Trivandrum Bikers Club 200 BRM on 15-Dec-2019

Date

About the Event

TBC PBP200 - Poovar Balaramapuram Punalur VIEW ROUTE Start Time: 05:50 Starting PointSports Hub, Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium Route Map:https://www.plotaroute.com/route/977517

Trivandrum Bikers Club’s randonneuring season opener for 2020 – 21 takes inspiration from its illustrious namesake that runs every 4 years. But that’s where the similarities end! While the illustrious original runs a grueling 1200 kms to be done in 90 hours, TBC’s PBP 200 is not so grueling and is a mere 200 kms and 2600 m elevation that needs to be done in 13.5 hrs. The PBP 200 takes the riders across the verdant landscape of Kerala, and starts at the Sportshub in Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium in the heart of Trivandrum City. The ride commences at 5.30 am and the riders ride to Poovar, a quaint seaside town that owes its name to Marthanda Varma, who while on the run and hiding from his enemies, reached this place in an autumn and saw a river (Aar) covered with flowers (Poo) and hence the name ‘Poovar’. 30 kms from the start point, Poovar is at the estuary of the river Neyyar and is also home to a large swathe of mangroves, and is an idyllic one day stopover for tourists, with its languid river flowing into the Arabian Sea. The nearby beach is an idyllic haven where one can catch some sun on the golden sands. From Poovar, the riders ride 14 kms to Balaramapuram, which is famous for its Handlooms. This dusty old-world town takes its name from the Travancore Maharaja, His Highness Balaramavarma, who converted the town and its surroundings into an agro-based industrial belt. Paddy cultivation, weaving, coconut farming, oil extraction were the major activities of the local population in those days. Balaramapuram Handlooms are a unique work of art that is a product of the traditional way of weaving cloth and known for its intricate & extra warp and weft. From Balaramapuram, the ride winds its way through the typical rolling terrain of Kerala, to finally reach Punalur, the gateway to the Shenduruny / Thenmala segment of the Western Ghats. Punalur is famous for its Hanging Bridge, the Punalur Suspension Bridge. Supposed to be Kerala’s oldest motorable bridge, this bridge was built by the British in 1877 and reminds one of the London Bridge. Nestling on the banks of the River Kallada and on the foothills of the Western Ghats, Punalur is also interestingly, one of Kerala’s hottest places during the summers and also one of its coldest midlands place during the winters. Punalur is home to the now defunct Punalur Paper Mills that was established in the 1850s, signifying the advent of the industrial revolution in Kerala. In time, Punalur became an important trading outpost and a transport hub between Kerala and Tamilnadu. Steeped in history, Punalur traces its origins to the Stone age and the discovery of remains from the Mesolithic period proves that the Shenduruny River Valley Civilization was one of the oldest river valley civilizations in India dating even before the Indus Valley Civilization. At Punalur, the PBP 200 makes its turnaround, and one realizes that you are just 71 kms away from the finish point at Sports Hub. This 71 kms homestretch retraces the route to Punalur through lush greenery that most of Kerala is famous for. PBP 200 provides one with a vivid sampling of History and Heritage, setting our world renowned Handlooms up against the natural beauty of Kerala and its sun, sand and the hills. A sweet 200 kms green ride, that the faster riders can complete in sub 10 hrs while the rookie could accomplish this in around 13 hours of riding. It just depends on how one gains during the flats and downhills of the route and conserves and maintains oneself during the climbs and the rolling terrains. All in all, PBP 200 will be a fun ride with its challenges and life lessons. Come, experience the thrill of PBP 200.