Planning
After running up my bullet (Standard 350 cc) for prescribed limit of 2000 kms I was just waiting for such a moment where I could squeeze few days from my daily life for a nice road trip. I was thinking how to get my wife to stay at Thane home so that I can go for a trip. Then there was my brother-in-laws marriage in Nov 2012, just after Diwali. There was no option but to attend it, after all, a saying goes in Hindi, "Saari khudai ek taraf, joru ka bhai ek taraf", which in English humbly means that brother-in-laws' shall be given priority over God's whole creation. After we returned from the marriage, I managed for my wife and son to stay at Thane home with parents. So here I was in Vadodara with my bullet and a itch somewhere in the body to go for a ride.
I got the bullet serviced on Saturday 1st Dec 2012. I always have to go on Saturdays for getting the bullet serviced or I would have to take a full day leave from company. The authorised Royal Enfield service centre in Vadoara won't pull up their shutter and start work till the sun is really high up in the sky and you better take an appointment if you do not want to waste time. The service centre starts work at 10:30 am. But these guys are helpful by nature and take good care of bullet. Only sometimes you will find a scratch or chipped off paint from the vehicle body her and there which is okay by their standards.
Preparations
When I booked my bullet in March 2012, I had already decided that first trip I will make will be to Mt. Abu. I had 3 days spare, 1 more than I actually needed. So I added some more destinations like Udaipur and near by areas. (Route map attached below.) I made the necessary preparations by using past two trips experience and came up with a light backpack (which got heavier every day as I traveled). This time I took fruits and chocolates in a plastic container. Okay! Enough with the preparations. Lets leave for the trip.
After running up my bullet (Standard 350 cc) for prescribed limit of 2000 kms I was just waiting for such a moment where I could squeeze few days from my daily life for a nice road trip. I was thinking how to get my wife to stay at Thane home so that I can go for a trip. Then there was my brother-in-laws marriage in Nov 2012, just after Diwali. There was no option but to attend it, after all, a saying goes in Hindi, "Saari khudai ek taraf, joru ka bhai ek taraf", which in English humbly means that brother-in-laws' shall be given priority over God's whole creation. After we returned from the marriage, I managed for my wife and son to stay at Thane home with parents. So here I was in Vadodara with my bullet and a itch somewhere in the body to go for a ride.
I got the bullet serviced on Saturday 1st Dec 2012. I always have to go on Saturdays for getting the bullet serviced or I would have to take a full day leave from company. The authorised Royal Enfield service centre in Vadoara won't pull up their shutter and start work till the sun is really high up in the sky and you better take an appointment if you do not want to waste time. The service centre starts work at 10:30 am. But these guys are helpful by nature and take good care of bullet. Only sometimes you will find a scratch or chipped off paint from the vehicle body her and there which is okay by their standards.
Preparations
When I booked my bullet in March 2012, I had already decided that first trip I will make will be to Mt. Abu. I had 3 days spare, 1 more than I actually needed. So I added some more destinations like Udaipur and near by areas. (Route map attached below.) I made the necessary preparations by using past two trips experience and came up with a light backpack (which got heavier every day as I traveled). This time I took fruits and chocolates in a plastic container. Okay! Enough with the preparations. Lets leave for the trip.
I took a longer route to Udaipur this time which was about 420 kms long.Took first break at Sarvottam hotel just before Halol.
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| Small village road from Halol to Devgadh Baria |
Passing through Halol, I reached Deogarh Baria by 9:00 am. There I skipped Sev Ussal for a "healthier" muesli in a glass of milk both of which I carried. Lately I have become conscious of my health as the company has started health campaign and put us on diet. I was so serious about loosing weight that I followed the diet schedule rigorously for 4 days, then a little less rigorously for another 3 days. There was a quite a bit of relaxation in the diet plan in second week, stopped exercising in the third week and ate heartily in the last week. In that month I lost 2 kg which inspired me to take up the diet plan seriously again. I will do that some day.
Well, coming back to the trip. From where I was standing and having my breakfast, I observed that all the vehicles which would pass from the that road, at a point, blew horn once or twice, the reason for which I did not understand since the road was clear. It was only when I crossed that "point" I found that there was a temple of Hanumanji. Some people follow this custom of blowing horn when crossing temples, sacred rivers etc thus worshiping and showing respect to God or whatever entity they believe in.
After passing through twisting and turning road and a highway which was under construction, I reached Dahod. Deciding to have a brunch I entered a Dahod market area and asked where would I get "Sev Usal" (I am still health conscious but hunger is far more powerful than consciousness, I think) but to my disappointment I came to know that sev usal is not a common breakfast there in Dahod. So I had to settle for dabeli near Dahod Polytechnic. I would have also ate the poha at the next stall, but I decided to have Daal baati in Udaipur.
Bad road
I missed a turn somewhere and had to do do 15 kms extra to reach Bagidora. From there I passed Naugawana and Garhi. Let me express my anguish over the condition of road. The road between Bagidora and Garhi was in a very bad shape. The government must have forgotten that such a road exists and let it to decay over time. I could not go above 40 kmph on that road. That stretch brought my average speed considerably down. As I left Garhi I hit wider two lane road. As if I was starved for a nice road and a decent speed, I rode my bullet like crazy for few kms, occasionally touching 90 kmph but then it struck my mind that it is better to be late than never and I reduced my speed. As I was already late by few hours, I had to let go the pleasure of having daal baati and had lunch in Salumbar. There I mistook daal for vegetable curry and at a point I said, "I do not want daal with rice, give me this vegetable curry instead" The waiter and myself both had quite an amusing moment.
Udaipur
Had a cup of tea just before Jaisamand. A guy at the tea stall came inquiring after my bullet, clearly fascinated by it. We had a nice little chat. Soon after Jaisamand, the road started turning and twisting up to Udaipur. As I was negotiating those turns in the ghat like road through the jungle, my tank hit reserve! I was taken off-guard. As a thumb rule I always try to fill up before my tank hits reserve. The distance left was only 25 kms to Udaipur but still I had a little doubt, but kept the optimism. Found a petrol pump after about 20 kms where I filled up a little and rest of it in Udaipur. I reached Udaipur and checked in the first hotel I inquired. It was a decent hotel (Hotel Naman), charged me Rs 300 per night.
After getting freshened up, I went into the city. Visited Hathipole, Bapu bazar and also some other places whose name I did not care to remember. After doing some shopping and riding around the perimeter of Fatehsagar lake on my bullet, I went to Santosh daal-baati near Suraj pole for dinner. First I was eating with spoon, but after seeing some locals there eating with hand, I too followed the same. Quite satisfying!
Nathdwara
Next morning I left at 0640 hrs for Nathdwara. There is parking problem for two wheelers - no dedicated parking space. After having darshan, I had the local breakfast. It was a humble poha, fafda and khaman all in one plate, garnished with chilli and onion. I had two plates. Then I left for Haldighati. I visited a limestone quarry en route.
Well, coming back to the trip. From where I was standing and having my breakfast, I observed that all the vehicles which would pass from the that road, at a point, blew horn once or twice, the reason for which I did not understand since the road was clear. It was only when I crossed that "point" I found that there was a temple of Hanumanji. Some people follow this custom of blowing horn when crossing temples, sacred rivers etc thus worshiping and showing respect to God or whatever entity they believe in.
After passing through twisting and turning road and a highway which was under construction, I reached Dahod. Deciding to have a brunch I entered a Dahod market area and asked where would I get "Sev Usal" (I am still health conscious but hunger is far more powerful than consciousness, I think) but to my disappointment I came to know that sev usal is not a common breakfast there in Dahod. So I had to settle for dabeli near Dahod Polytechnic. I would have also ate the poha at the next stall, but I decided to have Daal baati in Udaipur.
Bad road
I missed a turn somewhere and had to do do 15 kms extra to reach Bagidora. From there I passed Naugawana and Garhi. Let me express my anguish over the condition of road. The road between Bagidora and Garhi was in a very bad shape. The government must have forgotten that such a road exists and let it to decay over time. I could not go above 40 kmph on that road. That stretch brought my average speed considerably down. As I left Garhi I hit wider two lane road. As if I was starved for a nice road and a decent speed, I rode my bullet like crazy for few kms, occasionally touching 90 kmph but then it struck my mind that it is better to be late than never and I reduced my speed. As I was already late by few hours, I had to let go the pleasure of having daal baati and had lunch in Salumbar. There I mistook daal for vegetable curry and at a point I said, "I do not want daal with rice, give me this vegetable curry instead" The waiter and myself both had quite an amusing moment.
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| Resting.... |
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| Just a road |
Udaipur
Had a cup of tea just before Jaisamand. A guy at the tea stall came inquiring after my bullet, clearly fascinated by it. We had a nice little chat. Soon after Jaisamand, the road started turning and twisting up to Udaipur. As I was negotiating those turns in the ghat like road through the jungle, my tank hit reserve! I was taken off-guard. As a thumb rule I always try to fill up before my tank hits reserve. The distance left was only 25 kms to Udaipur but still I had a little doubt, but kept the optimism. Found a petrol pump after about 20 kms where I filled up a little and rest of it in Udaipur. I reached Udaipur and checked in the first hotel I inquired. It was a decent hotel (Hotel Naman), charged me Rs 300 per night.
After getting freshened up, I went into the city. Visited Hathipole, Bapu bazar and also some other places whose name I did not care to remember. After doing some shopping and riding around the perimeter of Fatehsagar lake on my bullet, I went to Santosh daal-baati near Suraj pole for dinner. First I was eating with spoon, but after seeing some locals there eating with hand, I too followed the same. Quite satisfying!
Nathdwara
Next morning I left at 0640 hrs for Nathdwara. There is parking problem for two wheelers - no dedicated parking space. After having darshan, I had the local breakfast. It was a humble poha, fafda and khaman all in one plate, garnished with chilli and onion. I had two plates. Then I left for Haldighati. I visited a limestone quarry en route.
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| On road to Nathdwara |
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| Me on that road |
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| Local breakfast in Nathdwara |
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| Limestone quarry. Why did they left that portion in middle? |
Reached Haldighati and took the left turn at a crossing. Passed throught the famous "darra" i.e. pass from where the brave army of Mewar led by Maharana Pratap marched towards the Haldighati battle field. Visited the smarak dedicated to Maharana Pratap on top of a hill. Took my bullet all the way up there, with ease. Visited Chetak Samrak and the Haldighati museum dedicated to Mahrana Pratap. They had a small movie show in the museum and some light and sound show. There I came to know that the place where battle took place is now called Rakht Talai (literally "lake of blood" which was formed during the battle) which was on the right side of the crossing where I took left earlier. Since I was so close there and did not want to miss witnessing the historical place where the great battle took place, I came all the way back to the crossing and then went to Rakht Talai. Again came back via the same route. If you are coming from Udaipur, first visit Rakht Talai and then all other places in Haldighati. I bought some rose water made from Chaittri Gulab (i.e Rose which grows only in month of March in Haldighati).
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| The famous Haldighati "Darra"... |
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| ...and my bullet in the darra. |
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| Smarak |
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| View from smarak |
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| Haldighati museum |
Then I left for Kumbhalgarh. Some stretches of the road was scaringly deserted. As I was passing a village named Odha, I saw a small girl "plucking" ber (Ziziphus mauritiana as it is scientifcally named. I never understood why to have such long names. Don't we already know everything by some simple name?) from the tree using stones. I stopped there for some bers. The girl ran away and a boy named Surendar, a 7th standard student, came for my help. We "plucked" the bers by throwing stones and sticks. Some of the fruits were still sour but nevertheless enjoyable. After collecting a decent amount of bers and filling it in my pocket and filling my water bottle from a nearby hand pump, I continued for Kumbhalgarh, enjoying the bers on the way.
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| Surendar and the ber tree |
Since I left Haldighati for Kumbhalgarh, I rode on hilly roads going up and down, twisting and taking tight bends. The road passes through many hills, with a scenic view around you as you pass. So I reached Kumbhalgarh, already running late on schedule. The entrance to the fort is giant and the fort itself massive. Who would think of attacking this fort situated amid hills with no approachable roads? I can only imagine how they did it back then. From top of the fort you can see the wide expanse of Aravalli hills range. All around I could see nothing except the hills spread in vastness. Just to exaggerate, from where I stood, I could not make out a single human settlement as far as I could see. How would it look in night? While taking in the wide expanse around the fort, I thought, how would the guys at that time would scout for a location for building a fort? Someone would go up a hill from where he could see the maximum area and say, "Ok, I can see miles of land from here so probably its the best place to put up a watch tower. Lets build a fort here" or, "I am the king, I will build a fort anywhere I like. How about on top of that hill?" Only God knows, or historians for that matter, how they chose and built a fort
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| The mahal of the fort |
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| Entrance to the fort |
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| View from top of the fort |
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| View from top of fort |
After freshening up, went to roam Mt Abu. But as it was already 0945 pm, I decide just to eat something and come back for much needed rest. Next morning I took a nice hot bath and left for Vadodara. As I was ascending down the hill, I stopped the engine and continued down assisted by gravity to check how long it will take to reach at the bottom. I did only 8 kms in about 15 minutes so I kicked the bullet to life and continued down at a much faster pace. One at the base of Mt Abu, rightly called, Taleheti, I had some local breakfast. It was some pakoras in kadhi garnished with tamarind sauce, eaten with bread, cost Rs 20 per plate.
Then I continued on my journey to Vadodara. In Palanpur, I had a cup of tea and the famous Viral pan (about which I came to know from a pan stall advertising it). So this Viral pan turned out to be a sweet pan and it got its name from the pan stall named Viral whose pan became famous all over Palanpur due to its taste and quality. Chewing on that pan and a spare pan in my pocket, I continued my journey. The spare pan was for AmitL, but as I found at a rest stop, liquid has started to ooze out of it and the pan has started to turn black, so I ate it. After 3 days of riding, I hardly had pain in the bottom. The broad seat of bullet is very comfortable. Allow me to put it like this "Bullet's seat is no pain in the ass, literally!" Had a late lunch of Sev usal at Sahkar hotel just 25 kms before Vadodara. The sev usal was different from what we normally get in Vadodadra. The gravy was very thick and had a richer taste to it. I reached Vadodara at about 1600 hrs after doing 1100 kms in three days.
As for the experience of riding on the bullet, words won't do justice to it, you have to actually ride it. Sheer Bliss!
Route I took
2 comments:
Good one mate !!!
hope you enjoyed the kadhi as usual !!!
Please let me know the total km of ride it took.
abt 1100 km.
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