Golden Triangle India: A solo ride across 3 states
For the past several years, the thought of flooring down this triathlon ride kept buzzing in my head. It seemed like a must-do-thing altogether. I always aspired to do this alone, as a lone wanderer. The mere hint of getting lost in the unknown traces of nature made me curious so much that I decided to give it a shot. Parents told me I was outa-my-mind for I thought of doing this alone; but they knew what I had chosen for myself. Friends further filled in with some attractive holiday packages to some mighty hill station like I was looking for a charming holiday. I knew I was in for a party down the road. And so was it, a 4 day-long captivating tale of cultural & historical extravaganza and a ride through places whose names I could never remember but I won’t forget them either.
Work is not generous to let you have a time of your life in your own ways; seldom does it gel with travel enthusiasts. Though, I managed to plan the ride at the right time amidst Diwali holidays. I always knew the road & the hot spots I was going to visit. I got my bike serviced a week before the ride, thanks to the Castrol Bike Zone guys who do a marvel of a job every single time. Highly recommended! I carried some essential spares, just in case! Got a full tank & checked across the air pressure in the tires. It was the first time I was taking my bike out for a long ride ever since I got a new pair of Michelin Street tires; real test for some fresh rubber! Charged all the gizmos & suited up my shutterbug friend Canon 550D with reserve memory cards. Packed my bags up, saddled them up to be my mighty pillion, took my riding gear & kicked off the Golden Triangle Ride.
I lived for those four days on my terms. Away from society & boundaries, I went along with my will. It was altogether an ecstatic feel. I learned a lot about myself & about the people of different cultures. We all are different at our ends but we are one down to the core. I loved wandering into nameless territories with only a drive to go on. Do something that thrills you, laugh until it hurts, explore your very self or stay abandoned. All I realized from a solo ride was that I occupy but a tiny place in this vast world. And the need for nourishing my passion shall go in vain unless gone too far. Waiting for a miracle my friend, it won’t happen. Go out & make it happen. Live as you like or breathe as nothing is unusual. That reminds me of a famous quote I dribble over.
“To live is the rarest thing in this world. Most people exist, that is all…” – Oscar Wilde
It’s time for me wrap up this chapter of the story called life. As always, looking for more.
I rode straight to the starting point of Yamuna Expressway on the Greater Noida Highway just next to the Knowledge Park-III. I was sure that the ride was going to be comfortably smooth & blazing as I was riding on the well-laid tarmac put decently by Jaypee Group. Gotta say, job well done! First thing you’d notice while you are riding there is that the tarmac is completely different from what our National Highways are laid with. It’s a 6-lane well-protected from both sides by guard mesh so that no one from either side could get stranded in the middle of a speeding highway, plus it’s a relief for the people who take on the road. Although, lane driving is essential, one can easily maintain decent speeds, for the highway is less crowded & has no pit stops except for the ones next to the Toll Plazas located at 50kms from one another. You heard it right, the only restaurants/rest rooms/drinking water facility you would find on this road are built next to the Toll Plazas. Not a good news for some of us who like to take short breaks during long rides. See for yourself! But to ease off the shock, I gotta tell you that the Highway Helpline is hyper-active & any help you need while on the road reaches you within minutes. The authorities have deployed service cars & toe-vehicles at regular stretches down the highway to avoid delays in case of any mishaps.
It was Thursday & since the Taj was going to be closed on a day after, it was heavily crowded out there. Tickets for Indian citizens are available at 20 bucks per head, 510 for Citizens of SAARC and BIMSTEC Countries while for Foreign Tourists, the tariff is 750 bucks! No extra charges for carrying a Still / Point-n-shoot camera, but you gotta pay for a Video camera if any. I waited 30 minutes in the line to get inside & once in, I got to know that the East & South gates were almost empty & I could easily enter from there. Seeping through the dark colored entrance, the path opened up & I had the Symbol of Love, the Taj staring right at me. Or the other way around! Been to the place twice before this, I was left dumbstruck as I saw the blissful shade of the Taj. It didn’t seem to have affected by the pollution the surrounding area has, for it looked marvelous in foggy white. I met a lot of photographers & travelers who were friendly enough to share their experience at the Taj. As a matter of fact, I met an English photographer who was on a tour, collecting photographs of historical & cultural monuments for his magazine. He mentioned he hasn’t seen anything as beautiful & peaceful as the Taj. I walked down the exit lane with a promise to myself that I’d think of the Taj every time I feel low. How this marvel stands tall & beautiful with everything it’s got going on around, is an inspiration. These are the instants that a wanderer is in search of. The moments of realization that life’s got too much to offer. We occupy a very tiny space in this world; there’s a lot to see & learn. And yet, a lot to inspire. We should choose to make the most of what we have.
After an hour-long ride out of Agra, I was on the intersection of Bharatpur & Fatehpur Sikri. Banked left & entered the historical city. I’d suggest the first timers to hire a guide to understand the splendid beauty of the place up close. From the parking, government buses ply regularly to the Palace & back on a very reasonable fare of Rs. 5. As I entered the palace, the wonderfully designed sandstone structures caught my eyes. It’s a yet another picturesque place to be at. From Deewan-E-Khas & Jodhabai’s Kitchen to Baba Chishti’s Dargaah & Buland Darwaza, everything seemed familiar & close to my memory.
With my trip meter reading at 301, I reached the Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary). It’s a quiet place with lots of greenery in & out. Spread over 29 sq. kilometers, the park extends habitat to over 230 species of migratory & local birds and a variety of animals. On top of that, authorities have let loose some options to wander the place. One can chose to take the most popular form of transport in there which is by rickshaw charging 100 bucks/hour. Apart from this one can walk around as well but that’s going to be like a 6 hour hike, not so feasible I suppose. And there’s another option, which is to take a bicycle along with some minimal fare on per hour basis. Without a doubt, I took the third option & got hold of a nice bike for myself.
strange city is a vulnerable site for exploration. I found that it takes courage to spend a whole day in an unknown city with unknown faces around you. But it takes something more than courage to do it & stay delighted about that fact that you did it. It’s called passion. I wouldn’t have been able to stay motivated the whole day in & around the Pink City if it was not my passion & commitment to travel. Felt so enthusiastic about riding into the heart of a historical & yet colorful city. I’m sure to return to Jaipur in good spirits. The place had a lot to offer. Moments were many but memories are countless.
I always wanted to visit the most haunted place in India. And if that place is in near vicinity, then why avoid mapping it up on a ride! I could’ve headed straight back home from Jaipur, but I decided to twist the rhythm & set my itinerary to the haunted fort. All I knew was that I could reach the Bhangarh Fort via the Rajasthan State Highway (SH-55). What I wasn’t aware of was that I’d have to go through one of the remotest villages of the state & wander in the forest for long. “It sure looks haunted”, I told myself. The air around the place was chilling but the sun was merciless, weird. I could see a couple of people on a balcony up on the fort. I continued exploring the remains of the despondent structure, clicked my way through it. There were places I didn’t gut it out to go into. All in all, it was a nice experience wandering inside a haunted fort. May be I chose the wrong time to visit the place as a local on the exit told me I should go in around five in the evening. What he told me was that they close the place for tourists at 05:30PM every day. Yet, going in at five can leave you with a lot to talk about the place. He told me he lived just outside the fort entrance, over a mile away from the fort. In a humble voice he told me the locals are used to hearing violent screams at night. Even at six in the evening, they are scared to go near the cursed fort. If it wasn’t for the GPS, I wouldn’t have made it to my destination & could’ve got stranded in a hostile forest. It's worth a visit!!!
