My Big Escapade - Destination Unknown...: Day 114 - June 30

June30 at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail: GPS Trail Maps

Trip 182 Kms Trip meter 15013 KMs

The reasonable budget room i had taken was good in all respects but the fact the the cooler was pumping air from the parthenium infested site next to the hotel building. After a healthy dose of it i decided to make a quick move out of the hotel in the morning, that is after negotiating some water issue. Dehradun was the destination for the day and Dr Raman had invited me to stay over at his place.

It helped me to start early by like 6.30 am. I decided to take the longer, slower, scenic route via chamba and Missouri to Dehradun instead of the main road via rishikesh. And i was not disappointed. Stopped at a pretty resort for breakfast just before deviating from the Devprayag road towards New Tehri. The road was not so smooth the moment i took the deviation. But hey this is what we do right. Lot of road construction preparation materials like stones by side of the road, kinda causing hindrance. The undulating roads wind across the countless mountain folds. I seem to be gaining altitude gradually. Just when i resigned to ride out bad roads for some time, it was new freshly laid tarmac towards New Tehri. Which will bein sections. In no time i am riding among pine forests and smooth black narrow one lane road. By now it feels typical of Uttaranchal roads. I spot a green lake below. I am forced to stop as the fuse to the horn and Charges has loose contact and complaining. Its a big chose to pull out the cramster out of the pannier and remove seat just to shake the fuse a bit! Any way that takes a few minutes and i see more and more of the lake. After some time it kinda looks like the river but the water was really still. Should have realized that i am approaching Tehri dam.

Get there and it was a mind blowing sight. One of the best dams in india is just a landfill dam but supposed to be tough made by Russians. The magnitude of the dam site was mind blowing. Take plenty of stops to take photos in all angles. Kinda looked like a surveyor agent!! Just went berserk with the cam. Have to ride a long way along the valley just to get accross the valley. Though there is a shorter road via the top the dam, it is offlimits to civilians. But atleast photography is allowed till now.

Reached Tehri and went straight to the Bhagirathi puram police station. Dr Raman had arranged for my visit to the view point from he Officer's guest house there. A cop took me on his bike to the view point to get a good view of the entire project area. Gave me lot of gyan of the place etc. Like there are 4 turbines running of 250 MW each and 4 more are under construction and 2 more a lil distance down the flow. Saw the remains of the Tehri palace which will be submerged in a few weeks. In fact a whole town when under water after building the dam and they have been located to New Tehri which is quite high.

I then wanted to check out the New Tehri town after all wanted to see a town which is just 5 years old. Pretty well planned town and located quite high. The approach and departure road at New Tehri is just fantastic. Make it to New Tehri after riding some fantastic approach roads. The new settlement is quite high and literally on top of a hill. stopped for lunch at New Tehri, and the food was really great. I start riding towards chamba and kinda get disappointed to see normal town. Where is the chamba village from the movie 'Taal'? Guess its some other place.

By now the roads either got real narrow or kinda got disturbed due to road widening process. The slows me down. All the while i was gaining altitude and quite some time i was thinking ok cant get any more higher. But the mist around did not allow me to the see mountains much. Nearing Danolti its fresh tarmac. By now Dr Raman was waiting for me to arrive in thier house. But he roads were nto allowing for quick drive. Nearing Danolty the roads were fresh and no guesses for what we do.

By the time i was entering Mussoorie the roads again got really narrow and gravel strewn all the name of road making process. Any way make it near Missouri to be welcomed by smooth roads and aesthetically adorned roads. After entering Mussoorie i get a call from Dr Raman that he is coming to Mussoorie along with his daughter and neice to pick me up. It was a great surprise and i enter the meandering streets fo Mussoorie and wait at the Picture palace. Typical hilly city with inclined narrow roads and also has a mall road. Supposed to pay a fee just to enter. I preferred to wait outside the gate! In a few mins Dr Raman comes on his SX4 and i follow him till the road allowed us the park and meet personally.

It was a nice ride till Dehradun on the great wide mountain roads and was in Dr Raman's home by like 6pm. Just have to nourish my bike before taking off the Ladakh.

Following the Alaknanda River...