Roads

Summer Vacation – A trip to Bakkhali, the Delta of Ganges & my childhood place

By

After a full 3 hours in the sea and breakfast, we went to visit Henry’s island (2 km) – a must visit place. During 1980s, the West Bengal Fisheries Department took the initiative of turning HenryтАЩs Island into a tourist spot. More than 50 ponds were dug under pisciculture project, occupying over 25 bigha on 100-hectare of land. Fresh fish and shrimps straight out the ponds are a must try for the visitors. Trees such as gora, kankru, palm, naturally growing sundari and hetal have been planted.

Read More

Self-Drive trip across Thailand (7 days, 2000 kms) : Part 5 тАУ Bang Saen to Kampaeng Phet

By

We had plans of visiting heritage sites and local night market, but lassitude takes over as soon as we arrive. After strolling around the neighbourhood, spying on local shops and outlets, we are back to the guest house.
There are number of cosy sit-outs within the house. In the evening, guests have gathered here to relax and chat-up. Soon I connect up with Bill, an Austrian from Vienna and Shoo, a Thai traveller. Yes, they tell, they are also travelling across Thailand. While exchanging notes I discover that both of them (though travelling separately) are very special Ghumakkars. Bill (actually Bills, a couple) has arrived here Cycling all the way from AUSTRIA! Well, the story goes like this. They are avid cyclists. They have covered large parts of the globe cycling. Bill roughly cycles for an year in one go! By end of the year long loop, he is back in Vienna to earn his livelihood. After earning for about 6-8 months, he is again out for the next trip. He tells us that he does not own a car and has a very small house in Vienna. He works just to make enough money for the next trip. Same is the story of his partner. She is from the same place and they share the same passion. They are 6 months into the current trip and plan to cycle north to China and then through Kazakhstan and Eastern Europe to Vienna. Their belongings, typical for cyclists, comprise of two rucksacks (strapped to either side of the carrier) and a sleeping bag cum tenting equipment.

Read More

Trip to Darbar Sahib-Where self meets the soul…-I

By

There is this railway crossing on the Dinanagar-Gurdaspur stretch of NH-15 which lies miraculously at the centre of a leftward curve. Most of the drivers usually get caught unaware at this crossing. I was familiar with the notoriety of this curve and hence was attentive to its arrival. Just after crossing over the railway line, we stopped near a fruit-seller to fill our empty stomachs and sat on the nearby tube-well to chat. Our jokes and pranks didn’t seem to end anytime soon but we realised that we should pull ahead. Back to the car, we hit the road again and entered Gurdaspur city after 10 kms. There is a bypass which you can take to avoid the traffic and congestion at the Gurdaspur town but since it was a national holiday (2nd Oct), the traffic was sparse and we drove through the city. Looking around for some nice place to have a proper breakfast, all four of us had our necks craned out of the window. However, any place proposed by one was put down by the rest…a big disadvantage of traveling in an all-guys-group i think. Suddenly, I saw a turbanated policeman signalling us to stop. I just wanted to zip ahead as we were on the right side of law in every respect (thats what I believed till then) but Jaspreet insisted that we should stop as the Punjab Police cops chase such cars which dont stop and then harrass you even more…the job they are best at. Stopping a few metres ahead, I asked everyone to relax and not to get out of the car…a mistake that cost us 200 bucks!!! The Sardarji policeman came upto our car…positioned his elbows on the window and asked where we were from. We replied in Punjabi that we are from Jammu and heading towards The Harmandir Sahib. The Sardarji smiled at us and asked us why we had not fastened our seat belts…..HOLY SHIT… We realised that after we started driving from our last stop where we had fruits, we had just forgot to fasten our seat-belts.

Read More

Motorcycle Diaries. Road to Ladakh (Bidding adieu to Leh)

By

While returning from this point, I took a brief stop at the Magnetic Hill. This has always been a site of amusement for me. This hill is located on NH1, at around 45kms from Leh, at a height of 11,000 feet above sea level. Rumour has it that this hill has magnetic properties! In fact, BRO has put a signboard too, which lends considerable credibility to this rumor, at least for the first timers! There is also a square box-area painted on the road where the signboard requests drivers to park the four-wheelers in the neutral gear. According to the prevalent myth, the magnetic properties of the hill are strong enough to pull cars uphill! In reality, the effect is at best an optical illusion and there is no magnetic property in the area. I have experience this twice now. Yet this place is a crowd-puller and is now a popular stop for travelers to Leh. I am publishing an image I took last year!

Read More

Rejuvenating Trip to Naukuchiatal

By

After a good stroll, my hunger meter was on & I enjoyed a nice buffet spread at restaurant. We went again for best spot near lake side & enjoyed the peace around the place. One shikara was approaching us & he offered us to take ride in lake. He also offered us cab service for local sightseeing. We decided to visit Sattal which was about 15-20 kms from our place. After taking a nap, we were ready to go on sightseeing, we preferred to took cab and rely on local info.

While on way to Sattal, we also explored Naldamiyanti Tal & Garuda Tal.The drive was very sceneric and Garuda tal was worth going. it was a perfect place to have a picnic or just being in lap of nature. Sattal was little commercialsed & we just spent ┬╜ hr there.

Read More

Motorcycle Diaries. Road to Ladakh (Leh to Hunder)

By

While descending, I saw the River Shyok flowing at a distance. As I rode further, I came across the road widening into sandy plains long-drawn-out between the rows of mountains. I stopped and filled in the changing views тАУ the river, the mountains, barren sandy plains on which the roads look like thin, dark lines drawn till horizon. Hereinafter came several small villages, where kids would waved at me, tempting me to given them a Hi-five! The mountains around me were full of gravel, which threatened to come down anytime! This was indeed one of the most unusual places on the planet!

Read More

рд╕рд┐рд▓реНрд╡рди рд▓реЗрдХ рдФрд░ рдХреИрдиреЗрдбрд╛ рдбреЗ

By

рдЬреБрд▓рд╛рдИ 1 рдХреЛ рдХреИрдиреЗрдбрд╛ рдбреЗ рдордирд╛рдпрд╛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИ рдФрд░ рдпрд╣ рд╕рд╛рд░реНрд╡рдЬрдирд┐рдХ рдЕрд╡рдХрд╛рд╢ рд╣реЛрддрд╛ рд╣реИ. рдореИрдВ рдЗрд╕ рджрд┐рди рд╕рд┐рд▓реНрд╡рди рд▓реЗрдХ рдЬрд╛рдиреЗ рдХрд╛ рдкреНрд░реЛрдЧреНрд░рд╛рдо рдмрдирд╛ рд▓реЗрддрд╛ рд╣реВрдБ. рд╡рд┐рд╢рд╛рд▓ рднреА рдореЗрд░реЗ рд╕рд╛рде рдерд╛. рд╕рд┐рд▓реНрд╡рди рд▓реЗрдХ рдлреЛрд░реНрдЯ рд╕рд╕реНрдХреЗрдЪреНрд╡рди рд╕реЗ 200 рдХрд┐рдореА рд╣реИ. рд╕реБрдмрд╣ рдЬрд▓реНрджреА рдЪрд▓ рдХрд░ рдирд╛рд╢реНрддреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рдЯрд┐рдо рд╣реЛрд░рдЯрди рдкрд╣реБрдБрдЪ рдЬрд╛рддреЗ рд╣реИрдВ. рдЯрд┐рдо рд╣реЛрд░рдЯрди рдХреИрдиреЗрдбрд╛ рдореЗрдВ рдмрд╣реБрдд рдорд╢реНрд╣реБрд░ рд╣реИ. рдпрд╣ рдХреИрдиреЗрдбреАрдЕрди рдХрд╛ рд╣реИ, рдЗрд╕ рд▓рд┐рдП рдЕрдореЗрд░рд┐рдХрди рд░реЗрд╕реНрддрд░рд╛рдБ рд╕реЗ рдЬреНрдпрд╛рджрд╛ рд▓реЛрдХрдкреНрд░рд┐рдп рд╣реИ. рдлреЛрдЯреЛ рдореЗрдВ SUV ( рдЧрд╛реЬреА ) рдбреНрд░рд╛рдЗрд╡ рдерд░реБ рдкрд░ рдЬрд╛ рд░рд╣реА рд╣реИ. рдЖрдк рдЬреЛ рджреЛ рдмреЙрдХреНрд╕ рджреЗрдЦреН рд░рд╣реЗрдВ рд╣реИрдВ, рдЙрд╕рдореЗрдВ рдорд╛рдЗрдХ рдФрд░ рд╕реНрдкреАрдХрд░ рд▓рдЧрд╛ рд╣реБрдЖ рд╣реИ. рдЪрд╛рд▓рдХ рдЕрдкрдирд╛ рдСрд░реНрдбрд░ рдорд╛рдЗрдХ рдкрд░ рдмрддрд╛ рджреЗрдЧрд╛, рдЬреИрд╕реЗ рд╣реА рд╡рд╣ рдЦрд┐реЬрдХреА рдкрд░ рдкрд╣реБрдБрдЪреЗрдЧрд╛, рдЙрд╕рдХрд╛ рдСрд░реНрдбрд░ рддреНрдпрд╛рд░ рд╣реЛрдЧрд╛. рдкреИрд╕реЗ рдЪреБрдХрд╛ рдХрд░ рд╡рд╣ рдЧрд╛реЬреА рдбреНрд░рд╛рдЗрд╡ рдХрд░рддреЗ рд╣реБрдП рдЕрдкрдирд╛ рдмреНрд░реЗрдХрдлрд╛рд╕реНрдЯ рдПрдиреНрдЬреЙрдп рдХрд░реЗрдЧрд╛. рдкрд░ рдореИрдВ рдЖрдк рдХреЛ рдХрд╛рдЙрдВрдЯрд░ рдкрд░ рд▓реЗ рдХрд░ рдЪрд▓рддрд╛ рд╣реВрдБ.

Read More

Motorcycle Diaries. Road to LadakhтАжat Khardung La

By

Once I arrived at the Pass, it took me a while to get myself and True photographed next to the signboard which says тАЬKhardung La, 18380ft, Highest Motorable Road in the worldтАЭ тАУ there were so many tourists around тАУ I could see people from all part of the country and the world!
You see the above colourful signage? It belongs to the caf├й at the Pass, claiming itself to the highest caf├й of the world; where one can have a much-needed cup of green tea along with some snacks.
The walls of this caf├й speak about the story of Maggi! A very interesting readтАж

Now, you’d be surprised – Airtel works here! After all the troubles I had with the network all through the journey, it was a pleasant surprise! Did you notice the tower in the adjoining image?

Read More

Motorcycle Diaries. Road to Ladakh (Sarchu – Leh)

By

After 20kms of very good roads, we hit the under-construction roads. Bad, very bad they were! It was as if I was riding perennially over speed-breakers! The area appeared uninhabitable and has no construction at all, and also no population, save the migrant construction workers. Its was an extremely tiring and tedious ride; we also were forced from time to time to off-road into sand and ride wherever the roads were blocked for construction – BRO is constructing a two-lane road here. I always find riding in sand really painful and painful it was even this time. As we ascended, the road became worse тАУ it is all under construction. Heavy amount of gravel on the road made the ride very tiring and I was in fact forced to stop several times before reaching Taglang La тАУ the second highest motorable pass of the world. This was the worst patch to ride till now.

Despite a mild headache (one shouldnтАЩt wait at high Passes in such case), I rested at the Pass for a good 15minutes. I needed it, badly!

Read More

Motorcycle Diaries. Road to Ladakh (Kaza – Keylong – Sarchu)

By

Bara-lacha La was all clad in snow. Luckily the roads were devoid of any snow, making it easy of us riders to sail through. YouтАЩd notice that unlike other key milestones, I havenтАЩt posted any image of a plaque reading Bara-lacha La тАУ actually, I couldтАЩnt take any – there was a huge jam ahead, as we climbed up the Pass. I saw an oil-tanker overturned and fallen out of the road, taking the signage with it! Thankfully, the truck hadnтАЩt taken the plunge. It seemed to be a very recent accident тАУ the driver of the truck was safely back on road and was assessing the damages done. The Border Roads Organization that manages these roads was very quick to respond; they had already arrived with a crane and were working out a rescue plan.

Advantage Biker! We quickly made our way through the mounting traffic and descended to the famous Bharatpur тАУ our lunch halt of the day. This place is something тАУ all full of colourful dhabas!

Read More
Motorcycle Diaries. Road to LadakhтАж (Delhi – Kaza)

Motorcycle Diaries. Road to LadakhтАж (Delhi – Kaza)

By

As I rode though barren patches, I would not help admire the exquisiteness of the rocks all around тАУ they were as spellbinding as the Grand Canyon, all through the journey on the Indo-China border. No images can describe this splendor!

During last 100kms, as the terrain turned bad to worse, I had consumed all my water. Thirsty and tired, I found water only at Dubling, after riding for over 3.5 hours. As I gulped down water, I couldnтАЩt help observe that the same Kinley packaged water bottle we paid Rs.40/- at the HPTDC hotels (a premium of double the cost!) was being sold by this mom-&-pop shop at the MRP!

Read More

рдРрд╕реЗ рдкрд╣реБрдВрдЪреЗ рд╣рдо рдореБрдВрдмрдИ !

By

рд╣рдореЗрдВ рдкрд╢реНрдЪрд┐рдо рдПрдХреНрд╕рдкреНрд░реЗрд╕ рдкрдХрдбрд╝рдиреА рдереА рдЬреЛ рд░рд╛рддреНрд░рд┐ 10 рдмрдЬ рдХрд░ 45 рдорд┐рдирдЯ рдХреЗ рд▓рдЧрднрдЧ рдирдИ рджрд┐рд▓реНрд▓реА рд╕реНрдЯреЗрд╢рди рдкрд░ рдЕрд╡рддрд░рд┐рдд рд╣реБрдИред рдкреНрд▓реЗрдЯрдлрд╛рд░реНрдо рдкрд░ рд▓рдЧреЗ рд╣реБрдП рдЪрд╛рд░реНрдЯ рдореЗрдВ рдкреБрд╖реНрдЯрд┐ рдХрд░рдХреЗ рд╣рдордиреЗ рдЕрдкрдиреА рдХреЛрдЪ рдореЗрдВ рдЬрд╛рдХрд░ рд╕рд╛рдорд╛рди рд╡рдЧреИрд░рд╛ рд╢рд╛рдпрд┐рдХрд╛ рдХреЗ рдиреАрдЪреЗ рдареАрдХ рд╕реЗ рд▓рдЧрд╛рдпрд╛, рд░реЗрд▓рд╡реЗ рдХреА рд╣рд┐рджрд╛рдпрдд рдХрд╛ рдЕрдиреБрдкрд╛рд▓рди рдХрд░рддреЗ рд╣реБрдП рдЪреЗрди рд╕реЗ рднреА рдмрд╛рдВрдзрд╛ред рдорд┐рддреНрд░реЛрдВ-рд╕рдВрдмрдВрдзрд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХреЛ рд╣рд╛рд░реНрджрд┐рдХ рдзрдиреНрдпрд╡рд╛рдж рджреЗрдХрд░ рд╡рд┐рджрд╛ рдХрд┐рдпрд╛, рдЧрд╛рдбрд╝реА рдЪрд▓рдиреЗ рдкрд░ рд╡рд╕рд╝реНрддреНрд░рд╛рджрд┐ рдмрджрд▓ рдХрд░ рд▓реЗрдЯ рдЧрдпреЗред рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рдЕрдВрдзрдХрд╛рд░ рдХрд╛ рд╕рд╛рдореНрд░рд╛рдЬреНрдп рдерд╛, рдорд┐рдбрд┐рд▓ рдмрд░реНрде рдЦреЛрд▓реА рдЬрд╛ рдЪреБрдХреА рдереАрдВ рдЕрддрдГ рдиреАрдЪреЗ рд╡рд╛рд▓реА рдмрд░реНрде рдкрд░ рд╕рд┐рд░реНрдл рд▓реЗрдЯрд╛ рд╣реА рдЬрд╛ рд╕рдХрддрд╛ рдерд╛, рддрдм рднреА рджреЛрдиреЛрдВ рдмрдЪреНрдЪреЛрдВ рдХреЛ рд╡рд╣реА рдиреАрдЪреЗ рдХреА рдмрд░реНрде рдЪрд╛рд╣рд┐рдпреЗ рдереАрдВ рддрд╛рдХрд┐ рдЦрд┐рдбрд╝рдХреА рд╕реЗ рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рдХреЗ рджреГрд╢реНрдп рджреЗрдЦрддреЗ рд░рд╣ рд╕рдХреЗрдВред рдкрддрд╛ рдирд╣реАрдВ рджреЛрдиреЛрдВ рдХрд┐рддрдиреА рджреЗрд░ рддрдХ рдЦрд┐рдбрд╝рдХреА рд╕реЗ рдмрд╛рд╣рд░ рдЕрдВрдзреЗрд░реЗ рдореЗрдВ рдЖрдВрдЦ рдЧрдбрд╝рд╛рдпреЗ рдмреИрдареЗ рд░рд╣реЗ рд╣реЛрдВрдЧреЗред рдЕрд░реНрджреНрдзрд░рд╛рддреНрд░рд┐ рдореЗрдВ рдЪрд▓ рдЯрд┐рдХрдЯ рдкрд░реАрдХреНрд╖рдХ рдиреЗ рджрд░реНрд╢рди рджрд┐рдпреЗред рдиреАрдВрдж рд╕реЗ рдЙрдардХрд░ рдЙрдирдХреЛ рд╕реНрдерд┐рддрд┐ рд╕реНрдкрд╖реНрдЯ рдХреА рдФрд░ рдПрдХ рдЯрд┐рдХрдЯ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдпреЗ рдмрдХрд╛рдпрд╛ рдХрд┐рд░рд╛рдпреЗ рд╣реЗрддреБ рд░рд╕реАрдж рдмрдирд╛рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдпреЗ рдХрд╣рд╛ред рдЙрдиреНрд╣реЛрдВрдиреЗ рдЬреБрд░реНрдорд╛рдиреЗ рд╕рд╣рд┐рдд рдЬрд┐рддрдиреА рд░рд╛рд╢рд┐ рдорд╛рдВрдЧреА, рджреЗ рджреАред рд╣рдореЗрдВ рдиреАрдВрдж рдЖ рд░рд╣реА рдереА рдЕрддрдГ рдлрд┐рд░ рд╕реЛ рдЧрдпреЗ рдкрд░рдиреНрддреБ рдЗрд╕ рд╢реЛрд╖рдг рдХреЛ рджреЗрдЦрдХрд░ рдорди рдореЗрдВ рдПрдХ рдЕрд╕рдВрддреЛрд╖ рдмрдирд╛ рд░рд╣рддрд╛ рд╣реИ рдФрд░ рдЬрдм рднреА рдРрд╕рд╛ рдЕрд╡рд╕рд░ рдкреБрдирдГ рдЖрддрд╛ рд╣реИ, рдпрд╣реА рдордирд╕реНрдерд┐рддрд┐ рд╣реЛрддреА рд╣реИред

Read More