Year 2009 became a pivotal moment in my life. Since 1999, I had been away from family—whether it was for higher secondary education and competitive exam preparations in Bhopal, engineering at NIT Rourkela, or working in corporate hubs like Kolkata, Gurgaon, and Noida. The constant hustle made me question my purpose: Who am I? What do I truly want to achieve? To find my answers, I embarked on a journey across India. After completing a thrilling Kashmir-Leh-Ladakh ride in September 2009, I set my sights on my native state, Madhya Pradesh. On October 13, I packed my Bajaj Avenger and began an epic solo ride from Gurgaon to Sarni—an arduous 1000+ km adventure. Knowing the challenge ahead, I planned a midway halt at Bhopal, where I would meet my friend Sandeep Mishra before continuing my journey. Equipped with emergency petrol, I started early, taking the less-explored route via Palwal, bypassing Delhi’s chaotic roads. The scenic farmlands of Haryana felt like an undiscovered treasure, a stark contrast to Gurgaon’s concrete jungle.
Captured Moments: Highlights from the Memoir
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Explore the complete collection photos: >> My 14-Hour Bike Adventure Gurgaon to Bhopal: Start of Soul Searching Bike Ride Year 2009 >>
As I reached Agra bypass around mid-morning, I couldn’t resist stopping at Panchi Petha shop, Agra’s Petha remains a family favorite. To this day, whenever I pass through, I make sure to buy it from the same shop. Moving forward, I arrived at the infamous Chambal River bridge near Dholpur, its old structure still safeguarded, a silent reminder of the region’s dacoit history. The landscape changed dramatically as I crossed Bhind and Morena, regions often linked to notorious bandits. At Kuwari Bridge, I paused to watch a train pass by, signaling that Gwalior was close. Bypassing Gwalior, I ventured onto the Shivpuri-Guna highway—a single-lane stretch that marked my first journey beyond familiar territories. This was an era when GPS and Google Maps were in their infancy in India, with slow 2G internet barely offering any real-time navigation. Relying on road signs and instinct, I documented every milestone and observed the vast, isolated farmlands where petrol pumps were scarce. Running out of my emergency reserve, I was relieved to finally find a station, filling up both my tank and extra petrol supply before dusk settled in.
As darkness loomed, I debated taking a break in Biaora, adhering to my travel mantra: never ride unfamiliar roads at night. However, Biaora lacked decent stay options, so locals suggested Narsinghgarh. By the time I arrived, the entire town seemed asleep, and finding accommodation was futile. With no choice, I took a leap of faith and rode into the night—a decision that turned into one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of my life. The highway was devoid of streetlights, flanked by eerie ghats and patches of jungle. Vehicles passed occasionally, I dared not stop, not even for tea or snacks if i see tapri (road side stall). The only reassurance was spotting Bhopal’s distant airport lights, signaling that I was finally nearing my destination.
Chosen Stories: A Showcase of vLog Memoir Videos
By 9 PM, after nearly 14 hours of continuous riding, I reached Arera Colony in Bhopal, where my friend Sandeep Mishra welcomed me. Exhausted yet triumphant, I felt a deep sense of accomplishment, having covered 750+ km in a single day. My friend jokingly compared my speed to that of a train, which typically took 12–13 hours for the same journey. Over a warm meal, I recounted my experiences, sharing documented pictures and videos of the daring ride. Looking back, this remains one of the most thrilling and memorable journeys of my life—an adventure not just of distance, but of self-discovery.
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