My 6813 Kms Road Trip Covering 13 States in 17 Days

[Akash]

Excellent pics sir. The kind of journey you did is definitely, an inspiration for youngsters like us. The fantastic pictures are adding to the charm of the thread.

Sad to hear about the accident. Do tell us the amount of time Skoda guys took to repair your car. I believe the AC condensor required repairs?

 

[akapoor]

Its superb sir!!! Hats off to you

 

[AR Ram]

Day 5 : At Jaipur

29th January 2013, we got ready for the day at 8.30 am, had the breakfast at the same hotel. As regards the hotel where we stayed is an old palace called “Mriganayani Palace” converted into a hotel, and stay was comfortable with a good service. They have a roof top restaurant from where one can have an excellent view too of the forts etc.

Around 9.30 am, we started to the workshop as we were asked to come at 10 am, and we don’t want to waste any time as well. They started the work at 11 am, dismantled the bumper, head lights etc to take off the condenser for replacement. The parts I had to replace are main grill assembly, bottom grill, right side grill, condenser, gas recharge etc. Since my insurance is with Chennai office, it will take more time for the formalities to make a claim. Since the time was very short, I didn’t opt for it. During the work was in progress, we went to a nearby restaurant and had lunch.

Amazingly, at 5 pm the car was ready, bringing to the old shape, even the main grill frame painted. The owner of the work shop was personally taking interest to finish the work in record time. Of course, I was also watching the work through out to eliminate anything unattended. After inspecting the vehicle, and found perfect, we settled the bill of Rs15000/- , got out from the work shop at 6 pm. As I don’t want my wife to feel bored, we went for a shopping at Subash Chowk, had dinner and left for the Hotel at 10 pm. Packed the baggage for the next day’s journey, and retired for the day. We couldn’t go for any sightseeing at Jaipur, and all we could do is taking some pics from the hotel roof top. The photo of the car front after the repair is taken later at Shimla on the next day. Thanks to MMI for the accurate route guidance.

More to follow..

 

[jalex]

Great thread and fantastic pictures. Keep it coming. Rated 5 stars

 

[Gurrala74]

Hmm

Great thread sir, I had been thinking to do some thing like this since last 5 years, but you just did it at 56, the entire narration is crisp and easy to read and pics are awesome and Skoda must be a perfect car for such trip I hope. Eager to read more from now and see more pics too.

Kudos to your effort sir !!

 

[AR Ram]

Day 6 : Jaipur to Shimla – 625 Kms

30th January 2013, we started from Jaipur at 6.50 am and the route taken is Delhi-Panipet-Ambala-Chandigargh-Shimla. We stopped at a restaurant at 8.30 am and had the breakfast (Idly-Sambar after so many days). At 11 am we entered Delhi City and the traffic was heavy too. Thanks to MMI for guiding us perfectly to Chandigargh Road through Delhi city. Within an hour we left Delhi city, and on the outskirts we filled up the fuel tank, as the fuel price in Delhi is less, but later found Himachal is even cheaper. On the way to Panipet we stopped at a Dhaba for lunch. On the way we could see cops were stopping the vehicles for over speed and fining them. After lunch we continued at 2.30 pm, after an hour we were stopped by the cops and demanded original documents, seeing them all perfect they raised the issue of sun control film though it was very light, advised us to down all the window glasses while driving and remove the film as early as possible. We continued and crossed CH around 4 pm and entered Shimla Ghats around 4.30 pm. Interestingly all the way the road was very good. We stopped at a couple of places for photography and tea, and by then it became dark. Before entering Shimla, an entry fee of Rs 200/- (to be shown on demand anywhere in Shimla) to be paid. As we were entering Shimla we could see snow on both sides of the road, and later we were told there was a heavy snow fall before three days.

Around 8 pm on the ghats I was negotiating a sharp curve with a speed of 60 kms and at a distance of 15 feet I saw a black cow right on the middle of the road, Oh God!!! I took a sharp cutting and had a miraculous escape. "Nothing can be predicted with animals".

We booked our accommodation for four nights at a hotel in Mushabra, 12 kms away from Shimla. We reached there at 8.40 pm and immediately after a wash went to the restaurant for dinner. We came back to the room at retired for the day.

More to follow

 

[AR Ram]

Day 6 : Entering Shimla

The remaining pics taken before entering Shimla

 

[Gurrala74]

Sir,

Is that flyover is of Ambala ?? it looks to be nice 4 lane road to Chandigarh from
Ambala now, When I traveled last time it was just a two lane way

Have you been to kasouni on the way

 

[amit1km]

Hello AR, you are truly justifying your signature "Born to Drive -- Expect the Unexpected" . You have proved yourself with this massive tour.

Keep the story coming.

 

[AR Ram]

Sir,

Is that flyover is of Ambala ?? it looks to be nice 4 lane road to Chandigarh from
Ambala now, When I traveled last time it was just a two lane way

Have you been to kasouni on the way

If my memory is correct its not flyover, its Shimla ghats. not been to kasouni, went straight to Shimla

thanks Gurrala

 

[krish_go]

Ram- I just could not stop but to say this again Hats off!! The journey i did recently Bang to Shirdi, i took 3 days with stops in Kollapur and you finished it in a Day!! amazing. As many said, you have right moral support (your wife) and off course your car which indeed made it look like walk in a park.
You should surely make it up to one of the TAI meets in future and it would be my privileged to meet you and your ride.
Keep driving.

 

[Gurrala74]

@AR Ram

Sir,

I am talking about this

 

[Fyzy09]

Sirji,

Great journey so far, felt sorry for the dog, however, jamming brakes at that speed could have been fatal.
All the Jaipur pics are mesmerizing, just loved the colour of sky in them.. Great job!!!

 

[AR Ram]

@AR Ram

Sir,

I am talking about this

I am not sure Gurrala. I think under the bridge we took a right turn to Shimla, and more over its 17 days journey and little hard to remember every spot..may be due to the age factor.

I am sure you are right.

thanks

 

[AR Ram]

Day 7 : Shimla

31st January 2013, we got ready at 9 am, went to the restaurant, and had breakfast. The valley view from the restaurant was amazing, partially covered with snow, tempted me to shoot some photos. The temperature was around 2 or 3 deg C. And this was the first time we started wearing our woolen clothes. We asked the hotel guys about the nearest spots which can be covered by evening. And out of their suggestions we decided to go to Naldehra, a few kms away; Tatapani where there is a natural hot water spring, and Kufri.

After a brief car wash, we started around 10.30 am to Naldehra. Its less than 20 kms from the Hotel, and the road was totally wet due to the snow. And the view of the valley was awesome. Number of places we stopped and took every opportunity to take pictures. Within an hour we reached the spot. We were told that we can go to Naldehara top only by horse. Basically it’s a picnic spot and a film shooting place as well. The horse guy dropped us on top, we spent half an hour there took some pics, he then picked us up. We spent almost two hours there, had lunch in one of the restaurants there. We enquired about the road condition to go to Tatapani, and were advised not to go because road is very bad and slippery after the snow fall.

So we dropped the idea of going to Tatapani, and decided to go to Kufri, almost 30 kms from this spot. On the way we stopped to take some pics, I locked the car and was little away, and when I came back two cops were waiting for us near the car. First they said they want to see the papers, shown them, then asked why this tinted film. Somehow I convinced them saying that I am from down south. They said it’s a supreme court order, and no matter the transparency of the film and they started peeling off. But they couldn’t do it because it’s stuck hard due to the cold weather. They said even if they let us go, we will be caught on the next km and will be fined, instead there are lots of shops behind two kms and they remove it using the hot blower. So thought it’s better to remove it rather facing all this and did it. That took away all the remaining time of the day. Came back to the hotel, had dinner and retired for the day.
More to follow