GUWAHATI TO BOMBAY ( MUMBAI ) - MY EPIC ROAD TRIP VIA MARUTI ALTO AND CAR CAMPING - DAY 7 - SENDHWA ( MP ) TO MUMBAI / BOMBAY ( MH )

Photo Travelogue :
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1ST TRIP

I was at the fag end of my journey. Sendhwa ( after Khalghat ) was the last point in MP before entering Dhule in Maharashtra. In excitement, I started driving early morning and got bit lost in the confusing interstate check-point. By mistake, I went in some truck lane first; then, to get back on the right track I drove the wrong side of road ( with headlights on and cars and trucks coming my way in full speed ) :o Scary haan! It was all good after I finally found my way. After that, I drove for two and half hours before halting near the highway to freshen up. I was so close to Dhule now. As per my calculations I'd reach Bombay by late evening or early morning. It was the 7th day and although, I enjoyed my trip thoroughly, I was bit exhausted too. Very soon..Dhule came and then Malegaon. I was stopped by Maharashtra police who asked me bewildered where I was going with such a loaded car. I told them - 'Bambai jaa rahe hai'. I think they were amused seeing how I had packed my car. It was filled to its brim. I had Assam number plate, so they must've thought I was new in Bombay and had packed all my boriya-bistar and come. ( which I did, heheh :-)

bus thodi si dur aur...phir manzil...


Laling fort near Dhule......







dhaba break......

You know you've entered Maharashtra when you see the beautiful Sahyadris approaching and traversing the various ghat sections. The roads ( although with many twists and turns in the ghats ) are awesome and beautifully decorated with different coloured bougainvilleas ( pink, white, red, orange, yellow, purple, green ) in the mid-section of the entire road. I felt at home once I was in Maharashtra. Near towns however, there were huge speed breakers which nearly broke my back.
The Sahyadris...

intimidating yet welcoming​, the western ghats or sahyadris has many trek points to scale those amazing heights...a delight for thrill seekers, these mountains become 'green' heaven during monsoon...






the grape vine yards of Nashik...

At around 1.30 pm or so I reached Nashik. I had lunch near the town. I called my mother to say I was only three hours from Bombay now. She was happy as well as shocked and couldn't believe it that I could make it after all - she had lots of apprehensions and anxiety regarding the trip.

crossing the beautiful Kasara Ghats...

Once I crossed the kasara ghats...my journey was almost over. I did little time pass and rested. Here, I also shuffled and re-arranged my stuff. They were scattered everywhere. It was peak time around 6.30pm I reached Bombay and met face-to-face it's horrendous traffic. The traffic delayed it a bit...and by 8pm I reached home. Whoa...what a journey it was. I loved every moment of it.




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Address : Dhule, Malegaon, Nashik, Igatpuri, Thane, Mumbai...
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GUWAHATI TO BOMBAY ( MUMBAI ) - MY EPIC ROAD TRIP VIA MARUTI ALTO AND CAR CAMPING - DAY 6 - SHIVPURI ( MP ) TO SENDHWA ( MP )

Photo Travelogue :
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1ST TRIP

It was still dark when I got up. I started driving immediately. After couple of kilometers, something told me I was on the wrong road ( a nagging feeling of doubt at the back of my mind ). Luckily, I found an old man loitering ( my luck ) and he told me that the road went to Kota. I had to turn back in the cold dark foggy night. After reaching the right road i made a mental note to look at the signboards properly henceforth, because, I had gone on wrong routes several times now, geez! Slowly, day light came but the fog grew thicker. I had to follow other trucks all the way till Guna, when it cleared a bit. Another horror happened after there was proper day light, stray catte too had come in their bulk to enjoy the sun in middle of the highways. It was a nightmare driving through groups of cattle who decided to relax in middle of the road. MP has most number of stray cattle let loose on roads. My eyes had to be literally stuck in my windscreen lest I encountered any. The MP roads compared to UP were poor, with lots of craters and potholes, except certain portions. After Biora the roads became better. I had some of the food I carried and had lunch near Shajapur.
toll pe toll, toll pe toll, toll pe toll...rah gaya bas is jeevan mei..toll hi toll, toll hi toll...


bambai mi aali...thamba zara...


enjoying dhaba food as always...it was delicious...

Around 3pm I reached Indore and halted in its outskirts, before driving again. After I crossed Mhow, the dreaded Chambal section began. It is said, in early times dacoits used to pop from the rocky hills around ( the ghats ), stop vehicles and loot the caravans. Would I encounter any? The sun was going down that time and it made the scenery perfect for a scary dacoit movie. I clicked few pictures here with my heart in my mouth. Its a steep decline and one comes through various warnings to drive carefully down the slopes - never drive in neutral gear while decending hills.

sunset@chambal...gabbar, phoolan devi...where art thou?



It was 7pm evening and dark when I reached Shendhwa toll plaza and decided to stop for the day. The terrain had freaked me out a bit as I was still in Chambal area. I didn't want to take risk and drive further alone at night. Also, I'd heard that Dhule/Malegaon area had miscreants at night, that bikers would follow and try to loot. So, I thought it much safer to stay in the toll plaza where there were trucks passing every minute and also toll officials, guards and CCTV. I'd navigate rest of the journey in day time. I slept quite good. I found out, police don't disturb if you are parked at the toll plazas, so, thats what I continued - park the nights near toll plazas.


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Address : Guna, Biora, Shajapur, Dewas, Indore, Shendhwa...
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GUWAHATI TO BOMBAY ( MUMBAI ) - MY EPIC ROAD TRIP VIA MARUTI ALTO AND CAR CAMPING - DAY 5 - AYODHYA ( UP ) TO SHIVPURI ( MP )

Photo Travelogue :
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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.


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Address : Nawabganj, Lucknow, Kanpur, Orai, Jhansi, Shivpuri...
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GUWAHATI TO BOMBAY ( MUMBAI ) - MY EPIC ROAD TRIP VIA MARUTI ALTO AND CAR CAMPING - DAY 4 - MUZZAFARPUR ( BIHAR ) TO AYODHYA ( UP )

Photo Travelogue :
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1ST TRIP

It was still dark when I started driving early morning and left Muzzafarpur. North India is too foggy during this time, even in dark you see clouds of mist or white foggy lumps rushing at you in front of your car head lights. Its quite tricky to drive and there is hardly any visibility. It continued all the way. It didn't help much when I drove straight and took a wrong road towards Sitamarhi, instead of taking an instructed left turn that went to Gopalganj. And that morning, there was no one in the streets to ask for directions either. I sensed something wrong and went back to the fork where there was a split and left turn. Alas, I did reach Gopalganj. The area was too dirty ( pigs and filth everywhere ) and most part of the flyover was broken for repair works. I also unfortunately saw some tilted trucks and after some time I decided to halt and freshen up. Till noon, the fog was persistent and I had to follow other trucks so as to be on track. Also, I learnt to always drive over the painted white marks in middle of the road during such foggy stretches, and keep either the indicators or the parking/hazards lights on. By evening 5pm, I reached Ayodhya toll and parked near it for the night. This night was quiet and I had a good night's rest.

Welcome to UP...

a golden coloured buddha statue welcomes you as you enter UP...
crossing toll plaza...


and miles to go before I sleep...

so peaceful...


After one crosses Gopalganj, theres a narrow bridge that one has to cross to reach UP. It was too crowded and had to wait almost 2 hours to cross that tiny bridge, one vehicle at a time.


2ND TRIP

On day 4 of my 2nd trip I had already crossed lucknow and halted the night in Kanpur outskirts near a petrol pump. That night was eventful as police kept knocking. I had parked just near the highway, so, I guess it was bit risky ( and also I learnt its illegal to park near the highway, my fault ). Early morning, I crossed Kanpur and reached Guna toll plaza where I parked for the night.

dhaba break somewhere near gorakhpur bypass...


plenty of random stops...


Just as I was clicking this green road sign ( pic below ), a man stood underneath it and was halting other cars with a gun in his hand ( at first I thought he was some cop doing checks ). I saw the gun much later, and wondered why all the cars were stopping. I was busy clicking picture of this sign. Later, when I saw what happened I could only thank my luck at what I narrowly escaped. Some places in UP are notorious for gun culture esp Kanpur/Jhansi. Didn't expect it it near Ayodhya o
3RD TRIP

On day 4th of my 3rd trip I had already crossed Shivpuri. I crossed Ayodhya in the evening of the 3rd day itself ( the above pic ). I did take a wrong road near Ayodhya and had to come back. Phew, its difficult navigating unknown roads at night, but I survived. ( At night I was awakened by 'jai shri Ram' chants and processions as it was during the inauguration of the new temple in Ayodhya ). Anyways, on this trip, I was almost two days ahead. I passed by the area near Indore by late noon where I went over the road-divider ( on my 2nd trip ). Again between Indore and Mhow, the road was dugged and there was slow traffic. On the ghat section, I had a freak incident where when I was driving at about 80-90 speed ( decent in my opinion for ghat region ), someone kept honking. I made way for him, but, he came and intentionally slowed the car in front of me. It was scary as he kept applying brakes right in front of my car ( there was no traffic at this point ). I didn't know what he wanted, but, after some time the car sped away giving me quite a scare. It was the Chambal area, I was reminded of dacoits. Were they modern day dacoits? Phew! Anyways, I was determined to reach early so drove on till I stopped for the night near Sendhwa toll plaza.


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Address : Gorakhpur, Ayodhya...
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GUWAHATI TO BOMBAY ( MUMBAI ) - MY EPIC ROAD TRIP VIA MARUTI ALTO AND CAR CAMPING - DAY 3 - SILIGURI ( WB ) TO MUZZAFARPUR ( BIHAR )

Photo Travelogue :
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1ST TRIP

In january, mornings are foggy in Bihar. Infact, till almost noon, I could barely see the road. From Siliguri I started driviing early morning while it was still dark. I drove the flyover, the police had instructed me the previous night how to reach Darbhanga. I reached another flyover that went right. An army guy stood there, who told me that the road went to Kakarbhita in Nepal. Seeing my car he asked me if I was on a 'bharat bhraman'. He showed me a narrower road which opened to Naxalbari which I had to take. So, I took that road. It was so narrow, that when I took a turn at its chowk, I scratched my car bad against a wall. I remembered reading somewhere that cars are frequently stopped by youth carrying sticks in the morning or evenings, to extort money in that area, so was alert throughout. I did spot some youth carrying sticks; however, they let me go. I halted at a place to freshen up. It was so foggy, I had to follow the tail lights of trucks ahead to keep on track. The road was dug in many place for widening and one had to cross three very old steel bridges which seemed like they'd collapse any moment. After I crossed Araria ( asking people for correct turn ), the fogs disappeared and the road became clear. I crossed Forbesganj, Darbhanga, Jhanjharpur, Koshi Bridge and by late evening I reached Muzafarpur ( one needs to take right towards Gopalganj from here ) and halted for the night in a quiet corner ( of a service road ) which was not going to be as quiet as I soon found out. Police car after police car kept disturbing, telling me that it was not a safe place. This time I was angry and told them they were the ones troubling me, not thieves or dacoits. In the end, they went off. From Bihar onwards, I decided to speed up my journey; because, I didn't enjoy driving in Bihar much. Although, the roads were good, east bihar is quite under-developed. The roads had 'chara', dried-hay stacks or 'maize' left to dry in middle of the highway itself, clothes hung on the railings and cow dung everywhere and stank of it.

foggy roads..could barely see a thing...


eating at dhaba near darbhanga...

2ND TRIP

I started from Araria ( near the school where I parked ) and drove till I reached Gopalganj at night. While crossing through Forbesganj some youth were waving hands and stopping the cars. Thankfully, they didn't ask me anything and let me go.


3RD TRIP

Third day of my 3rd trip I was already crossing Lucknow by early noon. I had halted the night just outside Lucknow. Before entering Lucknow, I re-arranged my stuff. At the junction where I had to turn to Kanpur, I got confused and went straight past the Lucknow Assembly. I immediately learnt my mistake and came back again via a u-turn to another folly of taking the smaller road that went parallel to the main highway I was supposed to take. It was challenging to turn back ( it was a one way ) without cops noticing me; and getting on the main highway. Also, a new flyover was being constructed in the old lucknow area, so, there was lots of slow traffic. Eventualy, it got clearer. I halted a bit near a field at the Sikandara check point and continued driving after it got little dark. I reached Shivpuri by late evening. This time I was not scared to drive in the dark ( I knew the area quite well after so many trips ), and kept on driving till I reached the exit toll plaza. Late-night driving helped me speed my journey by many hours.


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Address : Araria, Forbesganj, Darbhanga, Jhanjharpur, Muzzafarpur, Gopalganj...
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