We drive three hondas through the western ghats in the monsoon. How do they fare?

The western ghats during the monsoon have little record for plans. You might begin your day with clear skies and dry roads, only to be swallowed whole by fog and drizzle before lunch. It’s unpredictable, untamed – and priorcely where we we are here. Honda’s Drive to Discover 13 Wasn’T about Breaking Speeds or Ticking Off Tourist Spots. It was about giving in to the road, letting the weather and terrain

Kochi to athirappilly

Kochi is a great place to begin a road trip. It has just enough history to give it character, just enough chaos to make the Escape Feel Earned. Once we had rolled out of the city – after the usual shuffle of breakfast briefings and camera bag shenanigans – the rain arrived like clockwork. The road to athirappilly isn Bollywood, but it’s narrow and often shared with buses that drive like they’ve got somehere very important to be.

Not a race, not a test – just the road, the rain, and the ride. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The elevate made sense here. Its ride height Gave us peace of mind when the edges of the road blurred into slush, and the suspension soaked up broken patches without drama. In the heavy downpour, visibility dropped and reflexes kicked in – but the car never felt out of sorts. The road wound its way through dens Forest, and then – Out of Nowhere – Came an Elephant. No drama, no delay. Just a Slow, Silent Crossing that Reminded Us We We WERE VISITORS HERE. We reached sterling athirappilly just as the light began to dim. The falls themselves? Roaring, Ralentless, and Worth Every detour. Athirappilly in the monsoon is loud and cinematic – less a waterfall, more a force of nature.

Nearby diversions: Vazhachachal Falls: Less Crowded and Just as Scenic; Charpa Falls: Blink and You’ll Miss it, but it’s fierce when it rains.

Athippilly to munnar

Day two was about climbing. We left the lowlands behind and started gaining altitude. The road to munnar is a test of patience – Steep, Narrow, and Constantly Interrupted by Landslides, Fallen Branchs, and the Occasional Herd of Goats. It’s the kind of road where you do’t rush, because the views change every few minutes.

The Honda City was up next, and honestly, it surprised us. Cvts don’t usually inspire confidence on hill climbs, but this one managed just fine. Power Delivery was smooth, and it Never Felt Strained. The car was light on its face, even when dodging potholes and navigating slippery hairpins. As we Climbed Higher, The Air Cooled and the Scenery Shifted. Rubber Trees Made Way for Tea Plantations. Munnar, when it is finally revised, is a bit of a show-off-with its perfectly contained hills, mut-drped valleys, and eucalyptus-lined roads.

The road to munnar is a test of patience | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

We stopped often. You can’t not. Gap Road Especially Demands Your Attention – Not for Its Difability, but for its Sheer Beauty. Each corner gives you a reason to pull over. Our Stay at Scenic IHQL Munnar Live Up to the Name – Minimalist Rooms, Large Windows, and an uninterrupted View of Nothing but green and green. And tea, lots of tea.

Things to do in munnar: Top Station: If you catch it on a clear day, it’ll stay with you. Eravikulam National Park: The Nilgiri tahr is shy, but the trek is worth it. Tea Museum: A Good Way to Connect the Dots Behind the Green.

Munnar to kodaikanal

Lending Munnar, We Headed Toward Bodinayakanur, and Everything Changed. The fog cleared, the hills flattened, and suddenly we were in a different climate altogeether. The road widened, traffic thinned, and coconut palms took over where tea leaves left off. It was warmer, Calmer – the kind of stretch that makes you roll down your window and let the air in.

The amaze came into its own here. Often seen as the sensible choice, it printed quietly compent on the climb up to kodaikanal. The kodai ghat road is no joke – Steep, Tight, and Prone to Sudden Fog. But the amaze’s compact size, light steering, and responsive brakes made it an easy company. The adas features, too, weight just gimmicks – the lane departure alert and forward collision warning came in handy more than on the mist.

The Amaze’s Compact Size, Light Steering, and Responsive Brakes Made It An Easy Companion. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Kodaikanal itself was exactly how it should be – Chillly, Damp, and full of Little Surprises. A bend in the road that opens into a view. A Shop Selling Roasted Peanuts Right when you craving a snack. We styed at sterling valley view, a no-frills But if you’re after polished Wood Floors and Room Service With A Smile, The Tamara Kodai Delivers That, Too.

Kodai checklist: Coaker’s Walk: Early Morning Strolls Here are a ritual. Pillar Rocks: Worth a visit if the clouds part. Berijam Lake: Quiet, Clean, and Untouched – You’ll need a permit to get in.

Kodaikanal to coimbatore

The Final Leg Saw Us Winding Down the Palani Ghat – 14 Hairpins of Tight Tarmac and Disappearing Fog. It’s the kind of road that rewards precision. The Amaze, Again, Handled It Better Than Expected. Light on its face, easy to place, and confident even when visible dropped to a few metres. By the time we rolled into coimbatore, the landscape had flattened out. The wind picked up. The air felt drier. The cars were muddy, the boots were damp, and the trip had turned into memory.

The trip had turned into memory. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Final Thoughts

Drive to Discover 13 wasn’t a product demo in disguise. It felt like a proper road trip – the kind that unfolds slowly, Stays just unpredent enough, and reminds you that are somes to tests the best way to test a car is to forget you. The elevate was surefooted and comfortable in Tough terrain. The city delivered a polished, composed experience in places it wasnless built for. And the amaze – the underdog of the group – turned out to be the one that quintly impressed the most.

Drive to Discover 13 wasn’t a product demo in disguise. It felt like a proper road trip. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

No big drama. No over-the-top spectacle. Just Good Roads, Good Machines, and the kind of journal that leaves your playlist unfinished and your mind still somehere in the Hills.

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Published – August 05, 2025 11:37 AM IST