A seemingly simple trip throughout Nepal on TVS’ 125cc stars seems to be one filled with twists and turns. Rishabh Bhaskar brings us the main points.
Revealed On Aug 06, 2022 07:00:00 AM
Squeezing by way of the tiniest of gaps is what it took to get out of a 35km-long jam.
Slippery slush on the roads was tough to barter
We’ve been making our approach by way of a seemingly limitless visitors jam for near an hour now. In a couple of areas, the highway is barely massive sufficient to let two vans move. However others have fared far worse than us: a sea of hapless individuals have been stranded for near half a day on Nepal’s Prithvi Freeway. Day One in all our trip by way of this nation had taken a couple of sudden twists and turns to say the very least. “Ought to we have now simply turned again in the direction of Kathmandu?” The thought floated in all our minds as we waited for an earth mover to clear an enormous pile of boulders that was blocking our approach.
Incessant rains had wreaked havoc, inflicting landslides and visitors jams that stretched for miles.
A couple of hours previous to being caught within the jam from hell, we have been all upbeat concerning the three-day journey that TVS had deliberate for us within the land that’s the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. The event? A trip to rejoice the success of TVS’ 125cc two-wheelers – the Ntorq 125 and the Raider. Each merchandise haven’t solely been a runaway hit in India, however have additionally risen in recognition in neighboring Nepal and that’s why TVS introduced us right here. The night time earlier than departure, we noticed scores of TVS Ntorqs on the busy streets of Kathmandu and there have been a large variety of the newly launched Raider as properly.
Standing within the forecourt of the Jagdamba TVS dealership, our flag off level, there was a palpable sense of pleasure within the air. Obligatory photograph ops with the Raider and Ntorq 125 Race Version executed, we set off in the direction of our first vacation spot, Pokhara. Positioned 220km away, Pokhara is a serious metropolis in Nepal, well-known for its gorgeous lakes and exquisite surroundings.
The trip out of Kathmandu was eventful in itself, with the plain chaos and heavy visitors of a capital metropolis. The peppy little 125s made mild work of coping with it and shortly we have been on the Prithvi freeway. By this time, the heavens had opened up, as we continued down the winding ghats that have been peppered with potholes. The vistas round us, nevertheless, have been breathtaking. Lush inexperienced mountain ranges stretched so far as the attention may see and as soon as we reached the underside of the valley, the Trishulriver was a continuing companion, flowing alongside.
The Ntorq impressed with its capacity to resist a bashing.
The highway situations had improved by now and we may discover the efficiency of the 125cc mills. The Raider’s raspy exhaust be aware crammed the air as we handed visitors at a fast tempo. I’ve all the time beloved the bike for its peppy nature, and for sure, we have been having a good time on it. Apparently, not like the Raider in India that will get Eco and Energy modes, the Raider bought in Nepal doesn’t have an Eco mode. Additionally, it doesn’t have a combi-braking system. I admit, backing the rear into a couple of corners was a responsible pleasure we loved!
It was all going properly up to now, and we have been on schedule to achieve Pokhara by sunset. Little did we all know that Mom Nature had different plans in retailer. The automotive carrying our baggage had left an hour earlier than us and referred to as in to report that it was caught in a jam. Incessant rains within the Chitwan district during the last couple of days had prompted landslides within the area. By this time, we have been making our approach by way of the tail-end of the jam and reached our lunch halt after a few kilometers.
An hour later, we obtained information that the jam was just for one other 30km until we reached the Mugling junction. After a lot deliberation, we determined to proceed to Pokhara. The digicam and help crew ditched their vehicles and hopped on as pillions.
What adopted was an expertise we’d always remember. Working as a group, our convoy squeezed by way of each obtainable hole between stranded buses, vehicles and vans. To say that the sunshine and manoeuvrable 125s we have been on made life simpler could be an understatement. In a couple of locations, we additionally needed to trip by way of ankle deep slush. It took us over two hours to get to Mugging. The convoy that had damaged into fragments within the mess regrouped right here, amidst cheers and sighs of aid in addition to a couple of tears. The ordeal had worn us out, however we nonetheless had 100km to cowl and the solar was setting.
Fortunately, the remainder of the journey was comparatively simple. Though it was darkish and raining, with the roads filled with potholes, slush and waterlogged in some areas, our little TVSes carried on unperturbed. I’ve to confess, I’ve by no means been extra elated on the sight of a lodge, than once we reached Pokhara.
The following day was in full distinction to the one earlier than. The skies have been clear blue, the solar shining in all its glory and we have been astride our bikes and scooters on a clean six-lane Pokhara to Hemja freeway. After a couple of photograph ops, we headed to the CommeA La Maison, a quaint restaurant overlooking the attractive Phewa Lake. It was right here that we obtained the subsequent spherical of unhealthy information. In a single day rains in Chitwan, our subsequent vacation spot, had elevated the probabilities of extra landslides. Plus the route again to Kathmandu from Chitwan was clogged with visitors in a couple of locations. It wouldn’t be sensible to leap from the frying pan into the fireplace, no?
With a heavy coronary heart, we parked the bikes in Pokhara and flew to Kathmandu. Our 750km journey was lowered to simply 280km.
On the brilliant aspect, we have been protected and ever grateful to our little bikes for taking a beating on these climate worn roads and getting us to our vacation spot. It’s no marvel they’re so standard in Nepal.
Instances like these remind us that not the whole lot goes as deliberate, however it’s sensible to acknowledge when to not mess with mom nature. As for the unfinished exploration of this stunning and culturally wealthy nation, there’s all the time a subsequent time. And when that occurs, I do know I’d be completely satisfied to do it on both the Raider or the Ntorq, and with all the buddies I made in Nepal.
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