In the world of extraordinary journeys, few compare to the thrill and unpredictability of a solo motorcycle expedition through the awe-inspiring Himalayan landscapes. Friends and family had their doubts, but little did I know that this daring adventure would not only test my limits but also ignite an unquenchable wanderlust. From conquering winding mountain roads to confronting unexpected snowfalls, this is the tale of my odyssey—a story of self-discovery, breathtaking panoramas, and unforgettable encounters with fellow travelers. Get ready to ride shotgun as I take you on a roller-coaster journey where every curve unveils a new adventure. Welcome to my Himalayan saga.
Launching into the Himalayan Horizon
The journey officially kicked off on a Thursday morning in Pune, as I boarded an early flight to Dehradun, via a layover in Delhi. My heart raced with anticipation, a blend of excitement and trepidation as I set out on this epic solo adventure. Little did I know, the Himalayas had their own plans for me, filled with twists and turns that would test my mettle and redefine the notion of adventure.
The Himalayan Rollercoaster: From Bike Troubles to Breathtaking Beauty
With the engine revving and the wind in my hair, I set my sights on Manali, my first destination. The road to Manali was an exhilarating thrill ride, peppered with unexpected detours. My trusty motorcycle became my steadfast companion, tackling the rugged terrain and surprising me with its resilience. The majestic River Beas guided me through the winding roads, revealing a surreal world beneath a pristine snow blanket. It was as if the mountains themselves whispered tales of ancient wisdom, and I was all ears.
The Journey's Beauty: From Pune to the Majestic Himalayas
I always believe in the age-old adage that the "journey is more beautiful than the destination," and this sentiment couldn't be truer than on the road to Manali. As I embarked on my solo motorcycle odyssey, the allure of the journey itself became the highlight of my adventure. The path to Manali was a revelation, with every twist and turn etching a memory in my heart.
Guided by the gentle flow of the Beas River, I traversed the winding roads from Mandi towards Manali. It was here that my bike's owner had offered a piece of wisdom in his native tongue, "पहाढों विच सैर बढीया होगी," which loosely translates to "the best way to explore mountains is by wandering aimlessly." This sage advice set the tone for my journey, as I embraced the unknown with open arms.
Drawing closer to Manali, the majestic Himalayan peaks began to reveal themselves, draped in a pristine snow blanket. The sight was nothing short of breathtaking, and I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer grandeur of the mountains. The anticipation grew with each passing mile, and as the sun dipped below the horizon, I arrived in Manali, welcomed by the warm glow of streetlights and the promise of adventure.
I planned next day as I'll stay at Dharamshala in the night and I'll visit Manikaran - Kullu - Baijnath temple - Palampur. I started around 7:00 AM, winds are slow and so cool that it starts freezing me out. In this fresh air, I feel so calm. As time goes and I am getting down to Kullu that coolness in the wind is disappearing.
Routes in the Himalayas always pleases a biker and this day is not any exception for that. Narrow road, landslides in between, mountain rocks roll down on road and so on.
NH20 Mandi-Pathankot highway is the route to reach Dharamshala. This highway is not that wide and straight. Mostly it is a 15-meter-wide road going through the mountains and valleys. I was taking pictures, coffee break, spending time in valleys. I reached too late in Dharamshala that even market was almost closed in there. Early next morning I roam in McLeod Ganj and to other places, visited Dalai Lama temple and the market, St. John in the Wilderness church. It seems nice to me but not that impressive as compared with Manali. I came back from this short trip in around 4 hrs as I don't find this place that good to spent a whole day in here and plan my next journey and destination to stay later tonight.
NH20 leads me to Pathankot from where I can get NH44(Srinagar-Kanyakumari) to go Amritsar. From Pathankot to Amritsar is a well-maintained part of NH44. It took just 1 and a half hour to reach Golden temple. Most of the routes inside Amritsar city are built such a way that it leads toward Golden temple. I took hotel over there as temple management won't allocate a room for a single person.
Inside area of the temple is clean and well maintained but the surrounding is not that nice and feels congested walking around. Area of the temple is big enough that it will take 3-4 hrs to walk in and roam. It has one of the biggest kitchens in India which serves more than 100,000 people every day.
Attari Wagah border is around 30Km from Amritsar, and It is always a proud feeling for every Indian to visit this place. The environment at Wagah is like the same we feel on Independence Day or Republic day. Songs dedicated to the nation are playing on speakers. People gathered for ' beating retreat ' are yelling 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' 'Vande Mataram'. Indian national anthem is playing in the background. The crowd full of energy making noise and motivating soldiers to make this ceremony like never before. Similar kind of environment is across the border, they also yelling for their country and motivating to their army. At the border, we can feel the respect in the air for our nation. People trust them, support them, motivate them, make them feel like they are the nation in which we are living.
I started my next ride towards Haridwar from Attari. NH44 is leading me Amritsar-Jalandhar-Ludhiana-Ambala-Haridwar. At Attari my bikes taillight was dropped somewhere and riding in the night without taillights is not that safe. So I was looking for a store where I can buy LED strips and fit it to my bike. For that night I stayed at a typical Haryanvi Dhaba on a chaar-paayi.
Last day of my trip is a very tough day. As long as I started my bike it starts raining in there so I covered my luggage bags. I was thinking the rain will going to stop in some time but I had a bad luck that day as the rain does not stop for a whole day and I have to travel all the remaining trip in the wet state.
I took a room at Rishikesh nearby Bus stand. My trip is at its end and have to return from vacation. I returned bike in Dehradun and took a bus to return to the Rishikesh. At Dehradun bus stand I saw many trekkers and travelers, some of them are foreigners, kids, teenagers, aged persons. Rishikesh is the main location for those people to stay in. All trip path Dev-Bhoomi-Path.