Day 11: Mangalore to Calicut

For the first time we'd to change plans. Day 11: We were supposed to drive about 440 kms from Mangalore to Cochin (We've already driven a longer distance of Pune-Goa in a single day).

We flagged off from Mangalore ahead of time. Mr CS Sheshadri, CEO, Automatrix, flagged us off.

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We left Mangalore by around 9.45AM and drove further south on NH17 towards Cochin via Calicut.

We started experiencing heavy monsoon rains. Add to this the fact that NH17 is just 2 lanes and traffic was heavy. Our speeds were greatly reduced and it was beyond 1.30 by the time we crossed Kannanghad. We stopped at the Nalanda Resort for lunch.

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Below: With Mr Shafiq of Tata Motors (and few other snaps taken around the Nalanda Resort)

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We saw lots of FIFA banners in Kerala, put out by fans supporting their respective teams. Brazil seems to have great number of fans. We passed through Kannur, Mahe (Mahe, though in Kerala, is a part of Union Territory of Puducherry. Hence you can see Pondy style administration here) and Calicut. It was dark (7pm) by the time we reached Calicut (aka Kozhikode or Kallikote). We'd another 190kms to do. Though the roads were 4 laned after Calicut,reports of heavy rains and other safety factors kicked in and the team decided that it would be better to halt at Calicut and proceed to Cochin the next day.

Nano handled water logged roads of Calicut very well.

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We quickly searched for appropriate hotels and checked in. This was the first time we'd to change plans in our trip. Leaving very early in the morning for Cochin and we should be reaching the city in time for our activities.