Highways and byways: Mahindra Adventure

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page.” I’ve always been fascinated by this quote since I was a little kid, who had seen nothing and knew nothing. As I grew up, I got a lot of chances to pack my bags and get lost (pun intended). Every beautiful place I went to, a part of me stayed there forever. When Hari, my editor told me about a drive from Kashmir to Kanyakumari organised by Mahindra Adventure and IMSC (Indian Motor Sports Club), I couldn’t cork up my feelings then and there but deep down I was almost at the edge of my seat (yes, sometimes I struggle to express myself!). Since I had recently moved to Mumbai for my post-graduation, and I had to find a place to stay (which ain’t a piece of cake), I couldn’t join the drive from Kashmir. I joined the bandwagon from Lonavla. I was not sure of what was to come, but I knew it was going to be with me forever and perhaps change me, too.

A cab picked me up from Malabar Hill on a Sunday afternoon and dropped me off at the resort. The feelings were mixed. Most of the participants were above 35, the oldest being 80 and the youngest – four.

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Next morning, we were supposed to start driving at 8. “What car do you drive?” asked Binay, a team member at the IMSC. “Every goddamn car on the planet, sir,” I said. Thus, I was given a modified Blue Bolero Stinger (that looked like a Hummer fucked a Thar, and the kid looked good). This vehicle, unlike a regular one was a two wheel drive with a slightly wider tires. The next destination was Goa so there was a great deal of excitement. The convoy had 25 cars, including the lead vehicle (driven by an amazing rally driver and a gem of a person, Ashwin Naik), the service vehicles, float (whose job was to ride along with the convoy and keep a check) and sweep (which was supposed to be at the end of the convoy, no matter what). The drive from Lonavla to Goa via Kolhapur was full of beautiful terrains, ghats, waterfalls and mist. They say some old fashioned things, like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat. True that! Despite the distance and the drive, I didn’t feel tired. After a couple of stops on our way, we said hello to Goa after 12 hours on the road. The moment we reached the resort, loud music began to play and I knew it was the time to party. It was day one of my drive and there I was, smacking my lips already at the mere thought of the next six days.

The next day was supposed to be a no drive day, since the vehicles were to be serviced as the participants had driven for almost 2,500 kilometres, so we just sat by the beach, ate crabs and drank shandy, watching the sea. I guess sometimes you should just let yourself go with the waves.

Next morning, we started rolling at eight towards Mangalore via Karwar. On the way, the convoy stopped at the famous Murudeshwar temple - a temple with a 123-feet long statue of lord Shiva, which is located on a beach. The temple looked beautiful bathing in the sunshine by the beach. Today, I was driving with an architect from Mumbai - Darshan, a single father of two children. A similar taste in music, and perhaps, life, made us gel well in no time. At 8:30 pm, we reached the resort River Roost, located on a river bank in Mangalore, where a group of performers was waiting to welcome us with the famous Tiger dance.

After freshening up, everybody gathered to watch the dance and before we knew it, we had people from the convoy dancing along with the performers.

On day four, we left the place at 7:30 am for Masinagudi via Coorg. The road to Masinagudi, a town in Tamil Nadu, was peppered with heavenly landscapes. Driving on the Western Ghats felt like a daydream (too good to be true). For a person like me, who suffers from acrophobia, this was like conquering me. The view was spectacular, somewhat implausible. After a daylong drive, the convoy reached Mudumalai National Park. The resort that we were supposed to stay at was in the middle of the forest where the infamous Veerappan once ruled. John Muir once said that the clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness, and Mudumalai made me realise that. Forests teach people to understand the beauty of nature. I had learnt my lesson. Before checking in, Rohit, the owner, showed us the videos of leopards and elephants walking (like they owned it) around the rooms and asked us to beware and call the guards before leaving the room. The feeling was a mixture of fear and exhilaration.

As time passed and I got acquainted with the people in the convoy, I felt like a wanderer whose only job was to wake up every morning and hit the road. By this time, kilometres were just numbers and destinations were just the places to unwind. What mattered was the journey. Travelling leaves you speechless and then turns you into a storyteller. On day five, we drove to Coimbatore via Ooty. On our way, the convoy took a detour to the Doddabetta peak to bask in the glory of nature. At 5:30, we reached Le Meridian, Coimbatore where the Mahindra Rally team was waiting for us.

After a small get together and an early dinner, we went to bed to get some rest before the long day to Kanyakumari. Yes, the next stop was Kanyakumari and I’d already driven for almost 1,000 kilometres, but it felt like I had just started.

On day six, the convoy started to roll at seven in the morning for a drive more than 500 kilometres to Kanyakumari. At six in the evening, the convoy reached the land’s end at Kanyakumari. The feeling was ecstatic. We had a big reason to celebrate. I stood there and watched the sun set.

Sunsets are proof that endings can often be beautiful, too.

The final destination was Kovalam in Kerala, a beautiful town known for its palm fringed beaches and Ayurveda. After stopping for a press conference on our way, we reached on time for our lunch at The Leela Palace, Kovalam. The property sits on a cliff, offering panoramic views of the Kovalam coastline and the Arabian Sea. I checked in and went for a swim in the infinity pool and watch the sunset. I’ve been to a lot of places in the country and seen many colours but the one that remains my favourite is that of the sunset. Later, I sat on the beach and watched the Arabian waters fading into the horizon. The drive had come to an end and I could already feel the nostalgia. I recalled every single moment from the day I began and soon, I felt like I was in a stitherum. I could not decide whether to smile because it happened or feel bad because it was over. I finally decided to smile (I always do). I felt that I didn’t take this journey, but the journey had taken me, to places I’d never been to, both outside and inside me. A quote by Rachel Wolchin struck my mind, “if we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet”, and there I was, in that moment. With that, I took the train of thought to escape the world.

From the September 2016 issue of FHM India.