Satara, Maharashtra, India
Until a few years ago, anybody who drove long distance in India, out of choice rather than necessity, was a fit case for the lunatic asylum. Such was the state of Indian roads. And then came Atal Behari Vajpayee, a former Prime Minister of India. Under him, the Golden
Quadrilateral got done. Now, the National Highways, for the most part is good with some stretches truly world class. Driving from place to place, is suddenly possible in India – welcome to the twentieth century !
Today was just to put some distance
. The trip meter reads exactly 750 km. Not bad for Day 1.
Every day, I am going to add a "deep insight" on the Indian highways. Today we'll kick off with the dance of the dinosaurs.
Indian trucks are capable of a top speed of perhaps 40 kmph !If there is even the slightest of slopes, they can only do 20. So here’s a truck , overladen with a million tons, manfully doing 18 kmph. The truckwallah behind him has got one gram of weight less and his manhood has been insulted at this slow speed. He therefore has to overtake – for he is doing 18.00000000000001 kmph. Off he swings left (we always overtake on the left in India despite driving on the left of the road). Both lanes are now blocked for the next 46 kms which is the distance it takes for the
0.000000000001 kmph difference in speed to finally show its impact. Meanwhile all of us behind have got a ringside view of this dance of the dinosaurs.
We’re left staring the truck’s delectable backside sporting “Horn OK Please”. Honk. Honk !
Horn OK Please
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Satara, Maharashtra, India
Other Entries
-
Feb 121 day prior
Bangalore, India -
Feb 13
Satara, India -
Feb 141 day later
Ankleshwar, India -
Feb 152 days later
Sasan Gir National Park, India -
Feb 163 days later
Sasan Gir National Park, India -
Feb 163 days later
Sasan Gir National Park, India -
Feb 163 days later
Sasan Gir National Park, India -
Feb 174 days later
Sasan Gir National Park, India -
Feb 185 days later
Somnath, India -
Feb 196 days later
Porbandar, India -
Feb 207 days later
Dwārka, India -
Feb 218 days later
Hodka, India -
Feb 229 days later
Hodka, India -
Feb 229 days later
Khavda, India -
Feb 2310 days later
Bajana, India -
Feb 2310 days later
Bajana, India -
Feb 2411 days later
Jaisalmer, India -
Feb 2512 days later
Damodra, India -
Feb 2613 days later
Longewala, India -
Feb 2714 days later
Tanot, India -
Feb 2815 days later
Jaisalmer, India
Comments
2025-05-22
Comment code: Ask author if the code is blank
Shachi
2014-02-13
Love the national highways but terrified of the dancing dinosaurs. Especially when driving at night.
750km - woohoo! but we need selfies too....please please please :)! And pics of food - what would Sriram and I do without those :)?
asha
2014-02-14
Carry on behind the dancing dinosaurs,and no toll for such beautiful well-maintained roads?
Exkalibur666
2014-02-14
I did a Pune - Kochi trip once as well (via the Konkan route).. stopped over in Kannur.. was nice especially the area around Karwar.. beaches are still pristine.. Complete identify witht truck scenario u described.. have been stuck behind them many times..
Vinod
2014-02-14
Great to see this travel Series! Wishing this a success , much bigger than Business Musings! Looking forward to lots of fun perspectives from the seasoned traveller :-)
Neelesh
2014-02-14
I have travelled on this Belt N numbers till Haveri.... Really good
indigoite
2014-02-14
@Shachi - Selfies and food ???? You are asking for two of the most difficult things ma'am. Hate to refuse a girl, but .... :):)
@Asha - Fistful of tolls alas. Raj Thakeray notwithstanding
@Exkalibur - You are a seasoned road warrior. Me, just a tyro. Tips from the master please.
@Vinod - Seasoned traveler is you !!!
@Neelesh - Upto Haveri is great. Crossing into Maharashtra, not so great.
sandhya sriram
2014-02-14
and then the number of people that line up on teh way for Nature's call - The gender of Ramarathinams :-) maybe your next post i am guessing
Vincy
2014-02-14
750 kns on Day one - you must be good at what you are doing arent you? With the national highways done up well, yes driving has been a pleasure offlate. We have been doing Chennai - Bangalore - mysore - hunsur- veerarajpet - irrity (hubbys place in kerala) for sometime now and its been good. once we reached Kerala in 12 hours even after taking adequate breaks,
But you know what Ramesh, we need to see more pictures and more of you - give it a thought while on the road.
neeleshshanbhag
2014-02-14
This is the best of all to enjoy... we would want to see you also along the Roads as well.
Deepa
2014-02-16
You crossed my hometown :) And I agree, the blog needs pictures of the traveller.
indigoite
2014-02-16
@Sandhya - Shhhhhhh :):)
@Vincy - Wow; that's some journey. BLOG ABOUT IT !!
@Neelesh - If I take a selfie while driving; I'll crash
@Deepa- Yes , but gave it a wide berth. Even the by pass is a mess - shudder to imagine how the innards would be :)
sriram
2014-02-18
that is a lot of driving in one day for a solo driver, even in the US hwy conditions. you did 750 km in one day? serious? Wow!!!
hey, wait a sec ... are you driving with somebody else too, and you are not letting us know? is that redhead with you there?
Vinod
2014-02-18
Just touched the tip, there is a whole iceberg to go. Someday. Hopefully soon.
indigoite
2014-02-18
@Sriram - Yes; it was heads down driving. Just me . No redheads applies :(
@Vinod - Get on to the car young man :)