Haunting images of snow-clad peaks, forbidding Himalayan passes of Khardung-La and Rohtang-La and the journey through the changing landscapes of India – it was a dream come true for 63-year-old Thomas Chacko. At the end of his 78-day trip covering 26,500 km, Chacko has many memories to cherish. Inspired by his friend, who travelled through India in a car last year, he set off on his journey on May 3 in a Tata Nano. “When my friend completed his journey, I helped him to finish a book on his travel experiences. It was at that time that I decided to go on a trip and travel across India,” says Chacko.

It is said that any trip to the Himalayas is an adventure. It is a test of one’s mental and physical prowess to brave the uncertainties that nature may bestow on unsuspecting travellers. “The most difficult route was Zojila Pass between Srinagar and Kargil. This is the toughest patch though not the highest. It is because of the melting snow which makes the road muddy. Cars passing through the muddy patch can get hit by the stones on the road,” he recounts.

However, the experience of negotiating through tough meandering Himalayan routes had taught him one thing. “Always start and finish the journey before noon. This is because post noon, the melting snow makes the roads more flooded,” he says.

A motoring buff, Chacko has participated in several motorsport events. He has travelled to over 25 countries and has also driven cars in Bhutan, Canada, Malaysia, Oman, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the UK and the US.

‘Over the hill top’

During this expedition, Chacko drove the Nano to India’s farthest reaches – Tawang in the East, Kanyakumari in the South, Dwarka in the West, and Kargil in the North. In Ladakh, he drove to the highest motorable route in the world, Khardung La, which is at a height of 18,380 feet and Tanglang La, the second highest motorable road in the world. “Khardung La was the most memorable experience for me. Here, you are actually going above the mountain range! It was a fantastic sight. I could have never gone there had it not been for this car journey, since I am not a mountaineer,” he says.

During the journey across India, he also went to Nagpur, the geographical centre of India, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Kolkata, North Bengal and the North East and to the mountainous country of Bhutan. On an average, he drove 300 km daily and crossed 700 km only on three occasions. “Only on the route from Imphal to Silchar, I had to drive for 13 hours and covered only 250 km,” he says.

His family members joined him on different routes to keep his spirits high. “The journey was not a joyride but an expedition to explore the country and know the people,” he says.

He now plans to chronicle his experiences of the journey in a book. “A book is very much on the cards. It would perhaps be named Mano et Nano: India to its farthest reaches,” he adds.

nivedita.ganguly@thehindu.co.in

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