Coimbatore, the hub of Motorsports and Road trips

Narain Karthickeyan in a GoKart at KARI MOTOR SPEEDWAY

A race car at KARI MOTOR SPEEDWAY

KARI MOTOR SPEEDWAY Layout

Racers starting off the gird

In close contact at a championship

motorbikes hanging a right at KARI MOTOR SPEEDWAY

A youth of Coimbatore performing a wheelie on his bike

                     Coimbatore, dubbed the Manchester of South India has been the hub of motorsports in the region since 1950's. No other city in the whole of India has contributed to the growth and development of the sports way back from the 50's. Even today the racing circuits in the country and the racing fraternity are receiving great talents in the sport from this humble city. The greatest offering that this city has given to the world of motorsports is Narain Karthickeyan- the racing driver who had represented India in many world racing circuits notably the Formula1 series, the LeMans Series and the NASCAR Series and his predecessor Karivardhan Naidu (who owns the Kari Motor Speedway Racetrack) who was the most famous racing driver in India until Narain Karthickeyan came along. It is undeniably evident that the element of ‘Speed’ is present in the blood of every Coimbatorian. One may not find it unusual to find the youth of Coimbatore spending their money on either buying a costly pair of wheels (car or bikes) which some may find to be useless expenditure, but it’s all for the love of Speed. The many street races that are held between the youth of city during both daytime and late at nights stands to prove the daring and racing nature of the Coimbatorians. From 1960’s -96 Coimbatore had been a center of motor racing related activities in the country. Even today notable events like JK Tyre National Racing Championship, Indian Touring Car National Championship, MRF Formula 1600 Series, Formula LGB 4,Volkswagen Vento Cup are held at the Formula 3 auto racing circuit of Kari Motor Speedway. The Kari Motor Speedway is a must visit for every racing/motorsports buff in the city and is a recommended visit for everyone to imbibe and understand the rich motor racing heritage of this fabulous city. Located at Chettipalayam, the track regularly conducts the National Championship races for go-karts, motorcycle road racing and formula racing events.

A deer crossing the Mettupalayam-Kotagiri Road

                       

              The unique geographic position of Coimbatore in the plains surrounded by Western Ghats on three sides and an extension of plains to one side makes it easier to enjoy different environments in different parts of the city. The proximity to wonderful hill stations, hill temples, waterfalls, grassland plains, forests etc. makes living on the road a viable dream for the Coimbatorians. Coimbatorians have had the lavishness to drive up the Ghat road to Ooty and Coonoor in the morning sight-see, have a sip of the famous Nilgiri Tea and return home by dusk and such is the case with Valparai as well.The proximity of many wonderful places like Ooty, Coonoor, Valparai, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary/Top Slip, Marudhamalai Hills, Anuvavi Hills, Velliangiri Hills, Walayar Forest Ranges, Kovai Kuttrallam, Ponnuth Falls, Anaikatti etc. gives Coimbatorians more than enough reasons to hit the road to visit these places. Such road trips give us a chance to relax and enjoy and realize the beauty of nature that surrounds us.

Evening sky in a road trip

OOTY ROAD TRIP

Valparai  ghat road overlooking the Aliyar Dam

Popular Road trip Options:

1)   Coimbatore<->Ooty via Mettupalayam, from Mettupalayam there are two ways of reaching Ooty . Via Coonoor or Via Kotagiri.

2)   Coimbatore <->Valparai via Pollachi and Aliyar. Monkey Falls and Aliyar Dam are key attractions en route. The streams and the tea estates of Valparai provide a magnificent view.

3)   Coimbatore<-> Topslip. Key attraction Elephant Safari through reserved forests

4)   Coimbatore <->Valparai->Chalakudy->Palakkad-> Coimbatore. A closed loop circuit, it goes through ghat sections and densely forested sections take care cause animals cross the roads .The road from Valparai->Chalakudy will be closed for traffic post 5pm.

Uncapped road trip routes:

1)   Coimbatore<-> Anaikatti via Thadagam road

2)   Coimbatore<-> Marudhamalai Hills

3)   Coimbatore<->  Anuvavi Hills

4)   Coimbatore<-> Velliangiri Hills

5)   Coimbatore<-> Walayar Forest Ranges

6)   Coimbatore<-> Kovai Kuttrallam

7)   Coimbatore<-> Ponnuth Falls

8)   Coimbatore<-> Anaikatti

Anna Oru plate kaalaan !!!

A plate of the all-famous Kaalan

Masala Puri

Dahi Puri

Bhel Puri

              

  Kaalan kadais have for long been a phenomenon in the streets of Coimbatore. Today anyone could find a Kaalan shop in nooks and corners of most streets in Coimbatore. Although these shops are named after the exquisite dish made of mushrooms (by the people in fact) they also offer a wide variety of Indian chaat items like Bhel puri, Masala puri, Cutlet chat, Samosas ,Dahi Puri etc. Although these are the same chaat items that are found across India, the chaat dishes offered in the Kaalan kadai’s of Coimbatore have an unique South Indianess to them in terms of its tastes. This shows the effect of cultural interactions among the resident tamil population and the incoming migratory north Indians who come to Coimbatore for better jobs and business  avenues that has resulted in the birth of such unique dishes.The lip smacking, piping hot food and the pocket friendly rates have made Kaalan Kadais an instant hit among the population of Coimbatore especially among the city’s youth (no wonder). The popularity of such Kaalan Kadais could be measured by the sheer number of such kadais and the number of young customers (mostly of school and college going age) who throng such places enjoying the food with their friends having a good time. The phenomenon is such that the number of kaalan kadais in Coimbatore are directly proportional to the number of tuition centers in the city. The increase in Tuition centers have literally increased the businesses of many kaalaan kadais in the vicinity of the tuition centers. Come every evening the students after their stressful and jam-packed day of attending schools in the morning and tuition centers in the evening de-stress themselves by grabbing a plate of kaalaan or their favorite chaat dish. Every male student who has done his schooling in Coimbatore will relate to the dialogue “Vaa machi oru plate Kaalaan podalaam” (or some other dialogue which states the same thing) which he has shared on many occasions with his friends. It’s ironically true that every street in the Saibaba Colony area will have a tuition center and a kaalan kadai within a few hundred metres of its vicinity. Although there are countless numbers of Kalaan Kadais in the city each one has its unique taste and pricing and then there are these kaalaan kadais you simply can’t miss for their food.

                  

 

3 STAR KAALAN SHOP

A CUSTOMER FINISHING A PLATEFUL OF KAALAN

One such kaalan kadai is the 3 star Kaalan kadai in the VOC park area behind the roller (skating) rink. This kaalan shop has been serving to the residents of Coimbatore for more than thirty years now. Started off in 1974 it’s still in business enjoying a loyal clientele. What makes this kaalan kadai unique is the tatsty food it has on offer at down to earth prices. Kaalaan, Bhel puri, Masala puri, Cutlet chat, Samosas ,Dahi Puri, Cauliflower Chilly are priced at Rs.10/- dish, whereas combinations like Egg-kaalan, kaalaan-bhel, egg-bhel, egg- cauliflower Manchurian etc. are priced at Rs.20/- per dish. The prices are jaw dropping for the quality of food they serve, which makes this kaalan kadai a must try among the ones in Coimbatore.   3 star Kaalan kadai is open for everyday of the week by 5pm in the evening.So next time you are in the VOC park area don’t forget to try the food at 3 star Kaalan kadai.
      
  A few more kaalan kadais to try in Coimbatore:

1) Kaalan Kadai near the Puliyamaram Bus Stop in N.S.R Road in Saibaba Colony- the kaalaan here is a must try.
2) ARC Sasi's Kaalan kadai on NSR Road near IAB & Photocentre in Saibaba Colony
3) ARC Suresh's Kaalan kadai in Saibaba Colony i the cut opp. to Hotel Vijay Paradise
4)Lovely Kaalan Kadai in Saibaba Colony near Loomworld complex.