The Bhangarh Berettas

Nostalgia was high on mind when I planned my 15th Ride…Bhangarh was the first bike ride of my life back in March 2008 with Negi & Pravin…and what a ride it was…I wanted to re-live the magic of Bhangarh all over again…also the fact that most of BOPians could not ride in the August Binsar Bazookas Ride ensured that we had lots of riders signing up for this ride…finally we had 13 confirmations and 2 pillions as well…15 was the biggest count BOP has ever had for it’s rides…

The Bhangarh Berettas were:

1. Dips on his Black Electra
2. Gyan on his Red Karizma
3. Vihans on his Orange FZ-16
4. Verma & Sharma on the Udhaar ki 5S Machismo
5. Sandy on his Silver 5S Electra – The Debut Rider
6. Pravin on Marco Polo
7. Veeru on his Black Pulsar 220
8. Deepak on his Black Pulsar 220
9. Katar on his Red Birdie
10. Zaheer on the Udhaar ki Standard
11. Ashok on his Red Electra
12. Rishi on his 535 Lightning
13. Kunwar Paaji – The Indomitable Pillion
14. Che on The Mighty One



The Ride started at 5:30 AM from The Leisure Valley Park in Gurgaon with the Sun breaking out, birds twittering and cool breeze flowing…when the 13 bikes were ready to rock & roll the noise created quite a ruckus and blew the sleep from the minds of morning-walkers who swarm the park every morning…not the peaceful surroundings they were hoping for on a sleepy Saturday morning!!!

We made our first stop at 6:45 AM on a NH-8 flyover after 70 kms of fast riding…actually we all wanted to pee…that’s why we actually stopped!!!



After the open-air spectacle we all stopped for Breakfast at a decent-looking place…neither a Dhaba nor a Restaurant but looked clean and with well-designated wash-rooms as well...Ordered for Paranthas & Tea without asking for the Menu-Card and that was a cardinal mistake we committed…both the things were not gastronomically divine but the bill was worth Rs. 1950 bucks…jaw-dropping and we were all dumbstruck…but could not do a thing about it…paid it while abusing left-right & centre…one big learning for life…never order for food without looking at the menu & checking the prices…



I was the last rider to start after seeing everybody off with Katar Bhai and soon realized that the front Tyre was punctured…managed to ride at 50 kmph till I found a repair shop…got the air filled and started again but soon the Tyre completely gave way and I had to stop to get the puncture repaired…the 2 guys manning the shop were royally sleeping and I had to vroom the bike to wake up from their deep slumber…he gingerly woke up and came out to assess the damage…his 1st response was “NAHIN HOGA- Bullet hai Saahab”…I told him that I know how to remove the Tyre and he just needs to repair the puncture…he found out that the tube was damaged and had to be removed…luckily Katar Bhai was carrying a spare tube and it was duly replaced…thanks a ton Katar for helping me out…



But while putting the Tyre back he hit the Axle Rod really hard with his hammer and the grooves of the rod got damaged and the nut refused to be wound…next 20 minutes were spent in fruitless tries with all 3 of us trying…finally he called an expert who took his time but ensured that the Tyre was set though it was a Jugaad…I heaved a sigh of relief and moved on with Katar Bhai in tow…the front Tyre was bubbling vigorously and I had to maintain a low speed of 60 kmph for the next 35 kms…the rest of the gang was waiting for us at a Dhaba and were all excited to see me after the breakdown…I enjoyed a much-needed Sutta and then started again for the Intersection point for the Bhangarh Fort where Dips & Kunwar were already waiting for us…The Bhangarh Fort was still 75 kms away and the weather was transforming into amazing…cloudy & not at all warm…we entered the Real Rural Rajasthan in our 13 bikes and invited awe-struck looks of surprised villagers…by now we are used to such likes and the adulation never seem to end!!!

Stopped at 12 PM when we reached the Ajabgarh City Gate and clicked pics…the scenery was superb and the fort beautiful…



I remembered my last year’s ride and this was the exact spot where we had stopped…soon a long picture session followed…and the nostalgia was not getting over soon…I went ahead and stopped at the same Theka where the 3 Haunted Spookies had beer on 21-March-08…a long BBB session followed with beers getting gobbled up in no time…I called up Negi…my Riding Comrade who was in Kinnaur-his native place and told him that I was really missing him and wish he was with us…and took a swig from the beer bottle in his name!!!



Finally we reached the Haunted Bhangarh Fort at 1 PM…and it had transformed…it was extremely crowded…there was a new designated parking spot…loads of vehicles parked…sadly another peaceful & tranquil fort taken over by commercial interests…I sadly entered the fort premises and the crowds had rammed the fort inside as well…but I thought how long this beautiful fort could have stayed safe from the eyes of tourists…plus there was some Pooja also taking place…that was also a probable reason…

We went to a temple and sat on the chilled marble floor with cool breeze flowing and down below we saw a man just falling down and experiencing fits…an epilepsy attack…Pravin, me & Dips rushed to his rescue…took him to a shady place…gave him water and comforted him…he fell down on concrete after the attack and had a big wound on the back of his head which was bleeding…I used my first-aid kit and bandaged his head…soon he got up and went away…his right body was paralyzed and he was blabbering something which we could not understand…I prayed for his quick recovery and went ahead to explore the rest of the fort with the gang…

And then we experienced a memorable scene…we all have heard that monkeys are scared of Langurs…but we saw something totally against the heard facts…we saw a solitary monkey moving towards a big herd Langurs and looking straight into their eyes…and scaring them away…also stealing their food…one amazing sight…just proves a fact…GAAND MEIN DUM is all which is required to stay ahead and scare the competition!!! Would never forget that scene of unabashed bravery…

Soon all our eyes were transfixed on a Hill-Top sight which was the perfect place for the all-important BBB Session with the full fort-view in sight…we all huffed & puffed our way to the top and the view didn’t disappoint us at all…



Soon beer bottles & Namkeen packets were opened up…there was also a new snack variety waiting for us…courtesy Deepak Bhai…Peanuts!!! Yes Peanuts as a Beer-Snake…a first for us!!! The Bakchodi session which followed was hilarious and filled with bouts of loud laughter whose sounds must have been heard upto Jaipur which was some 70 kms away…yes we were that loud!!!



We all left the fort at 3 PM and it also started to rain…little we had thought that the ride ahead would be wet…really wet!!! I made the customary BOP Ride Video in amazing weather with 12 bikes going past me…another video for the history books…

The ride back home started and some 20 minutes into it, it started to rain cats & dogs and we had to make n emergency stop…it was more of a torrential downpour than a rain!!! After staying out for some 15 mins. we all decided to keep in riding as the rains were showing no signs of slowing down…packed all our electronic gadgets safely in plastic polybags and moved on…

The next stop was also a nostalgic one…the same Dhaba which had served 3 famished riders last year…shockingly the Cook recognized me & Pravin instantly and remembered the fat tip we gave him…we ordered for our very late lunch and then kept on waiting till the lavish meal was served…passing our time munching away innumerable packets of Parle-G Biscuits and gulping tea…our anticipation was soon over…the meal was served and soon got over as well…Kadhi-Pakoda, Gatte ki Sabzi,Dal-Fry and Palak ki Sabzi served with Hot Rotis…quite a meal it was…

We started the ride back to Gurgaon in pitch-darkness and soon were hit by a bout of heavy rain but kept on moving as we knew waiting would have been of no use…the rain Gods were there to stay with us…my last 4 trips have been filled with non-stop rain…Bharuch, Mt. Abu, Binsar and now Bhangarh…Indra Devta surely loves me a lot…and for the next 250 odd kms it was all about fighting the elements…the rain kept battering us and we kept fighting it like brave warriors…never getting bogged down…

It was extremely tough riding in the heavy rains and with no lights on NH-8…it’s a pity that one of the most important highways of India connecting Delhi & Mumbai has no lighting whatsoever and inspite of the exorbitant toll-tax collected nothing much is done for the lighting part…Rain was surely playing hide & seek with us…we got dried up but to get wet again…the trucks were splattering away muddy water on us but our spirits were never doubted but surely tested…

We had to stop due to a problem with Katar’s bike…the electrical system screwed up and his bike just didn’t work…he decided to park it at The Bawal Police Station and come back to pick it up in 1-2 days’ time…he became the pillion of Dips thereafter and we made our last stop at the Manesar McDonalds for a dinner stop…by this time Gyan, Veeru, Zaheer, Ashok, Deepak, Vihans, Pravin & Rishi had left us and went straight towards their homes…

We wished Katar for his birthday and dropped him at the Gurgaon Toll Plaza where his friends were to meet him…Verma & Sharma also left for their home…but one final ritual was still remaining…you would guess what now???

Yes…we hadn’t made any beer stop in our return journey and we never end our ride without one final Beer Pit-Stop…this time as well we followed the rule and enjoyed a chilled pint of Tuborg: The Official Beer of BOP…just the 3 of us…me, Kunwar & Dips…some strange coincidence…my first Bhangarh Ride was with 2 fellow riders and my second Bhangarh Ride ended with 2 fellow riders as well!!!

My 15th Ride was finally over…after some 508 kms on the road and 21 hours with my riding buddies…

High Points of the Ride:
1. Veeru’s elaborate preparations each time we started…the bandannas…the gloves…the protective gear…the goggles…it was hilarious
2. Sandy-The Rookie Rider’s brave & fast riding…the power of the Youth…
3. Verma & Sharma Duo…their first ride and they were simply amazing…never ever complaining about anything…
4. Riding in Heavy Rains…very tough & challenging but a great learning experience
5. Kunwar Paaji- The best Pillion I would have ever wished for…some great conversations with him while riding…

Pics & Videos…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YD-CQ1utb4 - BOP @ Bhangarh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZBzN7FgOC4 - BOP BBB Session on the Fort-Top

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/jha.nishant/TheBhangarhBerettas?feat=directlink – Che

http://picasaweb.google.com/mailtovivek.sharma/BikingToBhangarh?authkey=Gv1sRgCI32q Cd-fvs5QE# - Sharma & Verma

http://picasaweb.google.com/virendra22/BhangarhFortRideWithBOP# -Veeru

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/pravinmac/BhangarhBerettasRevisited - Kora

More about Bhangarh’s History & the Map:
http://ghostsofindia.com/bhangarh/
http://www.amanresorts.com/uploadedFiles/Aman/___Group_Website/interactive_map/AmanbaghMap.pdf

Che would be back on the road again…

Till then ride safe & have safe sex…

Hasta la Victoria Siempre…