Feature: TVS Raider and NTorq tour of Nepal

A seemingly straightforward journey throughout Nepal on TVS’ 125cc stars seems to be one stuffed with twists and turns. Rishabh Bhaskar brings us the main points.

Revealed On Aug 06, 2022 07:00:00 AM

Squeezing by means of the tiniest of gaps is what it took to get out of a 35km-long jam.

Slippery slush on the roads was difficult to barter

We’ve been making our approach by means of a seemingly limitless visitors jam for near an hour now. In a number of areas, the street is barely giant sufficient to let two vans cross. However others have fared far worse than us: a sea of hapless individuals have been stranded for near half a day on Nepal’s Prithvi Freeway. Day One among our journey by means of this nation had taken a number of surprising twists and turns to say the very least. “Ought to now we have simply turned again in the direction of Kathmandu?” The thought floated in all our minds as we waited for an earth mover to clear an enormous pile of boulders that was blocking our approach.

Incessant rains had wreaked havoc, inflicting landslides and visitors jams that stretched for miles.

A number of hours previous to being caught within the jam from hell, we had been all upbeat in regards to the three-day journey that TVS had deliberate for us within the land that’s the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. The event? A journey to have fun the success of TVS’ 125cc two-wheelers – the Ntorq 125 and the Raider. Each merchandise haven’t solely been a runaway hit in India, however have additionally risen in recognition in neighbouring Nepal and that’s why TVS introduced us right here. The night time earlier than departure, we noticed scores of TVS Ntorqs on the busy streets of Kathmandu and there have been a large variety of the newly launched Raider as nicely.

Standing within the forecourt of the Jagdamba TVS dealership, our flag off level, there was a palpable sense of pleasure within the air. Necessary photograph ops with the Raider and Ntorq 125 Race Version performed, we set off in the direction of our first vacation spot, Pokhara. Positioned 220km away, Pokhara is a significant metropolis in Nepal, well-known for its gorgeous lakes and exquisite surroundings.

The journey out of Kathmandu was eventful in itself, with the apparent chaos and heavy visitors of a capital metropolis. The peppy little 125s made mild work of coping with it and shortly we had been on the Prithvi freeway. By this time, the heavens had opened up, as we continued down the winding ghats that had been peppered with potholes. The vistas round us, nonetheless, had been breathtaking. Lush inexperienced mountain ranges stretched so far as the attention might see and as soon as we reached the underside of the valley, the Trishuliriver was a continuing companion, flowing alongside.

The Ntorq impressed with its means to resist a bashing.

The street circumstances had improved by now and we might discover the efficiency of the 125cc mills. The Raider’s raspy exhaust notice crammed the air as we handed visitors at a fast tempo. I’ve at all times liked the bike for its peppy nature, and for sure, we had been having a good time on it. Apparently, not like the Raider in India that will get Eco and Energy modes, the Raider offered in Nepal doesn’t have an Eco mode. Additionally, it doesn’t have a combi-braking system. I admit, backing the rear into a number of corners was a responsible pleasure we loved!

It was all going nicely up to now, and we had been on schedule to achieve Pokhara by sunset. Little did we all know that Mom Nature had different plans in retailer. The automobile carrying our baggage had left an hour earlier than us and referred to as in to report that it was caught in a jam. Incessant rains within the Chitwan district during the last couple of days had triggered landslides within the area. By this time, we had been making our approach by means of the tail-end of the jam and reached our lunch halt after a few kilometres.

An hour later, we bought information that the jam was just for one other 30km until we reached the Mugling junction. After a lot deliberation, we determined to proceed to Pokhara. The digicam and help crew ditched their vehicles and hopped on as pillions.

 

What adopted was an expertise we’d always remember. Working as a group, our convoy squeezed by means of each obtainable hole between stranded buses, vehicles and vans. To say that the sunshine and manoeuvrable 125s we had been on made life simpler can be an understatement. In a number of locations, we additionally needed to journey by means of ankle deep slush. It took us over two hours to get to Mugling. The convoy that had damaged into fragments within the mess regrouped right here, amidst cheers and sighs of reduction in addition to a number of tears. The ordeal had worn us out, however we nonetheless had 100km to cowl and the solar was setting.

Fortunately, the remainder of the journey was comparatively straightforward. Though it was darkish and raining, with the roads stuffed with potholes, slush and waterlogged in some areas, our little TVSes carried on unperturbed. I’ve to confess, I’ve by no means been extra elated on the sight of a resort, than once we reached Pokhara.

The following day was in full distinction to the one earlier than. The skies had been clear blue, the solar shining in all its glory and we had been astride our bikes and scooters on a easy six-lane Pokhara to Hemja freeway. After a number of photograph ops, we headed to the CommeA La Maison, a quaint restaurant overlooking the beautiful Phewa Lake. It was right here that we bought the subsequent spherical of unhealthy information. In a single day rains in Chitwan, our subsequent vacation spot, had elevated the possibilities of extra landslides. Plus the route again to Kathmandu from Chitwan was clogged with visitors in a number of locations. It wouldn’t be smart to leap from the frying pan into the fireplace, no?

With a heavy coronary heart, we parked the bikes in Pokhara and flew to Kathmandu. Our 750km journey was lowered to simply 280km.

On the brilliant facet, we had been protected and ever grateful to our little bikes for taking a beating on these climate worn roads and getting us to our vacation spot. It’s no surprise they’re so fashionable in Nepal.

Occasions like these remind us that not every thing goes as deliberate, however it’s smart to recognise when to not mess with mom nature. As for the unfinished exploration of this stunning and culturally wealthy nation, there’s at all times a subsequent time. And when that occurs, I do know I’d be completely happy to do it on both the Raider or the Ntorq, and with all the chums I made in Nepal.

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