CHENNAI: Sun in your eyes and wind on your face; a song in the heart and each day a new place! Travel has so many exciting things to offer, leaving you with indelible memories for a lifetime. After 13 years of running a designer-wear store, Kalakruti, Sunitha Dugar decided that she needed a break from 12-hour days. Best friends were looped in, maps were laid out and a road trip was planned — not just any road trip but a cross-country journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari by car.
“We planned for a month, took preparatory road trips to get highway experience and finally flagged off from Kanyakumari,” says Sunitha.
The fascination with driving from the southern to northern tip of India seems to be catching on in the city of late. Some wish to spread awareness for a cause, some take it as a self-challenge while others do it for the plain love for travel. Though a majority of the journey is spent on the highways, it gives you a fleeting glimpse of India’s rich geographic and cultural diversity. “In Tuticorin, we saw huge windmills — it was surreal. From Siori to Jhansi, there was a four-lane traffic-free highway where we could cruise at a speed of 120 kmph,” Sunitha squeals with delight.
Driving through the Himalayas was a whole other adventure in itself for these women. “There had been an avalanche the night before which caused a huge traffic jam. Fortunately, a kind man who was very surprised to see a Tamil Nadu registration car all the way up the Himalayas helped us get through the roadblocks — it was a grand entry into Srinagar!”
While Sunitha and her friends chose the car as their ride of choice for the journey, Sundar Ganesan and his three friends chose the quintessential macho way. “The choice of Royal Enfield was obvious as we’re from Tamil Nadu and Punjab, states home to Bullet fanatics. The feeling of sub-zero degree wind on your face was so worth it,” says Sundar.
Though biking is indeed more adventurous, it comes with its own disadvantages — like bigger vehicles bullying you on the road. “A truck driver in Nagpur made an unexpected swerve and Sachin fell off into a six feet ditch, fortunately escaping unhurt. The funny part was the driver appeared to be cool the whole time choicest Punjabi abuses were being hurled at him. That’s when we noticed TN number plates on his vehicle!” he laughs.
Amar and Sai, two architecture graduates from the city, decided to challenge themselves further in this 3,800-odd km journey by cycling their way to the North. “The usual route is along the Eastern Ghats of India, but since we wanted to explore the states along the West, we decided to check out the steeper Western Ghats,” says Amar, who has always dreamt of cycling around the world.
Pedalling over 100 km a day, they say that the journey was hardly tiring. “We’d wake up early despite the cramped muscles, freshen up, eat a large breakfast, and then pedal for 5-6 hours. Lunch would usually include conversing with people followed by an afternoon siesta, after which we’d start pedalling again. We would pitch tents anywhere possible —near dhabas, petrol bunks or temples/churches. Each day was a new experience!” shares Sai.
However, everything is not hunky dory about such adventurous trips; they are only complete with moments that will challenge your sanity. For Sunita and gang, the last thing they needed was to be stranded on a highway, but fate had other plans. “On the way back to Pathankot, the car stopped mid-way, and we had to manually steer our way downhill for a while before we could stop and restart again!” recalls Sunita.
Despite being well-prepared, Amar and Sai had to deal with numerous tyre punctures and riding uphill was yet another challenge. “The journey taught me a great deal — to endure pain, to be patient and strong. The harder you pedal up a hill, the sweeter will be the ride downhill. This applies to life too,” quips Sai.
Whether you love the idea of the wind in your hair or would rather prefer a safer commute, be prepared for a life-altering experience.