The adrenaline rush of crossing borders without a passport felt straight out of a spy movie, except we were in sneakers and not tuxedos!

BHPian Singh09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hello Dear BHPian Family,

Alright, I know I’m super late with this travelogue – so late that I actually took this trip back in November 2024! To be honest, I’m about 2-3 travelogues behind schedule (maybe even more, but let’s not get into the math). My last travelogue was about my Jaisalmer trip, which came after my Spiti adventure, but between these two, I squeezed in about 3 or 4 trips. Yeah, things got a little out of hand!

Balancing business and vlogging is like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle – fun, but hectic! I just wrapped up my Jaisalmer travelogue, working on another one, and in a couple of days, I’m off on my next trip. The backlog is real, but I promise, I’ll get all these travelogues out one by one. Until then, let's dive into this one – better late than never, right?

THE PLAN

Travel vlogging is truly addictive! While it may seem like it’s all about breathtaking views, stunning landscapes, and endless fun, there’s actually a lot more to it. Behind the scenes, it takes meticulous planning and the ability to adapt to whatever comes your way.

Since I travel in a low-slung sedan, I always have to consider factors like snow, rain and potential landslides while mapping out my routes. For this particular trip, I had a friend joining me, which made scheduling a bit tricky. When he was free, I was busy, and when I was free, he was caught up with work. After a lot of back and forth, we finally locked in the dates – November 25th to November 28th. And so, on November 25th, we finally hit the road.

THE RIDE

My trustworthy and reliable Honda Amaze – CVT Diesel.

THE ITINERARY

• Day 1 – Leave from Moradabad and reach Pithoragarh
• Day 2 – Start from Pithoragarh and reach Munsyari, visiting Dharchula
• Day 3 – Start from Munsyari and reach Binsar
• Day 4 – Back home to Moradabad from Binsar.

PREPARATION

A day before leaving for the trip, I did all the shopping, including snacks, drinks, water bottles and medicines. Got the car checked, got the tank filled as well to save time for the next day. Prepared all my vlogging gear for the trip, batteries charged, memory cards all cleaned up. Kept all my luggage, pillow, sheet and a blanket as well. All these things were loaded in the car a day before itself.

Day 1 Moradabad – Pithoragarh

• Kms covered – 320 kms
• Route – Moradabad – Rampur – Rudrapur – Kichha – Khatima – Tanakpur – Lohaghat - Pithoragarh (NH-9)
• Toll - Rs. 380/-

Map -

I woke up early as I wanted to leave early and ditch the morning city traffic. By 7:00 am I was in the car and went straight to my friend’s place, he was all packed and ready and by 7:15 we were on the road. The perks of leaving early paid us, and within no time we were out of the city and on the highway. Our plan for today was to reach Pithoragarh and spend the night there, as a direct stretch to Munsyari would have been too long and we would have missed all the beautiful views in night.

Road till Rampur is very nice and from Rampur to Rudrapur, it's good at most places except a few bad patches. We reached Rudrapur in 2 hours and took a right before entering Rudrapur towards Kichha. And this is where we started to get local traffic. After driving for another hour, we reached Tanakpur and this is where your mountain drive starts (the real fun). Roads and views are very regular till Tanakpur, the fun starts once you take a left from Tanakpur. Even though you start getting a glimpse of the mountains in the far vicinity from Khatima but the fun starts from Tanakpur.

Pic taken right before we started our climb.

Since we both didn't have our breakfast, we decided to stop at a tapri and had our 1st of many maggies and teas on this entire trip. We didn't come across a single decent restaurant on our way till Tanakpur, where you could actually have our breakfast. Even though we had a lot of stuff to munch on but our desire for paranthas was washed away.

View of the valley from this place was really beautiful

As soon as we were back on the road, I got an SMS saying "Welcome to Nepal" and that I should take a roaming package, otherwise higher call rates will apply. I was shocked, or rather, I should say stunned, by Airtel's ability to take me to Nepal while I was still driving in India. Instead of Airtel, the network on my cellphone was displaying NCell, probably a Network provider in Nepal.

The drive keeps getting better as the views and landscapes keep changing and the fun of driving in the curvy mountain roads adds to your adventure. But after SUKHI DHANG, we started getting a lot of patches hit by the monsoon landslides. After driving for a while we came across this dhaba cum Restaurant onto our left. If you are travelling on this road, you will get clean restrooms here. So, in case you want to offload something natural, you can use the facilities here because after this, you won't find anything hygienic for a long time.

After a small 10-minute break, we were back on the road and headed towards Champawat. We started getting a lot of rough patches like these. And at places, literally, it felt as if the entire mountain had come down on the road. I manoeuvred my Amaze very carefully through these patches as there were really big and pointed stones on the road ahead.

We reached Champawat and it is the first big city that you will see after crossing Rudrapur. So you can easily find places to eat, stay and yes, a lot of temples to visit. We thought of stopping in Champawat but it was too crowded and all of a sudden there was a lot of traffic on the road. We couldn't find any place to even park our car for say 5-10 minutes, so we kept on driving and crossed Champawat.

Valley view from Champawat

We reached Lohaghat within 20-25 minutes from Champawat. The drive from Champawat to Lohaghat is very beautiful as you drive between those tall trees and mountains on one side. Even the sun was up and bright it felt as if we are driving under an umbrella since the sun's rays were unable to reach us and it really felt amazing.

After crossing Lohaghat, we stopped at a restaurant as we were not getting any good options to eat. But that guy made fresh yellow dal and roti for us, which was really nice and tasty. The good part is that the restaurants in these small places make fresh food for you since they don't get too many customers or tourists, unlike on the belts like Delhi - Chandigarh. Sorry, I can't remember the name of the place and I don't have any pictures as well. But this place was like 10 minutes after Lohaghat on our right.

So after taking a break for about 40-45 minutes (since the guy made fresh food for us), we were back onto the tarmac. And after driving for around 15-20 kilometers we got stuck in a landslide area where the JCB was clearing the road and small stones and dust were continuously coming down from the mountain on our left. You can check out the vlog on YouTube where I have captured the same. It was a landslide area + road widening work was also in progress.

We cruised along the winding two-lane highway, weaving through lush green landscapes, landslide-hit stretches and nerve-wrackingly narrow roads with sheer cliffs dropping off the edge. The adrenaline kept us on our toes, but the breathtaking views made every twist and turn worth it. By 4:00 PM, under the golden glow of daylight, we finally rolled into Pithoragarh and headed straight to our hotel, conveniently nestled right in the heart of the bustling market. A quick check-in, and we were all set to soak in the vibe of this charming town.

Another thing that I want to bring up is - finding a decent hotel in Pithoragarh. I checked a whole lot of options, but the best that I could find was "Hotel Manar" where we had booked our stay. And everything was just right about this property, like food, cleanliness, right in the middle of the town, service etc. And parking was also not an issue since they had valet parking. So it's a higly recommendable property if you are travelling here.

After we checked in, we relaxed for a bit and had a cup of tea and then left for Chandak Hills to explore a little bit as we had some time before the sunset. You get a really good view of the valley from this point and there is this famous Meghna Cafe where you can sip in your favorite coffee in the lap of nature. And it was a mere 15 minutes from our hotel, after spending some time here and having a nice cappuccino with a tempting garlic bread, we left back for our hotel and called the day off.

Day 1 vlog

DAY 2 Pithoragarh - Dharchula - Munsyari

• Kms Covered - 195 kms
• Route - Pithoragarh - Nainipatal - Gori Gangal Pul (Take right) - Jauljibi - Dharchula - Jauljibi - Toli - Dhunamani - Madkot - Munsyari

Map

We woke up feeling refreshed after a comfortable stay and a satisfying dinner the night before. With a long and eventful day ahead, we quickly got ready, packed our bags, and made our way to the dining area for breakfast. But before saying goodbye to Pithoragarh, we had one important stop to make - a visit to the sacred and well-known Kamakhya Devi Temple, located just about 20 minutes from our hotel.

By 10:00 am, we were back in the car, fuel topped up (it was at half - better safe than stranded), enroute to the temple. The route takes you through an Army cantonment area, which is where things get a little interesting. At one point, Google Maps confidently directed us straight towards a gated military area. For a moment, I wasn't sure if the app was helping or trying to get me court-martialed. Playing safe, I ignored the route and kept driving along the main road - only to find myself stuck in a bustling marketplace with no temple in sight.

I decided to ask a few locals for directions, and they informed me I'd missed the turn about 4-5 kms back. So we did a quick U-turn and ended up right where the GPS had previously told us to enter. This time, I figured it was better to ask than to end up in a James Bond situation, so I approached one of the army personnel at the gate. The gentleman was kind enough to guide us through the correct route via the cantonment area.

And I'm glad we did - the drive through the army zone was absolutely beautiful. As we neared the temple, the road suddenly turned into a steep incline, with barely enough width for one car to pass. But after having conquered Shinkula and Baralacha Pass in the Amaze, this stretch felt like a warm-up lap (Yes, I know, that travelogue is still pending. I'm on it - promise).

Kamakhya Devi Temple

View from the temple

Panoramic view of Pithoragarh city from the temple.

Soon after leaving Pithoragarh, the road began to narrow, and traffic thinned out almost instantly. With fewer vehicles around and the mountains opening up before us, the scenery gradually became more mesmerising. However, the route did show signs of the region's vulnerability - we passed several landslide-affected stretches, a clear reminder of how risky this journey can be, especially during the monsoon months.

Despite the occasional rough patches, the drive was absolutely scenic. The winding roads snaked through the hills, unveiling breathtaking views at every turn-rolling green valleys, carefully terraced fields, and the quiet little villages that seemed untouched by time. With barely any vehicles in sight and only the sound of nature for company, it felt like the mountains were revealing their hidden beauty, one bend at a time.

Occasional bad patches on the way to Jauljibi

As we approached Jauljibi, the landscape shifted. This small but significant town situated at the confluence of the Kali and Gori rivers, has a unique character. Known as a trade hub between India and Nepal, the town reflects a blend of cultures, especially in its bustling markets. We stopped briefly, hoping to take in the charm-but were quite disappointed by the state of cleanliness. Garbage littered the area, and in some parts, the stench made it hard to stay for long.

Rather than dwell on that, we drove a little further ahead, found a quieter, cleaner spot, and captured some photos and videos of the beautiful surroundings. Despite the shortcomings, the raw natural beauty of the region still managed to shine through.

Kali river and the town on the right bank is Jauljibi.

After soaking in the scenery for a good 10 minutes, we hopped back into our trusty ride and hit the road toward Dharchula, which was still 28 km away. As we moved ahead, the road started playing mind games with us-narrow at times, wide at others, landslide patches, no tarmac and generously peppered with potholes that could give a decent rollercoaster a run for its money.

About halfway in, we stumbled upon a gorgeous spot where the road dipped down to a closer level as the mighty Kali River, which by the way, casually marks the international boundary between India and Nepal. She flowed gracefully to our right, whispering secrets of two nations, while we stood there gawking like overexcited tourists. We couldn't resist. We parked, pulled out the camera gear, and spent a good 15 minutes capturing the beauty and some mandatory Instagram content

Now, the last 15 km stretch to Dharchula? Let's just say 60% off-roading and 40% wishful thinking. The roads here seemed to have their own personality-moody, unpredictable, and slightly adventurous. But hey, adventure is why we're here, right?

Just before you officially roll into Dharchula, keep an eye on your right., You'll spot the "Last Petrol Pump of India"-yes, it's a real thing, and it's an Indian Oil outlet.

Entering Dharchula city felt like stepping into a maze. The roads narrowed into single-lane alleys, and we had to weave through the bustling Dharchula market to get to the bridge's parking area. Thank the traffic gods that it's a one way route, otheriwse, it could have turned into a live demo of parallel parking meets bumper cars.

Once we found the public parking, we parked the car and began our little cross-border adventure on foot. A short walk later, we reached the bridge over Kali River - the roaring sound of the river underneath was enough to drown out your thoughts and give you goosebumps. As we started walking on the bridge, we were greeted by the Indian Police check post. Nothing too intense-just a quick ID check, a couple of questions, and a form-filling ritual.

Pro tip: Carry an ID with your photo. I flashed my Aadhar card like a badge of honor, and we were good to go. Midway on the bridge, we realized we were literally walking from one country into another. The adrenaline rush of crossing borders without a passport felt straight out of a spy movie-except we were in sneakers, not tuxedos.

On reaching the Nepal side, the Nepal Police had their own checkpoint. Again, the same routine-ID, a few questions, and a smile later. "Congratulations, you are in Nepal". A big board welcomed us, just in case we forgot we were in a new country.

We took a quick stroll through the local market, had some steaming hot chai and momo's and soaked in the vibe. The most fascinating part? The market on both sides of the river looked almost identical-same shops, same faces, same energy. Locals from Nepal cross over to India daily like it's a neighborhood hop. For them, this international border is just a daily commute. Buying groceries across the border? Totally normal.

That is India across the river and we were in Nepal while taking this pic.

After about 40 minutes, we made our way back across the bridge with a heart full of stories, a memory card full of pictures, and a smile that wouldn't fade. Because how often do you walk into another country, sip tea and come back before your Google Maps can finish recalculating the route?

By the time we wrapped up our mini Nepal adventure and got back to the Indian side, the clock was already ticking past 3:30 PM. And guess what? Our final destination for the day - Munsyari - was still a solid 95 kilometers away. Now 95 km might sound like a Sunday morning spin on city roads, but in the hills? That's a full-blown episode of "Survivor: Mountain Roads Edition." Google Maps teased up with a 3-hour ETA, but mountain roads don't play by the rules of time or logic.

We started tracing our way back from Dharchula to Jauljibi, which meant - brace yourself - we had to re-live the same off-roading adventure we had faced earlier. Yes, those charming potholes and narrow cliff-hugging roads welcomed us again like long-lost friends. This time enough, there was a sense of urgency: beat the darkness or risk navigating broken roads with only our headlights and prayers to guide us.

Somewhere along the way, hunger hit us like a ton of boulders-fitting for the terrain. We pulled over at a tiny roadside stall, and what did we find? The universal mountain delicacy- MAGGI. Golden, glorious, soul-warming Maggi. Honestly, nothing tastes better in the hills than a hot plate of instant noodles sprinkled with mountain dust and flavored with hunger. We devoured it like it was a five-star buffet and shared a few laughs with the shop uncle who, despite his tiny setup, dished out happiness in a bowl.

But nature had other plans. It was November, and in the mountains, sunset doesn't wait for your convenience. Darkness began to creep in quicker than expected, and the road from Jauljibi to Munsyari turned into a full-blown suspense thriller. The tarmac vanished in patches, replaced by loose gravel, steep ascents, and sudden turns that came out of nowhere-each turn more thrilling than the last.

Just when we were starting to think this route had thrown everything at us, we hit Madkot-and BAM! A WATERFALL on the road. Yes, we literally drove through a waterfall. Now, had it been daylight, it would've been one of those poetic, Instagram-worthy moments. But in pitch darkness with the sound of gushing water and headlights cutting through the mist? Let's say it was less "Wow, what a view" and more "Please let this not be the start of a ghost story."

Finally, around 7:45 PM, tired, muddy, and thoroughly shaken (by the road, not emotions), we rolled into Munsiyari- a cosy Himalayan town that felt like a warm hug after a wild ride. We checked into a charming little place called Tulsi Homestay, run by a local family who treated us like we were long-lost relatives rather than guests. The place was spotlessly clean, tastefully done, and had that warm, homely vibe that you can't put a price on.

Dinner was the real cherry on top. The owners served us a simple but soul-satisfying meal-desi daal tadka, hot chapatis, and the star of the show: Bhang ki chutney. Now, before your imagination runs wild-no, it's not that kind of bhaang. This one won't make you float or hallucinate. It's a local herb, totally sober, and apparently a winter staple in these parts. Honestly, it tasted divine, like a flavorful mountain punch packed into a chutney bowl.

With our stomachs full and our hearts warmer than the room heater, we crashed into our beds and drifted off into the kind of sleep that only comes after a day of epic roads, waterfalls, border crossings and Maggi in the wild.

Next stop? Let's just say, the mountains weren't done with us yet.

Day 2 vlog

Continue reading about Singh09's road trip for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

It is not a typical tourist destination to explore in a vehicle. Step out, and a beautiful world awaits you.

BHPian sachinayak recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Bhutan has been on our must-visit places for a very long time, so this summer we decided to knock it off our bucket list.

April is generally a good time to visit Bhutan, with not much rain (and even if it does rain, it's usually in the evenings). The temperatures generally hover around 10-15°C, a big relief from the Bangalore heat, while not being too cold either. A long weekend helped us plan an itinerary without rushing things. Almost everyone follows a similar template.

An earlier trip report by a fellow BHPian was super useful in planning. Thanks to Arun Josie for his wonderful post.

Trip itinerary:

• Day 1: Fly to Bagdogra. Cab to Phuentsholing (4-5 hour drive)
• Day 2: Phuentsholing to Thimphu (with some local sightseeing enroute and also in Thimphu)
• Day 3: Local sightseeing in Thimphu
• Day 4: Thimphu to Phobjikha Valley via Dochula Pass
• Day 5: Local sightseeing in Phobjikha Valley
• Day 6: Phobjikha Valley to Punakha (with some local sightseeing enroute and also in Punakha)
• Day 7: Punakha to Paro (with some local sightseeing enroute and also in Paro)
• Day 8: Trek to Tiger Nest Monastery. Local sightseeing in Paro, if time permits.
• Day 9: Return drive to Phuentsholing, cross over into India and then drive to Siliguri
• Day 10: Early morning flight from Bagdogra to Bangalore

Folks who are on a tighter schedule generally skip Phobjikha Valley, but we were in no rush. Bhutan, anyway, is a destination to enjoy at leisure. We tried noting some salient points each day and sharing those with some pics. All pics taken and processed on my phone. Processed for sharing on social media, thus sadly overprocessed. That said, no pics can capture the true beauty of this place. Best experienced first-hand.

In my last post, I will provide all the information that one would need as a tourist.

Day 1 - Drive to Jaigaon / Phuentsoling

• We had an early morning flight to Bagdogra. It was our first experience of flying Akasa Airlines and it was quite pleasant. Without any extra charge, we had sequential seats allocated. Check-in experience at Bangalore airport too, was quick, in stark contrast to the long lines at the Indigo counter. Overall, a positive experience.
• The drive from Bagdogra to Jaigaon was uneventful; the roads are good. The countryside was beautiful.
• The last 3-4 kms, however, were messy with all the truck traffic waiting to cross the border into Bhutan.
• Met our guide here, who helped us cross the border immigration. Please carry your Passport or Voter ID. Uninformed folks carry their Aadhar cards, which are not accepted here and have to turn back.
• Phuentsoling was nice, clean & organized. Locals only cross on zebra crossings, vehicles stop for pedestrians, Liquor shops are everywhere. Vibe was great.
• We checked into our hotel - Evergreen 1999. Basic but functional place, with decent food. Nothing outstanding, but no complaints either.
• Got our SIM Cards, paid the SDF (at 8:00pm) so that we have an early start the next day.
• Post 6pm, it was raining on-and-off, so we did not explore much.

The Pedestrian Terminal, where you cross over from India to Bhutan

The locals absolutely revere the King

Very visually appealing, even a junction

Day 2 - Phuentsholing to Thimphu

• As on most trips, my wife and I, being early risers, had a nice morning walk in and around Phuentsholing.
• The weather was clear, just a bit of chill in the air. The town was still waking up.
• Post breakfast at the hotel, around 9am we started on our journey towards Thimphu.
• Enroute, we stopped at Milerapa Lhakhang (twin temples), first of the many temples/monasteries that we would visit on this trip.
• Later stopped enroute at the 8 stupas at Gedu.
• We had tea/lunch enroute, reaching Thimphu around 4pm. All through, the roads were good, and everyone drove at a leisurely 50kmph (the official speed limit).
• In Thimphu, we stopped to watch a local archery game (the national sport of Bhutan). The shooting range was 150m long, much longer than we expected. Was a nice experience. Unlike anything we had seen before.
• We then visited the local farmers market - very neat, clean and well organized. Based on our guide's recommendation, we bought some local spices.
• Our hotel for the next two days in Thimphu would be the Phuentso Khangsar (highly recommended).
• A nice evening walk followed by a wonderful dinner at the hotel ended our day 2.

One of the temples at Milerapa Lhakhang, a very short drive from Phuentsholing town.

The other temple in this complex.

Unlike most other temples/monasteries, photography was allowed inside. This shows the past, present and future Buddha.

The intricate mandala artwork on the ceiling.

The stupa (one of 8) at Gedu.

An archery game in Thimphu.

The beautiful Farmers Market at Thimphu, you get a lot of local produce here. Kept so clean and organized.

View of Thimphu on our evening walk

Continue reading about sachinayak's Bhutan trip for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

A car like the Maruti Jimny makes sense on such narrow roads and busy traffic. I missed my Mahindra Bolero 4WD at that time.

BHPian gunin recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Nearly a year ago we, a group of friends decided to drive to Spiti valley, Himachal Pradesh . The drive to Spiti was the longest road trip I had ever done. I keep getting flashbacks of the dry and harsh landscapes. I miss the long driving hours amidst what seemed to me like something out of this world. But most of all, I miss the camaraderie I shared with my fellow trip members.

The group consisted of:

• Isuzu V-Cross: Gunin, Reeturaj, Nayanjyoti and Sudipta.
• White Jimny: Shisir, his better half and Priyankar.
• Red Jimny AT: Jamini, Prakritij and Prakritij’s sister.

White Jimny was starting for the trip from Dudhnoi, Assam. Red Jimny started from Sibsagar, Assam. I, in my Isuzu, started from Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh.

Planning for the trip: This one will be short. Almost all of the planning was done by Jamini. The rest of us shamelessly relaxed and just went along. Thank you, brother.

Some pictures from our trip to get the log going:

A journey of being on the road with friends

Watching beautiful sunsets

Being starry eyed kids

Trusting a machine like a friend

Being foodies

Being impressed

Being mindful

And being welcomed back home

This is a short account of one of my most memorable road trips. The photos shared here have been compiled from different cameras of the trip members.

Day 0: Pasighat to Guwahati:

I started at midnight as I could not wait to hit the road. There was quite a heavy downpour. Expectedly, I just had the company of fellow truckers on the road. I spent some time at home playing around with my kids.

Day 1: Guwahati to Purnia

Red Jimny had moved to Dudhnoi the previous day. We started from Guwahati at 4am. We met up with both Jimnys at Bongaigaon. It was a rainy affair all the way for that day. We found both the Jimnys moving along at a fair click. What it lacks in outright power is made up by its filtering (through traffic) capability.

With Nayan and Reeturaj

Meeting point at Bongaigaon

Tea break at Dabri

We stopped for lunch near Siliguri. Nayan had made some pork. I broke my vegetarian fast of the past 30 days with it.

I found Bihar to be quite welcoming and beautiful. We got some mangoes at 1/3rd of the price of what we get in Assam.

Tea Break

We lodged in a small hotel in Purnia recommended by Bhpian Sheel. It was a nice place. The weather outside was quite pleasant with the possibility of rains. Reeturaj quite wisely parked the Isuzu so that the loading bay was sheltered from the probable rains. In the evening, we met Sheel along with a friend of his. It was great meeting him.

On the road

With Bhpian Sheel

Day 2: Purnia to Lucknow:

Another long day on the road. I was happy soaking in the rural scenery of Bihar. There was rain in the morning. I thought I would get struck by lightning while taking a pee break.

Heavy rains in Purnia

Enjoying the drive in Bihar

Breakfast

And it was all yellow

Sometime in the afternoon, Reetu and I got behind the wheel of the Jimny AT. Jamini gave us a brief crash course on how to drive it. We didn’t comprehend much but acted otherwise. I told my left leg not to do anything and just repose in itself. Right foot on the gas and we soon found out the Jimny is not a slouch at all, especially with the pedal tuner. Reetu and I left both the Isuzu and the white Jimny behind. We were grinning like idiots. We thought Jamini might be worried about his car.

Nazar hati..

We were stopped at an under-construction toll gate by some policemen on duty. They were happily watching us drive towards them in the bright red Jimny. It was the first time I did a drunken driving test and everyone, including the encouraging cops, was overjoyed to see I passed.

Happy place

We wanted to reach Lucknow in time for some food at the famous eatery, Tunday Kabab. We eventually made it at midnight. The guys were very excited, even after this long trip, to have food from this place. The food was ok. Nayan explained how the kabab is made by repeatedly beating the meat with a club. Sudipta and I were not very enthusiastic about eating the beaten-up meat once we heard it.

Tunday kabab Lucknow

Jalsa

Lodged at Jalsa, Lucknow for the night. It is a simple and nice place to stay with a lot of parking space.

Continue reading about gunin's road trip for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

We decided to take the Fiesta since I was not ready to take the wheel of a car as large and powerful as the Skoda Superb just yet.

BHPian GForceEnjoyer recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Prologue:

It was December 2024 and my month-long winter break from college had started. Having escaped the suffocating air of NCR and arrived back home, it was decided that hitting the road was called for.

A significant influence on our choice of car was the fact that I turned 18 a couple of months prior to this trip, and would also be driving in addition to my parents. Hence, we decided to take the Fiesta on this one, since I was not ready to take the wheel of a car as large and powerful as the Superb just yet. The Fiesta's service was conveniently due a couple of weeks before leaving, and it was given our trusted independent garage's full approval for the trip. Given its smaller size, the Fiesta also gave us the flexibility to not have to worry as much about approach roads to our accommodation and the like.

The prospect of a long trip in this car after such a long time definitely added to the excitement!

This time, we genuinely had no concrete plan except "reach Bangalore, spend some time there and then head to someplace new." So, the way it all materialised in the end was Bangalore, two nights at Chikmagalur, a day trip to the Payana Car Museum from Bangalore, an extremely last-minute plan to drive to Munnar, followed by a visit to Kochi and kayaking in the beautiful backwaters of Alleppey. This oddball collection of destinations ended up being one of the most fun trips yet, made even better by the fact that I could finally experience it all from behind the wheel! Additionally, I have now driven in every south Indian state thanks to this.

• Total distance covered: 3617.4 kilometres.
• The car: A 2006 Ford Fiesta 1.6 SXI.
• Photography equipment: My Redmi 9 Prime (and on occasion, a Nothing Phone 2A).

Route:

To Bangalore:

The Fiesta's 430-litre boot swallowed our luggage quite easily after placing things a little strategically, and after stocking the front passenger-side door pocket full of CDs, we set off for Bangalore. Since our last major road trip in the Fiesta was back in 2021, it took a short while to get reacquainted with the engine's power delivery out on the open road and the fact that it is a manual without cruise control. However, since this car has been in our garage since 2006, muscle memory soon kicked in.

It was my first time driving the Fiesta with a full load; before I took the wheel, my parents informed me of how steering inputs would require more effort and warned me about the increased momentum the car would carry. Thanks to this guidance, I had a great time cruising on the open road once I got comfortable. The suspension strikes a beautiful balance between high-speed stability and comfort, the engine's torque and the gearing make mincemeat out of overtakes and steep gradients, and the steering is wonderfully precise and weighty at speed. This is a brief summary of how I felt driving the car that brought me home from the hospital for the first time.

Barring some horrendous traffic after exiting Hyderabad, we made rapid progress and were in Bangalore for dinner despite our late morning start.

Chikmagalur:

We took the Bangalore-Shivamogga road which took us via Hassan. Up until Hassan, the roads are simply fantastic, open 4-lane dual-carriageway with a great line of sight and sparse traffic. It was a very pleasurable drive while letting the Fiesta stretch its legs. After Hassan, however, one needs to be mindful of occasional deep potholes and bad patchwork. I drove the entirety of the remaining distance to Chikmagalur, and it can definitely take you by surprise at times. You have to remain vigilant.

The view of the coffee estates. You can literally smell coffee in the air!

The next morning, we made an early start for Mullayanagiri Peak, the highest in the region. One has to climb a ton of steps to get to the top, but it is absolutely worth it, since you are quite literally in the clouds! Stairway to heaven anyone?

The view is wonderful regardless of the weather.

There is a cave system at the peak that you can check out if you're interested. Do obey the barriers set in place though, since the space quickly becomes tight and poorly ventilated.

Here's the Fiesta chilling while we went for a hike.

What a drop!

We then visited Jhari Falls. You need to take a Jeep to get there and then hike a little, since the path is full of slush, rocks and ditches. This was some of the most hardcore off-roading I've seen anyone ever do, and the 50+ year old Jeep took the beating effortlessly!

The flow wasn't the strongest given the season, but it was a nice place to spend some time in the middle of a dense forest.

A look at the lush greenery around.

Next up was the Z-point near Baba Budangiri peak. A fabulous tabletop stretching as far as the eye could see. You may perhaps be overcome with a strong urge to simply begin running down the path up top.

We then decided to catch the sunset at Hirekolale Lake to end this little exploration of Chikmagalur. The pictures below, taken in chronological order, show how beautiful the sky progressively became. This was a pleasure to witness in the cool December evening breeze.

Continue reading about GForceEnjoyer's road trip for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

There's a check-post after Mettupalayam where they were verifying the e-pass.

BHPian Ketan recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

So, I had a plan to enter Nilgiris via Geddai route. As per what I read is there are some 3 check posts on this route up the mountains. They usually don't allow folks to drive/ride up from this route, I have heard/read the resistance is more towards KL vehicles.

I was talking to the folks where I have booked my stay in Manjoor in case if they don't allow me to ride up via Manjur-Geddai-Mulli road, then they need to help me.

However, as it happens a many times and it's a kind of fun in its way! I couldn't make it to this route in time and had to travel via Mettupalayam-Ooty road. Stayed one night at Ooty, I was trying to enter the crowded town of Ooty altogether on this ride but I had to.

There's a check-post after Mettupalayam where they were verifying the e-pass. Since it was too much of traffic on this route, they just asked me if you have one and let me go without checking it.

I have returned from Majoor-Geddai-Mulli route. The very first check post while descending down, at Geddai dam is the one who asked me for the e-pass and driving license. The person sitting there took a real good time to check both of these. He even mentioned some details off the license, including guardians name over to his register before letting me go. Second one was probably Mulli checkpost and third one was way towards Athikadavu, may be TN border police check post!!

Such a beautiful route it is!!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I took a break to absorb the surroundings – the river, the bridge, the hills, the truck drivers waving and smiling at me.

BHPian GolakaGo recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Back in 2016, I went for my first inter-state ride to Mizoram. These were the days when Vega Helmets and Army Boots made us feel invincible. I still remember the boots that I specifically bought for this trip from the Army Canteen, it was a brand called 'Japaan'. This is my story:

Day 1:

Shillong to Aizawl

After much planning, canceling, planning again, and then postponing, a group-turned-solo ride, I was finally off to Aizawl, 450kms away, and the first leg of the Mizoram Monsoon Sweep Ride, on July 14th at 7:30 AM from home.

Before we proceed, I’d like to tell you that this ride was almost choked off before it started. As I mentioned, this was supposed to be a group ride and that’s what I told my family. But, as the dates got nearer, people started backing off. And eventually, everyone backed off. I didn’t want to cancel the plan, but I also didn't dare to tell my parents that I would be going alone. They would have told me to cancel the ride or cut ties with them. Hence, I told them that my good buddy *name(s) withheld* was going along. I thought I would tell them the truth when I was halfway to Aizawl or something. That way, they can't tell me to come back home, I would be too far off.

But just when I was about to get on the bike and start from home, I saw the same buddies coming towards me, to see me off, with big smiles on their faces. The moment Mei (mother in Khasi) saw them, in shorts, she was even more shocked than I was! “Aren’t you going along?!!’ “No Aunty errr…ummm…. Mumble mumble…” and Mei got it. But surprisingly, she was cool about it. Pheewwwww!! So before any more surprises sprang up, I got on the bike, bid farewell to my family and friends (yes, we’re still friends even after the ride ), and started off.

As I was riding away from home, my mind started playing tricks on me. I started questioning myself. The voices inside my head were making me doubt that I would be able to ride alone. "Wow! You're going alone?", "What if your bike breaks down?", "Are you crazy? Go back home!" It was like a rap battle going on in my head. These questions kept playing back and forth and I had almost turned back home.

It was drizzling the whole morning and by the time I got off the busy main road, I was on the outskirts by 8AM. I had hoped and prayed that at least when I left for the ride, it would be a sunny morning but it turned out otherwise, and in a good way too. With the wet roads, I was taking it easy and it calmed me down to take my time on the road rather than rushing to get to my destination.

I stopped at a bus shed on the outskirts of the city to put on my rain gear. That's where I sat for a while and calmed myself down. Andy also called and advised me to take it easy, so I told myself I'll take this slow and easy and up to my capacity. I felt much better after that and started enjoying the ride.

With all the unfolding events in the morning, I was already hungry even before I reached Jowai, which was just around 62 kms away from home. I stopped by the roadside and took out the snacks which my sister had lovingly prepared for me. I finally understood what Mojo Walle Bhai meant when he said: You feel so lonely and emotional when you eat by the roadside, on your own, so far away from home. I was very near to my home, but the thought of being away from my loved ones and on my own, kind of struck me at that time. Or maybe I had been reading too many travel stories.

Anyway, so for the next 110kms approx. I was riding in the drizzle and rain until I reached the Umkiang Bridge in East Jaintia Hills. I had always wanted to see the Lukha River, which is Blue, but sadly, because of the monsoon, it was running red with fury. I took a break before the Sonapur Tunnel to fuel my tummy again and to absorb the surroundings – the river, the bridge, the hills, the truck drivers waving and smiling at me; Man! The feeling was overwhelming, not just because of the sights but also because the gravity of the ride finally hit me. My first solo ride was finally underway.

After some snacks, the sky cleared up and I was back on the road. The Rynox Tornado Pro Jacket did its job very well in keeping me dry in the rain but like any rain gear would do, it also made it very humid inside the jacket with the rain liner on. I took off my rain gear, rain liner, and the cool breeze circulating through the vents of the jacket made for a refreshing ride. But boy was I in for a surprise!! This 75 kms stretch from Sonapur to Silchar was like an all-you-can-eat buffet, but not in a good way. Mud, Slush, gravel, sand, potholes, craters… You name it and it’s there. There was one stretch that passed through beautiful tea plantations on both sides of the road. Sadly, the deplorable road conditions drew away all the beauty of the plantations.

I was advised to take the Kalain shortcut to Silchar as it was shorter and the roads were far better. I kept riding through the crater-filled shortcut cut, wondering when the good road would start, when I realized I had already reached Silchar.

Dildar met me at a Junction at the end of the shortcut and showed me a little bit of Silchar, where we met Raj too. I got my bike checked for some electrical glitches, after which Dildar took me to his Helmet Shop. He’s got some cool helmets. It was dry and humid when I entered Silchar and it was a nice break to sit in his shop with the AC running. I could cool off for a while before I got back on the road.

Saying farewell to Dildar, I pushed off to Vairengte, where I was supposed to meet Hruaitea at the interstate border. I had been using the phone to view my route and the Rynox 5.5” Croc Mobile Mount worked excellently! No drop of rain or any dust particles got inside the case. I rode for about 20 kms from Silchar and met Hruaitea at Bhaga, who had already acquainted himself with another biker, Riki Jackers, on the road. Riki insisted we stop at Bhaga Market for a cuppa chai and some cold drinks before we hit the road again.

Hruaitea is the ‘my-brother-from-another-mother’. We had been Facebook friends for quite some time but I met him just last year when he came to Shillong. Being driven by the same passion for offroading, the online discussions and interactions we had made us closer as buddies. He started the offroad revolution in Mizoram with his offroading club – Free Tracks Moto Mizoram. They go for rides exploring the interior reaches of Mizoram and often take the road less traveled. He goes by the name Hruaitea Imp Sixtyfive on Facebook.

We then headed for Aizawl, another 140kms away. After riding in the Barak Valley and Cachar Hills’ flat wide roads, it was back to corner carving on the Aizawl Highway. On reaching Vairengte, there are check posts for checking/issuing ILP and also a Customs Checkgate, which we passed through without any problems. Non – tribal Travelers though, will need to get an Inner Line Permit (ILP) for entering Mizoram.

I thought I was quite good at riding in the hills as being from a hill station myself, all we have ever ridden on were hills. But man, Mizoram is much hillier than what I had been used to riding on. The turns were hairpins at almost every turn and they take a toll on you if you’re rushing through them while doing long-distance touring. 5kms felt like you had been riding for 15 kms. But the good thing about Mizoram is that the roads are well-maintained and you can enjoy the turns without riding into a crater in the middle of the road.

We stopped at Bilkhawthir for some refreshments at Hruaitea’s Sister’s place and we got back on the road right away. It was a nice ride with the moon shining bright and two Impulses whizzing on the road. There was a massive landslide 2 kms before entering Aizawl and we had to wait there until they cleared some parts of the road. When they allowed us to proceed, I followed Hruaitea through the slush but since my bike was loaded with luggage, it got bogged down and the rear wheel was a good half buried in the slush. It came out after a little struggle and we headed straight to Hruaitea’s place where I put up for my stay in Aizawl. So after almost a whole day of riding, I reached Aizawl at 11:30PM. That's about 16 hours with all the stops.

After unloading the luggage, a good hot bath and some good food, I called it a night. It has been a good ride and I couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear. I was finally in Aizawl on my own bike!! You just can’t explain that awesome feeling when something that you have been dreaming of for so long actually becomes a reality. But if you asked me how my first day of the ride really went, I’d say it’s not as easy as it looked on Google Maps.

Continue reading about GolakaGo's road trip for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

There is a place called as Tadoba in Maharashtra that never disappoints and at the drop of the hat, we chalked out our Tadoba sojourn

BHPian abirnale recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Since last year's successful trip to Tadoba, we have been looking for all kind of opportunities to do safaris. On my work travel, I tried to do about 9 different Tipeshwar Safaris, Multiple Bandipur and BRT safaris to no avail. It's been frustrating - at times felt like I am now out of my luck!

But then we recalled - there is a place called as Tadoba in MH that never disappoints And at the drop of the hat, we chalked out our Tadoba sojourn. Since the daughter (exams) and wifey (trekking in Himalayas with her girl gang) were unavailable, it was a even more simpler travel plan - me and my son went out for the boys week-out!

We secured the bookings into Zari Core, Zari Peth Buffer and Mamla Buffer zones of Tadoba. With some more effort and tertiary connections, we secured a VIP booking at premium in Moharli too! The greed to see big cat out in the open is never going to reduce - we thought if boys are anyway going to Tadoba, why not go another 250kms ahead as well as see what Pench has in offer for us!

Bangalore - Tadoba - Bangalore: The plan

• May 1: BLR To Tadoba Drive (1050 Kms To Chillarwar farms - run by a good friend)
• May 2: Afternoon Safari in Zari Core
• May 3: Morning Safari in Moharli, Afternoon Safari in Zari Peth
• May 4: Morning Safari in Mamla Buffer, Evening drive to Pench - Turiya zone. Stayed at Pench Tiger Home
• May 5: Morning Safari in Khursapar Core Zone of MH section, Evening Safari at Turiya core zone of MP section
• May 6: Straight drive back to BLR (about 1250 Kms)

We had the best breakfast in Pench - Khursapar safari - parking Gypsy in the rest area marked as such, spread over the gypsy bonnet and enjoying the food in jungle!

This trip is something I am unable to justify in the words. So I would complete the post with some pictures, some clips for my readers to look at:

TBC - some more pics.

Continue reading BHPian abirnale's post for more insights and information.

I did a small trek at one of the view points and headed straight to Green land farmhouses resort.

BHPian Meteormariner recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

This ride happened on the 15th of March. I followed my usual practise of visiting Isha Coimbatore at least once after every signoff, now that I was in Coimbatore, I thought " Why not ride further and explore some new place".

Instagram on one hand had been showing me an ad of an ebook "Exploring India's most thrilling routes" , as it wasn't very expensive i gave it a try.
I was browsing through the ebook to find some place of interest around Coimbatore, that is when i found them all praises for the route leading from Palakkad to Nelliampathy.

The book describes the route as " An exciting and scenic ride through landscapes of Kerala". Looked at google map, found the line to Nelliampathy Wiggle. A wiggling line always makes for a good ride, greater the wiggle better the ride.

No second thoughts bags packed and room checked out, out of busy Coimbatore and on towards Palakkad. Wonderful 4 laned highway transiting from Tamilnadu into Kerala, I believe it is one of the few 4 lanes the god's own country has.

An empty highway, dense vegetation on my right, a mountain right ahead and an early morning sun-Perfect, what else does a rider want! Proceeded with a wide grin on my balaclava clad face.

Began the ascend to Nelliampathy. Narrow roads, meagre traffic, adequate green cover, again a riders delight. Nelliampathy is a feast for the eyes, oh man it is such a beautiful place, let the photos do the talking.

Did a small trek at one of the view points and headed straight to Green land farmhouses resort.

It was an empty restaurant but still i was getting a lot of attention from the waiters, its not everyday they get to see someone in full riding gear. Asked them to prepare my lunch while i went exploring the property, found an off road section and tried my hand at it, should have brought a horse to the race i was on an elephant. Managed to pass the offroad without a fall.

Stopped underneath a tree removed my boots and walked bare foot for a few meters and spent close to an hour exploring the property, they say walking barefoot has its own share of benefits, that's unless you don't tear yourself.

Went back to the restaurant finished my lunch and headed home to Madurai.

It was a weekend well spent.

Here are a few photos of Nelliampathy:

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I had left something incomplete in Ladakh a couple of years ago and I do not like unfinished stories. The ascent to Umling La was the missing piece in my travel previously to Ladakh

BHPian jithin23 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” -Saint Augustine

Well, my life has been more of a travel book at least in my circles. This year too I wanted to drive up North as the places in the southern part of India are something I've been seeing since childhood. I had left something incomplete in Ladakh a couple of years ago and I do not like unfinished stories. The ascent to Umling La was the missing piece in my travel previously to Ladakh and my third time to Ladakh. So as always, I decided to complete that portion in my own car so that I'll have mental peace. This time surprisingly I wanted to take a few people along and I had taken along a friend named Malatesh and he's the one who services my car at FASS. I wanted to take him along as opportunities for him to travel across the country are limited.

So what better time than to utilize the ridiculous notice period offered by the so-called IT giants(they want us to join immediately but will relieve us only after 2-3 months which is detrimental for an employee's progress) As usual, you know the drill (Entire closet in the boot of my EcoSport) by now but this time I was slightly prepared as I carried along a postpaid sim too (Only Postpaid works in J&K and Ladakh).

Now, let's get into the journey!

Bangalore to Mumbai

Day 1: Trunk Route
Places: Bangalore-Mumbai
Date: 24 May 2024
Distance: 1,017 kms and 15.5 hrs including 2 stops

I'm already charged up and promptly filled up the fuel tank till the brim at Nayara OMBR Layout, recharged Fastag for about 5-6k and went towards Hennur to pick Malatesh. In 20 mins we were at Esteem Mall as Vipin ettan wanted to wish us luck and treat us with some chocolates from Europe. By 7.20 we were zooming past the airport toll and took the STRR to reach Dobbespet(I avoid going via Gorguntepalya due to endless traffic and I find this route better), by 9.30 we were at Shell Sira for a quick Coffee and Sandwich break. By 11.45-12 we reached Ranebennur and met another EcoSport owner named Rakesh and went to Maltesh's place for a sumptuous Uttara Kannada style meal! We took a few jolada(Corn based as jola=corn) rotis as parcel and proceeded towards Pune via Kolhapur(Damn, I should have gone via Bijapur-Solapur) and the roads were smooth and uneventful till Belgaum except for road expansion on the Hubli-Dharwad stretch(finally!). Another bummer was that the engine oil I was carrying along had leaked on my clothes bag and half my clothes had engine oil stain :( and we took an empty can from Shell and refilled in that can. From Belgaum, it was utter chaos till Satara as the roads were being widened or repaired and traffic jams ranging to a km or two. After crossing the ghats, we reached the outskirts of Pune and here the drill is to order Mutton and bhakri which I religiously did! Within 1.5 hrs we reached Mumbai and our hostel dorms were already booked at Belgaum I usually prefer staying at hostels in most places so that one can connect with other travelers and when I'm alone, it is much more cost effective. I booked a hostel at Bandra known as Forrest Hostels and we were fast asleep. Meanwhile I got a call from a Fiesta owner whom I had helped last year pertaining to some documentation on her car and she too wanted to meet me. I left to Western Express Highway post midnight and we both ended up taking a spin in each our cars around WEH and later I called it a night. The Fiesta has been maintained well since 2007! Respect and then we bonded over our cars .

Pics from Day 1

The Send Off

At a Group Member's place in Ranebennur

The Joalada Roti from KA meets Mutton Bhakri from Pune

The Hostel in Bandra, Forrest Hostels(Crazy name :P)

Mumbai to Vadodara

Day 2: Broken Roads
Date: 25-May-2024
Places: Mumbai City-Vadodra
Distance: 450 kms and one whole day

The first half of the day we went to the Gateway of India post breakfast and after a while we met Karan as well whom I'm in contact with for a very long time(right from my blue EcoSport days). Post 2.30, we started off towards Gujarat and then I realised that Mumbai has 2 major choke points, the Virar and Vashi Creek. To cross Virar will take ages so I thought we'll go via Bhiwandi and that road too was no less than driving on a moon crater. After 3 hrs of driving, we stopped at Hotel Ahura for a quick chai(I like coffee but coffee is best at home in KA/TN ) and a big no to Starbucks coffee that's not coffee, that's an invitation for high sugar and BP..No offence to anyone tho!). Post that, I handed over the wheel to Maltesh and all I remembered next was we reached Ankleshwar by 11pm(I dozed off on the shotgun seat) to meet another fellow EcoSport owner named Sanju Sebastian. He too was keen to see my car and was inspired by my car to own an EcoSport and he too owns a Race Red EcoSport. Though we met for the first time, we exchanged a lot of stories and how we keep our cars and then proceeded towards Vadodra for the night.

Gateway of India

With a fellow EcoSport owner at Gujarat

Vadodara - Udaipur - Ujjain

Day 3: Spiritual Detour
Date: 26- May-2024
Places: Vadodra- Udaipur- Ujjain
Distance: 780 kms

After we bid bye to Sanju bro, I quickly found a stay on treebo at Vadodra and we drove towards Vadodra on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. Within an hour we reached out stay at Vadodra and called it a night at 2.30 am. The hotel receptionist woke us up by ringing the bell for breakfast at 10 am(we had piping hot Pohas) and within 35 mins, I was behind the wheel and in the next 45 minutes, cops flag me down at the periphery of Ahmedabad for having tint on my windows (I decided to keep a separate budget only for fines, as some cops like to see Gandhi a lot :P). We stopped at Shambu's for a quick juice break and I was thoroughly enjoying the empty roads till Udaipur. By 3pm we were yet again greeted by traffic cops for tine again :(. By 3.30 we reached Khamma Ghani(my usual spot at Udaipur for Lal Maas). Then another friend named Phani from AP had tagged along for the rest of the drive at Udaipur. We met a couple of EcoSport Owners(Jeo and Amit) near Karni Mata for sunset. The view from the hill is beautiful! Post sunset, we headed towards Ujjain which was another 7 hours from Udaipur. Since Maltesh too was there, I thought we can keep switching and reach by midnight. The drive was quite uneventful except the last 70-80 kms which was a single lane road. Our stay was sorted by the time we could reach again, credits go to an EcoSport owner.

Shade for the Dragon is scarce

Lal Maas at Khama Ghani is a ritual when in Udaipur

With the EcoSport boys in Udaipur

Indore - Udaipur - Jaipur

Day 4: Empty Expressway and a broken truck
Date: 27-May-2024
Places: Indore- Ujjain- Jaipur
Distance: 700kms

We had stayed at Ujjain the previous night and the next morning we had to pay a visit to the Mahakaleshwar temple. I parked the car about 500m away from the temple and had to make a couple of calls to go through the special darshan queue. In 15 minutes, we had a peaceful darshan and we were out of the temple and we had to meet another EcoSport owner for lunch who arranged the darshan for us. Met him and we discussed a lot of topics at length and we set off to Jaipur by 4pm. We took the Work in progress Delhi- Mumbai expressway and luckily we had filled up fuel as there was not a single bunk in the expressway stretch. By 8-9 pm ish we reached somewhere near Kota and a truck was broken down in the middle of the road. I tried to help the truck guy by starting the truck but some pin had broken due to which the truck was not moving. Then we had to drive almost at the kerb of the road for a few kilometers and we connected onto the highway. By 10pm we stop for dinner at a dhaba and then proceeded to drive towards Jaipur. By midnight we almost reached Tonk and from Tonk I decided to take a nap and Maltesh was behind the wheel. We reached a friend's place at Jaipur by 2 am.

Ujjain(sorry for the hushed up photography)

Another state, another set of enthusiasts

Day 5: RX 100 Ride and a quick service
Date: 28-May-2024
Places: Within Jaipur
Distance: 60 kms

I wake up in the morning and I do a quick check on the car and I noticed that the driver side door glass was slightly damaged but not alarming(mostly due to the heat). Then I call up Shantanu(another EcoSport owner in RJ) and he came with a surprise for me. He brought the RX 100 and I rode the motorcycle like a teenager(took me back 10 years in time) on the streets of Jaipur despite the scorching heat till Patrika gate and then we headed to KS Ford to get the car serviced. I went in and spoke to the manager and seeing my car and license plate, he immediately agreed to get it done within 2-3 hours. Post which we went to Hawa Mahal and Naharngarh fort with his boys for a chai as well as to see the view from the top of the hill and we called it a day.

All set with the Helmet and I was on a fun run with the motorcycle

Two Immortal Legends in the hearts of Enthusiasts

Hawa Mahal

Night view of Jaipur

Jaipur to Amritsar

Day 6: Udta Punjab
Date: 29-May-2024
Places: Jaipur to Amritsar
Distance: 660kms

We started off peacefully by 8.30am after a hearty breakfast at my friend's place and from his place, the highway is just a stone throw away and in no time we are almost near Haryana border. However, before we could exit RJ, again I got flagged down by cops for maintaining 100kmph speed and the cop kept on arguing( I never saw any speed limit sign but on a NH I'm aware that the speed limit is 100kmph), I paid him some money and I went on with my journey. Right after Narnaul, there's a diversion which goes via the trans-Haryana expressway(take the road via Kheri Mukkar- Narnaul and then you'll reach the start point of the expressway) and it bypasses Delhi and leads straight to Ambala. One small incident had ahappened over here. A tipper lorry with jelly stones was driving at high speed and a 3-4 stone pebbles fell on my car's roof. Fortunaately nothing happened, not even a dent on the roof. Had it been a sunroof, I would have had a cracked sunroof for the rest of the trip(I thank my stars for not picking a sunroof variant car!).3The only decent restaurant in this stretch available was Aureo Food plaza and we stopped over there for some Punjabi style parathas. The best part is that the roads are empty and we reached Ambala in 3 hours. From Ambala, we drove at a leisurely pace and took sufficient breaks to admire the loud alloy wheeel taste of Punjab :P. By sunset we checked in at our hotel and we visited the Golden Temple and had a king-size paratha with lassi at Brother's right near The Golden Temple.

Just by this wheel, we know that we are in PB!

The Ubiquitous Brother's Dhaba

That one Parantha is enough for 2 people, but I ended up finishing up the plate and Lassi

Glittering Golden Temple

Amritsar to Attari Border

Day 7: Border Parade
Date: 30-May-2024
Places: Amritsar and Attari Border
Distance: 60km to and fro

I rememberd my childhood memory when I had been to Amritsar in 2005 wherein I was lucky enough to sit in a railway engine(I'm a huge Rail Fan too) and I had witnessed the parade at Attari border when I was 9 years old. The parade memories took me back in time and I revisited that memory lane by attending the parade once again (Yet, another huge defence forces fan, especially the Indian Army!). I had booked the parade ticket online in prior and it was free of charge. Before we could head for the parade, we had to pick another friend who was flying down from Hyderabad. We picked him up and we headed straight to Jaiianwala Bagh and Golden Temple. The parade was filled with crowds clamouring for seats at both the borders and man! What a sight to see the parade in action. By 6.30 pm, the parade got over and we headed back to our hotel and parked the car as I wanted to explore the city in a more laidback manner. We took an e-rickshaw to Charming Chicken and had some amazing Chicken gravy and paratha. Had I been in Punjab for some more time, I would have gained 5-10 kgs more, heheh.

This is our group to the mountains

Jallianwala Bagh

The Parade performed by the BSF is a sight to watch

Continue reading BHPian jithin23's post for more insights and information.

85% of the stretch is 4 / 6-lane roads, except for the interiors of Orissa and Jharkhand, where we have to travel through thick forest.

BHPian Anupam1024 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

We have recently come to Bokaro Steel City, JH, in my Ford EcoSport. We are still here and will be returning sometime next week.

Since corona times, I have travelled to Jharkhand 8-9 times by car, mostly with family and even alone. I have used the two routes mentioned below to cover this to-and-fro journey.

Routes

• Bangalore - Hyderabad - Nagpur -Raipur - Sambalpur - Jharsuguda - Khunti - Ranchi - Bokaro
• Bangalore - Tirupati - Vijaywada - Vishakhapatnam - Cuttuck - Keonjhar - Chaibasa - Khunti - Ranchi - Bokaro

As far as I know, there is a good 4-lane road to Janshedpur from Balasore - Bhadrak.

I don't drive beyond 8 or 9 PM and I generally take 2 night stops because I am the only driver to cover either stretch, which is about 2000 - 2100 KM long journey spread over 3 days. This can be reduced to 2 days if there is more than one expert driver.

85% of the stretch is 4 / 6 lane roads, except the interiors of Orissa and Jharkhand (especially the state border area) where we have to travel through thick forest.

I have attached a few pics of my recent trip (17 -19th April 2025). We stayed overnight at Viziangaram and Puri. We visited Puri Temple on 18th April 2025 Evening and then had a darshan of Maa Tarini temple at Ghatgaon the next day.

There are ample places you can visit enroute. IMO, we should plan our deviations and then it would be worth doing it. Random deviations may take a longer time. On my return journey, I have planned to visit Mallikarjun Jyotirling Temple at Srisailam.

Note:

On this trip, I drove my Ecosport to Kathmandu (via Raxaul - Birgunj - Hetouda) and to Manakamna Temple. Will plan to write a blog on that.

Hope this info helps

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.