Pune to Bhutan - Motorcycle Expedition Experience
As the riders world dreams of riding to Leh, the so-called Mecca of riders, I always fantasized riding to Bhutan, the happiest country. May be I was a Monk in Bhutan in my previous life, that itself is so soothing to think about.
In October 2016 last year with the least amount of planning for a two week international (Bhutan ) ride we made it to Bhutan. We have successfully completed the trip and back home safely with least amount of glitches. We are lucky in that. Like they say small families are happy families, I believe in small groups are comfortable to ride. And what could have been much more comfortable than three people riding same machines.
This blog is dedicated to that person in my life who I never believed that exists to give me the love, the care and the courage to fight with the world.
Some appetizers before we start the buffet
View of Thimphu City.. That yellow fields, flowing river and majestic ghats.. <3
Yes, thats true.. Gross National Happiness is important anyday
Paro City Night long exposure shot..
The Best place I will ever visit - Taktsang Monastery aka Tiger's Nest
Rinpung Dzong - Night long exposure shot
They call it the second Switzerland on the earth.. I suggest they call it first Punakha on the earth..
One view in Bhutan - I promise you will be amazed in every frame..
Planning:
May be we had just adequate planning for the trip. As per tradition, Whatsapp group was started two months before the trip. Luckily it was not the scenario of “group started with 10 members and people leaving every week with excuses”. I wanted to be sure with whom I am going even before I started planningDates were finalized as October 8th to 23rd.
Final List:
Me – Bhargav (starting from Pune)
Vivek (starting from Pune) – I met him through xBhp Pune Chapter.
Pavan (starting from Hyderabad) – I met him in 7th grade in my school
Me and Vivek were clear that we will parcel the bikes from Pune. Finally we have agreed on that we will parcel bikes along with us in the train. Pavan was in dilemma whether to ride from Hyd to Kolkata or parcel bikes. I insisted he parcel the bike rather than taking risk of riding two days or 1500kms alone.
Step 1: The first step of our plan was to book train tickets. So I and Vivek had booked train tickets for Duronto Express and Pavan also booked his tickets. I was eager to train tickets because even if both of them drop out, I will visit Bhutan in trains or buses or whatever way but I am going to have the trip I wanted. Being selfish
Step 2: We got all the must carry items listed. The list covered from inner wear to thermal wear, ointments to tablets and lubes to spares.
Step 3: Shopping for the trip. We did it in three different categories.
- Online for first aid kit and puncture kit
- Probikers, Pune for Riding Gears, lube and bungee cord – I bought a new helmet MT Revenge for rides only (review follows)
- Decathlon for stuff like thermals, mini-backpack, rain coat, gloves, etc
Step 4: Getting the bike ready. Got it serviced about three weeks back so that I can be sure there are no glitches.
Step 5: Having all the necessary documents ready. Must include
Voter ID
Driver’s License
Vehicle Registration
Vehicle Valid insurance
Valid PUC
Weeks flew by and we were just waiting to start off the trip so that no one can stop it
Railyway Parcel and Service:
Come D-Day October 8th. We reached Pune railway station and got both the bikes packed with whatever stuff we got. We dealt with an agent suggested by friend. Total two bikes parcels took about 3500 including packing charges. We thought it was okay. Here we did a mistake of getting the bikes parceled as two different packages. I will tell you how it screwed me after a day. So ultimately all went smoothly and this process took about 4hours. We estimated we will be finished we will be done in couple of hours but no, they took their time. People were ok-friendly as long as you pay them.
All three ended up carrying “Viaterra Claw Bag 40Kg” (review follows). Vivek and Pavan owned it and I borrowed from my friend. One more screw up, I forgot to take a rain cover for the bag as I the forecasts suggested no rain next two weeks. Do carry rain cover for the bags in any season.
Here at 2.45PM I have realized I lost my parcel slip. I am doomed. I ran back to parcel office and told them the same. There will be another copy of original slip with them I have requested them to give it to me so that I can produce the same at Howrah station. I didn’t want to deal with people at unknown place so I requested them. They couldn’t help me. I took a picture of the receipt in mobile with a hope that it might be acceptable in worst case. Do not lose the receipt at any cost. You don’t want to deal with sarkaari leeches at the start of your dream trip.
Finally on-time we started our trip officially. Even though we were not our bikes, we know that the trip is ON and we are going far away from all the tensions of work, life, people, etc. Duronto experience was awesome. We just ate, chatted with strangers, people calling us crazy to ride motorcycles Bhutan made us feel proud of our spirits. J I am already in love with the trip.
Once we are Kolkata railway station, as I have already screwed up coz I lost my receipt. That was infact a big deal. So we left both the bikes in the station and decided to return tomorrow for them. Next day morning I had to file an FIR at railway police that I lost my receipt and so-and-so parcel is mine and I want to the custody of it. Atleast at around 3pm we got custody of both the bikes, only then my soul rested. Same day night my friend Pavan arrived, officially we are all together.
Route followed:
Below is our itinerary and the route plan we have followed during the trip. I have mentioned the road trip dates here- 10-Oct-2016 Kolkata to Silguri: Usual SH12 via Farakka, Malda and Kishanganj
- 11-Oct-2016 Siliguri to Pheuntsholling via Sevoke, Damdim, Nagrakata and Jaigaon
- 12-Oct-2016 Pheuntsholling to Thimphu via Gedu, Chapcha
- 13-Oct-2016 Thimphu sightseeing
- 14-Oct-2016 Dochula Paas, Haa valley
- 15-Oct-2016 Thimphu to Paro
- 16-Oct-2016 Tiger’s Nest
- 17-Oct-2016 Paro sightseeing
- 18-Oct-2016 Paro to Punakha
- 19-Oct-2016 Paro to Siliguri: via Sevoke and Pheunstholling
- 20-Oct-2016 Siliguri to Kolkata: returned via same route
