The Western Ghats throughout the monsoon have little regard for plans. You would possibly start your day with clear skies and dry roads, solely to be swallowed complete by fog and drizzle earlier than lunch. It’s unpredictable, untamed — and exactly why we have been right here. Honda’s Drive to Discover 13 wasn’t about breaking velocity information or ticking off vacationer spots. It was about giving in to the street, letting the climate and terrain set the tone, and seeing how effectively three on a regular basis Hondas — the Elevate, City, and Amaze — would rise to the problem.
Kochi to Athirappilly
Kochi is a good place to start a street journey. It has simply sufficient historical past to offer it character, simply sufficient chaos to make the escape really feel earned. Once we had rolled out of the metropolis — after the typical shuffle of breakfast briefings and digicam bag shenanigans — the rain arrived like clockwork. The street to Athirappilly isn’t lengthy, however it’s slim and sometimes shared with buses that drive like they’ve bought someplace crucial to be.
Not a race, not a check — simply the street, the rain, and the trip.
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The Elevate made sense right here. Its trip peak gave us peace of thoughts when the edges of the street blurred into slush, and the suspension soaked up damaged patches with out drama. In the heavy downpour, visibility dropped and reflexes kicked in — however the automotive by no means felt out of kinds. The street wound its manner through dense forest, after which — out of nowhere — got here an elephant. No drama, no delay. Just a gradual, silent crossing that reminded us we have been guests right here. We reached Sterling Athirappilly simply as the gentle started to dim. The falls themselves? Roaring, relentless, and price each detour. Athirappilly in the monsoon is loud and cinematic — much less a waterfall, extra a power of nature.
Nearby diversions: Vazhachal Falls: Less crowded and simply as scenic; Charpa Falls: Blink and also you’ll miss it, however it’s fierce when it rains.
Athirappilly to Munnar
Day two was about climbing. We left the lowlands behind and began gaining altitude. The street to Munnar is a check of persistence — steep, slim, and consistently interrupted by landslides, fallen branches, and the occasional herd of goats. It’s the type of street the place you don’t rush, as a result of the views change each couple of minutes.
The Honda City was up subsequent, and actually, it shocked us. CVTs don’t often encourage confidence on hill climbs, however this one managed simply superb. Power supply was clean, and it by no means felt strained. The automotive was gentle on its ft, even when dodging potholes and navigating slippery hairpins. As we climbed greater, the air cooled and the surroundings shifted. Rubber timber made manner for tea plantations. Munnar, when it lastly reveals itself, is a little bit of a show-off — with its completely contoured hills, mist-draped valleys, and eucalyptus-lined roads.
The street to Munnar is a check of persistence
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We stopped typically. You can’t not. Gap Road particularly calls for your consideration — not for its problem, however for its sheer magnificence. Each nook provides you a cause to drag over. Our keep at Scenic IHQL Munnar lived as much as the identify — minimalist rooms, giant home windows, and an uninterrupted view of nothing however inexperienced and gray. And tea, a lot of tea.
Things to do in Munnar: Top Station: If you catch it on a transparent day, it’ll stick with you. Eravikulam National Park: The Nilgiri Tahr is shy, however the trek is price it. Tea Museum: A great way to attach the dots behind the inexperienced.
Munnar to Kodaikanal
Leaving Munnar, we headed towards Bodinayakanur, and all the things modified. The fog cleared, the hills flattened, and abruptly we have been in a special local weather altogether. The street widened, site visitors thinned, and coconut palms took over the place tea leaves left off. It was hotter, calmer — the type of stretch that makes you roll down your window and let the air in.
The Amaze got here into its personal right here. Often seen as the good selection, it proved quietly competent on the climb as much as Kodaikanal. The Kodai Ghat Road is not any joke — steep, tight, and liable to sudden fog. But the Amaze’s compact measurement, gentle steering, and responsive brakes made it a straightforward companion. The ADAS options, too, weren’t simply gimmicks — the lane departure alert and ahead collision warning got here in helpful greater than as soon as in the mist.
The Amaze’s compact measurement, gentle steering, and responsive brakes made it a straightforward companion.
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Kodaikanal itself was precisely the way it needs to be — chilly, damp, and filled with little surprises. A bend in the street that opens right into a view. A store promoting roasted peanuts proper whenever you’re craving a snack. We stayed at Sterling Valley View, a no-frills hillside retreat with trustworthy meals and stable scorching showers. But if you happen to’re after polished wooden flooring and room service with a smile, The Tamara Kodai delivers that, too.
Kodai guidelines: Coaker’s Walk: Early morning strolls listed below are a ritual. Pillar Rocks: Worth a go to if the clouds half. Berijam Lake: Quiet, clear, and untouched — you’ll want a allow to get in.
Kodaikanal to Coimbatore
The last leg noticed us winding down the Palani Ghat — 14 hairpins of tight tarmac and disappearing fog. It’s the type of street that rewards precision. The Amaze, once more, dealt with it higher than anticipated. Light on its ft, simple to position, and assured even when visibility dropped to some metres. By the time we rolled into Coimbatore, the panorama had flattened out. The wind picked up. The air felt drier. The automobiles have been muddy, the boots have been damp, and the journey had become reminiscence.
The journey had become reminiscence.
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Final Thoughts
Drive to Discover 13 wasn’t a product demo in disguise. It felt like a correct street journey — the form that unfolds slowly, stays simply unpredictable sufficient, and reminds you that generally the finest option to check a automotive is to neglect you’re testing it. The Elevate was surefooted and comfy in robust terrain. The City delivered a cultured, composed expertise in locations it wasn’t actually constructed for. And the Amaze — the underdog of the group — turned out to be the one which quietly impressed the most.
Drive to Discover 13 wasn’t a product demo in disguise. It felt like a correct street journey.
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No huge drama. No over-the-top spectacle. Just good roads, good machines, and the type of journey that leaves your playlist unfinished and your thoughts nonetheless someplace in the hills.
Motorscribes, in affiliation with The Hindu, brings you the newest in automobiles and bikes. Follow them on Instagram on @motorscribes
