A Ride to Parashuram Kund, Arunachal Pradesh

Holy Shit !! What a Ride !!

Only some lucky bikers gets a chance to be so unlucky to say " Holy Shit !! What a Ride !! " on the end of the ride and we were one of them.

When our group " Bikers of Assam " was formed on 20th of Jan 2013 and did an amazing ride to" Lake of No Return, Myanmar " we started discussing what will be our next destination.

Some of our members suggested to visit the Mega Reh Festival, Miao Festival or Mayodia and finally we decided to visit Parashuram Kund of Arunachal Pradesh on 17th Feb 2013 which was nearly 200KM away from Duliajan.

To & fro ride would be
400KM so we decided to start 5 AM in the morning from Duliajan.

Many bikers from all over Assam informed that they were interested & would join the ride. We all were excited about the ride. We designed our group logo & got its sticked in our bikes.

We finalised the route as Duliajan > Tinsukia > Makum > Doomdooma > Rupai > Namsai > Tengapani > Chowkham > Wakro> Parashuram Kund

We requested the members of Digboi & Margherita to reach Makum and meet us there By 6.15 AM

Members of Sivasagar, Moran, Dibrugarh, Naharkatia etc will reach Duliajan one day ahead & halt a night.

As the date of the event came closer some of the interested bikers said they cant join the ride as they were college students and have exam. Some of the bikers said that their pockets became empty due to Valentines Day & Saraswati Puja Celebration. As they were college students or unemployed we can understand how expensive these two days for them. Moreover on 15th Feb the govt increased petrol price by Rs 1.40 & various organisation declared 16th Feb as Assam Bandh. So unfortunately only few bikers were joining the event.

As 16 Feb was declared Assam Bandh Bhargav from Sivasagar who is the youngest member of our group was at Jorhat. He was so passionate that he arranged a scooty & came all the way to Duliajan to join the event.

At about 10 PM of 16feb it started raining. I posted a facebook status " Shit its raining & we had planned a 400+km ride tomorrow :'( " and slept.

17th Feb:

 At 4 O'clock in the morning when I woke up. I saw a sms from Shantanu " Dada Boroxun dise jabo ne ". Santanu is from Duliajan & a trainee engineer in BVFC, Namrup " . So I called him up & decided to ride as far as possible since its not raining heavily. 

I had bath, prayed to god, had a cup of tea with mom & started the ride at 5 AM in the morning. As decided Trideep was waiting near the new bus stand of Duliajan with his bike. Trideep is my school friend, a good photographer and a big foodie. I still remember we use to look for his lunch box where he brings lots of fried stuff for us. Actually he use to bring two lunch box one for himself one for us. After school I meet him physically after 15yrs as he changed the school at class 6.

We started our journey from Duliajan & reached BCPL Gate near Tilinga Mandir where Shantanu, Bhargav, Madhurjya Ch & Mrinmoy joined us.

Madhurjya Ch is also a musician from Duliajan & a good photographer. Mrinmoy is a Musician from Moran.

The sunshine brought a smile in our faces. We started riding together and reached Makum where Abhijit was waiting after his night shift duty. He works for Oil India Ltd as Jr. Engineer. He was so excited about the ride that he went to Guwahati and brought new handle bar & new chain sproket few days ago for his cruiser bike (Avenger) but unfortunately it was fitted with fault which broke down the bearings.

We went ahead and reach Doomdoma by 7AM where we had our breakfast. We waited for the Digboi bikers for few mins but they didnt reach there. So we decided to move ahead crossed Rupai & reached Kakopathar. The road condition was superb just like a runway. Our speedometer clicked 80-100kmph. In a beautiful location we decide to do some photoshoot. After few mins the Digboi Bikers also reached there. Though Bijoy & his three friends didnt get much time for photoshoot.
 

We reached Dirok Gate by 9.30 AM where we got the passes to visit Arunachal. They charged Rs25 per person. After Dirok gate the roads were underconstruction. We crossed Tengapani, Chowkham & Wakro.

We crossed many monastary on our way & refueled our tanks in Wakro as the petrol price was less compared to Assam @Rs67 per ltr.

The views was awesome. We said to each other " Manuhbure bidekhot ki sabo jai jodi amar usorote iman dhunia thai furibo ase "

We reached Parashuram Kund by 1.30 PM. It was bit cold there. We could feel the force of the wind. There was a big wind mill which is used to generate electricity for the entire Parashuram Kund temple & surrounding. There was also solar plates to generate electricity.

Some of the bikers didnt want to visit the Kund as there is a belief that the kund is not visited by people who have parents alive. When we met some visitors they said its just a superstation they have visited the kund many times since childhood. Moreover we saw Akshay Kumar's movie "OMG, Oh My God" a day before so we went down & spent some time there.

While going down to the Kund we went down easily but while climbing up it was damn tiring. Some said there is 150 steep steps but it seemed like 500 steps

We climbed 10-15 steps and start eating the fruits, sonpapri, biscuits & local oranges. We chatted with the Sadhu babas, shopkeepers & we also met some foreign tourist from France.
We spent some time there & went to the Parashuram Kund bridge. The wind in the bridge was so strong that it pushed our us backward. Our bikes were shaking in the stand & moreover it started raining there.

As it started raining we started our return journey, it was about 4 PM. After riding half an hour we reached a small hotel where we met Nandini.

A cute little girl from Arunachal, Nandini is the daughter of the shop owner in whose shop we halted for a few minutes due to heavy rain. The owner said they dont have enough food for us so we decided to have lunch at Wakro. We bought some Chips, Kurkure etc from his shop and was busy eating when suddenly she came out from her fathers lap with a teddy in her hand, standing amidst us without any fear, in her innocent childish way she was saying - "ku kukulle (kurkure) ke packet edhal mat peko, mele papa aake tumhe khub pi pitenge, melle papa boht gussa karte haiii"

We bursted out laughing, and then offered her a packet..

We chatted with her, clicked pics and when we were about to leave she was asking about our bikes- "ye kya bike haii, woh kya bike hai", we answered her questions and asked her "tumhare pass kya bike hai", she said " mele pass to chotta bike hai, mele didi k pass bhi bike hai, boooht bala(bara) wala bike hai"

By then her father also joined in our laughter :-)

As it started raining we started our return journey, it was about 4 PM. After riding half an hour we reached a small hotel where we met Nandini.

A cute little girl from Arunachal, Nandini is the daughter of the shop owner in whose shop we halted for a few minutes due to heavy rain. The owner said they dont have enough food for us so we decided to have lunch at Wakro. We bought some Chips, Kurkure etc from his shop and was busy eating when suddenly she came out from her fathers lap with a teddy in her hand, standing amidst us without any fear, in her innocent childish way she was saying - "ku kukulle (kurkure) ke packet edhal mat peko, mele papa aake tumhe khub pi pitenge, melle papa boht gussa karte haiii"

We bursted out laughing, and then offered her a packet..

We chatted with her, clicked pics and when we were about to leave she was asking about our bikes- "ye kya bike haii, woh kya bike hai", we answered her questions and asked her "tumhare pass kya bike hai", she said " mele pass to chotta bike hai, mele didi k pass bhi bike hai, boooht bala(bara) wala bike hai"

By then her father also joined in our laughter :-)

I could understand we have to cross one more underconstruction road through the long dense forest. After seeing the fresh elephant dung it not a good idea to make delay.

Now we had very slippery muddy road to ahead due to heavy rain. Our bikes skidded many times. Our hands & legs were shaking out of cold. To ride few miles ahead took lots of time. We were constantly changing our riders.
Many times one of our rider had to get down to push our bikes from the back to make it stable & keep the wheels moving. Madhurjya Ch & Mrinmoy who brough new boots for the ride were filled with water & mud.
I remember once when Madhurjya Ch asked his pilion Mrinmoy to push his bike Mrinoy replied " Roba moi nijey pori golu ".

Mrinmoy fell down in the sticky muddy road :(

We reached Dirok gate at around 8PM. The Army man asked us to stop as a dumper had killed a young boy near Kakopathar & locals are protesting on the highway.

We went to a nearby shop to buy some chips, kurkure & chocolates to eat. We decided to halt a night at Digboi only Trideep will ride back to Duliajan via Tinsukia.

We squeezed our clothes, riding gloves & take out the water from our boots. We realised that we are wet upto our innerwear.
After the break we started riding again. We reached Doomdoma by 9.15PM from where we took a shortcut to Digboi & Trideep continued riding towards Duliajan via Tinsukia.

We were damn tired, hungry, our fingers were numb & whenever we stopped our bikes our legs shake out of cold. Only the engine heat makes it feel better.

We reached Digboi by 10PM. As soon we reached Abhijits room we went to the water tap to clean ourselves. The water which we feel cold normally was like boiling water. We changed ourselves to dry clothes & went inside the blanket to make ourselves warm.

After one an hour we had our dinner with boiled rice, potato and maggie. Next day early in the morning we came back to Duliajan to resume our respective duties.

Thus one of the most adventurous, challenging & memorable trip of " Bikers of Assam " came to an end.

Such challenges makes our bond stronger & helps to understand each other better.
Cheers Bikers of Assam

By – Madhurjya Bindass Axomia

Keep Riding || Keep Inspiring

~~~ The End ~~

A Ride to Lake Of No Return, Myanmar

A Ride to Nawngyang ( Lake of No Return )

I always had a dream route to travel through the historic Stilwell's Road , which was constructed by the Americans during the Second World War from Ledo in Assam, India connecting Myanmar and China to reach a beautiful lake called Lake of No Return (known as Lake Nongyang in Myanmar) near Pangsau Pass, Indo-Myanmar Border.


During World War II, large numbers of aircrafts were reported to have perished into this lake. Perhaps, the lake served the Allied Pilots for soft landing into the lake water during return mission when the Aircrafts got hit by enemy or out of mechanical snags in the Aircrafts. The pilots had chosen this lake for emergency landing in case of imminent air crash and therefore, many aircrafts were reported to have crashed in to the lake . So the lake came to be known as ' Lake Of No Return '.

Bikers Of Assam at Jairampur, Arunachal

The best time to visit Nongyang is during the Pangshu Pass Winter Festival held every year where the Inner Line Permit to visit Jairampur, Arunachal / Pangsau Pass DuringPPWF is readily available in the temporary pass counter for the festival.

When my friend Abhijit told that this year the festival will be held on 20, 21 & 22 Jan 2013 then I planned to visit the festival on 20th which falls on sunday.

As I wanted to ride on bike only therefore I gave a status update on my facebook pages that we are going on a bike ride to the festival so interested bikers can join us. I received several phone call for enquiry & some bikers said that they will join on 20th of Jan 2013.


On 20th Jan 2013 around 12.30 AM it started raining heavily. The trip might got cancelled for rain. I left a facebookstatus " Damn its raining " & slept sadly.

On 20th Jan 2013 I woke up with the knock on the door when I opened the door and became happy it was not raining. Total eight riders on four bikes started our Journey to our destination Nongyang, Myanmar which is 130kms away from Duliajan, Assam crossing Dense Jungles of Arunachal crossing the Patkai Hills.

The road was under construction& so dusty that we could not see anything ahead. We just put the headlight and kept moving. After riding for three hours 100kms we reached The Cemetery of World War-II, Jairampur, India. The recently unearthed large Burial-ground with about 1,000 graves of allied soldiers believed to be mostly of Chinese, Kachins, Indian, British and Americans soldiers who died in Second World War is located.

Bikers Of Assam at World War II Cemetery, Arunachal

The hidden cemetery covered with thick jungles midst of the bank of Namchik River. The Army had cleared the area and found about 1,000 graves within an area of about three acre. The most of the graves in the Cemetery are damaged due to wild Elephants, wear and tear in the course of time and tempered due to miscreants.

Large number of allied soldiers were reported to have died due to Diseases, calamities and missed in action while fighting. The casualties at war fronts in Burma were reported to have been evacuated by C-47's Ambulance planes and treated at the various base Hospitals at Ledo road and atLedo, Assam, India and most of the dead soldiers might have disposed off at this cemetery. It is also reported that most of the casualties were treated at the 20th General Hospital, the 14th Evacuation Hospital, or the 111th Station Hospital in the Ledo area. In course of time, those Hospitals have also completely vanished.

After riding 10-12 km ahead of the World War-II Cemetery we reached "The Hell Gate" of Pangshu Pass.

The Hell Gate - installed during the World War II, Nampong, India
 Nampong and Pangsau Pass were considered to be " Hell gate " or " Hell Pass" due to difficult terrains in the Indo-Burma Patkai mountain Range. Crossing these places toward Burma were considered to be dangerous and hazardous as Hell during the World War II.

As we moved ahead for 12-15km some policeman showed us a route towards the parking area of a field. We could hear the sound of drum beats & the Folk Songs And Dances. Yes we have reached the Pangshu Pass Festival 2013 Ground.

Bikers Of Assam at Panghu Pass Festival Ground

The Ethnic Food of the various tribes were sold in various food court, the Traditional Sports contest would be organised after the folk song & dance programme. We decided not to waste much time and get the passes to Nongyang, Myanmar. We can enjoy the festival while returning.

After riding 12-15km in steep hilly road for two hours finally crossed the Indian border & reach the no mans land. We walked for atleast 3-4kms in the bad hilly road instead of hiring a typical Myanmar Bike which charges Rs100 per person ridden by young kids. Finally we reached the border bazar of Myanmar near the Lake of No Return.

Bikers Of Assam at Lake Of No Return, Myanmar

By Madhurjya Bindass Axomia

~~~ The End ~~~