Photo Travelogue :
Read first part - Here
1ST TRIP
After a peaceful night's sleep, I got up early morning and freshned up. In day light I saw where exactly I was parked - outside someone's compound ( not far from the toll plaza ). I got back on the road and started driving. I had breakfast at a dhaba just before I reached Lucknow outskirts. It was a small dhaba and the owner also had tea with me.It was nice and cozy. Everyone were gathered around a little bon-fire ( by the road-side ) warming themselves, I joined in and got chatting with them. I bought some more water from them ( I already had plenty in the car ). At about 9am or so I reached Lucknow. There's a point after crossing three flyovers, one has to take left towards Kanpur, before reaching Lucknow assembly. I misjudged and went straight ahead. The highway goes right through Lucknow city so to again return was bit of a challenge in heavy traffic. I asked several people and finally headed back to the junction I previously skipped by mistake. Once I was on the right road, I sped on the highway. Most of UP roads are coloured red. There is another point where once the road ends one has to take left. It was older part of Lucknow city. I drove on towards Kanpur. At some point I halted for a break and the cycle of drive and breaks continued. I had lunch before I reached Jhansi at a dhaba again and chilled out a bit.
entering lucknonw city...
lunch at dhaba near jhansi...
after breezing through kanpur, orai relaxiing in midst of paddy fields...jhansi ab dur nahi...
Rani of Jhansi...
By 4.30pm I had reached Jhansi city. I clicked picture of the famous Rani of Jhansi statue...and hurried, because, Shivpuri was another 100kms away and I had to reach before dark. I passed through the border town of Sikandara where an MP police stopped me. He was like 'roof carriers are not allowed in MP', and, I was like, 'where I come from and where I am going roof carriers are allowed, so, let me go'. ( Incidently, roof carriers are not allowed in WB/MP and few other states ). Anyways, he let me through. On entering MP, the landscape had changed drastically. It was a dry rural type area I was passing through. The road to Shivpuri was bit scary as well, as slowly thick shrubby forests started appearing on either sides of the road and signs of habitation dissappeared completely. And it had started to get dark too adding to my discomfort. As I drove in the dark, I was scared of dacoits popping out of the bushes. I also took straight route that went to Kota. ( I had to take a left turn that went Indore instead ). I halted in a toll plaza for the night at around 8pm. It was a peaceful night and I realized my folly the next morning. Of all states it was the coldest in MP.
2ND TRIP
On day 5th of my 2nd trip, I had already reached Maharashtra by evening. Early morning I drove from MP, and by evening I was inside Maharashtra. Late evening around 11pm, I reached Nashik. I thought of halting, but decided to drive anyways. I halted little while in a small toll plaza after Igatpuri. Around 2.30 am or so, I crossed the Kasara Ghats. Its a haunted place, so, crossing at that time was quite spooky, but there were other cars/trucks, so, wasn't as terrified. The terrain becomes dark with those high cliffs on each sides, without any street lights. After crossing the Kasara Ghats, I halted for some time again before driving the under-repairs highway ( 'twas bumpy ). I reached home early morning.
3RD TRIP
Early morning I started driving from Sendhwa and reached Kasara ghats by late evening. I intentionally halted near Vasindh, so that I could wait till day light; else, I'd have reached at mid-night itself. I saw several people walking bare-foot in long lines and groups, carrying lamps and wearing glowing t-shirts. They'd be walking till Shirdi on foot all the way from Bombay. As faint day light started coming, I drove home and reached, with birds chirpng me a grand welcome.
Address : Nawabganj, Lucknow, Kanpur, Orai, Jhansi, Shivpuri...
Read next part - Here! Stay tuned for all my road, rail, flight, cruise & walk trips.
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