A total of 124participants from 11 countries will hit the roads on a 22-day sojourn, covering almost 8000kms, when the much-awaited second edition of the ASEAN-India car rally flags off in this historic city here tomorrow.
Jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and all ASEAN nations, the rally will demonstrate the close civilisation links with ASEAN countries, create public awareness, promote connectivity and enhance trade, investment, tourism and people to people connectivity among the member nations.
"2012 is a special year as we are commemorating the 20th anniversary of ASEAN-India dialogue relations. A large number of G2G, business and people-to-people centric activities have been carried out throughout the year and this rally will help in establishing infrastructural connectivity, institutional connectivity and most importantly people to people connectivity significantly," the Indian embassy in Jakarta said in a statement.
After its flag-off tomorrow by a host of Indian and Indonesian dignitaries, which will be marked by a cultural performance from both the countries, including a Manipuri dance troupe, the Indonesian leg will cover a distance of 134 kms from Yogyakarta to Surakarta via Borobudur.
The rally will proceed on a scenic route to the historic and majestic Borodubur temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the world and UNESCO heritage monument. The participants will plant saplings at the Barodubur temple, where the bronze bust of Indian Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore will also be unveiled to commemorate Tagore's visit to Indonesia in 1927.
The rally will proceed to the final Indonesia leg at Surakarta, where the participants will be hosted to a grand reception by the Mayor of Solo, which will include a cultural performance and handcrafts exhibition.
Next day, the participants will fly to Singapore to commence the second leg of the rally. The rally will go through Ipoh, Malaysia, before making night halts at Hat Yai, Phuket and Bangkok in Thailand. The rally will also make stop at Siem Reap and Phnom Penh in Cambodia.
The participants will also reach Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, before heading towards Laos, where the rally will make stops at Pakse, Savanakhet and Vientiane, before touching Sukothai in Thailand.
The rally will then head towards Myanmar and make stopovers at Hpa An, Nay Pyi taw, Mandalay and Ka Lay, before making its entry to India with night halts at Kohima and finally Guwahati, where the official flag-down will be held on December 17.