Resplendent Rendezvous

There were miles to go before we could sleep and the road was beckoning us with open arms. The NH8 according to some is an architectural marvel but for one who has mastered this route knows of the dangers which lie in wait. The stretch from Manesar all the way to Dharuhera is filled with potholes, incomplete flyovers and annoyed Indian motorists who are willing to bite your ear off at the slightest hint of aggression. When you do ride in a pack there is a reputation which precedes you – the badass rebel. So for given reasons motorists even truckers and the notorious ‘Haryana Roadways’ buses will maintain a safe distance. Our usual stop midway to Jaipur is Hotel Highway King. It’s a neat little motel with a decent restaurant but unfortunately three hours into the ride and we still had another 45 km to go. So we unanimously decided to stop at the first decent place we find. To our luck just up ahead was hotel Tirupati. As we entered the premises it seemed like time just froze for the on lookers. One after another after another you could hear the slow deep thumps of the Enfields like the battle drums of an army. After a scrumptious Indian breakfast all were set to hop on to their horses and head out once again. At about four in the evening we finally entered Jaipur.

Jaipur is a city rich with the heritage of Rajasthan. It was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727. Initially the capital was Amber fort but with a growing population and shortage of water the Maharaja decreed the construction and planning of Jaipur which incidentally is also the first planned city of India. Our hosts for the evening and the entirety of the stay were none other than the Keys Hotels group. Established in 2006 this young group of hotels is making waves across the industry. The reason is simple they have got their ideology latched onto the pulse of exactly what the travelers today are looking for. From concept hotels, resorts and clubs to business hotels, a stay at any Keys property is something you can look forward to with ardour. A synonym of their ideology is being obsessed with perfection. From the luxury suits to the café every nook and cranny has been done up tastefully. The café serves a global variety of cuisines and the food is exceptional. One of the features of this hotel which caught my eye was the roof top pool which gives you a breath taking view of the city. The staff at the hotel is courteous to say the least and the service is phenomenal. 

As dawn breaks and the morning mist begins to settle we congregate around the well rested bulls with cloths and tools tending to them with care. The itinerary for the day is a tour around the various historic sites in Jaipur including the Hawa Mahal and Amber Fort. At about two in the afternoon we gathered in front of the Mansagar Lake from where we were to ride off to Ajmer. A vast expanse of free flowing highway lay ahead. The Jaipur-Ajmer route is jaw dropping. I did not find a single pot hole and yes I looked! Cruising at about 90 kmph we finally got to show a bit of skill behind the bars of our bulls. From a three-by-three formation to two single rows occupying the whole highway we were not short of rock stars on wheels. The other motorists sharing the highway with us did pay their respects to the riders and awed at us with longing smiles but there is always that special kind of stupid, a run of the mill idiot who will want to ruin the fun by honking their way through trying to grab some attention.

After a solid three hour ride we entered Ajmer with the splendid colours of Rajasthan displayed before us by the locals indulging in the festivities of Dusshera. Ten kilometers out of Ajmer and we were running along the valleys of the Aravali Hills. For a good distance we could see nothing but the winding road and desert shrubs here and there. Then out of a bend we saw it nestled in a brae -- the glamorous Pratap Palace. Tucked in a corner of Earth is this architectural marvel which has been carved out so carefully it oozes of talent and finesse. I am sure the management spared no expense when it came to the conceptualization and construction of this property. As we all rode up the front porch a grand welcome of garlands and traditional folk dances awaited us. Built at a juncture between Ajmer and Pushkar the Pratap Palace is known for its rich architectural heritage combining an essence of Rajasthani and Mughal design. From the lush green courtyard to an amazing view of the wilderness every aspect of Pratap Palace is designed to woo your senses and sooth your soul. The grand welcome was followed by a gala evening of cocktails and socializing. The unity of this group was strung around their passion for Royal Enfield and Living in close quarters with the bikers at Chase My Wheel taught me what it was to have a family away from family. While some of us decided to stay on longer to be precise the longer is four in the morning, I snuck away for a solo ride in the night. There is something about the air in the night, the cool breeze, the eerie silence and the star studded sky which is like a tonic for the nerves. Before anyone could notice my absence I returned to the singing and laughter of my mates. 

I woke early the next morning to leave for Pushkar, the songs we sang the night before still ringing in my ears as I grabbed my gear in a hurry and ran to the lobby. Pushkar is famous for the Brahma Temple which is the only one you will find in India and after a short visit we rode back to the resort for some grub. As we bid our hosts a fond farewell and rode off into the horizon we knew this was not good bye. The Pratap Palace is not a place you will visit once and forget but would want to go again and again, bringing new people to indulge in its beauty. Before we left Ajmer we planned a visit to the famous Dargah Sharif which is the shrine of the revered Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti born in 1141 AD. At about three in the afternoon we were out of Ajmer and once again were on the Jaipur Ajmer Expressway. We rode for four hours with a single five minute stop for water. At about seven in the evening we cleared Jaipur and stopped for tea. Riding in close formation and waiting on each other we slowly battled our way through trucks and traffic. The highway is bad at night and oncoming traffic does not care two hoots about your safety they just blaze their high beams at you as they drudge along. Through the snarls of commercial traffic and the dusty highway we chugged onward. At around nine thirty at night we stopped for dinner at the famous Sagar Ratna. The ride ahead was worse. There were no lights on the road and there were patches under construction. Finally battle wary and tired we saw those lights. Home was not far now, to us the lights of the Gurgaon high rises were like beacons of a lighthouse to sailors lost at sea. We stopped at Rajiv Chowk in Gurgaon to say that final goodbye but we knew this was not the end. The echoes of their victorious cheers over the thousand kilometers resounded in my ears as we all rode off into the darkness of the night.