WILD RIDE - SARISKA NATIONAL PARK

LOST …..

60 Rs in pocket …… all vehicles documents ( RC book , Insurance ) with others …… just 3.5 ltr of petrol in tank ( 3.5 ltr in a Royal Enfield is very less ) ……… yet to cover 160 km ………… have to manage food , petrol , vehicle repair ( if any ) …… “ Chai Pani “ to police ( bribe – for not having vehicle docs ) ….. that too in Rajastan . I experienced such unexpected situation this time while driving to SARISKA NATIONAL PARK. If I don t meet them I will be in trouble in middle Rajastan .

In that 100 km ride I did not take single break , riding continuously at 90 – 110 kmph to catch my gang . All these happened due to a confusion in a turn , they were thinking that I was ahead . They were riding as fast as possible to catch me , I was behind them trying to catch them !!! But there was a time gap of 40 mins between us which stopped us from meeting. After cruising for 1.5 hours without stopping I saw them in a roadside dhaba near Alwar .

I traveled through Karnataka , Tamilnadu , Kerala , Uttar Pradesh , Uttaranchal , Haryana , Himachal Pradesh , Rajastan till today on two wheels , I am just 23 now. My team for Sariska : Vinay , Harish , Shashi Bhushan ( new rider ) , Naveen ( new rider) . 5 of us left to Sariska , Alwar , Siliserh on 4 two wheelers . Started morning at 6.00 am on Saturday 18 / 02 / 2006 . Came back on 20 / 02 / 2006 at 12.10 am midnight .

Road till Alwar reminded me my native place in Costal Karnataka . Refreshing 3 Rs Masala Chai s , friendly villagers , those old hybrid diesel tempo/rickshaw loaded with minimum 25 villagers with their luggage , people with their dirty white traditional dress , small houses made of bricks and decorated with dry grass made our trip memorable . Reached Sariska at 1.30 . Now we were ready for that “ Wild Riding “.

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“WILD RIDING “ – 45 km drive inside restricted national park on Royal Enfield .

There is a Mandir inside park , so forest officers allow 2 / 4 wheelers
Till that mandir only on Saturday . While planning we gathered all details about this . Our riding started with lot of warnings of forest guards at the entrance. Stopping / walking in the park is not allowed in park .We were allowed only on particular road , but we took many possible roads !

Presently there are very less tigers in that park , spotting them is a very tough task . But there are considerable number of leopards and other wild animals. On the way to Mandir we had a photo break near a water source , same place we saw big footprints of leopard / big cat while returning ! i think it was watching us , we took few snaps of those footprints. Monkeys / deer were blocking our roads , snaps will explain you very well . I remembered “ Man Eater s of Tsavo “ ( Africa ) , “Champawat Tiger” by Jim Corbett .

Totally we traveled 45 km from one end to other end , without guide , without any security . 2 pm to 6 pm we roamed inside National Park , I was trying to relate what I red / saw in national geographic channel. Our photographs will explain remaining parts of wild drive.

Night we stayed in Rama Temple next to Sariska . We heard continuously many strange voices made by wild animals and their kill s till morning …

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Day 2 :

Morning we went to Hot water Spring , pigeons were main attractions there . We took many amazing snaps there . Then we had a race , Naveen won the race on his CBZ . We too touched 115 – 120 but at higher speeds , in village roads 150 cc medium weight vehicles have their own advantages .

Then went to Siliserh Lake , had food . Boating was main attraction there . There are many crocodiles still tourism department allows boating in that lake .

Next destination was Alwar fort , its on top of one of the mountain of Aravali Hills . Driving there is a great pleasure . We took some roads full of stones . thrones , glasses and reached a destroyed palace and took few snaps for the record . Out bike ryres had very tough time during this drive . From the top we can have nice view of Alwar City . While coming back i was driving without touching handles for 2-3 kms , turning the vehicle by balancing body weight and angle of inclination was fun.


Then relaxed for 1 hour in a dhaba , and left to delhi . Went to “ KARNATAKA BHAVAN “ for South Indian food . Reached home at 12.15 am midnight on 20/02/2006 .

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