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 an 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 split 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 all of 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. Until 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.
The road from Virar till Chikhli is NH8 (Delhi-Mumbai), which is a 6-lane awesome highway with some ghats on the way. Chikhli to Saputara is about 100 km, 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.

The road from Saputara till Nashik (around 75 km) 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 km 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, the most important journeys of life, including life itself, are actually traveled alone.