Day 6 – Edapally to Ponnani (Kanyakumari to Leh Cycling)

Still way to go
Still way to go
Chettuva Lake
Chettuva Lake
Chettuva Lake in the background
Chettuva Lake in the background

After leaving Edapally at 6:30 am, bounded for Chavakkad today, taking the Edapally-Panvel Highway, little did I know that I would be cycling 35 km post Chavakkad and staying at an unknown place. My planned stop for today was Chavakkad but while I was having a coconut drink at a roadside stall some 5 km before Chavakkad, I asked someone about the place and was suggested to stay at Guruvayoor instead, 4 km ahead of Chavakkad.

When I arrived at Guruvayoor, the scene was different and there was no single-room occupancy in the whole area. Double rooms were expensive as it is a pilgrim centre and the police has ordered not to offer rooms to single persons. Although I found two lodges which agreed to give me a room but they were quite expensive for my daily budget. After exploring the city for about two hours, I thought of heading towards another city, Ponnani, which I had to pass the next day. Ponnani is 29 km from Guruvayoor.

After I arrived in Ponnani–a small place and nothing much in the city–I again thought of moving on, and after about 4 km, found a tourist home where after bargaining, sealed the deal for Rs. 300 for a single room. This area does not have a particular name but it falls in Ponnani only. I have already covered 35 km extra, 119.5 km total for today, gaining a lead for tomorrow’s ride to Kozhikode.