Life is a Journey, If you stop you are dead.

So far we have covered most of the scenic beauties of Northern India. Below you can read the travelogues written by our participants about their personal experiences.

Dev Bhumi Ride - by Vishal Suri
Total Distance: 1100 kms.

I had not felt as excited about anything in recent years as I was for this. “This” was the Devbhumi Ride organised by Team 456. The feeling I had was very similar to the sort of feeling you have when going on a first date. You look forward to it until-your-eyes-pop-out with a lot of expectation, lust, even trepidation.
Now, if you are looking for sex, murder, drugs, high speed motorbike chases, treasure hunts, escapes from high security zones, then this is not the place. It is just the story of how a few strangers passionate about biking get together on a demanding ride into the hills, get to know each other, then fall in love with each other, and live happily ever after.
I have travelled quite a bit, mostly in cars, but I also have a few motorcycle rides under my belt. However, the DBR was unique for me as it meant about 1100 kms of motorcycling in a group of about 35 riders. I had had no such experience, and I was very eager to test my motorcycling skills, as also to meet the other 34 mentally deranged guys who wanted to do this for pleasure.  Although I had met a few of them before the trip, but the final introduction of all the members would be made only on the penultimate night of the trip. In the event, it turned out to be a motley ensemble of guys ranging in ages between 18 – 48, from businessmen to professionals to freelancers, the common denominator being the manic obsession with riding bikes.
 

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Mission Ladakh  2009 / 2008 / 2007 / 2006 / 2005
Total Distance: 3200 kms.

Ladakh a dream destination for every bikers known for its remote beauty and culture. The largest town in Ladakh is Leh. Ladakh is the highest plateau of the Indian State of Kashmir with much of it being over 3000 mtrs. The Ladakh range has no major peaks; its average height is a little less than 6000 mtrs. and few of its passes are less than 5000 mtrs.

Manali - Leh highway (474 Kms) is the dream place for every biker. The route has everything that a biking enthusiast could ask for – its share of winding mountain roads, snow clad peaks, high altitude passes, glacial lakes – everything to soothe one’s eye and to pump up one’s adrenaline. Many times one started preparation to take the arduous challenge of this road but somehow due to some reasons could not make it. Mission Ladakh encourages such individuals to join this odyssey to fulfill their dream with a group of expert Team. The 14 days trip has been scheduled from 1st to 14th June 2009 which includes Khardung La, Pangong Lake, Tso Kar, Tso Moriri Lake.

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Operation Desert Storm By Naveen Puri 
Total Distance: 2000 kms.

A passionate Bullet Rider has just one dream which he always wants to fulfill i.e. Biking to remotest areas of the World. This dream is to test your abilities of how good you are as a biker and also tests your abilities to adapt/cope with adverse circumstances and climatic conditions where there’s not a single soul for miles together to come to your rescue. With this testing and tough concept and view in mind we (Team 456) planned a trip to Rajasthan and named it “Operation Desert Storm”

Since the plan incepted in members of “Team 456” mind, the excitement kept growing. As I shared with like minded friends about this trip, some of them replied saying "Yaar tum paagal ho kya? Don’t tell me ki tum log bullet chala kar Rajasthan…itni dur" and I would answer them back , Have you ever had that feeling when you are just in awe of what you see in front of you? A sight what can be best described as the magic of God and you have to actually take in a deep breath and give yourself a couple of seconds so that your brain can actually register what is in front of you. Well if you haven’t then you are missing out on something called life.

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Chopta Tungnath - by Rahul
Total Distance: 850 kms.

North India is shivering in chilling winter when temperature is around 2º Celsius and if anybody takes decision to getaway on bikes, impromptu the answer will be ‘no way’; but if we mix together patriotism, courage and adventure we can produce a definition of Team 456. One side 5OO km topsy-turvy stretch and snowy peaks of Uttrakhand from Delhi through U.P. on MOTORBIKES. They leave on 23rd from Delhi and return successfully on 27th January.

Every year the urge to do different and to display patriotism this daring biking team defines him to go with the limits of adventure. Taking challenges from nature and grabbing them with smiling faces team of young guns Parmesh, Vijay, Vinod, Mohit and Venugopal hoisted Indian flag on the snowy carpet peak of Chopta (2900mtrs) in “Dev bhoomi” Uttrakhand and I was with them to see the madness diluted in patriotism.
 

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Gangnani Trip by Sreejith
Total Distance: 900 kms.

Temperatures were dipping in Delhi to around 6 d C and the news of heavy snow falling in the mountains made us venture out to Himalayas once again. Maps were unfolded and the destination chosen was Dayara Bugyal (DB) an upcoming skiing destination in Uttarkashi district of Uttaranchal. To reach Dayara you have to come to Barsu, from where it is an 8 kms. trek and the other route is through Raithal from where Dayara Bugyal is 6 kms. Since Jan 26 was falling on Wednesday we thought of kicking off on Friday 20th night and return on 26th. Despite the scowls of family members we 5 guys dared to take the challenge of confronting the cold conditions. But later we realized our folks were right.

I rung up the office of GMVN (Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam) tourist office to ask about any place of stay in DB. They said there is nothing in DB instead you‘ll have to stay in Bhatwari a village 12 km downhill and there’s heavy intermittent snow fall since two days. I was delighted to announce this to others who were all looking forward riding amidst the white-carpeted mounts. Hit Janpath and Tibetan monastery to buy gloves and jackets also bought one bottle of IB foreseeing the chill.
 

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