From there, I visited the San Thome Church. This spectacular white structure was built in its current form in 1893 by the British. Although, originally the Portuguese had constructed a church here back in the 16th century. The church displays a distinct neo-gothic architectural philosophy and is only one of three churches in the world to be built over a tomb of one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. As the church’s name suggests, the tomb of Saint Thomas was established here.
I chose my last stop on this whirlwind journey in the search of some calm. Marina Beach is a famous stretch of sun-kissed sand in Chennai, but the parking area near its famous lighthouse is too crowded to gather your thoughts. So, instead, I continued driving past the fish market and stopped at an empty stretch of the beach there. The shimmering golden sand, roaring waves, and the cloudy blue sky made for a perfect backdrop to finish this Great India Drive. This trip has been a joy from start to finish. From the world’s biggest statue to our home turf, then on to the city of Nawabs and beyond to India’s tech central and, finally, here out on the Coromandel Coast. This 1,800-km drive took us along spectacular highways and through some of India’s biggest cities.
The Hyundai Venue proved itself to be a fantastic companion on this drive. It has a capable engine, a smooth gearbox, very well-sorted suspension, and a roomy and spacious cabin: all useful on a long-haul journey like this. The SUV also has the ground clearance you need for rough sections and compact dimensions to flit through city streets without bother. Then there is the long list of premium features that you don’t find on any other car in this price range. Features such as a sunroof, wireless charging, and the ability to control so many aspects of your car through the use of voice commands or the app is just brilliant and a completely new way of doing things. Clearly, this connected compact SUV was well-suited for a journey of this magnitude and I couldn’t be happier with the way it performed throughout the drive.
