Tiruppattur – Pudukkottai – 80 km
Operating in low gear, a slow cycle along country lanes led past
numerous temples, shrines, rice fields and small villages to
Pudukkottai. Once again, the road was used as a threshing floor and
rice was spread upon the tarmac, forcing vehicles to drive over the
crops before winnowing.
Historical Pudukkottai, rich in cultural heritage, is situated along the
Vellar riverbanks and was surprisingly large with the usual chaotic
traffic, a host of old temples, and a fort.
Pudukkottai – Thiruchirappalli – 55 km
The day turned out to be an easy ride to Tiruchirappalli, one of India’s
oldest inhabited cities, sporting a history dating to the third century
BC.
Digs were at the Ashby Hotel, which looked a tad worse for wear from
the outside but was quite pleasant inside. Being an old British
guesthouse, it had remains of old wooden furniture, and the rooms
opened onto a shady courtyard and restaurant—all in all, a pleasant
place to stay.