Day 18: Siliguri -Gangtok- Guwahati
Day 18:
Siliguri -Gangtok- Guwahati
I woke up all excited to start my ride after a long break of 5 days including an overnight Train Ride.
It was 6 am I came down to the basement with all the luggage and mounted it onto #StormShadow. Meanwhile I checked on to see if I could see the bikes of my friends. They had told me they would be starting early. I found out they had already left quite early.
I finally started off & rode towards Gangtok. A few kms ahead before Sevoke, I met these guys. The bike they hired from Siliguri had issues. It was not in the best of the conditions. So Vinoth, the guy who had rented the bike turned back and the other continued on with their ride. I stopped for a while to see if they required any help but they said they could handle it so I went ahead. The roads started out smooth but then it got worse. To add to that the water on the road from previous night's rain made it a little messy but were nothing compared to the South Assam roads.
At the entrance of Sikkim in Rangpo, there was a check post, I was stopped, details were taken and then I moved on towards Gangtok. Rangpo to Gangtok was another 40 kms. The roads were absolutely nice & scenic with beautiful curves and traffic was quite less till I reached Gangtok. I then turned back, fueled up in Gangtok & started my journey back towards Sevoke from where I had to take a diversion towards Guwahati.
As I came to the exit of Gangtok, A few locals stopped me and told me there was some unrest WRT the Gorkhaland agitation. They told me some stories which were a little hard to believe as I had just come by that way an hour ago. I said I may as well take a chance than wasting a whole day. So I continued towards Sevoke. There was nothing happening on the way back also to my luck an army truck & a gypsy were coming from behind me. I let the Army gypsy pass and placed myself between the two after signalling & seeking permission from the army guys. They were more than happy. I reached Sevoke & missed the turn. I then felt hungry so I stopped by an eatery.
I ate a plate of Momos & then the shopkeeper offered me Maggi. I was more than happy. I gulped the Garama garam (Hot Hot) Maggi noodles and then turned back towards Sevoke. I then rode on towards Guwahati.
First 20 kms were very picturesque & moderately decent. Post that 20-22 kms for another 30 odd kms the roads were just pathetic. Luckily for me, in this part of WestBengal, either there was not much rain or maybe it had dried up. Lucky or unlucky there was no slush but there was an alternate issue & it was dust flying in pounds every now & then.
I somehow took almost 3.5 hours or so to cross this 130 odd kms. Finally I reached outskirts of Alipurduar. From here onward the roads were better. I did not stop anywhere and kept riding.
Finally at about 8:00 PM I reached Guwahati. The same day Dildar had ridden from Silchar to Guwahati. We met & had dinner and then he guided me to a hotel & he went to his cousin's place.
I kept an alarm next morning for 5:00 as I had plans to reach Imphal through Kohima the next day.
Route taken : Siliguri, Sevoke, Rangpo, Gangtok,Rangpo, Sevoke, Damdim, Nagrakata, Binnaguri, Madhya Mandirhat, Gossaingaon, Bongaigaon, Nalbari.
Road conditions: Moderate to decent towards Gangtok in the Bengal parts. Sevoke to Damdim roads were decent, Damdim to Alipurduar bad,Bad,BAd,BAD! Alipurduar to Guwahati 4 lane nice roads with a few diversions.
What caused the delay: The scenic beauty by river Teesta, amazing beauty of Sikkim, The jungle route from Sevoke towards Alipurduar & Bad roads from Damdim to Alipurduar.
Kms Done: 656 kms (Including Bum burning 130 odd kms)
Destination tomorrow: Guwahati-Kohima-Imphal..
Siliguri -Gangtok- Guwahati
I woke up all excited to start my ride after a long break of 5 days including an overnight Train Ride.
It was 6 am I came down to the basement with all the luggage and mounted it onto #StormShadow. Meanwhile I checked on to see if I could see the bikes of my friends. They had told me they would be starting early. I found out they had already left quite early.
I finally started off & rode towards Gangtok. A few kms ahead before Sevoke, I met these guys. The bike they hired from Siliguri had issues. It was not in the best of the conditions. So Vinoth, the guy who had rented the bike turned back and the other continued on with their ride. I stopped for a while to see if they required any help but they said they could handle it so I went ahead. The roads started out smooth but then it got worse. To add to that the water on the road from previous night's rain made it a little messy but were nothing compared to the South Assam roads.
Beautiful roads
Welcome to Sikkim
At the entrance of Sikkim in Rangpo, there was a check post, I was stopped, details were taken and then I moved on towards Gangtok. Rangpo to Gangtok was another 40 kms. The roads were absolutely nice & scenic with beautiful curves and traffic was quite less till I reached Gangtok. I then turned back, fueled up in Gangtok & started my journey back towards Sevoke from where I had to take a diversion towards Guwahati.
As I came to the exit of Gangtok, A few locals stopped me and told me there was some unrest WRT the Gorkhaland agitation. They told me some stories which were a little hard to believe as I had just come by that way an hour ago. I said I may as well take a chance than wasting a whole day. So I continued towards Sevoke. There was nothing happening on the way back also to my luck an army truck & a gypsy were coming from behind me. I let the Army gypsy pass and placed myself between the two after signalling & seeking permission from the army guys. They were more than happy. I reached Sevoke & missed the turn. I then felt hungry so I stopped by an eatery.
I ate a plate of Momos & then the shopkeeper offered me Maggi. I was more than happy. I gulped the Garama garam (Hot Hot) Maggi noodles and then turned back towards Sevoke. I then rode on towards Guwahati.
First 20 kms were very picturesque & moderately decent. Post that 20-22 kms for another 30 odd kms the roads were just pathetic. Luckily for me, in this part of WestBengal, either there was not much rain or maybe it had dried up. Lucky or unlucky there was no slush but there was an alternate issue & it was dust flying in pounds every now & then.
I somehow took almost 3.5 hours or so to cross this 130 odd kms. Finally I reached outskirts of Alipurduar. From here onward the roads were better. I did not stop anywhere and kept riding.
On the 4 lane Highway to Guwahati from a little after Alipurduar
Finally at about 8:00 PM I reached Guwahati. The same day Dildar had ridden from Silchar to Guwahati. We met & had dinner and then he guided me to a hotel & he went to his cousin's place.
I kept an alarm next morning for 5:00 as I had plans to reach Imphal through Kohima the next day.
Done for the day!!
A short video of the ride https://youtu.be/wETD1uF3P9M
Route taken : Siliguri, Sevoke, Rangpo, Gangtok,Rangpo, Sevoke, Damdim, Nagrakata, Binnaguri, Madhya Mandirhat, Gossaingaon, Bongaigaon, Nalbari.
Road conditions: Moderate to decent towards Gangtok in the Bengal parts. Sevoke to Damdim roads were decent, Damdim to Alipurduar bad,Bad,BAd,BAD! Alipurduar to Guwahati 4 lane nice roads with a few diversions.
What caused the delay: The scenic beauty by river Teesta, amazing beauty of Sikkim, The jungle route from Sevoke towards Alipurduar & Bad roads from Damdim to Alipurduar.
Kms Done: 656 kms (Including Bum burning 130 odd kms)
Destination tomorrow: Guwahati-Kohima-Imphal..
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