Our grand Mahindra Thar road trip was set to begin on September 4, 2025. The plan was meticulous: an 8:00 PM departure from Hyderabad, a clean break from the city’s evening chaos. My two juniors and I stood by our gleaming Mahindra Thar Automatic, a vehicle traditionally seen as a weekend warrior, a beast for the backroads. The question on our minds was whether it could be a dependable partner for the grueling 3000-kilometer Thar long drive ahead. We knew the magic of a road trip lies in the journey, but this one felt like a pilgrimage and a test all in one.
Table of Contents
Mahindra Thar Road Trip: Hyderabad Nights and the Departure
Our planned departure was delayed by an hour, pushing our start to 9:00 PM. As we finally pulled away from the glittering, star-like expanse of the Outer Ring Road, the city lights of Hyderabad felt like a grand farewell. The sight was majestic, a perfect prelude to our adventure. The immediate challenge was to make up for lost time without pushing the vehicle. The Thar, in a surprising act of grace, was the answer.
We merged onto the highway, and the Thar shed its rugged image with astonishing speed. The engine, a robust 2.2-liter beast, was barely audible, its purr more like a satisfied sigh than a raw roar. It was a surreal moment, cruising at 85 kmph, the silence so profound we could hear a faint, distant hum. The cabin was surprisingly refined, and the experience felt like piloting a quiet, confident EV. At 90–95 kmph, we noticed only a light whistling of air. At 100 kmph, the wind noise was more noticeable due to the vertical windscreen, but it never became disturbing.
This surprising calmness and the Thar’s effortless automatic transmission made this Thar long drive a genuine pleasure, a stark contrast to any other SUV experience we’d had.
Our first navigational test came almost immediately. We were supposed to take Exit 16 towards the Bangalore highway, but a minor lapse led us to a small detour from Exit 15. The Thar, however, handled this hiccup with nonchalance, and we were soon back on track, turning left at Kurnool towards Nandyal and Kadapa, setting our course for Tirupathi.
Thar Long Drive: Tirupathi Hurdles & Missed Temple Visits
The journey to Tirupathi was a test of patience. Our original plan was to visit Tirumala on the morning of September 5th at 6:30 AM, but the road from Kadapa to Tirupathi was in a deplorable state. The rough tarmac shattered our planned timeline, and we had to make a practical choice. We offered our prayers to Lord Balaji from the foothills of Tirumala before continuing towards Thiruvannamalai via Vellore.
The road to Vellore was a welcome relief, a ribbon of excellent tarmac that allowed the Thar to stretch its legs again. Its refined performance felt like a dream after the bumpy detour. But once more, we found ourselves at the mercy of urban chaos. A wrong turn led us directly into the heart of Vellore city, where high traffic brought our momentum to a grinding halt. We missed our chance to visit the Thiruvanamalai temple, a second spiritual disappointment. We offered our respects from a distance and pressed on towards Madurai. The Mahindra Thar remained an unflappable companion, shrugging off the city traffic with its easy automatic transmission.
Madurai Stopover: Books, Printing Success & Parotta Feast
Our Madurai stop was crucial. It was here, after a meticulous 7-8 months of work on my technical book on Predictive Maintenance for Automotive BIW manufacturing lines, that I had arranged for the printing. I had entrusted the job to Shanlax Printers in Madurai, and they did a wonderful job. My experience with them was a perfect 5/5, completely hassle-free. It was a testament to their professionalism; I simply gave them the PDF and images and received the printed book in return—it was like “not having to teach a fish how to swim.” This was a significant moment for me, as this technical book was a new venture after writing many fictional and non-fictional works.
After collecting the book, we indulged in a quintessential Madurai experience: a feast of parotta and salna. It had been five long years since I had tasted this local delicacy, and it was splendid. We ate an extra portion and, with our stomachs and souls satisfied, started our next leg towards Tenkasi.
The road to Tenkasi was mostly smooth, with only a small, five-kilometer stretch of bad road that the Mahindra Thar handled with its characteristic ease. Soon after, we reached Srivilliputhur, famous for its Palkova sweet. We couldn’t resist. We bought and tasted the legendary sweet, and it was splendid and mouth-watering.
By 11:30 PM on September 5th, we found a well-deserved rest at CK Residency in Puliyangudi. The hotel, though a non-star establishment, was a pleasant surprise. The room was big and well-maintained—a good, clean space to recharge after a long and challenging day. We rated it a solid 5/5. After a four-hour nap, we were back on the road by 6:00 AM on September 6th, our final push towards Trivandrum.
This part of the journey took us through breathtaking ghat roads and scenic hills. The Mahindra Thar truly came into its own here. The ghat and hill roads were never felt. Its commanding presence and powerful engine made the winding roads feel like child’s play. Our vehicle “sailed” through the twisting curves with no questions asked and no tiredness felt. It proved that a Thar long drive isn’t just about highway cruising; it’s about mastering any landscape.
Hyderabad to Trivandrum Drive: Varkala Sea & Soul Restored
We reached Trivandrum at exactly 9:30 AM, just as planned, to pick up my other junior who, due to car sickness, had opted to fly from Hyderabad. He missed out on so much—the food, the scenery, the shared laughs, and the sheer joy of the journey. A testament to the joy of a road trip over a flight. From there, we made the final short drive to Varkala, arriving at 11:30 AM.
Our two-night stay at the Ashokam Resort, on the 6th and 7th of September, was a dream. The resort, perched on a cliff with the sea waves crashing hard against the rocks below, offered a raw and powerful experience. The rooms, while comfortable and clean, were nothing fancy (our rating: 3.5-4.0/5). The food, however, was a showstopper, earning a perfect 4.5-5.0/5. The chef and restaurant manager were truly exceptional, going out of their way to prepare special dishes for us. Their personalized attention and delicious food made us feel right at home after the long drive.
The main purpose of our journey was an official trip in Trivandrum on September 8th and 9th. We moved from Varkala to the Hilton Hotel for these two nights. The comfort was, as expected, a class apart. It was during this period, on the 8th of September, that I had the honor of handing over the book to my boss, who was visiting India from the US head office. It was a proud moment, the culmination of a long journey, both professional and personal.
The original plan to begin our return journey on the night of the 9th was a slight disappointment when it fell through. But with fresh faces and renewed spirits, we started our return on the morning of September 10th at 9:00 AM, our destination Mettupalayam. The Mahindra Thar was ready for the long journey ahead.
The route from Trivandrum to Theni via Kumily was again a delight. It was a complete Kerala hill drive, and our vehicle sailed through the winding roads with no question and no sign of tiredness. In Theni, we continued our culinary adventure, enjoying authentic South Indian biryani, a simple yet soul-satisfying meal.
Our delay meant our stay at my parents home in Mettupalayam was shorter than we had hoped. We arrived at 10:00 PM and spent the night. The next day, September 11th, was a quick one. We bought local items—Varkey, a delicious flour-based snack, and searched in vain for homemade Ooty chocolates. We started our drive back home by 5:00 PM.
Return Journey: Authentic Biryani Stops and Mahindra Thar Mileage
Then came Salem, a name we’d been hearing about for its famous RR Biryani. The hype was real. Their signature Tamil Nadu biryani was a masterpiece. The flavors were complex and deep, a symphony of spices and textures. One of my juniors was so overwhelmed by the taste that he had tears in his eyes. He said it was the best biryani he had ever eaten. It was a perfect, unforgettable moment, a small slice of heaven on the long road back. These food stops had become the landmarks of our return journey, just as important as the landscapes we drove through.
The final leg of our journey held one last surprise. The Mahindra Thar had proven its unexpected efficiency with an average Mahindra Thar mileage of 13.03 kmpl, a number we still found hard to believe. But the journey also had to remind us of the Thar’s rugged roots. We made a detour to avoid Bangalore’s traffic, and it was a mistake. The roads soon after we entered Karnataka were horrible, a grueling test for the Thar’s suspension and ride quality. The vehicle, however, absorbed the punishment, its build a clear winner against the broken tarmac. Once we finally reached the main highway, our journey became smooth sailing.
Mahindra Thar Automatic: Final Verdict After 3000 KM
Our Hyderabad to Trivandrum odyssey had come full circle. We rolled into Hyderabad at 9:30 AM on September 12th, exactly as planned. After nearly 3000 kilometers, the Mahindra Thar had proven to be much more than a vehicle; it was a character in our story, a dependable friend that had carried us through missed turns, challenging roads, and unforgettable moments. This epic Mahindra Thar road trip had taught us so much—about the joy of a long drive, the comfort of a rugged vehicle, and the richness of the journey itself. The Mahindra Thar had proven, unequivocally, that it is the perfect companion for anyone seeking adventure, on or off the road.
“In the end, it wasn’t just us testing the Mahindra Thar—it was the Thar testing us. And together, we conquered the road.”