[drbones]

Four friends and an MU-X, 5250 kms, 7 states, 1 union territory, no bookings or fixed plans, endless memories with lot of stories and experiences to share.

My hearty thanks to HVK. He is the only confidence inspiring person for me when I start a journey by road. Thanks Sir, I can never thank you enough.

It's the end of 2017 and my year end drive is pending. I want to take my MU-X on a long drive. The plan is to drive through 29 states, but it's getting too long (30-35 days). The next idea is a drive to the northeast, which I had in my mind for a year, but finally I decided on a drive to Rajasthan.

We are five friends (MU-X included). Dr. Rakesh (orthopedic surgeon), Mr. Vijay (businessman), Mr. Anil (software employee) Dr. Anil Sunkara (plastic surgeon). The most important friend is the Isuzu MU-X.


The MU-X's boot is filled to the brim. I always carry my own water as I don't trust the quality of packaged water available at road side shops. It saves me from buying a lot of plastic bottles as we refill our bottles whenever needed, and saves a good amount of money too.


Day 1

The drive is from Bhimavarm to Hyderabad and I pick up the other 3 guys. Reached Hyderabad and had to finish some work in the next 2 days. My friends joined me on the 3rd day and it's time to hit the road. The first day's plan is to reach Indore. Hyderabad-Nagpur is a good stretch of road and the flyover at Hinganghat is now open, which saves you 20 minutes. After crossing Nagpur we had our dinner at Betul, met an old friend and headed towards Indore. The Nagpur-Indore stretch is a good one, except for the section between Kannod and Indore.

Saw this beautiful temple ghat on the banks of river Narmada at Nemawar. I get a nostalgic feel looking at temple ghats like these. Reached Indore late in the night and crashed on the bed like full stomach babies.


Day 2

We woke up early the next morning and the planned to reach Udaipur by evening. On the way, we touched Ujjain and got the blessings of Ganesha.


Love to have "chai ki chuski" at a roadside dhaba when I feel exhausted driving.


From Ujjain, it's time to reach Udaipur. Reached Udaipur by 5 pm and got stuck in the irritating traffic. The hotel we had booked had no parking and almost unreachable by car. We had to cancel the booking due to the same reason. Searched for other options and got a small hotel on the bank of Lake Pichola and had to be happy with that.

Started to explore Udaipur by night. The City of Lakes has a different charm at night.




Day 3

The plan is to see Kumbhalghar fort and reach Jodhpur before night fall.

I make sure to check the tyre pressure every morning before starting the journey.


On the way to Kumbhalghar Fort, had a chance to look at the ancient way of irrigation practiced even today. Ancient ways of irrigation systems are in sync with the the environment and are sustainable. Should we learn something from these practices rather than shouting about global warming and pollution?

This wheel is called Sakia




After spending a good 30 minutes watching Sakia, we started towards Kumbhalghar Fort. Here is the majestic fort.

What an amazing piece of Indian architecture.


The Great Wall of India is 36 km long and 15 feet wide. This was built as a protection from invasion.


Kumbhalghar Fort is said to have 300 Jain temples and 60 Hindu temples. May be some day I will trek the Great Wall of India.


Reached the fort as early as possible to avoid the rush. It's advisable to take 3-4 hours to explore this beautiful fort.


It's a must to hike till the top and have a birds eye view of the surrounding area to feel the grandeur of this fort.

[drbones]

On the way from Kumbhalghar fort to jodhpur a must visit place is bullet baba temple.

On 2 December 1991, Om Banna (formerly known as Om Singh Rathore) was travelling from the town known as Bangdi near Sanderao of Pali to Chotila, when he lost control of his motorcycle and struck a tree.
Om Banna was killed instantly, his motorcycle falling into a nearby ditch. The morning after the accident, local police took the motorcycle to a nearby police station. The next day it was reported to have disappeared from the station and was found back at the site of the accident.
Police, once again, took the motorcycle, this time emptying its fuel tank and putting it under lock and chain to prevent its removal. Despite their efforts, the next morning it again disappeared and was found at the accident site.
Legend states that the motorcycle kept returning to the same ditch. It thwarted every attempt by police to keep it at the local police station; the motorcycle always returned to the same spot before dawn. (Source of information is wikipedia)




Om banna


Got the blessings of bullet baba for the journey.


After Om banno visit, Mu x headed to jodhpur. After checking in to our hotel, relaxed and had our evening tea and snacks. Called Mr Udaybhan sing from Overlanders india for an offroad drive, he obliged it with a half day drive and lunch. Had our dinner and crashed for the night.

[drbones]

Day 4

Bright and cool morning. We got ready and started towards Pali from Jodhpur, had our breakfast on the way at a roadside shack just outside Jodhpur. Large and hot Rajasthani kachori tasted amazing with some sweets. Our meeting point for the offroad drive was 20 kms towards Pali. Met Overlander India team with their MM540 and headed towards Luni river bed.


True Rajasthan wilderness started to kick in and unfold its beauty.


Had a feeling that I was in the heart of Rajasthan.


Rajasthan has some amazing wildlife.


Black buck fight.


Mean while some one uttered Salman Khaaaannnn.


Our pilot MM540


No one knows what hospitality in a hostile terrain is, better than Overlanders India. A chilled can of soft drink tasted so good.



Nilgai - this animal should be the state animal. The way it commands its presence is impeccable.

Suddenly, the MU-X started to loose traction. The sand below was very loose and I was able to feel it. I tried to keep the momentum, but the weight of the beast pulled it down. 4H, 4L nothing worked. Needing help was inevitable, but our pilot MM540 shut down and refused to start.


Here comes the legend.


Even a legend gets stuck when your time is good, to have even more fun.



It had been 2 hours since we were looking for some help and the Rajasthan sun started to take its revenge. This is when we realized the importance of a thorny bush and its shade.


I was happy to check my photos in the shade of that thorny bush.


Finally, the big daddy of offroads arrived to bail us out in a moment. But, getting stuck and recovering MU-X was the best part.


Its lunchtime and the post lunch plan is to head towards Jaisalmer for the night halt. We are way behind schedule for the day.

Lion and tiger together.

[drbones]

The lunch at a bishnoi house

Meaning of bishnoi - bish(20) noi(9)

The Bishnoi narrate the story of Amrita Devi, a member of the sect who inspired as many as 362 other Bishnois to go to their deaths in protest of the cutting down of Khejri trees in September 1730. The maharajah of Jodhpur, Abhay Singh, requiring wood for the construction of a new palace, sent soldiers to cut trees in the village of Khejarli, which was called Jehnad at that time. Noticing their actions, Devi hugged a tree in an attempt to stop them. Her family then adopted the same strategy, as did other local people when the news spread. She told the soldiers that she considered their actions to be an insult to her faith and that she was prepared to die to save the trees. The soldiers did indeed kill her and others until Abhay Singh was informed of what was going on and intervened to stop the massacre.

Some of the 363 Bishnois who were killed protecting the trees were buried in Khejarli, where a simple grave with four pillars was erected. Every year, in September, the Bishnois assemble there to commemorate the sacrifice made by their people to preserve their faith and religion.


The 29 tenets of Bishnoism

1 Observe 30 days' state of ritual impurity after child's birth and keep mother and child away from household activities.
2 Observe 5 days' segregation while a woman is in her menses.
3 Take bath daily in the morning.
4 Obey the ideal rules of life: Modesty, Patience or satisfactions, cleanliness.
5 Pray two times everyday (morning and evening).
6 Eulogise God, Vishnu, in evening hours (Aarti)
7 Perform Yajna (Havan) with the feelings of welfare devotion and love.
8 Use filtered water, milk and cleaned firewood.
9 Speak pure words in all sincerity.
10 Practice forgiveness from heart.
11 Be merciful by heart.
12 Do not steal or keep any intention to do it.
13 Do not condemn or criticize.
14 Do not lie.
15 Do not indulge in dispute/debate.
16 Fast on Amavashya.
17 Worship and recite Lord Vishnu in adoration
18 Have merciful on all living beings and love them.
19 Do not cut green trees, save the environment.
20 Crush lust, anger, greed and attachment.
21 Cook your food by yourself.
22 Provide shelters for abandoned animals to avoid them from being slaughtered in abattoirs.
23 Do not sterilise bull.
24 Do not use or trade opium.
25 Do not smoke or use tobacco or its products.
26 Do not take bhang or hemp.
27 Do not drink alcohol/liquor.
28 Do not eat meat, always remain pure vegetarian.
29 Don’t use violet blue colour extracted from the indigo plant.

Lion escorted tiger for the lunch after a tiring day.


Its a pleasant surprise to look at the way our lunch is served.


Our host for the lunch.


Interesting


How can i miss a chance to get my hand on cooking and learning something very tasty.


Heaven is all i can say about the lunch.


My hearty thanks to this beautiful couple.


Parting click with the lion is mandatory


With heavy tummy and heart its time to leave for the next destination Jaislmer, but decided to stay at pokhran as its dec 30th night and jaislmer will be full and filthy.

Got a superb hotel at pokhran.

[drbones]

Day 5

After a good night sleep, plan is to reach jaislmer and then decide what to do next.


Got to see this beautiful sunrise as soon as i stepped out of my room.


Moved out early and plan is to have breakfast on the way, while driving we saw jaislmer war memorial and MU X suddenly took an U turn. This place has a good canteen, where we topped our tummies with aloo paratha and lassie. Started to explore the war memorial.


This place has a different wave length of patriotism which can't be see on TV.


Some thing very inspirational.


Here is a small mini theater which plays war movie for 15mins. One has to see this.


Every thing present at this memorial emits a patriotic vibration.

[drbones]

Its time to head towards jaislmer, and looking at the traffic heading towards jaislmer we came to a conclusion and can have a picture of how its going to be. Having a heavy breakfast we were not worried about our lunch, hence decided to see longewala post.

After crossing jaislmer we encountered deserted arrow straight roads, its a dream come true for me to drive on such roads.


Driving on these road reminded me of the famous bollywood song form the movie jab we met.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo5tQDcs__g

The place of victory longewala.


Reading the name Major kuldeep singh chandrapuri, only face comes to my mind. Can some one guess whose face it can be?

Its non other than sunny deal who came to my mind Bollywood influence is so high on we indians, History has to be made in to bollywood movies and then youth of this country will remember history


Exploring the modern war relics, T-59 pakastani tank.


Bunker of 1971 indo-pak war.


Tried shooting the enemy from bunker.


My country cousins vandalizing these war relics.

[drbones]

After longewala its time to move on for jaislmer via tanot, want to go dune bashing but reluctant to go to sam dunes due to the holiday crowd. Its a beautiful road to drive and i kept on driving, suddenly my eyes caught a big sand dune on my right.


With out any hesitation i pulled the MU X towards its top, and in no time MU X is over the top.


View from the top is mesmerizing is all i can say.


Its time for my friends to make way for the photo shoot of MU X.


This is a perfect place for camping, and there are many hidden gems in rajasthan to be explored.


Its time for some dune bashing.




Had a ball of time bashing these dunes.


That was super happy me, No more doubts about the capabilities of isuzu mux.


Looking at MU X dune bashing its distant cousin came to join the fun. Toyota owns 5.9% stake in isuzu.


Left this place reluctantly and started towards jaislmer.

[drbones]

Our next destination is abandoned village.


Abandoned village is now a over populated village with tourists.




From there its time to visit Jaislmer fort.


Over the top of jaislmer fort.




Looking sun set from over the top of jaislmer fort is a beautiful experience.


Tasty part of visiting jaislmer is this creamy hot milk in the narrow lanes of this walled city.


Had two full glasses of creamy hot milk with out any hesitation.


Its dec 31st night.... so what it doesn't make any any difference to me, tomorrow will be 1st jan thats it. We don't want to stay at that over crowded over priced jaislmer. Hence started our journey back. We stayed at barmer a sleepy and peaceful town, got a good hotel for throw away price. Relaxed that night and slept early. Now we don't wait for 0:00 midnight to wish one another.

[drbones]

Day 6

Its 1st jan 2018, just another day for me to search for a reason to travel.

Ship of road meets Ship of desert.


Met this person, he is the owner of the camels. These people are happy with what they have and least bothered about tomorrow. They are self dependent for their daily needs and depend very less on the modern world for their necessities. I feel that is the key for their happiness.


Destination of the day is to reach mumbai by night fall. Called HVK for bookings at mumbai, he advised us to take a detour and see rani ka vav at patan and sun temple at modhera. One of my good friend and my MBBS batch mate Dr Rashmin patels home town, but he is out trekking himalayas. We reached patan by lunch time and had a tasty authentic gujarati thali.


Rani ka vav is a place to visit.




Abey kuaae ko koi itna beautiful kayse banata yaar.


This shows the importance given to water by those people.


We skipped sun temple, as its getting late and headed towards mumbai. Watching your favorite movie with surround sound system on the go is very relaxing and comfortable.


Its time to refuel, and during our fuel stop we got an idea to stay at Daman rather than mumbai. So MU X changed its route to daman, reached daman and checked in to a hotel and sleept like babies.

[drbones]

Day 7

Plan is to reach hyderabad and have hyderabadi biryani for dinner. Woke up early and checked out of the hotel and went for a small drive in daman only to find out what a filthy place it is, and for god sake forget about its beaches.


Beautiful sunrise over daman bridge.




Crossed mumbai fighting through its traffic to reach pune for lunch.


Finished our lunch and met my good friend and MBBS batch mate Dr Ravi kothari (Dermatologist) in pune.


Getting out of pune is a herculean task, finally we were on the highway towards hyderabad. As its getting late we had our dinner at a dhaba near tuljapur.



Crossed karnataka and reached hyderabad. Next day is our day we reach home.

[drbones]

Day 8

Started early from my house at hyderabad to see this amazing sunrise on the outer ring road.


7 Restaurant on hyderabad-vijayawada highway is the best highway restaurant in whole country. I stop religeously every time i travel on that highway.


Coffee here is devine


Where ever you travel, let that place be exotic or anything else, Home sweet home is the place where you want to come back. There is no place like home on this planet for me.


95hrs 26mins, 5520KMS is the total journey on My isuzu MU X. Not a single squeak or rattle MU X proved its metal and ready for 20K service and its first ever oil change, and i am convinced that i made the right choice buying this SUV.


This journey comes to an end, only to start the next when ever i get some time.

[Rehaan]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[ALTIMAed]

Very well written and the captures by the camera are really superlative. Well deserved 5*

[atmosphere]

Awesome Drbones, fantastic piece of travelogue whether its words or pictures. Didnt know about the "Bullet Baba" story, spooky and interesting. I don't own an Isuzu, but having driven once i felt quite literally its the true go anywhere vehicle. With its solid built and Isuzu engineered diesel heart, it should get more appreciation than what it seems to be getting. Would you be kind enough to write a little bit more about good and bad of your friend MUX. Cheers to the journey of life.

[yogesh.8984]

Originally Posted by drbones

On the way from Kumbhalghar fort to jodhpur a must visit place is bullet baba temple.

On 2 December 1991, Om Banna (formerly known as Om Singh Rathore) was travelling from the town known as Bangdi near Sanderao of Pali to Chotila, when he lost control of his motorcycle and struck a tree.
Om Banna was killed instantly, his motorcycle falling into a nearby ditch. The morning after the accident, local police took the motorcycle to a nearby police station. The next day it was reported to have disappeared from the station and was found back at the site of the accident.
Police, once again, took the motorcycle, this time emptying its fuel tank and putting it under lock and chain to prevent its removal. Despite their efforts, the next morning it again disappeared and was found at the accident site.
Legend states that the motorcycle kept returning to the same ditch. It thwarted every attempt by police to keep it at the local police station; the motorcycle always returned to the same spot before dawn. (Source of information is wikipedia)

Sounds interesting. Never heard anything like that.

Wandering in the remote interiors of Rajasthan must be quite an experience. Your beast is a tough vehicle and it lived up to the expectations. Wishing you many more happy journeys ahead and all the best for your all state run (whenever you do it)!