Embracing spontaneity and travelling to diverse corners of the country are the defining aspects of the lifestyle of an automotive journalist. However, amid all this thrill and excitement, the simplicity of a leisurely morning often eludes us – rare are the moments when we wake up on a Wednesday morning without a packed schedule, simply to chill.
Something similar happened recently, as I was again put on a familiar path of discovering on a Tuesday evening about an early departure the next morning for a drive in the MG Hector. The destination was Auli, Uttarakhand. At least, the prospect of journeying to a cold destination seemed promising, for it would be the perfect way to end the winter before the arrival of the impending summer.
As I reached the MG dealership in Noida, bleary-eyed in the morning, curiosity about the purpose of the drive began to gnaw at me. When I enquired with MG representatives about the agenda, they simply said that they only knew about our accommodation arrangements for the night; the rest was left to our discretion – quite unusual, I must say, for that’s not how things usually work. Joining me on this drive was Hiyan, our resident meme expert along with Karan and Vicky from another publication, who shared the car with us.
Feeling a bit drowsy, I entrusted the wheel to Karan and by the time I opened my eyes, we were nearing Haridwar. The timing was fortuitous, for I drove the boys through the scenic Rajaji National Park route, which runs parallel to the regular Haridwar to Rishikesh route. From there, it was a brisk journey to Srinagar – our destination for the night.
The following morning, our journey to Auli commenced. With fuel levels running low, we patiently awaited the opening of fuel stations. By 8 o’clock, we were, once again, on the road. En route, we stumbled upon a charming bun-butter place next to the Alaknanda. Sipping on hot tea and relishing my pahadi breakfast, I couldn’t help but muse about how remarkable this drive was turning out to be. And it wasn’t solely about the company or the destination, though both of them were undeniably delightful. It was also the MG Hector.
During the journey, a friend who resided in the region and had been following my Instagram stories decided to join us on our drive to Auli. To our delight, he brought along his drone, allowing us to capture breathtaking aerial footage. As late afternoon descended upon us, we ascended towards Auli. The narrow, snow-covered hilly roads to Auli made things a bit hairy as we navigated through oncoming traffic. Upon reaching the summit, we soaked in the captivating views that surrounded us and engaged in conversations with locals. Soon, it was time to head to our hotel.
On the third and final day of the drive, something unusual happened – I woke up at 9 o’clock, a rare indulgence on a media drive. With only the return journey to Delhi on our agenda for the day, we realised that we had overlooked exploring the beautiful ski slopes of Auli the previous day in our eagerness to not miss out on the Hector experience. Furthermore, the good folks at MG had provided us with the Gloster for the drive back to Delhi
So, all four of us got into the Gloster and set off for Auli once again. This time, the drive was smoother, thanks to the AWD system, for it made the ascent effortless. We rode the cable car up and spent some time in the snow chilling, savouring every moment of it. It was then time to head back. Twelve hours of solid driving later, and we found ourselves back at the MG dealership.
As I reflected on the past 72 hours, I realised that it was all about chilling. The combination of good company, an excellent destination, and, most importantly, the right vehicle can transform a seemingly monotonous drive into a blissful journey. The MG Hector and Gloster proved to be perfect for the drive, culminating in our arrival at ‘Chilling Point’ – a metaphorical summit of tranquillity and contentment!
Write your Comment