Lahu muh lag gaya!!!

What happened was something I was already afraid of. Addiction. Addicted to the road. Hooked by the pull of endless roads, innumerable possibilities, countless sights to capture in my eyes, and unlimited number of journeys I can take before I can’t move my limbs anymore. And that is exactly what happened. Addiction refueled.

Lahu muh lag gaya.

 

I watched Imtiaz Ali’s “Highway” the night before I embarked on this solo bike trip. Not that I required any motivation; I was already brimming with excitement.

But it seemed appropriate to watch the movie before starting the ride. Good movie, by the way.

1 March 2014, Saturday.
I started early morning, and after about 7 hours of awesome NH8, average GJ SH 9 and leisurely stoppages in between, I reached the destination of this particular journey.

I already knew better than to compare the hill stations of western India with those in the north. Nonetheless, the curvy, hilly route ensured I didn’t get tired of the ride.

Saputara, Dangs District, Gujarat-Maharashtra border. The starting point of Western Ghats.

This small hilly town in Gujarat has a beautiful lake as its focal point, with gardens, resorts and a road surrounding it. I spent the afternoon and the evening spilt between taking a nap in my hotel room and watching the sunset from a solitary hill-top. It was pure me-time: could see miles and miles of sprawling fields, low hills, ponds, villages, and roads of Maharashtra from this hill. Saw the sun going down.

The night was something out of a romantic novel – cool breeze, shadows of the small hills surrounding the lake, and colorful lights from the hotels being reflected in the water.

As if this wasn’t enough, there was a ghazal-night in one of the resorts. The overall effect was what everyone seeks in a vacation/honeymoon spot – peaceful, fresh, melodious, and hypnotic.

2 March 2014, Sunday.

The next morning’s ride back to home was a mix of rugged hillocks and lush green plantations of Strawberries and Grapes. Small towns, smaller villages in the true sense of rural India – mud houses, thatched roofs, bullock-carts.

I also saw something which was perhaps the biggest ‘tomato’ wholesale market in entire Maharashtra – the size of at least 2 football fields! Just tons and tons of tomatoes!

The NH3 from Nashik to Thane was a sight to behold – especially the curvy one-way crossing the Kasara Ghats. I think it was comparable to many roads seen in Hollywood road movies and music videos.

5 hours later, as I neared my current home in Kasarwadavali, Thane, I started thinking of what destination should I choose for the next trip. But then I remembered, what does it matter where I go. Just need to pick a ‘highway’ and put my black beauty into gear. Untill next time!

Find the pictures of the journey here: "Random Clicks - Main Nikla, Gaddi Leke" 

Road Details:

From Thane Via Vapi, Valsad, Chikli, Vansda National Park, to Saputara. Distance: 320 Kms.
Road from Virar till Chikhli is NH8 (Delhi-Mumbai), which is 6-lane awesome highway with some ghats on the way. Chikhli to Saputara is about 100 kms, with the second half of the way being the serpentine approach-road to the hill station.

From Saputara, Via Vani, Nashik, Kasara, to Thane. Distance 240 Kms.

Road from Saputara till Nashik (around 75 kms) is not completely pothole-free, but the hilly terrain makes up for it.
Then from Nashik to Thane is again an awesome highway (NH3, Mumbai-Agra, Mumbai-Nashik highway).
The roads become pretty bad once you reach the outskirts of Mumbai, the last 10-15 kms on both NH3 and NH8.

P.S: Someone told me recently, "You are a loner by choice". I think I would take it as a compliment; after all, most important journeys of life, including life itself, are actually travelled alone.