The rally, for cars manufactured before 1970, will touch upon Rajasthan, the foothills of Himalayas, the high plateau of the Deccan and will run along the banks of Cauvery to finish at Chennai -- a distance of 6857 kilometres.

Teams from the United Kingdom, USA as well as India are expected to participate in the rally that will stretch over 25 days. The rally is not intended to be a speed rally, but is aimed mainly at promoting tourism, explained Conrad Birch, one of the organisers.

Supported by the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India, the event will have no night driving and will have a group of mechanics travelling with the rallyists for technical support.

India provides so much of variety, said Birch, that it not required to go to any other country and hence it was decided to rally here. Also, it is difficult to crosscountry borders which can be avoided here easily.

Birch said that in 2000 they might have a rally with modern cars and a section for Classic cars, with many more that the 25-odd entries this time, to start the millennium with a bang.

The Jewel of India will also have regular updates on www.carnet.co.uk/jewel-of-india during the rally, which has, among others, a 1975 Hindustan Ambassador belonging to Karyn O'Neill of England.