enquiries were made and though I wasn’t really recommended the route, I decided to try this new stretch of road that was still being constructed at a few sections. And this decision later didn’t really turn out to be one of my best judgements. Maybe I should have just listened to the locals… Gliding through the smooth curvy road towards Sindhuli, surrounded by the jungles glowing in the sunset, and seduced by the thrill to explore the unknown, I zipped ahead; new roads always fills me with the energy to endure the journey ahead. The road quality was probably the best I had ever ridden and it left me wondering why the locals still insisted on taking a different route. But soon, I wandered off a bridge and found myself riding towards the river. It didn’t take long to realize that I was lost, with the river track leading nowhere in the darkness. With continuous failed attempts to retrace my way back from the sand to the road, I was getting frustrated and nervous. Then luckily, I heard some temple bells ring nearby. I took the stairs to the isolated temple, and nearly like in a Bollywood flick, sought for salvation from the temple priest. Fair enough, he showed me the right way that would lead me to Sindhulimadi. It was already twilight and my fun journey was
now turning out to be a scary one. The path led through a very thick and slushy forest in the pitch dark. To add to my horror, my bike lost its rear brakes and manoeuvring the motorcycle not really being sure of where I was going was becoming more frightening. Somehow, I managed to reach Sindhulimadi by 8pm. Then it began to drizzle. Challenges galore, I still kept pressing hard. The ascent to Sindhuli Gadhi started and it was fun to be back on good quality roads ripping through the corners again. I could imagine how fun
it would have been to ride this sweeping road in daytime with more visibility to boot. The road was filled with plenty of curves and kept snaking through for the next 25kms or so. And suddenly, there was no road at all! Barred with bamboo sticks it was land’s end and there was a 90° vertical fall into the river. Back in Sindhuli, an old lady had informed me of a tough stretch of off-road ahead and advised me to take the left turn just before the awesome snaky road would end. So I
“I took the stairs to the isolated temple, and nearly like in a Bollywood flick, sought for salvation from the temple priest.”
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AUTOLIFE June 15, 2013 67