Lavassa - Khandala - Midnight Ride to Tiger Point - A reunion

The Group Minus Ramesh and Murgesh

Summer of 1991 – that’s the year my family moved in to our home in Mukund Nagar. Most of my fond memories here are filled with the antics of my friends; Friends who are so different – we didn’t realize then.

20 years now in the future we are all wrapped in the fabric of our own worlds but never miss a chance to look back and to laugh AT one another. Whatsapp is our common platform for connectivity. Virtually, yes we are in the same territory but in reality we have embraced other cities to follow the rat race.

So when Rajan (The Dark Knight – The most Dravidian of us all – atleast complexion wise ;-) ) made this brave decision (after permission from his wife) to take 4 days off and visit Pune – just to chill out and not work, it was an apt reason to let the others know to keep a weekend free. Raj, Bala and Murgesh were positive to the idea. I, as you know am always ready. Ramesh and Kanna confirmed on the last day and thus was planned our Reunion of 2012.

P.S. Josie my friend was also roped in by me – well he doesn’t have much to do in life anyways.

The Hitch-Hikers

Royal Enfield Classic 500 Black, Desert Storm and a Thunder Bird – Our partners for the ride

3 bikes, 6 friends, 4 will ride to Pune and 2 will join them at Chandni Chowk and off they will ride to Lavassa and back to Pune and then to Khandala by late evening to catch up with Murgesh and Kanna. That was the whole, short and sweet Plan. 

Ramesh - DevAnand of Mukund Nagar

My humble request to Raj, Bala, Ramesh and Joseph was that they call me when they reach Talegaon, so that I leave then from my abode and meet them at Chandni Chowk – service road turn to Lavassa off NH4. These morons called up at 10.30 am saying they have reached. They left Bhandup Gaon at 8.30 am and that left me lost in my wits wondering – how did this happen? A quick shower and we zoomed as crazily as we could towards NH4. It was a prank, we realized – 1 hour 15 minutes later the bitchy lot arrive with laughter that invited a bullet shot. It was hot and hence the wait was agonizingly long and we were well behind in our schedule as well.  

Ramesh aka Idli was experiencing the first bike ride of his life. His first sentence (even before a Hello or Wassup) – “how the hell do these guys ride so far so often man, my bum just died” ;-) (Translated from Tamil of course)

Biker Brothers

The initial 10 – 15 km’s (Paud road) seemed like we were still in the city. It’s only after we crossed Pirangut and took a left, I really started enjoying the ride. We rode till a little before of Mutha Dam and decided to take a break - A pit stop to click some pictures. What followed was a half an hour of multiple clicks to capture riders on the bullet across various turns and speeds and aperture and angles and what not. The whole photography activity was so serious that a couple of guys in their car stopped to ask if there is some movie shoot going on – and I am not kidding here. I wonder who they thought the hero was – Raj or Rajan or me…hmm!

Mutha Dam

The sight of the Mutha Dam was amazing. We didn’t stop but the pillion riders with the Cameras did a good job at capturing the magnificence. Josie became a daredevil photographer with the DSLR in one hand and clicking in all directions while Raj was twisting and turning at 90 km/hr or more. Josie didn’t even look through the viewfinder or the LCD screen to check on what he wanted to shoot. He was just click click click with one hand– So good. The entry to Lavassa is more or less like Aamby Valley. We got our bike numbers registered and entered Lavassa. The river front is another few kilometers down from here. We were very hungry. We stopped at Ekant for a nice lunch buffet. The grilled fish was mind blasting. Rabdi with Jalebi ended our hunger drought perfectly.

DareDevil Josie

By the waterfront promenade we took some nice photographs. The colors of the adjacent buildings just added to the charm of the place. The promenade has some nice coffee shops with chairs placed outside to sit, have a cuppa and enjoy the beautiful mountains, the river and the crazy visitors like us. It was already close to 5. We had to head to Khandala where our other mates Murgesh and Kanna had already reached. They had checked into the hotel and we were only just out of Lavassa – well, only to return back to Lavassa. Why? Read on.

Lavassa Promenade

Almost 30 km’s off Lavassa Rajan got a call from the Lavassa security that I had left something behind. Rajan was the pillion with Raj. They were ahead of us. So they waited for me and Ramesh (my pillion) to reach. Rajan who was carrying my backpack and had left it at Lavassa, innocently asks me ‘Vinos what have you left behind’ and I scream “Duh! My bag, which was with you’ – careless Dravidian, I say. For a moment everybody was quiet until all of us broke into laughter. Here we were at the dusk of the day; still some 100 kms away from Khandala and now have to go back to Lavassa to get the bag. Raj decided that he and Josie will go back and we head to Khandala to catch-up with the punctual friends in the hotel. The logic was simple – Raj will cover the distance in half the time that I or Bala would take :-) Kudos Raj!!

Raj and Josie - going back to Lavassa to get my Bag

From here except for a chai break we didn’t stop anywhere and reached Khandala by 8.30 pm. Raj reached at 10 pm by when our sores were better and we had already reached a hotel for dinner. It was a shady bar and restaurant called Diamond opposite Kumar Resort in Lonavla. Our entertainment here was a group of 25 guys sitting ahead of us and singing old Hindi songs in inebriated condition. The food wasn’t great but we decided on something very realistic here. We decided to ride to Tiger Point (en-route Aamby valley). Perfect! 3 bullets and 8 people @ almost the midnight :-)

Triple seat @ Tiger Point

The ride up to Tiger point was smooth and without any dramas – thank god! Raj’s Classic and my Desert Storm transported 3 each and Bala was on his Thunderbird was with Rajan. It was pitch dark all the way. Once at top we were surprised as there were a lot of revelers like us in their cars and bikes and playing loud music and even dancing. Chai tapri’s were open and even serving bhajiyas at this hour of the night. We did some time pass, clicked some pictures and rode back. Near Bushy Dam a cop caught us for riding triple seat. But he lost focus on us when he found a car with alcohol bottles in them and went on to fine them a few thousands leaving us unattended. We slipped away.

Rajan's Dream Run

By the time we slept, it was 3 am and Ramesh was close to tears. Bala and Rajan pulled Ramesh’s leg so much that he begged them to stop at one point. Bala (who otherwise is very silent) was in form that day and bought back all the memories of Ramesh that he tries so hard to bury ;-)

By the end of the reunion I fulfilled one of Rajan’s long held dream. A Dream of riding a Bull in the ghats. While coming back to Pune – Bidding Adieu to the rest, Rajan rode my Bull from Lonavla till Hinjewadi. I could sense the free spirit he had hidden somewhere within.

Bala and Me

Entry to Lavassa

@ Tiger Point