Mahindra recently took us for a 2700km ride through Rajasthan and Jaipur. Aptly called the Mojo Desert Trail, this ride saw us pick our way through the sand dunes of Jaisalmer, temple towns in Bhuj, the white desert of Kutch and beaches in Mandvi. Here is a brief glimpse of what we experienced through the nine days -
Every group ride has a lead and a sweep. As the names suggest, the lead takes charge of the convoy making sure we stay on the correct route while the sweep ensures that no one gets left behind.
Rajasthan and Gujarat are lands of arrow-straight highways and long sweeping corners, which allowed us to make the most of the Mahindra Mojo’s 27 horsepower engine. With the smooth tarmac and clear visibility aiding our confidence, we had a blast shredding the highways.
The Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 was a turning point in Bangladesh’s fight for liberation. In this photo is a damaged Pakistani tank left behind by their troops at Longewala, and one of our Hunter aircrafts which devoured these tanks during the war.
Our enthusiasm to keep riding saw us skip lunch every once in a while. However we did manage to grab quick bites of local delicacies every time we stopped for a break.
Every once in a while, a few of us would venture into the sand dunes which border this highways of Rajasthan. Most of our time though, was spent on pushing and tugging at the bikes to get them unstuck from the sand.
For most of the time in Rajasthan, we stayed on the outskirts of cities. Demonetisation meant that every morning we had to find fuel pumps that accepted card payment, something which was as rare as finding water. As a result, the meticulously planned schedule went for a toss every day.
With the temperature reaching single digits, only a select few can fight the urge to stay curled up in bed and catch the sunrise. The reward for this bravery is an uninterrupted, magical view of the sun rising over the dunes of the Thar desert.
The locals who drove the Mahindra Major and Commander jeeps were well versed with the terrain. They gave us a rollercoaster ride, swerving through the sand sharply, climbing dunes and diving off them as we clung on for our dear lives.
There is no running away from it, the popularity of the Rann of Kutch means that the white desert is always teeming with tourists, which has led to blatant commercialisation. But even these distractions can’t take away the experience of witnessing the sun set over the Rann of Kutch.
A ‘chakkada’ is essentially a hybrid of a trailer and a motorcycle, usually a vintage Royal Enfield or BSA. A part and parcel of localities’ lives, the chakkada is to Saurashtra what the local trains have been for Mumbaikars.
The glowing sky with the amber rays, the warm sea breeze and the sight of shimmering sand make for a heavenly view. The sheer beauty of the moment makes you lose track of time, soothing you to the core.
