mansuryayas

2 Days to go for D-Day and thing start to turn ugly in terms of scheduling and time clashes. Seemed impossible to get things in place. Checked up with Sudeep and Ashik and it seemed as though things were not going to be smooth with them either. Siddharth too had pulled out due to a busy schedule which left Sunny, Maitray and Tejas. Maitray even though exams on his heads still was very determined to take on the odds and go ahead with the trip, he found an accomplice in Sunny who too in the same boat as Maitray was willing to freshen up before the papers.
Tejas still new to the biking scene was eager to get out on his new Baby and new bike on the block the R15 V2.0. Got a call from Tejas asking about the trip status and I referred him to Sunny and the 2 of them left on Saturday 24th enroute Patan where Maitray was waiting for them to guide them around the beautiful city of Patan. Their destination Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh the original destinations of the trip were still some way away but they had aready started posting pics on Facebook.

The biking urge took over and the 3 of us (Ashik, Sudeep and myself) we were left with no option but to listen to the CALL OF THE UNKOWN which was somehow pulling.

Christmas eve and we decide that enough is enough we have to hit the roads and burn some rubber. 25th Morning 7:00 was decided as the meeting time. Ashik was to come directly from his office, Sudeep was to dodge the Ahmedabad Marathon road blocks and get to Chiloda Circle where we were to meet. We all reached there around around 7:15. We had omlets and bread in breakfast and some much needed Hot Coffee and Tea. The morning chill was already showing signs as we were all having numb fingers.

8:00 Christmas morning we hit the roads enroute Ranakpur with absolutely no idea which road to take and how far we really were as Google Maps and Ovi Maps were giving conflicting reports and routes, we anyhow decided to move on towards Himmatnagar and then to Idar later taking the road towards Ambaji and hoping to find the right road which would lead us to NH76 which we were sure, or atleast I was, would eventually lead us to Ranakpur where the lead group of three were and our destination for the night.
We somehow crossed Idar and were some 25-30 KM from Ambaji when we decided to take a very narrow road which would lead us into Rajasthan and take us somewhere around Kotra but we ended up being short on my Initial target and ended up being nearer to Pindwara. This is where the uncertainty of the route to take started to create a conflict amongst the group as the Leading group had taken the route via Bali (as per Google Maps) where as I was content to take the route Via Kotra (NH76). What made matters worse was that Sudeep started to Rip like crazy as soon as we hit NH76, I having lead till now was expecting him to stay in formation and ride as per group riding ethics but that was not to be. He himself was not sure which route he was going to take. He was adamant on following the Lead group and taking the Google Maps road but was headed in the wrong direction and directly towards Kotra. His phone was unable to get a Satellite lock and we all got confused, I tried to correct his path but ended up taking a wrong turn and that proved to be last nail in the coffin, I was not willing to get into any conflicts and tried my best to avoid a fight, in doing so told him to follow me if he was willing to take the route shown by OVI and ripped off towards Kotra, looked back after a while to see no one in sight, taking that as a sign of their (Sudeep & Ashik) reluctance to follow me I headed straight to Kotra and waited at the Ranakpur exit for around 20 minutes in the hope that they would turn up but no one came, took out my Mobile to contact Sudeep or Ashik but to my horror my Phone had died on me and there was no power at the Dhaba I had stopped. I was now on my own with no means of communications and no knowledge as to where the rest of the touring part were, had no idea as to where Sunny and lead group had booked our rooms. This is when the Sixth sense kicked in. Thinking it would be futile to wait further I ripped up towards Ranakpur which was another 60 Odd Km from Saera where there is a Split, I took the road going via Ranakpur Dam taking the mountain twisties which were just awesome, stopped again at a Valley view point which had a beautiful waterfall alas in the wrong direct as I was literally standing right over it. Could not see a thing. Yet waited for some 10-15 minutes in the hope that the trailing 2 would catch up but that did not happen. With no means of communication and not knowing where to stay I headed towards Ranakpur, stopped again at a roadside Restaurant to charge my mobile, who again was helpless as there was no power, with no hope left I took my chances and headed towards Sadri in the hope to catch up, and to everyone’s surprise caught up with Sunny, Maitray and Tejas who were basking in the sun.

After some rest and unwinding asked Sunny to contact Sudeep and inform him that I had reached the destination. Was informed that they were some 25-30 Km away and so decided to take lunch as I was totally exhausted. With no one else willing to have lunch I went ahead and ordered some Razma – Chawal and Tikkad which was great. Had a stomach full and in the meantime Ashik and Sudeep roared in.
The rest of the 5 took lunch after the customary hugs and wishes. Sunny informed me that there as a good Mandir nearby. There was a trekking trail to a second mandir some 2 odd KM up in the mountains, I loved the idea of it but was a bit skeptical as it was getting late, but any how decided to head towards the mandir for darshan and the trek. We reached there around 5:30 with just 20-30 minutes left for sundown. We headed straight towards the trek and it was just awesome. The trek was pretty steep for my own liking but took rest where ever the body needed it. Somehow managed to reach the peak and to the doorsteps of the mandir, it was almost 7 by this time and the Aarti had started. Sat there taking in the cool air and refreshing my body and soul and also readying the body of the climb down. Ashik, Maitray and Tejas had been leading me and had reached the mandir in time for the Aarti and were the only one’s to have actually made it all the way up. Waited for them as it had already become pitch dark with the fear of wild animals. They were back in 15-20 minutes just enough time for me to catch my breath. On the way down it was Maitray and Tejas bhai leading with their Mobile cum Torch lights proving to be more than handy.

We descended in no time and with a near moonless night it was time for some long exposure night shots, though no one other than Sudeep able to capture some respectable shots.

Time to head back to the Hotel but not before some really heavy Dinner at Nagmani Restaurant, though the food was just OK but the fun we had was just great. We were the only guys having a blast and partying in an otherwise dull place.

After the dinner Sunny, Maitray and myself needed to fuel up but could not find a pump in the near by vicinity so ended up driving almost 10-12 Km away. Returned back to the rooms to get some much needed rest, next day we were to head towards Kumbhalgarh.

26th December and time to head towards Kumbhalgarh but not before some really lovely breakfast of Aaloo Parothas and Pauwa Bataka, everyone had a full breakfast before we headed towards Ranakpur Dam which was an awesome sight. The deep blue water surrounded by mountains and the Sun rising slowly, the cameras came out and the memory cards started to feel smaller. 30 Minutes is about what we spent there and then headed towards Kumbhalgarh taking the Desuri route. Initially the road seemed hopeless but once we crossed Desuri and got into the mountains the roads started to smoothen out and the twisties began, it was just great, saw a really ingenious Scooter design had to stop to take a few snaps of the chap riding it, it half scooter – half push-cart but it was fabricated with immaculate passion and again the cams came out.

Reached Kumbhalgarh by around 12 noon, we were very reluctant to get into the fort as it was very huge and intimidating, we were running out of time though. Curiosity kills the Cat as they say and it got the better of us but believe me none of us are going to regret the decision, the place is just so beautiful and magnificent that we were all awestruck, you need to see the place to believe it. Cameras clicking every possible angle every possible thing the we could lay our eyes on. 14:00 and we were way beyond our permissible limits as we all wanted to get back before sunset but those plans seemed to have been shattered. We all got geared up and headed towards Udaipur as with Sudeep and Sunny destined for Udaipur where as the rest to take the Gogunda – Nathdwara route back to NH76 and head towards Abu-Road and eventually towards Ahmedabad, with Maitray supposed to say his goodbyes somewhere after Siddhpur.

Sudeep and Sunny taking the lead with the rest of us following in their footsteps, we were the slower moving group and we had no plans to rip instead we drove nice and slowly taking full advantage of the roads and enjoying the trip, we were nearing the Nathdwara bypass when to our surprise we so Sunny and that too all alone, it seemed as though he was trailing Sudeep and got left behind, we followed him till we arrived at our exit point.
We went our ways and he continued on his. Maitray taking the lead and I sweeping we continued on our way, the road was scenic and we loved every bit of it. Reached Gogunda and in no time we were on NH76 again and Maitray signaled to the rest of us to open our throttles and rip the shits out of our bikes and that is exactly what Maitray and Ashik did.
Took us some no time to get to Pindwara with Tejas and myself enjoying our ride and not missing out on a great scenic lake on the way. Found a good restaurant, ordered food and enjoyed the rest, we were all ready to head back HOME. Geared up and headed towards Ahmedabad, crossed the border around 19:00, I was stopped twice at the check posts mainly coz I had saddle bags, but had no issues rejoining with the group later on.

One of the funniest incidents happed when we stopped near Palanpur for refueling and air pressure check up, a group of locals gathered around to admire the bikes, specially the 2 Red beauties and more so the R15 V2 of Tejas. One of the guys started enquiring a lot about the bike and then he brought out his own R15 V1 also a Red colored one. He was comparing the bikes and pointing out the differences, that is when his COLORIYA instincts (Poser instincts) got the better of him, he revved the bike and try to rip off and then a Bang and he on the floor with the bike on top of him, we guys just could not stop laughing, it was just so hilarious.

We said our goodbyes to Maitray somewhere after Siddhpur and then Tejas left us around Adalaj. I dropped off Ashik at ONGC and then reached home Sharp at 22:00.

sunilg

The UnCancellable Travelogue approved .

Hope you also have UnCancellable plans to post some pictures too.

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sunnypanchal

Wonderful write up ayaz bhai

mansuryayas

Thanks for the quick approval, the photos are being uploaded and will be up here in a day or 2

tejas1901

What an exhaustive brief, awesome!

mansuryayas

Sudeep taking pics



My Steed



Macro - Flower



My Steed



Sudeep & Ashik taking pics










A river we were riding along



Still fresh after 400 Km of almost non stop riding





The gears




The steed taking some much needed rest










Ashik's CBR (Sheebeer)




xBHP sticker




My Lid





My Lid



The Birdie





Lunch on Day 1



Maitray offering Tikkads



The Steeds lines up

rutvij_3400

great write up and the pics are amazing..

mansuryayas

POS

One more trip that i miss... well not the end but it's just start... ride with you friends soon...

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maitrey220

one of the most awsmmm trip......went threw almost all the road conditions....offroading,twisties,highways
wanna ride more.......