saaki

Folks,

We guys just got back from a scintillating journey from Delhi to McLeodGanj [ Dharamshala ] and back bet'n 12th to 14th March.

This is just an initial attempt at the travelogue, as i'm dead tired [ read wrist pain due to R15's posture ] and am in office, will try and complete it asap.

My trip meter says 1100 kms . The following riders made this ride that was hatched from a mere thought and longing at the dhabha last week into a reality.

Ravi bhai - Yellow ZMA
Aseem - Silver Eliminator
Kunjal Singh - Pillion
Abhishek2433 - Silver Eliminator
Bestofrivals - Black ZMA
SunnyRags - Red FZ16
Indian07blood - Black P220
Lovish09 - Black P150
Your's truly - Black R15

We followed this route :

Noida - Delhi- Panipat- Karnal- Ambala- Kirtapur- Ropar- Nangal- Una- Palampur - Kangra- Dharamshala- McleodGanj
Will complete and modify this post, meanwhile all guys who have the pics...please post the links onto this post.

As often heard , there is a prelude to why people take up long trips and tour on a motorcycle .
Some do it to prove a point, some do it to get away from the the mundane stressful lives we lead in our normal day to day selves, some do it to live the life of their biker alter ego's, some others do it to destress them selves and yet others do it just for the heck of it, the travellers / Bikers spirit . I think a lot of us fall into this last category, riding ur motorbike is akin to riding a horse , the feel of wind in ur face, the early morning breeze, as you ride along a Highway and see the eastern sky get a tint of reddish hue and you see the sun as ball of fire travelling across the skies and then finally setting over the horizon , while you the rider still ride on, it gives you an immense sense of satisfaction and achievement , like one of those hundred things you have to do before you die kindda thing.

I guess i've done too much of philosophy crap, Well some of us always wanted to ride to Dharamshala, and seeing Aryan's and B2L's pictures on facebook just made the hunger unstoppable.
So as the usual dhaba chitchat began, this idea eventualy formed a thought which then collectively became a plan.There was a strange determination in all of the riders from the very start, as in not one of those dicey cases, Junta actually wanted to do this trip, more importantly Ravi bhai and Abhishek had been to Mc.LeodGanj not too long back and hence the route was not actually one of our concers. Having a veteran like Ravi bhai who is well versed with these routes was a blessing for us as he rode responsibly and always set an example both of character and morale.

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Aryan

Topic Approved.

Lovely! So, the thread is finally up. Mc.Leod Ganj is a nice place. I had thoroughly liked the place when I went there a couple of weeks back, and I hope the same for each of the participants of this ride too.

Now, am eagerly awaiting the log and the photographs.

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jd666

my family just came back from there... ill ask if they saw some crazy bikers there!!!!

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Abhishek2433

Rarely does it happen that a plan discussed among 12 to 15 people turns into reality. But whenever it does, people involved learn and grow in most of the cases. The G2G on 7th March proved to be one of he same fateful days when a planning for group ride was done and it did turn into reality..... nine xBhpians rode to McLeodganj from New Delhi & Panipat.

A casual discussion about dharamshala,while sipping tea, took serious colors when a ride got proposed.... I joined in and took the last sip from my cup. I've been riding solo all though Jan & Feb, so idea of a group ride was recieved positively by my obsolete brain sensors. Not going in details of conversations and conference calls on following days, we had decent number of confirmed riders by thursday evening which, as per plan, was the night the ride was to start.

Our departure time extended by good two hrs. Its normal in a group ride I guess and punctual people then enjoy waiting in middle of highway for others to come. Our destination wasn't very far and the route is pretty much known to everyone, but for the purpose of writing something which is not boring as my log generally turns out to be, here it goes:

Route from Delhi:

Delhi - Ambala - Ropar - Kiratpur Sahib - Una - Dharamshala - McLeodganj

Route while coming back:

McLeodganj – Mubarikpur – Hoshiarpur – Ropar – Ambala – Delhi


I would not go explaining about our formation ride, breaks for snacks, description of roads, etc. This time it has to be more about the place and its beauty.
This was my first trip to McLeodganj and I was mesmerised by the beauty of this place. It surpasses Shimla, Mussorie, Nainital, etc. in my opinion and is perfect getaway for people who love calm places with very less crowd, me being one of them.

For the unintiated, Mcleodganj, is a suburb of Dharamshala in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Situated on the Dhauladhar Range, it is known as "Little Lhasa" or "Dhasa" (short form of Dharamshala, used mainly by Tibetans") due to its large population of Tibetan refugees.

The most important Buddhist site in the town is Tsuglagkhang or Tsuglag Khang, the Dalai Lama's temple. This temple is an experience in its own where monks (pardon me if the word used is incorrect) can be seen debating about their learnings, meditating while others make their best effort to disturb them. Teachings of Lord Buddha, called Kagyur, in their original form and comments on these by later Indian masters, called Tangyur, are kept in this temple.

Another place worth visit is St. John's Church in Forsythganj, two kms from McLeodganj. It’s a quaint construction amidst dense greenery, very silent and extremely beautiful. Habitual of chaotic noises of Delhi, I found it extremely attractive. I wish places like these don’t get mugged up in galloping leaps of mankind and become a picnic spot.

The thing which catches your attention instantly is the cleanliness of the town. I don’t remember seeing even a strand of waste lying on road or thrown at unappropriate location. I’ve been to many hill stations before but never noticed such things. All have turned into mini metros or are making an attempt in this direction. McLeodganj is a tad different place. It offers everything in original and successfully attempts to give a varied image of hill station.

All in all, this trip has given me immense satisfaction in terms of biking as well as on mental front. Not only did I enjoy riding with fellow bikers, whose company made the trip so cherishable, but also the serenity of the place. McLeodganj has scripted its image permanently in my heart. I’m sure of doing this place again very soon with more time in hand to explore and hike.

I apologise to all riders in the group for I skipped mentioning about our ride in particular, but I expect everyone to chip in with his experience and pics.


Some pics from my side:

Break at Ambala


At McLeodganj



Bikes posing


Bhagsunag


Enroute Gaggal


At Kangra


Words worth thought


Mighty Mountain




Don't know what are they called?


Temple in McLeodganj


St. John's Church


Church through trees


Sidewall of Church


Ready to Leave


Photo Break


Up on the hill


Yours Truly

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LIFE IS SHORT !!! GO HARD

Aryan

Beautiful stuff there Saaki and Abhishek! Loved reading through that brief but very well written log, and enjoyed the photographs too.

@Abhishek: Those "wheels" are known as "prayer wheels".

P.S: My trip to Mc.Leod Ganj has freshened up again, looking through the pictures and the text. Loved it!

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rohitmundra

Good to see a yet another perfectly planned ride. The way the words have been expressed for dharamsala, I can easily imagine the place and the photograph adds more to it.
Although I missed it, but so wanted to be a part of it.

I'm expecting some more pics and writeup(on road journey, time taken, roads, road conditions, etc etc)

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kunjalsingh

@ Rohit Brother for sure you will meet your expectations.

@ Aryan Da For the first time i showed my photography skills infact i am not that much good but i tried...Loveesh got the pics with him he will upload them very soon.

Roads conditions were worst from Una to next 40-50 kms..When we reached Mcleodganj i just said to Ravi bhaiya:-DHaramshala aa kar meri khud ki Dharamshala kharab ho gayi hai..You can understand why i was saying this as i was Pillion...
We started around 3 a.m. and reached mcleodganj around 3.30p.m. Distance covered Via Una was around 500k.m.
Will post up the detailed log soon as my Dharamshala feels good.

Shivanshu

Great man, Saaki and Abhishek beautifully written log and some nice pics there Abhishek. Good to know that you all guys had fun out there, great keep it up where are more pics

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Aryan

@Kunjal: It was good talking to you. I hope we all get to see the photographs soon.

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Bestofrivals

Touring bug was itching me from past 6 months but luck was not in favor for me to do this, as i started planning i lost my job and being unemployed my self conscious doesn't allows me to go for that.After one & half month of interviews i got the job i wanted but then i cant take leave on the new job.I worked hard to take those leaves from office but again things are not in my way,after two moths of my new job my loving Nani ji passed away,this time i can't even think of going somewhere but as nothing stops everything came back to normal.Later i PMed to delhi Xbhpians including Mod to make up some plan for the long ride but i didn't got the healthy response because my first priority was to go with the Xbhpians only. My fellow Xbhpian from Panipat Lovish09 kept on asking me "make a trip please" and again we started contriving to ramble in himalayas, we planned for manali but God wants to take us somewhere else and one sunday i was having my breakfast our fellow Xbhpian and my good friend Aseem called me up and said that we are planning for dharamshala and Mcleodganj in the coming weekend ,what do you say? Without giving a second thought i said "YES" i am in ,immediately i called up Lovish and told him about the ride and said mine is done and you confirm asap .He confirmed me by Thursday and all set.This is how it started.
Travelogue will come soon as i am in office and its time for some work

P.S- This is the first time i am trying to pen down my feelings about a ride so please pardon me in advance for any errs .Suggestions are always welcomed

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