Trip 0 : Dilli - Katra : 1400 Km : 4 days : In the heat of May/June

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I walked easy and slowly with steady steps. Its amazing, the feeling that you get when nothing goes your way and you're still ready to walk on. It feels as if you'be been stripped of every security and still you don't feel insecure. You feel the presence of a strength that comes from being in touch dirrectly with the world, the universe around you. You feel naked and yet you feel comfortable. You haven't slept or rested yet you feel strong. You walk alone yet you feel a strong presence around you. Its as if the cosmos stretches its arms towards you with a smile and asks you to just trust... to just go with the flow.



I planned to go to Vasihno Devi (Jammu & Kashmir) the coming weekend by bus. But I didn't know that as I would be driving back from the service station after first service ( 500 kms ) of my bike, Royal Enfield Thunderbird Twinspark 350, I would be struck by the idea to drive all the way to Vaishno Devi and back on my motorcycle.

I started at 0400 hrs from my home in NOIDA on friday 25/may/12 . It was still dark quiet and cozy. The streets were mostly deserted. It took me about 40 minutes to get onto the NH1 that leads from Delhi to Jalandhar also known as G.T. Karnal road.

Even in this peak summer season of may/june its quite chilly in the morning and even more so on the bike. I drove across Sonepat, Panipat and took my first stop at Gharaunda (Karnal). It took me about 2.5 hrs to travel this distance of 133 Kms which I did at speeds of 55 - 60 Kmph. Engine was still in the run in phase and I had to be patient.

After having a cup of tea and stretching a little I started off again, next stop being Ambala. I then crossed Kurukshetra and took the flyover that turned left towards Ludhiana, under which goes the road straight to Chandigarh. I took my next stop somewhere just outside Ambala city at around 0930 Hrs.

It was starting to get hot now, the air around me turned, from chilly to warm to extremely hot in a matter of 6 Hrs. Sun was almost overhead as I travelled across NH1A through the dust that was rising from the construction work going all along the highway.

As I shot across the highway going up and down over the numerous flyovers, I felt that I could do this all day long, taking stops every 2 hrs or so. I thought about reaching Katra by nightfall. But this resolve was soon shaken by the hot blasts lashing my whole body. As I neared Ludhiana I steered my bike into the city, off the highway that lead to Jalandhar.

It was a welcome respite from the extreme heat outside when I entered the air conditioned multiplex - Omaxe plaza on Ferozepur road in Ludhiana. I watched Vicky donor... it was a nice movie. I could feel my body recuperate as I felt relaxed. After the movie I went outside for lunch. I started off again for Jalandhar at about 1600 hrs.

It was still hot but I could take it better after about 4 hrs of rest. I reached Jalandhar by 1730 Hrs and headed straight for Vivek International Hotel near Company Bagh. It is so true that you understand the worth of hospitality only after you have survived the inhospitable.

I woke up the next morning at about 0300 Hrs, took shower and left the place by 0400 Hrs. Jalandhar is a beautiful city with good infrastructure and it was quite peaceful just before dawn. I got the tank filled at a petrol pump inside the city and got on to the highway to Pathankot.

The road from Jalandhar to Pathankot is single lane at many places owing to the construction work going on for the betterment of the highway. I had to cautious as there was debris on the road which can easily lead to an accident. In about 3 hrs I reached Pathankot cantonment.

I stopped at a roadside dhaba just after crossing Pathankot. I had my tea with some toast. Jammu is 110 Km from Pathankot and I made a mental calculation about my arrival time there. I left the place after about 20 minutes.

Terrain starts to change as you start moving northwards from Pathankot which is about the last city in Punjab before you move onto Hiimachal or J&K. You can see mountains in the distance and roads become wavy. Just after you leave Pathankot there is a small stretch that comes under Himachal and then its completely J&K. It gave me an immense sense of liberation as I read the road sign that said "Dharamshal 84 Kms". It was as if I had walked straight to heaven on my feet.

I reached Jammu at about 0930 Hrs. Katra is at a distance of 56 Km from Jammu and the terrain is a bit hilly and roads meander. I had to drive cautiously but I was feeling light and energetic reaching the last leg of my journey. A feeling which was to be shortlived.

I don't know the exact time when I reached Katra but I must have taken about an hour and half. I was welcomed by a long jam of taxis and buses just outside the main bus stand. I manouvered my vehicle through the chaos and reached hotel Bhawani International where I planned to stay.

I parked my bike outside and went to the reception. I asked if I could get a room and he said "sorry Sir, no room available". I couldn't believe my ears and I asked him the same question again and he answered me the same again, politely. I was not ready to accept this situation that I cannot take rest immediately upon my arrival, even though I could see the huge sea of men outside, flooding the roads. But the situation was much worse than what I initially imagined.

I went to the hotel that was adjacent and I got the same reply but a very important additional information. Hotels were not giving out rooms for single occupancy. This meant I that would not get a room anywhere in Katra, won't get any rest. I went to the local police station and confirmed this information. I had very few options left which were not even clearly visible right now.

After about 2 hrs I had my lunch in a local dhaba. I had parked my bike in an official parking space and deposited extra luggage in the govt. cloak room. I started my trek shortly thereafter. I crossed Banganga checkpost at around 1430 hrs.

I walked easy and slowly with steady steps. Its amazing, the feeling that you get when nothing goes your way and you're still ready to walk on. It feels as if you'be been stripped of every security and still you don't feel insecure. You feel the presence of a strength that comes from being in touch dirrectly with the world, the universe around you. You feel naked and yet you feel comfortable. You haven't slept or rested yet you feel strong. You walk alone yet you feel a strong presence around you. Its as if the cosmos stretches its arms towards you with a smile and asks you to just trust... to just go with the flow.

I reached Bhawan at the Top at around 1930 Hrs. I deposited my stuff in the cloak room, freshened up, had a bath in the cold water, refreshing. I took me about 2 hrs to get into the sanctum sanctorum. I immediately left for Bhairon Baba shrine. I rested for about an hour in the way before reaching the top. I visited the shrine and started my trek downwards thereafter.

I ended my trek at about 0600 hrs in the morning and headed straight for the parking lot. Guys at the lot were still sleeping and I went to freshen up. When I came back they were already up and took out my bike. As I handed over the parking slip to the guy he told me to bring "bhabhee ji" with me next time. He was so confident in his statement that I felt embarassed to say that I am still unmarried. I left the place immediately.

I hadn't slept properly for the past 72 hrs and had rested only intermittently in the last 24 hrs. I knew I had to get to Jalandhar and fast. I could've rested in Jammu but that would've put the rest of journey in disarray. I drove with my mind set on Jalandhar.

I don't remember much of what happened on th way only the roar of the engine and the vibrations, the hot winds and the Kms that I saw decreasing. I reached Jalandhar at 1245 hrs. Went straight to my sanctuary - hotel Vivek International and slept for 10 hours straight.

I woke up next morning at 0330 hrs and left for Delhi. I reached my office at 1100 hrs and went straight to my friends who welcomed me and congratulated me on my success. Well this is why I came to office and didn't go home in the first place.

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