Orchha Ride

This is Orchha, a small hidden treasure in Madhya Pradesh. It was wonderful to leave behind civilization and ride into the jungles.

Royal Enfield Bullet can surely make it's own way through the wilderness.

Orchha is a very small town studded with magnificent structures. Some of these temples and palaces are very well maintained. A definite treat to the eye. The best part about Orchha... it is non-touristy.

The legend meets history... in Orchha.

On my way to the beautiful (and hidden) hill-station called Shivpuri. Shivpuri was never part of the initial plan but after reading about it in a Madhya Pradesh tourism brochure I decided to take the detour. With views like this on the highway... I must say it was totally worth it.

That is Madhav National Park near Shivpuri. A protected water body of the National Park.

That is my motorcycle on the super-boring Yamuna Expressway.

The rider and the machine...

Orchha is just 16 KM away from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh.

Well things took an unexpected turn shortly after this pit-stop. The motor-cycle started showing signs of exhaustion! Shivpuri is a small hill-station and the motor-cycle began to give up on me while climbing up the hills. It was indeed scary... fortunately there was a Royal Enfield Bullet Mechanic in Shivpuri.

The intake valves were leaking...

The problem was resolved after almost four hours of work. I am so glad I found a good mechanic in this small town. That is the best thing about Royal Enfield Bullet... you can find mechanics almost everywhere in India.

On the way back to Delhi. Sadly because of the repair downtime I couldn't see much of Shivpuri. Anyways, that gives us a reason to return. 

Riding from Bombay ...

I would always agree that roads in Bombay suck. They are just terrible to say the least. I do not think there would be any other metro in this world with such appalling road conditions. This for some reason however, has worked really well for me and my Royal Enfield Bullet 350.

The real riders want to go out and ride free. They didn’t buy that Motorcycle of theirs to ride to work every day and occasionally to the near-by mall. They want to take that motor-cycle out on the open roads, where they can just unleash its power and feel the wind on their face. Since Bombay provides no such opportunity, hence riders from this city make things happen on NH8, NH4, NH3 and NH17. These highways are pretty accessible from Bombay (Thank God for that) and are in pretty top-class conditions.

After Panvel (60 Kms from city) you get access to NH4 and NH17. NH4 goes to Bangalore and NH17 goes to Cochin (as far as I know) via Goa. I have been on both these highways several times and I enjoy them equally. NH17 is extremely scenic, with crowded villages and towns every once in a while and great sea-food after Kolad. One can experience lives in small fishing towns, the roads on the coast, forts and light-houses and some exquisite beaches on this road amongst million other things. NH4 on the other hand has very different character. The old Bombay-Pune highway can well be termed as ‘Rider’s test track’, no wonder you will find riders riding everything from a 100 CC Bajaj bike to a 2500 CC Ducati. The road from Panvel to Khopoli is smooth, quiet, curvy and scenic. From Khopoli to Lonavala , it’s a beautiful steep climb offering some great views of the Ghats and Expressway. After crossing Lonavala, the road becomes even more beautiful. The ride becomes easier, the roads remain flawless, some great dhabas appear on the roadside and in no time you reach Dehu-Road. Take a right from that signal and you can keep riding this magical road till Bangalore.

NH8 is special to me because it is ‘the road home’ for me. If I ride 1230 Kms from Bombay on NH8, I will reach Jaipur (my hometown). NH8 is the road you will take if you want to ride to Rann of Kutchh, Ahmedabad or for that matter Daman. The western express highway would lead you to NH8, after Dahisar check naka. The roads however aren’t too great for around 100 Kms. Around Choroti check naka (120 Kms I believe), you start getting the real road. The sights of fields are treat to the eyes and the food around is another reward for the rider. While the Western Express Highway leads you to the busy NH8, the Eastern Express highway gets you to a quieter NH3. NH3 would start after Thane and becomes really great post Bhiwandi. The highway has just been made into a surreal four lane expressway and riding here is sheer joy. The roads around Kasara Ghat and Igatpuri would impress any rider and make sure that he comes back again.

There are many rides that can be done on these great roads if you are in Bombay. These roads have some great places to be seen, forts to be conquered, beaches to be enjoyed and food to fall in love with.

Ride 'free' brother ...

On that exquisite road,
One to the horizon,
Which is encroached by wild flowers,
Where you have empathetic sun.

When at every turn,
you are made to think,
how wasted your life would be,
if you had never seen.

The wind kisses your face,
And butterflies cross your way,
The indifferent cow makes you realize,
That this life is not a race.

You ride at your own pace,
Instead of those electronic lights,
There are these humble trees…
You stop when you want to,
And you resume when you feel like,
Here every decision is yours.

On that road you meet yourself,
and you know man is very small.
But you don’t want to compare,
There is just so much glee.
At that moment,
When you thank the heavens,
You know ‘you are free’.