Re: Weekend Rides: Assam & Meghalaya

Travelogue Approved

Keep the updates and motorcycle rolling Waiting for more from gorgeous Meghalaya!

Re: Weekend Rides: Assam & Meghalaya

traveler of sorts, eh! Now, this is something that I've been longing to see. Thanks for sharing, bro.
And keep bringing those fantastic updates.

Mesmerizing captures BTW!

Re: Weekend Rides: Assam & Meghalaya

Nice pictures there...

Keep'em coming.

Re: Weekend Rides: Assam & Meghalaya

Nice pictures.

Re: Weekend Rides: Assam & Meghalaya

Thank you Monk sir for the approval.

Thank you brother!

Thank you.

Thank you.


Trip 1 will be updated today.....

Re: Weekend Rides: Assam & Meghalaya

Trip 1: Visit to Madhab Temple, Hazo and back to Guwahati. Distance covered is 95Kms.

It was new year's eve 2014. I just had bought a riding gloves a day before and wanted to use it. I already had taken off from office and was getting bored throughout the day. I was searching for a nearby place where I can go for a ride and then came the name of Madhab Mandir, Hazo which is 43kms away from Guwahati city. The distance was also perfect for a afternoon ride and coming back in the evening.

I had already heard of the temple from many colleagues in office. I asked my roommate if he'll accompany me and he scolded me that I shouldn't go this far distance..... :O. You must be wondering why he'd do that... well here are the reasons

Just a day back: I had zeroed down my first riding glove and I left my home to buy it from Outdoor Travel Gear outlet. I went to ATM first, withdrew money and started the bike and started moving. A speeding car was coming from behind and wanted to overtake me and during this car's left side mirror hit my handle and whoa... before I could have thought of something I was down.. My first crash! The car kept moving and didn't even stop. Thanks to the almighty that I was riding slowly and nothing happened to me but my bike's silencer got some scratches. I picked up myself, my bike checked everything and went on buying the gloves.


So that explains the reason why my roommate was reluctant of going with me. However, after lot of persuasion he agreed and I was like Yayy..

We left after having lunch at around 1:45pm. As it was cold day and sun was shining full, the ride was an absolute bliss on those open highway and Guwahati bypass road. We kept on riding till Saraighat Bridge. There was jam and it took approximately 15 mins to cross the bridge. After the bridge we stopped at the Y junction and asked the people for directions then started again. The roads were awesome expect few patches.

We reached Hazo by 3 PM. Again we asked for directions to Madhab Temple. It is situated approximately 1.3kms inside from the main road. A small road goes through the village and through small hills. We reached the temple by 3:15 Pm. The place was quite calm and peaceful. Very few people were there. It was totally different of what we have in city. We bought the puja items from the local shop and went inside the temple premises. We offered our prayer to god and then left the place.


Madhab Temple.



We started our backward journey at 4pm. We were in hurry as we wanted to be back by 6pm.


Road between Madhab Temple and Hazo main road.



While coming back we saw mustard farms beside the road. The setting sun, yellow mustard farms and orange blue mixed sky was making the place quite spectacular. We stopped for a quick photo session.


Mustard flowers with sunset



My beloved bike




We started again after the mustard farms. The sun was setting, there was a yellowish light spread over, the golden hour and the countryside road. I rediced my bike's speed and started soaking in everything.


Just before the Y junction where we meet the highway we again saw this amazing view created by sunset.



That was the last photo shoot session we had that day. It was already dark. We started again, and there was a jam again on the bridge. It took us over 20mins to cross it. After that we didn't stop anywhere and reached home by 6:15 pm....

Re: Weekend Rides: Assam & Meghalaya



It is a pleasure to ride on Guwahati-Shillong road.

Re: Weekend Rides: Assam & Meghalaya

Awesome Pics!

Re: Weekend Rides: Assam & Meghalaya

Some nice snaps there!

Re: Weekend Rides: Assam & Meghalaya

Truly sir ji. Those curves and wide road, it's always a bliss.

Thank You!

Thank You!

Re: Weekend Rides: Assam & Meghalaya

Trip 2: an all-weather ride. Ride to Shillong bypass and back on 22^nd Oct 2015. Distance covered is 240kms.


And that's me.



I've titled this trip as an all weather ride and it would be an injustice if I didn't explain why.
When I started from my room at Guwahati, it was all summer like weather and I was seating in my room and still traffic. It was all sunny.

I filled up my ride's tummy at the same gas station where they waited and it was time to fill our's tummy. We stopped near a dhaba for breakfast on Guwahati-Shillong highway. We has parathas, chhole bhature and tea. It was already 11:20am.

We started again, riding on those gorgeous curves and beautifully laid tarmac, cool breeze hitting at our face, a bit of chillness in the wind, sun shining at its brightest; to sum it altogether, it was a heavenly ride. the beast thing about Meghalaya is that you will not feel summer like conditions even in the summer months. Once you cross Byrnihat (20kms from Guwahati), there will be tiny winy bit of chillness in the wind.

We stopped at few places for photo shoot. Our destination was not decided. We were discussing that we will go till Umiam Lake and return. Suddenly Siddhartha told that there is a new Bypass highway which goes towards Shillong airport. Bas phir kya tha, it was finalised. We decided to ride few kilometres on the bypass highway and while on coming back visit Umiam Lake.





These awesome roads.




We crossed Umiam Lake at around 1pm. We didn't took the turn which takes to Shillong and kept going straight. The four lane highway became 2 lane but it's wide enough and condition is top notch. We stopped again for some clicks.


My steed.



People I went with.






Who would not want to spend time sitting on these curves!


Posing for a DP pic! :P



Posing for a DP pic! :P





Me too.


Greenery all way your eyes can see.


Group pic.



We started again and went on for few kilometres and crossed this bridge.



We went above to see this.



After this photography session we started again and went on riding the curves. We stopped near the airport connecting road and this was our last stop on this road that day.


Posers.



Jump.



Road or racetrack!



One more jump. :P



Fly High!




It was already around 2pm when all photo session was over. We were hungry and wanted to have lunch. We started coming back. After few kilometres we stopped at a small dhaba and asked what is available. We ordered chicken and rice for all. Within 10 minutes our lunch was served. There was one dish along with the chicken thali. It was boiled leaves, out of everything is was tastiest of all. They, the dhaba people called it boil. We kept on asking for more boil and the dhaba person kept on serving. Pranab took 4 servings of the boil. We were all full. We paid for the lunch and left for Umiam Lake. It was already 3:20PM.

We reached Umiam lake bridge at 3:40PM. Stopped for a quick photo session and started again. We reached the view point around 4:05PM


At Umiam Lake bridge.



Togetherness!



At Umiam lake view point.



Tired. :P



Umiam Lake.



Welcome to Shillong.



Umiam Lake.



It was around 4:20pm, we went to the boating point of the Umiam lake. It started raining slowly and weather became cold. Boating time was over for the day and sadly we were not allowed to do boating.


Boating Point, Umiam lake.



Done for the day.



All shivering due to cold. Our last pic of that day.




We started our return journey at 5pm. It was raining very slowly. Our speed reduced due to the rain. We crossed Umiam lake and took the turn towards Guwahati at 5:30pm.
We all were shivering due to cold. It was already dark. There was no rain after the Lake till next 10kms but after that the rain started slowly. We didn't stop and neither the rain. We were in the bad patch of the road when it started raining heavily and we took shelter in a roadside shop. Out of everyone only I had the raincoat. We waited for some time the rain slowed down to minimum levels. We decided again to ride. I took off my raincoat and wore the upper one. I didn't wear the lower one, big mistake.

We started again. There was almost nil to slight rain till few more kilometres. We were separated by now and nobody was receiving any calls as all had packed their phones in a plastic bag and put in the bag. After some kilometres it started raining again slowly but this time I was wearing raincoat and I decided not to stop and kept on riding. The rain increased and before I could've stopped I was all drenched on my lower body. There was water on the road. It was raining cats and dogs, I kept on riding. I could not find a single vehicle in my next 15kms journey in the rain. I was a bit scared too and I was feeling too much cold due to rain.

Finally, I reached Nongpoh, the rain almost stopped by now. I kept on riding, crossed Byrnihat at around 7:50pm. I reached home at around 8:30pm. I called Siddhartha for his and others whereabouts. He was already reached his home and others also had entered into the Guwahati City. I was relieved hearing this that all reached their home safely.

Thus the day ended. It was indeed one of the most memorable ride of my life till now. An all weather ride, from warm sunny to cool breeze to rainy and then very cold.

Re: Weekend Rides: Assam & Meghalaya

When you are in Cherrapunji or Meghalaya .... it will surely Rain

Re: Weekend Rides: Assam & Meghalaya

Bhai!!! Next time I will accompany. Lets make a plan on 17th,18th september. I will have my bike by then. Lets plan a group ride & night stay at Shillong/Cherrapunji. What say?

Re: Weekend Rides: Assam & Meghalaya

I'd definitely love to go, however I can't confirm as of now. I'll let you know by 2nd week of Sept. I went Mawsynram this Sunday, all alone. It's always a sudden plan. :P