[2himanshu]

Hi friends,

This is my first thread on the forum, hope you guys will like it if mods approve it .

Me, my bro and some friends were planning to go someplace on motorbikes since a long time and I alone meanwhile took a solo ride of around 1500kms on RC390, some KTM group rides and a Ladakh tour with some other friends on rented Bullets.

The motorbike trip was not happening as actually we prefer to go cycling whenever possible and have time, as the experience is tranquil and there is more sense of achievement and fulfilment for us. We recently have covered Melghat, Pachmarhi and not to forget the Manali-Leh circuit on our MTBs. We drove all the way to Ladakh in Mahindra Scorpio S10 from Maharashtra and back with 4 cycles, tents, stove, supplies & luggage. But hey, that story is for some another day; meanwhile enjoy a couple of pictures:

The Ladakh team yours truly, Konark, Vimal & Manoj:


Our work horse, the Scorpio at Mori Plains:


Back on track, this time the motorbike tour was on and the places shortlisted were either Hampi, Karnataka or Kanha, MP. We favoured the later as some of us wanted to include a Tiger in it

The team assembled and weapons of choice were a KTM RC390, a Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350, a Bajaj Avenger 220 & an Avenger Sport 220. There was a Karizma too but a guy had to cancel and we were down to 5 guys and 4 bikes. I had a Viaterra tank bag and ordered a saddle bag for Thunderbird. The Avenger riders used regular backpacks tied to Saree guard to haul their luggage.

At Nagpur Byepass:


The Kanha is more than 500kms from our place in Vidarbha, Maharshtra and we started by 5:30 am in the morning darkness. We crossed Amravati & then Nagpur briskly. the pace was hindered from Ramtek to Seoni as large amount of road work was going on with innumerable diversions in the Pench forest area. The KTM took it’s first fuel stop before Nagpur and then before Seoni, the Avengers after Nagpur and the Thunderbird with it’s 20L tank got it’s first drink before Seoni.

The RC and me could easily be the leader or sweeper of the group and thankfully except some patches on Nagpur bypass and potholed road around Khawasa, the border town of Maharashtra and MP, the road condition was good that favoured RC riding. It is a light weight beast which pushes you to enjoy the riding pleasures and rewards an expert rider with infinite thrills.

The Avengers cruised comfortably around 80kmph but were hard to push above that, needed a long clean stretch and were the slowest of the bunch. The tank instrumentation was also a problem as you can not fit a tank bag on it and the tell-tale lights were hard to see with lid on and this resulted in blinkers were left on many times.

The RE Thunderbird 350 is a shan ki sawari be it high speeds or slow. You can ride it in top gear around 50kmph all day and be happy. You don’t want the road and the journey to end, it urges you to go on. But when the road is clear it rises to the moment without mad acceleration and we were able to take it upto 120.

We stopped for lunch after Seoni at a small dhaba and had simple Dal-Roti. The last leg was on and the fabulous forested road from Chiraidongri to Kanha which snaked through the small settlements leading us to the destination while also relaxing us. We enjoyed riding there and easily forgot the tiring highways.

We always stay at same place while visiting Kanha (this was I think my 5th visit there). The place is Pugmark Resorts managed by M/s. Rahul Yadav and Nurool, they have become close friends over time and are exceptionally good hosts.

Pugmark Resort:


After enjoying the breathtaking evening of the jungle, we went to sleep early as the morning safari was scheduled at Mukki zone.

Nurool was with us driving the Gypsy and tracking the pugmarks with our guide Munnabhai whose name is given to the most famous tiger of Kanha who is identified by the word CAT on his forehead.

The Munna from our previous tour:


The Jungle Morning:


The Mukki Zone:


The Jungle Track:


The morning was too beautiful which I cannot explain in words but here are few lines from “Morning Song of Jungle” by Rudyard Kipling:

Ho! Get to lair! The sun's aflare
Behind the breathing grass:
And creaking through the young bamboo
The warning whispers pass.
By day made strange, the woods we range
With blinking eyes we scan;
While down the skies the wild duck cries:
"The Day—the Day to Man!"

We were immediately welcomed by a large bison and we spotted many forest inhabitants like cheetal, sambar, jackals, wild boars, storks and the most exclusive the barahsingha or swamp deer which is found here only but now efforts are being made to relocate it to other national parks. But the star was still missing and we found fresh pugmarks of tigress and cubs but she has just passed and the sighting was not going to happen. The guide was quite extrovert and kept us amused with his jungle stories and we headed back towards exit.

Bison:


Red Jungle Fowl:


Spotted Deer Fawn:


Turtle Basking in the Sun:


Crested Serpent Eagle:


The Peafowl:


The Barahsingha:


With high hopes from the afternoon safari we again headed with Nurool and his Gypsy, this time towards the Kanha zone. After wandering in the park and trying hard to get any heading on king of the jungle while shooting vultures, landscapes and some deer family members, we heard a news about a tiger. We rushed to the spot with our quest ending in sight and found the beast enjoying the evening near a lake besides a rock. Though it's identity could not be immediately established, it seemed like one of the Neelam tigress' cub.

Common Sailor Butterfly:


Langoor:


Yellow Wattled Lapwings:


Vultures:


Spotted Deer:


Sambar:


Tiger:


Tiger:


The evening was turning dark and soon it was time for leaving the tiger and the park.

Kanha Evening:


The Safari:


With some light dinner, we said goodnight to the wonderful and fun filled day. If ever you guys visit Kanha, please try some food at Kamlesh dhaba located absolutely at the Khatia gate and don't forget to order baingan bharta. The smokey flavour and piping hot rotis are just awesome.

We in the safari Gypsy, clockwise me in the white cap, Konark, Shekhar, Vimal & Anand:


The time had come to bid adieu to the wonderful national park on the morning of our 3rd day of tour. After a healthy poha breakfast, we started for home.

The route was same for returning and touch wood, we made it home without any incident, satisfied and safe with memories to last a long time.

Once again I leave you with the hunting song of wolf pack:

As the dawn was breaking the Sambhur belled
Once, twice, and again!
And a doe leaped up -- and a doe leaped up
From the pond in the wood where the wild deer sup.
This I, scouting alone, beheld,
Once, twice, and again!

As the dawn was breaking the Sambhur belled
Once, twice, and again!
And a wolf stole back -- and a wolf stole back
To carry the word to the waiting Pack;
And we sought and we found and we bayed on his track
Once, twice, and again!

As the dawn was breaking the Wolf-pack yelled
Once, twice, and again!
Feet in the jungle that leave no mark!
Eyes that can see in the dark -- the dark!
Tongue -- give tongue to it! Hark! O Hark!
Once, twice, and again!
—Rudyard Kipling

The edited video is here and your comments are valuable, and guys thank you very much for reading and watching.

https://youtu.be/v4lzhSXH5Do

[Omkar]

Originally Posted by 2himanshu

This is my first thread on the forum, hope you guys will like it if mods approve it .

That's a wonderful account of your journey! Kudos on the compilation.

The team assembled and weapons of choice were a KTM RC390, a Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350, a Bajaj Avenger 220 & an Avenger Sport 220. There was a Karizma too but a guy had to cancel and we were down to 5 guys and 4 bikes. I had a Viaterra tank bag and ordered a saddle bag for Thunderbird. The Avenger riders used regular backpacks tied to Saree guard to haul their luggage.

Glad to see all the gear from all the riders.

The edited video is here and your comments are valuable, and guys thank you very much for reading and watching.

The video was the icing on the cake. Nice shots overall and good footage as well from the SJCam.

The Canon 1200D seems to have performed good as well. Thoroughly enjoyed reading and watching the video. Keep riding and keep posting.

[2himanshu]

Originally Posted by Omkar

That's a wonderful account of your journey! Kudos on the compilation.


Glad to see all the gear from all the riders.



The video was the icing on the cake. Nice shots overall and good footage as well from the SJCam.

The Canon 1200D seems to have performed good as well. Thoroughly enjoyed reading and watching the video. Keep riding and keep posting.

Thanks very much Omkar for your time & yes the Canon performs well.

[pduttaghy]

Nice write up and even lovelier photos.

[2himanshu]

Originally Posted by pduttaghy

Nice write up and even lovelier photos.

Thanks pal, appreciate it