Mount Abu - Riding Solo - I

Sabarmati River
I started off from office at 10 PM on 26th May, Friday, my train was at midnight. From a plan involving seven, I was the only one left. But I decided to make the journey anyways. I woke up next morning as the train reached Vadodara. Started the day off with a refreshing cup of tea. Clicked photos and played guitar for a while before reaching the Abu Road station by 1245 PM. The first thing I did was gorge on the famous Mt Abu Rabadi.

At the local market, Abu Road
                At a ten-minute walk from the railway station, I got a bus to Mount Abu, 30 kms away. The fare was 40 bucks which is considerably cheap. The route was scenic, and winding with lots of hairpin bends that left me dizzy. I tried to get a place to stay, but couldn't find anything under Rs. 2500/day. So I booked a hotel online at Abu Road and made the 30-kms bus journey downhill. The hotel was called Hotel Sigma, very close to the railway station. My room was a typical backpackers room, with adequate amenities and nothing fancy. The staff was friendly, the owner filled me in with loads of details about things to do, and places to eat. I roamed the local market, feasted on a bit more Rabadi and came back home that evening. And slept off by 1230 AM after watching Arsenal win the FA cup finals! A good omen.

My Ride
                The next day, I was up at 430 AM, feeling fresh and ready to travel. I freshened up, it was breezy outside. I went down to have a cup of tea by 6 AM, came back, played the guitar for a while and then left for Mount Abu by 730 AM. This time, the bus journey was little more comfortable. I was getting used to it now. I had booked a bike with Baas motorcycles in Mount Abu. The guy sounded rude on the phone, didn't like the sound of him after speaking with him for the first time. I wanted to ride around, and probably to Udaipur as well. But he refused saying the price for riding outstation would be double, which he didn't inform when I was making the booking. He charged me 400 bucks for a receipt for going back to my hotel saying the regular prices are just for the local travel. I had to surrender my driving license and I could show the receipt and get away in case I was stopped by a cop. I had a made a booking for 4 bikes initially but cancelled 3 by Friday due to back outs. While returning the bike the next day, he refused to return the balance of Rs. 400 saying he doesn't allow cancellations. We had a bit of an argument, but I didn't want to spoil the vacation, so I gave up. The bike was in excellent condition though - Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350.

                After getting the bike, I rode to Achalgarh fort first. It was crowded. And visited a Jain temple close to the fort, which had beautiful carvings on the wall. From here, I went to Trevor's lake, where I was lucky enough to spot a small crocodile. Even this place was crowded, as a large group of tourists decided to play Antakshiri there

(There was a board saying 'Please maintain silence' but.. ). I took a detour away from the crowd and spotted quite a few birds - a kingfisher, a rufous treepie, an oriental white eye, lots of bulbuls and many other birds that I didn't know the names of. After the lunch break, I came back to the hotel and had a quick nap before visiting the Nakki lake, and looking at the crowd there, I made a U-turn and decided to head to the sunset point. I had a quick cup of tea and went off to the sunset point - I couldn't find a place to stand in the crowd. I went back to the Nakki lake - this time the opposite end which was a lot less crowded. After clicking a few pictures and just sitting there for some time, I left for the hotel. The prospect of riding the bike at night on the ghat was exciting. I was new to this! I tried halting for a few photos of the night sky, but too many vehicles meant too much stray light. Came back, had dinner, rounded it off with falooda as dessert. Abu was not living up to the expectations so far.

 Part - II:  Mount Abu - Riding Solo - II

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