you are going the wrong way!! south is where you should be heading

Planning to do a tour of uttarakhand, and then himachal?

DarthVeda: I will be in some time Will be skipping Himachal as i have been to spiti before.

Day 108 - June 24 - Lucknow to Nainital

June24 at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail: Share GPS Tracks

412 Kms Trip meter 14069KMs

Stayed at Lucknow for a day to get some consultation from doctor. Seems i have an infection and was given some antibiotics. Thats the reason i was so much troubled in Pokhara, where i thought it was a tummy disorder. Any way now that i have learnt the hard way, i decide to start from Lucknow by 5am. To cover as much distance before 10am. So that things will be cooler nearing the mountains. Nainital is the target for the day. Checkout from the room and collect my bike from Ashish's house. Thank you so much Ashish for being a great host, else would have been real tough to find a place with parking in bustling Lucknow. And also for helping me out with the stay. start out in the empty streets of Lucknow by 5.15 am. The same streets would be clogged with traffic in a couple of hours. I am out of the city and its comfortable riding in the early morning. So much contrast to the other day's ride. Still feel a bit week, so pour some GluconD between gulps of water. Helped a bit. By 8.45 had some cake and stuff i carried thinking i would not get any place to eat, but voila, there is fantastic drivin kinda restaurant. Wow! felt like heaven's sent. Had my fill. Guess this road is regularly used to visit Nainital so its commuter friendly and many places to eat on the way.

Its around noon and ofcourse hot but not as much. Plus there is less of wind and no dust. It helps. Try out a lemon and in a few mins i felt refreshed. The heat not so much bothering now. Wish i had known the trick the other day. Reached Haldwani by 1 pm and i get happy to see mountains ahead. And even find a Udupi restaurant. Yep more south Indian food . Get to the hills and its fantastic smooth twisties. I Gyrate my way to Nainital happily as its getting cooler. 30kms to Nainital the bike's Speedo cable konks off! This was frustrating, as i had seen a HH showroom just a couple of hours back and it happens now. This was disturbing as i will not be able to keep track of trip distances! But at the same time not in mood to ride back just for this. Just rode on hoping to find a solution in Nainital. Get there by 3PM and welcomed with a traffic jam. Seem there was some public address and the main circle was clogged with people. What nonsense, whats the point in the blocking the traffic! The mech found that the speedo cable's inner line was broken into three!! This is the second time happening on this bike. I was told i can get space at Bhawali 11 Kms from there. Since i had time decided to ride it out to get the spare. It was nice ride btw on the twisties. Find the shop, but he does not have originals and the cheap ones he got does not work! Frustrated i bought one any way thinking may be the mech at Nainital would fix it.

Get back and the mech fixes the cable in no time!! Ok the meter will roll again, but not sure how long this cheap cable will work. Lost 50 kms on the odo Now to the hard work of finding room in a hilly city with parking for the bike. Find one for like 1000 bux!! Cos its season here! All the trip i was riding off season and suddenly in one day i am in a 'season' place!! Well lot of people from plains comes here to escape from heat. I take it cos they had space for parking the bike. The room was really dingy and its sure that i will get out of here the next day. I get light and go for a stroll in the Mall road. I still feel the weakness while walking. Common i have been eating so much food! Suddenly its euphoric. The temperature very comfy and lot of things to eat by the street. I lost it and gave in for a couple or a couple of couple treats by the street side, hoping my tummy would be kind on me. There were millions of people on the Mall road. Heavy commercialized, hotels aplenty. The lake busy with boat traffic. It was like a big carnival. I get into some carnival mood and try my hand at some baloon shooting. It was nice for a change. Any way my target for the day was to get out of the heat. Feel tired now and head back to the room. Just lie down and its 9.40 by the time i wake up! Most hotels close and i had no energy to walk to the Mall road. Tried at nearby good looking hotel but the food was crap. And i have to now sleep in the smelly dingy room.


An empty street in Lucknow, one of the busiest by day...


Found this relic on the way but not sure what that is...


Empty lucknow streets early in the morning...





First butt break...


And a train goes by...


WOW! Nice food....


WOW! A drive in restaurant... cant believe it!!


Back to riding the scorching roads...


Try low tech hot country remedy. It works like magic!! Feel refreshed for the next couple of hours and heat not much bothering!! With i had a couple the other day...





See mountains ahead at Haldwani...


SET DOSA!! Yummy... it comes in a set of 3, no points for guess where the missing one went


Was so happy to find this South Indian restaurant.... err thats where the dosa came from...


I hit the mountains....


Fantastic roads...


Relieved to be back on the mountains...


lovely isnt it?


Reached Nainital...


At the lake...


Very pretty at that...


Some public adress, main circle is blocked!!


Tempting boat...


Hotels stacked on top of each other...


View from a lil above...








My Junk food Chole being prepared


Walking in the Mall road...


Boating goes on till sun down...


A very pretty looking Hotel Alka...


Right by the street....


Just 10 bux eh? Deceptive cups they are, looks 10 cms tall but have a false bottom at 2 cm which you will notice when you have jay walked a bit finishing a couple and hitting the bottom. LOL.





people who have come escaping the heat...


Its a carnival out here...


Its like 7.45!!


The lake and the lights...

Day 109 - June 25 - Nainital 2 Mukteshwar 2 Almora

June25 at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail: GPS Community

117 KMs Trip meter 14186 KMs

No alarms so i am up by like 9am. I heard knoc on the door and already the room is being show in the next tenant! Now these people will wait patiently till 10 am or when i checkout which every earlier! No mood to pay another 1000 bux so gather myself and place the luggage the reception. Have breakfast at the nearby nice hotel and it was very pleasant there. Just what i needed. I relaxed way too much and was like 12 noon when i got going. Kamlesh had suggested Mukteshwar and Saat taal the previous day. As it has been happening in the trip i get to a place and think now what!! I take the suggestion and thought if i could get to landsdowne the same day but looks difficult.

First head to saat taal. A small pretty road branches after some distance from Bhawali. It was an nice dark green peaceful lake. Commercialized just a bit though. Spend some time there and head towards Mukteshwar. The sky is a bit overcast and looks like it might rain. But i don't mind . The going gets slow. Tough the tarmac is very good, the road is narrow and tight turns. Looks like i will settle in Ranikhet for the day. It takes a lot of time to get to Mukteshwar. All the while climbing on the mountains edge. There is not much of view cos its all hazy and also bit irritating wind which kinda unsettles you when you are looking at road ahead with one edge being a cliff edge. Get to sleepy Mukteshwar by 2.30 pm. No mood to walk up to the temple 200 meters! As i was looking at the map a few locals approach me and tell me about a road going through forest and is a short cut to Ranikhet. Well that's nice cos i was not really in mood to ride back the same way till Bhawoli! The zero point is actually a resort and lot of families come for holidaying. Have my food and get to the forest check post. The guard asks me am i sure i want to take that route? y? is it risky asks me. Its ok is says! What was that? any way i make the entry and get in. The road is not good. But is narrow and is going under the canopy of trees. I like it. Should be 30 kms to main road and some 10 kms in forest i heard. It was nice ride through. It was very pleasant after the forest stretch also. There was some resorts and villages on the way though, not really isolated.

When i get to the main road i see the road going to Ranikhet and other going to Almora. Look into the map and see Binsar near Almora. Call Kamlesh to confirm it and i am going to Almora for the day. Also got enlightened that there are cheeta and lions on the forest Its fantastic twisties till Almora. The tourist rest house the only hope of reasonable room does not have parking. There's one Hotel Deodar nearby and have to ride up on a steep private path to get to the gate. For a moment i thought it was a house. Confirmed by a passerby and get in. There is nice parking for the bike and get a room for 500 bux. The weather is great. I come down at the sitting place where there is a nice view of the mountains. The Owner Mr Girish shah, enthusiastically gives me lot of gyan of the place. Like the hotel is 300 years old and yes its really nice classic stay. Also Swamy Vivekananda stayed here on his visits to this place for lecture! He told me about lot of history of the place, the present levels of education next only to kerala. No crime, lot of IAS and ICs from here. Suggested me for a ride to Jogeshwar and quite a few interesting placed to see. Also made me a map for my way to Badrinath! Thank you so much.

This was right at the entrance to the town. So thought of checking out the town and also getting fuel. The town gets crowded. But can see people comfy. The place pretty clean. And yes there are reasonable hotels inside the town hehe. But the place i am staying is nice and peaceful. Have dinner outside with the pleasant wind. Hope to get going early tomm.


Misty Nainital in the morning...


Nice hotel with taal view. I spent 1.5 hours on breakfast!!


Towards Bhowali...


Colorful fruitstall...


Bhimtaal which i did not go near...


Nice narrow road towards Saat taal...


Saat taal spotted...


Awesome ride under canopy...





The dreamy lake...


Commercialized but not really crowded...


My bike by the lake...


What can i say?


Enroute Muktheshwar...








The sleepy town of Muktheshwar...


Its Zero point, end of the road with a resort...


I am taking the forest route after making an entry at the check post...


Ride into the wild...





I see plenty of monkeys...


I mean plenty!!


they stare at you, but when you point the cam at them, they scamper off...





Stop for coffee here...


The cute daughter of the coffee shop owner. she was embarrassed when i told that she had closed her eyes in the previous pic hehe..... The local man was intentionally framed


The road i thought i would ride...


See the familiar step irrigation plots...


It was a nice day's ride...


Now i had to give some 'chai paani' to this character, so that he will point me to the right direction in the confusing fork!! He put on the glasses when i pulled out the cam, He is not blind btw, there is a stick too and prolly he acts blind to get money???


I was horrified just after this pic. I had kept the cam just on the edge of the road and a car almost rolled over it before i crossed back!!


I see the main road...


The road to Almora...


Spend the evening lazing and staring at the view. Very pleasant weather...





A spin into the town...


Some info...





Almora's old clock tower...


Me having dinner outside looking at the city lights... what luxuary...


This is what i was looking at...

Awesome man! 14000+ kms. Why don't you come down to Hyderabad? It would be great to meet you. After all this, how can you miss the biryani? Hope to see you soon in hyderabad.

Hey Praveen, my parents had just been to Binsar last month. Ok climate(was like Bangalore it seems ) but nothing more to see or enjoy!!! Take care, ride safe....

@praveenkm: yes man !! Consider crossing over hyderabad to reach bangy. Would love to meet you definetely.

Once in a lifetime Journey..

many want to do it.. but very few like Praveen actually do it..

Hats off to U mate..

Have a safe, nice & Enjoying ride back home to namma bengaluru..

PS - we share one thing in common.. U had CBZ & now a ZMA & I have a CBZ Classic & wana have ZMA as my next bike

moeed: Thanks man, but Hyd is a long long detour. Planning to ride down west coast on return. Lets see how it goes...

Aparajit: You are right, there is nothing there. But the ride through the forest was good. Just late to see fall colors in full glory i guess...

Kriss: I would like to meet as well, but Sorry man, it will be a long detour

Thanks Abhilashabhi. I still have the CBZ* with me... errr at home catching Stardust, as nfsnfs says hehe..

Day 110 - June 26 - Almora Jageshwar Binsar Almora!

June26 at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail: GPS Trip Sharing with Google Maps

140 KMs Trip meter 14324

Again got up late. The weakness seems to have reduced. Pretty much clueless, take the suggestion of the Hotel owner to visit Jageshwar and then check out Binsar. Run through the busy streets and out of Almora. Pretty much miss all the small points that he suggested Either cant leave the bike or could not find it. Any way just went along with the plan for the day. Took it pretty slow enjoying the mountain ride. Take the deviation to Jageshwar. Suddenly the pine forests gives way to Deodar forest. It was fantastic to ride between those tall trees. Checkout a temple in the area and get to Jageshwar. Its crowded, so cant leave the bike. I ride ahead a bit, which climbs on a narrow road. The isolation and the nature was great up there. Make my way back till the fork to Whruddha Jageshwar, a must as recommended by the hotel owner. Its a narrow road of 8 KMs and some offroad sessions in between. Bike is tough to handle and hands get shaky. Man my offroad skills have gone down pretty bad i guess. I get to the top. Nothing much enchanting. I was supposed see mountains as far as 200 kms but with overcast sky the nearest mountain is also not visible. Disappointed i make my way back till a restaurant at a junction.

As i have lunch a cab driver gets curious and talks. Suggests to take the road to Sergot if i want to get to Munshiyari. Pretty much tempted but that would be a long detour and in this cloudy season there is not much hope of seeing the mountains i guess. Will leave it for later. Stick to the plan for the day. Head to binsar. Hoped to find accommodation there and thought will head out the other way. Now it rains, and rains hard as well. Get to Almora and take the shorter road to Binsar. Water is rolling down from mountains and i have to do some dirty water crossing. What timing i seem to have hit the switch backs just when the water is making is way on the road and i have to cross the same channel of water on successive switch backs. Each time kinda loose balance and get shaky. Common i cant get that bad. After like 10 kms i have to now make entry into sanctuary area with a fee! I head its pretty crowded up there and room would be difficult. Crowded? i imagined a small nainital like crowd. But it was completely different to my imagination. The road got narrower and narrower, rougher, and when into thick forest! It was a nice ride though, could see late fall colors, where all the leaves are turning to common brown. After 11 kms from the check post i am at the tourist rest house and thats it. There is nothing there! By crowded they meant all the rooms are booked!! Just laughed at the difference of perception. Went ahead till the Daak bunglaw and back to the Tourist rest house, no rooms obviously and even if there were its like 1.5k!! Desided to go back to Almora any way. Cos its already 6pm and cant go any where else.

Called up the hotel owner for a room and he was like "see i told you u will be back :P" The day went pretty much like he predicted as he seems to have roamed uttaranchal by his scooter many times it seems. On the way thought i might as well check the air pressure may be its less and thats y i am feeling troubled. But what do you know, the rear tire pressure is blown to 40 and the front to 38!! They said the air pressure increases on its own if it gets very hot! Never knew that and don't understand why that happens. Obviously with such high pressure traction. Corrected it, and when i ride on the stones washed on to the road now its kinda fine!! will be problem and is giving me scares. Any way reach to the same historic hotel and i am given Delux room for the same price!! Softer beds and a TV. I could definitely do with them I assume munshiyari will give no clear views and will most likely skip it and head towards Auli.


The old Hotel's Room...


Big parking space in a hill town...





On the way to Jageshwar through the pine trees...





Strange stone formations...


Nice ride under the canopy..


In no time i am among Deodar trees...





One of the temples at Jageshwar...


Some gyaan...








Trying my hand at Macro... Flower was like 10 cms wide...


me there...


Now this was less than a centimeter wide!!


Ride a lil ahead of Jageshwar...


Now each of those flowers were just 2 millimeters!!


The main temple at Jageshwar...


I am not the widest of people but the tree was that wide!!


On the return...


One of the temples on way to Whruddh Jageshwar...


The main temple there...


The beautifull bird was jumping around the trees. Lucky to have managed a click...


On way to Binsar....


The narrow road inside Binsar sanctuary...





There was lot of monkey who would run away, and then came this alfa male and sat there like 'what now huh?' I thought it was smarter to move away after a click!


The road gets bad and forest thicker nearing Binsar...


There but there's nothing there!!


Just a Daak Bungalow at the end...


Eikes... Do i see a Leopard, a bear in the list!!


Kinda late fall colors?


Rare species of Mountain cattle spotted!!


Bit out of focus....

Wow!!!!
Kudos to you Praveen.
Thanks a lot for sharing.
Ride safe.

good going praveen.

My mobile ranout of memory in the last page. have to check it in my comp.when i get back home.

Hmm.. just an update. Our hero is safe and sound near Nandprayag. But his laptop gave up. Its not booting, so it might be a while before there is a detailed update. Hang on, I'm sure he will be back soon.

Yes all i can do for some time is small text updates from phone. That is till the phone gives up!

Update! The laptop now boots! Seems it needed a discharge of accumulated electrostatic charge!

Removed the battery, removed the power cord. Pressed boot button 10 times and once for 20 seconds. Put the power cord and voila it boots.

Mobile internet is very useful

Great! Damn, I din't suggest that since your said you had gone past the boot screen once. Its one of the basic things in notebook troubleshooting :P

Now updates should come soon.