The Jaipur trip ….. January 2002
Day 1
Was cold and windy day when we started out of the capital. Took some time for us though. To get done with the various nitty grittys of journeying inter city before we hit the highway.
Was high noon then as we hit NH 8 and settled in for the long high speed ride to our first destination… the pink city.
Since it was my first real trip out of Delhi on a bike which was a fairly recent acquisition, I had my share of apprehensions. But as Delhi’s borders disappeared behind us the welcoming folds of the Aravallis enveloped our steeds, all my fears disappeared and the thrill of the ride took over. There were three of us, on two motorcycles.. Bajaj Calibers …pretty puny bikes for the long ride ahead… or so it seemed. We were in college then, young and free spirited. Folks there warned us about the hazards of our expertise… that too on bikes not really meant for long distance touring. Some scoffed us downright, never expecting us to get beyond a few miles from the city. Man did we prove them wrong.
Well here we were, well on our way, the bikes grunting along happily at a very steady 90kmph. It was a wonderful bright and sunny day on the NH 8, one real luverly piece of road.
Late noon. A very satisfying lunch at one of the roadside dhabas. The wind has become fiercer. We are crossing into Rajasthan now, the land of legends, and the last lines of a Dylan song play through my head…outside in the distance a wildcat did growl, two riders were approaching and the wind began to howl….
As one enters the princely state one immediately notices the difference in topography which is far removed from the harsh flat dryness of Delhi and its surrounding environs. Out here it is open country still but the Arravallis become omnipresent. Their gentle undulating solitude a calming source of sustenance.
Not much kinestheal gland stimulating curves on the NH 8 but it’s got its share of surprises. We pass Neemrana fort on its solitary hill. Its an awesome sight, its ancient walls standing sentinel over the plains.
A lot of firsts occur when you are riding out in the open country. I discovered that we could maintain good speed when we were riding single file instead of wingman. We did it in short bursts though as prolonged riding in this way is dangerous, given the abnormally high speed of cars on the NH 8. Gaurav, on the other bike was also riding with a pillion, so speeding beyond the 95 kmph mark was any ways prohibitive. We would stop every couple of hours, reawakening our tired senses with invigourating cups of karak dhaba chai.
Evening falls and a balmy sunset happens over the Arravallis. We are on the outskirts of
Jaipur now. The white walls of Amer fort loom up in the near distance. The road winds up through the hills. We pass through an ancient gateway and the road curves. Dusk has fallen and the lights of Jaipur welcome us. It’s a heartwarming sight. The days tiredness disappears when you a see a lit up city below, beckoning you. We ride into town with a small sense of happy accomplishment, looking forward to the days of riding and sightseeing ahead of us.
Day 2 … in Jaipur city
In the city… jaipur is a city of chaupars and quilas. We stuck around there for three days. Biking around . saw the three majestic forts straddling the city including the one with a gigantic cannon- jaigarh fort . this cannon is the world’s largest.
The city is fascinating, as much in is majestic sunset and sunrises as its charming cultural and architectural heritage.
I hope you are going to add about the successive days of the trip as well, since the real action happened towards the end (At Sariska).
Remember that straight road over the undulating landscape at Tal Vriksh, the tyre puncture and that look on the innocent jackal’s face…..experiences made possible just because of the machines.
yonder blue mountain... 