parotta at Selvi Mess, Salem.

Wholesome flavourful 'full meals' on banana leafs and spicy Chettinad curries.

This lovely fish in a chic cafe housed in a heritage mansion in Kanadukathan.

Omlette, chicken pepper fry and parotta in this tiny mess in Kanadukathan town.

A nice hot South Indian breakfast spread in this 100 year old heritage hotel in Kanadukathan

This cracker of a meal of fresh fish, prawns, rice and rasam in a tiny shack on a beach in Dhanushkodi. One of my favorite meals in 2023.

Mutton fry, fish fry, gravies and parotta at a Chettinad joint in Karaikudi.

Hot pooris and dosa in Trichy. Fish curry, brain fry, rice and gravies in Salem.

And I rode till I got home. An amazing way to wrap up the year.

That's it. 1550 km in 5 days.

Bangalore - Kolli Hills -- Thammampatti - Attur - Virudhachalam - Gangaikonda Cholapuram - Kumbakonam -- Darasuram - Thanjavur - Kanadukathan -- Rameshwaram - Dhanushkodi - Karaikudi -- Athangudi - Trichy - Musiri - Salem - Krishnagiri - Bangalore

The bike in pictures is BMW R NineT Scrambler. All pics shot on iPhone 15.

And here's a route map of the ride.