BY VIR NAKAI

UTTRAKHANDRIDING IN THE LAND OF THE GODS

THANKS TO

FOR PICKING UP THE TAB

ABOUT THE RIDEA few months ago I won a contest held by Castrol Power 1. The deal was they would foot the bill for 7 riders to travel through any part of the country on their bike. So for my ride I decided to hit Uttrakhand a part of the country I had never ridden or travelled in. Since it was short notice I couldnt tempt anyone to join me so after a long time I was off on a ride alone on my trusty Royal Enfield Cast Iron 500cc. The plan was simple. Ride throught the state and keep away from all the madness and give a miss to all the ‘Touristy’ and ‘Religious’ spots. The route that I followed was Chandigarh - Chakrata - Dhanaulti - Chamba - New Tehri - Ukhimat - Chopta - Chakori - Munsiari- Jaula Jibbi - Pithoragarh - Nanital - Delhi - Chandigarh.

ABOUT VIR Since I was a kid, I have been obsessed with bikes probably because I spent most of my childhood years on the tank of dad’s bullet. He always said if I wanted to ride, it would only be a Bullet. When it was time to get a bike — it was a no brainer that it would be a Royal Enfield. In November 1998, I got my self a Machismo. That was the catalyst and there was no turning back. Fourteen years later, I no longer have that bike, but have 2 Thunderbirds a, Iron Cast 500 and the latest member to the garage is a Lean Burn 500. Over the years I ridden all around India. As a bonus, I have had the joy of riding in other parts of the world as well. Over the last few years I have co-authored a blog with a friend. The blog basically an account of our preposterous love for motorcycles and about us traveling on them over countless miles over hills, down valleys, on roads smoother than a baby bum to trails blasted out of a mountains that have taken us on some excellent adventures to new and wondrous places.

ABOUT HELMET STORIESHelmet Stories is an adventure travel company founded by Harsh ManRai and me. We are vastly experienced travelers and motorcyclists who met while being filmed in Ladakh for “The Road Trip” a 10-part television serial on what compels different people to get on a motorcycle and ride off into the blue yonder. After spending many miles on the road together, we decided to focus our attention on motorcycle touring and adventure travel and thus Helmet Stories was born. The company provides premium guided motorcycle adventure tours in India characterized by premium-level accommodations and meals,impeccable Royal Enfield motorcycles-the bike de jour for adventure riding in India, a superior support team, and exciting “off-bike” activities designed to maximize riders’ appreciation and enjoyment of the unique local culture in the areas in which we travel. These backroads have been our personal playground for years, and we’ve plotted out the best riding in India for you on your own motorcycle holiday. We’ll show you places and roads easily missed and passed over by the crowd and during our ride together, you’ll enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded enthusiasts, seeing, tasting and feeling India-s diverse culture and geography that is best experienced from the seat of a motorcycle.

HELMET STORIES