Great going brother ....
Calling each other by name "Baba" .. that sounded funny ...

reepaneedo: I did talk to a group who did trekking to Hemkundsahib temple. But i saw many groups heading to Badrinath as well. They travel such long distance with out any fuss and boy were they full of energy!

Nio: Guess Ladakh will widen the spectrum of road quality i am exposed to

Sunny: Monkeys are such non posers u see

sam92: nothing like that sam. Just making use of an opportunity

Bhogavan: Yeah it was very interesting conversation though. Jut imagine their patience of walking so long.

when you said srinagar i thought Srinagar in Jammu!!! the other thought was our local srinagara

Day 114 - June 30 - Srinagar to Dehradun

June30 at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail: GPS Trail Maps

Trip 182 Kms Trip meter 15013 KMs

The reasonable budget room i had taken was good in all respects but the fact the the cooler was pumping air from the parthenium infested site next to the hotel building. After a healthy dose of it i decided to make a quick move out of the hotel in the morning, that is after negotiating some water issue. Dehradun was the destination for the day and Dr Raman had invited me to stay over at his place.

It helped me to start early by like 6.30 am. I decided to take the longer, slower, scenic route via chamba and Missouri to Dehradun instead of the main road via rishikesh. And i was not disappointed. Stopped at a pretty resort for breakfast just before deviating from the Devprayag road towards New Tehri. The road was not so smooth the moment i took the deviation. But hey this is what we do right. Lot of road construction preparation materials like stones by side of the road, kinda causing hindrance. The undulating roads wind across the countless mountain folds. I seem to be gaining altitude gradually. Just when i resigned to ride out bad roads for some time, it was new freshly laid tarmac towards New Tehri. Which will bein sections. In no time i am riding among pine forests and smooth black narrow one lane road. By now it feels typical of Uttaranchal roads. I spot a green lake below. I am forced to stop as the fuse to the horn and Charges has loose contact and complaining. Its a big chose to pull out the cramster out of the pannier and remove seat just to shake the fuse a bit! Any way that takes a few minutes and i see more and more of the lake. After some time it kinda looks like the river but the water was really still. Should have realized that i am approaching Tehri dam.


Get there and it was a mind blowing sight. One of the best dams in india is just a landfill dam but supposed to be tough made by Russians. The magnitude of the dam site was mind blowing. Take plenty of stops to take photos in all angles. Kinda looked like a surveyor agent!! Just went berserk with the cam. Have to ride a long way along the valley just to get accross the valley. Though there is a shorter road via the top the dam, it is offlimits to civilians. But atleast photography is allowed till now.

Reached Tehri and went straight to the Bhagirathi puram police station. Dr Raman had arranged for my visit to the view point from he Officer's guest house there. A cop took me on his bike to the view point to get a good view of the entire project area. Gave me lot of gyan of the place etc. Like there are 4 turbines running of 250 MW each and 4 more are under construction and 2 more a lil distance down the flow. Saw the remains of the Tehri palace which will be submerged in a few weeks. In fact a whole town when under water after building the dam and they have been located to New Tehri which is quite high.

I then wanted to check out the New Tehri town after all wanted to see a town which is just 5 years old. Pretty well planned town and located quite high. The approach and departure road at New Tehri is just fantastic. Make it to New Tehri after riding some fantastic approach roads. The new settlement is quite high and literally on top of a hill. stopped for lunch at New Tehri, and the food was really great. I start riding towards chamba and kinda get disappointed to see normal town. Where is the chamba village from the movie 'Taal'? Guess its some other place.

By now the roads either got real narrow or kinda got disturbed due to road widening process. The slows me down. All the while i was gaining altitude and quite some time i was thinking ok cant get any more higher. But the mist around did not allow me to the see mountains much. Nearing Danolti its fresh tarmac. By now Dr Raman was waiting for me to arrive in thier house. But he roads were nto allowing for quick drive. Nearing Danolty the roads were fresh and no guesses for what we do.

By the time i was entering Massouri the roads again got really narrow and gravel strewn all the name of road making process. Any way make it near Missouri to be welcomed by smooth roads and aesthetically adorned roads. After entering Massouri i get a call from Dr Raman that he is coming to Massouri along with his daughter and neice to pick me up. It was a great surprise and i enter the meandering streets fo massouri and wait at the Picture palace. Typical hilly city with inclined narrow roads and also has a mall road. Supposed to pay a fee just to enter. I preferred to wait outside the gate! In a few mins Dr Raman comes on his SX4 and i follow him till the road allowed us the park and meet personally.

It was a nice ride till Dehradun on the great wide mountain roads and was in Dr Raman's home by like 6pm. Just have to nourish my bike before taking off the Ladakh.


Following the Alaknanda River...


Road construction in some time...






Beautiful roads...


Trying to fix the loose contact of the fuse of Horn and charger....


The green lake...





Now it looks like a river me...





The waters is so still that you can see the reflection...





The fantastic views of the Tehri Dam......





like the switchbacks? ...


The water trapped by the Tehri dam...


The magnitude of the dam is huge....





The power pass through these cables once its generated...


The overflow runoff valves walls


The water coming out after powering the turbines ...





My bike there...


The Tehri palace topmost part of Old Tehri is now going under water in the season


The sophisticated dam is basically a landfill!! Great view from the Govt VIP guest house..


The whole town was below the visible dilapidated island...





I am not sure....

Me from the view point...


The cops who arranged for a photo with them...


Whats left of the palace...


Some macros there...





Views climbing upto Tehri...


Fantastic roads...


Inside New Tehri...


The hotel guy had a poster of Old Tehri..


Above from the New Tehri town...


Some great hill view enroute chamba...




Good roads as well...


Me staring at the plains below....


Horses ride any one? this is in Danolty...


Danolty with Deodar trees on a side...


Mist rolling down from the other side...


More mist blocked by the Deodar trees...


Some bad roads...







I agree great roads...


Mirror at blind curves to the see the vehicle on the other side....


Had to ride this narrow street to get to main road by short cut....

Hay Praveen... U r the Greatest rider i hv ever come across... after reading this story m asking few questions to myself....
WHAT THE HELL I AM DOING IN BANGALORE STILL...? AND M I DOING JUSTICE TO MY ZMA...?

I belive you will be completing the ntire INDIA in this TRIP.
Hope to meet you soon... In Bangalore or on your ride back to Bang.

Anyways take care and Ride Safe....

n the greatest rider must be having a really great bank-balance
I wonder what Praveen do for living, Oops I mean "for Riding"
Lucky chap...

@Praveen: Am sure you'll be passing Mumbai in a month or two in your quest to conquer All India plan...
Would love to meet you, will arrange a g2g with Mumbai xbhp'ians. PM me whenevr you'll be reaching. Stay wont be a big problem.

Just one word "FANTAFABULOUS"

Praveen bhai tusi great ho , does'nt u back hurt after so much of riding

Hey Praveen, great man. I was just a Mussourie last year for my vacation. Pretty awesome place. Lot of places for sight-seeing and a great climate too. Make sure u visit Dhanaulti. Are u going to Rishikesh etc?

Tejas: This is the greatest indian rider ALONE AROUND THE WORLD ON MOTORCYCLE and i am not even close. I dont know the answers to your questions as well Sure will catchup once i am in Bangalore.

Spiderweb: Not really great bank balance but i have almost exhausted what i had If things go well should be going through Mumbai. Would be nice to meetup.

shabbarak: It does but it can still take some beating i guess

Aparajith: I passed through Danolty and Mussorie on the way to Dehradun. Dr Raman was kind enough to drive me to Haridwar and Rishikesh today

Hey praveen...amazed to see the coincidence...i was at badrinath at the same day and same time i.e. 3pm....well....could have met if i knew you were there too

ohh man that was close. May be we could have if my plans were fixed but its so volatile that i am not sure myself.

Day 116 - July 2 - Haridwar and Rishikesh

July02 at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail: Travel Community

Dr. Raman was kind enough to drive me along with his Maasiji and kids to Haridwar and Rishikesh. I had missed these places as i had taken the other route to Dehradun going via Mussoorie.

The places were like 50-60 KMs from Dehra dun so we started late morning. Had to negotiate lot of traffic as this highway is a hub of piligrimage traffic. Things eased out a bit after taking a turn towards Haridwar. Had visited haridwar long time back when i was a kid and hardly remember anything from then. So this was an new place all together to me.

Beautiful roads in through forest reserve towards Haridwar...


Some people by the road...


Any one want's a new bike?


Beautiful road with lot of traffic...


A bottleneck in the road. A overbridge is being built...


Are they thanking because we will give 4 Rs more on petrol now?


It was becoming a great drive...





This is not done.. Was looking for Super delux toilet!!


In Haridwar, walking through the crowded streets.


The flash was a bit too much. Kumkum for all....


Walking over a bridge on River Ganga, to the Haridwar town...


Dum maro Dum!!


Place to take holy dip...





A big ceremony going on...


The future is so involving that they hardly noticed me taking their picture!!


The town side of the river Ganga...


There is lot of current in the water...


The chains are for peole whose loose ground and save themselves from getting washed away....


But some experts use them as swings!!


The cows and Bulls in Holy places are all well fed!!


Walking through the narrow market streets of Haridwar. It was hot, humid and also great fun...


Rabadi any one?


Mouth watering Pickles!


Holy chaos....


Lot of devotees...


No comments...


An old couple on piligrimage i guess...


Dr Raman


Me there...


Haridwar's Clock tower...


Going to touch the water of River Ganga...


Maasiji giving daan...


The girls at it...


Getting out some old cloths to give it to the needy...


Huge Shiva statue with a statue of Swami Vivekananda below...


Rajaji National Park...


Entereing Rishikesh...


A Gurudwara in the town...


Narrow streets leading to Lakshman Jhoola, Strangly many shops were closed and the holy place not much crowded.


The Famous Lakshman Jhoola...





Monkey business...


Me there...


Desi speedo boat session happening on River Ganga....


The main Temple at Rishikesh...


Street junk food... Yummy...


Biscuit Bekary wheels!!


On the other side of Lakshman Jhoola...


The river Ganga...


Crossing back....


Pretty much commercialised, there was even a jerman bekary!!


Fantastic roads back towards Dehradun...

awsome bro... so finally you are in planes
what plans before LEH!!!
loved nepal in your perspective and thru your lens...

30+ days log to read to update myself... :O

@praveen : Great going there, it's been non-stop entertainment to me, my family and my friends. My brothers' daily routine before sleeping is brushing his teeth -> 'Destination Unknown' on xbhp --> destination bed !! Wish you safe touring !!

not far from a 150 days trip i guess.
great going praveen.