“Exploring Mountain on the Beast” – A first journey of my life exploring North India Mountain with my first ever experience driving beast – Royal Enfield.
10 days – Full of Life with passion, nervousness, curiosity, exploration and discovery. A discovery of love for journey, A discovery of new ME.
To start with a journey I took flight along with some of my partner in crime oops travel from Ahmedabad to New Delhi.
Yaar, New Delhi give me a patriotic feeling, anyways let’s start a journey.
A road trip from Delhi to Pathankot to Patnitop to Kishtwar to Killar (most dangerous road) to Jispa to SachPass to Dalhousie back to Delhi
First morning was divine for me as I am about to start a Journey to heaven.
Before I start a journey – how I prepare for it. The feeling gave me a goose bump – I started working hard to discover about new ME. Increasing strength of my legs by skipping daily – this will help to ride beast with a pride. Daily exercise which will help to build my stamina for long hours driving, weather change, etc.
Time to check - Rucksacks bags with approx. 12kg of weight containing Jackets, 4 pair of jeans & 8 t-shirts, cargos, emergency medical kit, socks, ankle length shoes, hands gloves and lots & lots of energy and wishes from my near & dear one.
Finally, the day has arrived, my heart was pumping out of my body, mind full of excitement, fear, tension and tell you a truth – I am very happy and nervous too.
Morning flight from Ahmedabad to New Delhi – as I am flying through the clouds a new kind of energy was getting into me.
A feeling of happiness, enthusiasm and energy was running all over my body. And we landed to New Delhi
Our Hotel Garden View at the heart of Karol baug market, we took some rest.
Our next agenda is to explore the nearest dealer who can put wings to our dream – it is Rahul Motors which was 4km away from our location.
Now I see the beast – ThunderBird 350CC. To get this some formality required – a nominal security deposit, a blank cheque in the favor of motor company and valid identity proof.
Beast is healthy and smiling with me as we will be partners for next 9 days journey.
Day 1
I rise before the sunrise and getting ready to the journey of lifetime.My heart was throbbing excited and energetic to face the beautiful North -the heaven of India.Few must things to check before we fly are ThunderBird. Helmet Jacket,comfort fit cargos,ankle length shoes and raincoat-although it's is September but we never know when God start showering their blessing on us.
Vroom..vroom we start our journey around 5:30am towards pathankot road which is about 450km.Weather is awesome and welcome with smile.The roads were getting brighten with shine of achivement which was reflecting on my face.
We stayed in the tent near riverside, a beautiful night under the sky with a great view. A bonfire, where we had lots of gossip which refresh our mind and lots of song and dance to show how happy we are to drive through the way with pride. We also discussed about next day driving as we were returning back to Killar again. It started raining in the middle of night and temperature drop to -2. Off to Sleep.
I was wrapped in the feeling of the day - what a drive it is. My first ever solo ride. I can still feel that I am flying high in the sky.
Above pictures are sufficient to express my feelings.
Finally in the evening we reached our destination. What a beautiful place it is. While Sun is going down,the view around was mesmerizing - green with the tint of orange and yellow in it.
It was the toughest day of trip Kishtwar to Killar. Kishtwar - Killar World's Most treacherous and Dangerous road but a beautiful route, where we explore some best serenity of mountain and river.
Before we start our journey time to fill up beast stomach to full. And carry 20L petrol can minimum2.
We were driving through Jungle, rough roads and wet soil. A chance of landslide too as it was always raining. As we were climbing road our speed was max between 30-40 km hr.
A small tea shop with basic necessities provide hospitality as its best, people are very soft spoke and helpful, sometimes i feel I came into a different world where everything is just Awesome.
Below is pics where we enjoyed Rajma (easily available and common food of North) Chawal & Kadi and Chapattis with Green chilies at 2 pm. A small dhaba (joint) with yummy food and their loving nature.
Now it's day 2 and we are ready to leave toward Patnitop I heard about this place alot and today I got a chance to explore it,we started our day with delicious breakfast,we came to know that roads towards Patnitop little bit construction is going so we decide to cover this distance by safe ride
Below are some pictures from Second Day
This 3rd fine morning gear up and ready to leave for Patnitop (A hilltop tourist location of J&K Valley) in the morning around 7:30am.
The roads are not good for continuous driving and top of it weather was naughty too. Well, driving is what our motto was - we went via Udhampur.
At Udhampur, we took a break for almost 2 hours at air force officer's house area. We received a warm welcome and a great hospitality by Ex-Air Force Officer and not to forget the food was yum.
Finally, reached at 4:30 pm... A beautiful weather with a kiss of sun and dazzle of rain.
Time for rest at our pre-booked lodge.
Ready for Kishtwar – A small town of Jammu which is famous for World Renowned Sapphire and saffron.
The journey to Kishtwar was beautiful as it was en-routed through the mountains on the curves of Chenab River.
This was a start of our rough & tough ride, as weather was bit cloudy which took us 8 hours to complete our ride to Kishtwar.
We reached at 6pm in the evening and now after our dinner. Time to rest.
Finally, reached Killar in the evening at 6:30pm, we checked in hotel and they served us with hot-refreshing tea and bread pakoda.
Looking at the view around the hotel a poet inside me is ready to narrate a poem full of love and romance, you will understand me after looking at the picture below. A view which will touch your heart with caress and the ambience was so loving and caring.
A tiring day but a lovely ride.
This was the route for which we did all our hard work and time to check how patiently we can drive through. A road to Jispa was full of potholes. It is not wrong to say that this route was Dangerous of all.
Some tips to drive - keep on blowing horn as there are many blind turns and do not exceed speed over 40 km/hr. As Jispa is 10500 ft. above the sea level, need to keep one hydrated - drink as much water as you can and keep yourself warm with jackets / woolens. Heading more towards Kashmir always keep Original Documents for vehicle as we were fined at one of the Security check post for not having one.
While driving the vision was treat to your eyes as you will see some beautiful small villages, clouds all around.
We stayed in the tent near riverside, a beautiful night under the sky with a great view. A bonfire, where we had lots of gossip which refresh our mind and lots of song and dance to show how happy we are to drive through the way with pride. We also discussed about next day driving as we were returning back to Killar again. It started raining in the middle of night and temperature drop to -2. Off to Sleep.
We started our day with energy n enthusiasm to enroute to Jispa. Although, our last day was through toughest roads with many hurdles but we were fighter and safely reached Killar.
Today also, we have to cover a very rough road and valleys through Jispa via Keylong and as usual god was showering all their love of us by keeping clouds throughout the journey.
Tent House were we stayed where all basic needs are avaialble for you.
Back to Killar again ...and beacuse then we have to leave for Sach Pass to complete this circle in one trip !!!
This fine morning, time to check again what we discover yesterday. We were driving back to Killar. This time a fine beautiful morning surround by clouds and nature at its best.
With same precautions and thoughts of victory, we return to Killar and check-in into same hotel.
Good Night to all. Something more is waiting for us for this trip - Sach Pass which is at 14500 ft. mountain pass in Chamba District, Himachal Pradesh
Day 8
Time to travel from Killar to Dalhousie via Sach Pass
We were ready to explore a narrow road which unmetalled. We are targeting to reach Dalhousie via Sach Pass before Sunset so we started our journey early in the morning. We were en-routed through the shortest and toughest route from Killar to Chamba (170 km).
This was last adventures day of the trip. This was the journey for our life for which we waited as in the month of September we can drive on this route as most of the glaciers were melted, we can still see some of the parts covered with ice which was very picturesque. The view was scenic. We enjoyed a lot and lots of moments were captured with camera and unforgettable by our eyes and heart.
Finally, we conquer the peak!!
We reached our destination Dalhousie where we were supposed to take a rest for day but we opt to drive next day to Delhi.
Day 9
We started our journey as decided yesterday, early in the morning at 7 am as we need to cover the distance of to Delhi. This driving was a treat for us, as we stop in the morning to have a Punjabi Breakfast, Lunch at Pathankot and evening snacks at Ludhiana
At last, we reached Delhi at 10 pm in the night, where we cherished the memory of last 2 days - Driving through the dangerous and toughest routes.
Nex day We handed over the beast to their owner back. Overall, rent was around 10K for the whole journey.
Finally, we are back to Delhi which ended our trip. We took blessings at Guru Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, New Delhi.
I discover inner me, a time well spent with myself and explore more about my strength and weakness. This is New ME. I will suggest everyone to take one journey for yourself and you will discover yourself differently.
In the end, I would like to thank Royal Biker Main leads Manu Bhai & Varun who planned this trip and of course, backup van with two people Bhanu & Rahul both were awesome and always having a big smile on their face and ready to help in any given situation.Also with Narendra My bro.. and other riders who make this trip so memorable Ex- IAF Rajiv Sir,Naresh Sir,Roshan & Dishit. Hope we all meet again and go to some another adventures exciting road trip.
Hope we all meet again and go to some another adventures exciting road trip.
Disclaimers: All pics are taken by personal mobile & camera's.
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You can send me your response or ask questions at paragkushwah.blog@gmail.com
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