While the 14-car convoy included each mannequin within the Honda India lineup, the just lately launched Elevate SUV was the star of the occasion

It’s that point of the 12 months once more after we drive with a convoy of Hondas to discover a scenic a part of India. ‘Drive To Discover’, for its twelfth iteration, noticed us take a ‘Journey To The East’ by way of elements of West Bengal and Sikkim. I’d heard good issues from my colleagues who had attended earlier iterations of the annual Honda occasion and I used to be excited to expertise it for myself.

A variety of driving and a fleet of Hondas have been on the agenda for the following couple of days. My companion in crime was fellow ZigWheels colleague and CarDekho host Ujjawall, who’d agreed to play rock-paper-scissors to name dibs on driving first for the day. In hindsight, not a good suggestion. 

Day 1 – Siliguri to Gangtok

Our journey began in Siliguri, West Bengal. Luckily for us, our journey for the primary leg of the journey was the automated variant of the Honda Elevate. 

I really feel it value stating that the Honda SUV’s huge boot was simply in a position to accommodate our baggage of 1 mid-size suitcase and 1 full-size one, plus a few backpacks. It was a stint of simply 100 km which included a mixture of tarmac and damaged roads. The SUV was in a position to deal with each with ease and other than some enthusiastic driving over some bumps, the journey was fairly refined.

We encountered an particularly lengthy visitors jam whereas crossing the city of Melli, the place elements of the street had been washed away through the rains and have been sometimes huge sufficient for only one car at a time. It took us over an hour to clear these few kilometres nevertheless it was executed so in consolation because of the Elevate’s wealthy inside expertise. 

The roads obtained twistier as soon as we entered Sikkim and the Elevate dealt with itself surprisingly effectively, staying comparatively steady across the sharp bends for an SUV. That 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated motor supplied respectable torque even at decrease RPMs to simply climb among the steeper inclines as effectively. 

 

We arrived at our first cease of Drive To Discover 12 – the state capital of Gangtok – at round 8 PM.

Day 2 – Gangtok to Nathula Pass

It was an early begin the next morning as we headed additional North to Nathula Pass, taking us proper subsequent to the India-China border. 

Our journey for Day 2 was a manual-variant of the Elevate. We have been warned beforehand concerning the low temperatures close to 0-degrees Celsius and this was about to be the coldest a part of the journey.

It was a scenic drive and due to the BRO (Border Road Operations), many of the route was well-surfaced for a enjoyable journey. In the handbook guise, the naturally-aspirated motor was completely happy to rev excessive, previous 5000rpm, if you wanted to get some extra thrust up the steep inclines. This was additionally the type of drive the place the sunroof is a welcome characteristic, making the cabin really feel roomier, and letting within the contemporary mountain air. Thanks to the brilliant sunshine, we may maintain the sunroof open at the same time as ambient temperatures dropped to 3-degrees Celsius. 

On the best way up, we additionally obtained to see a couple of lakes, the biggest one being Lake Tsongmo. Our convoy of Honda automobiles was not permitted for the ultimate few kilometres as much as Nathula move, so we parked up close to a army helipad and have been ferried up. We have been shut sufficient to Chinese territory to see their outposts with their nationwide flags. 

Even with the brilliant daylight, it was chilly sufficient that the snow from the evening earlier than was nonetheless current alongside the roadside and on the military-managed construction. Thanks to that, this turned the first-ever Honda Drive To Discover to participate within the snow.

Going again down was much more enjoyable and I even obtained to check out the dealing with a bit extra by way of some flat stretches of well-surfaced tarmac. As we entered the town, we encountered a good bit of visitors which does get tiring with a 3-pedal setup, however the comfortable ergonomics stored me from feeling too drained. Overall, we lined round 140 kms of hilly roads that day.

As we wound down for the evening, we have been handled to some gifted native musicians and enjoyable tales of earlier iterations of the Drive To Discover.

Day 3 – Gangtok To Pelling

After the prolonged celebrations of the evening earlier than, we had a relaxed begin the next day with the GPS set to Pelling. This time we have been assigned the handbook variant of the Honda Amaze, additionally in its high variant. Despite the smaller boot, we have been in a position to retailer our suitcases fairly simply, however stored our backpacks within the rear seat.

The direct route was a distance of 100 km, however we had some small detours alongside the best way because of sure stretches being closed off. It took us down in direction of the Sikkim-West Bengal border earlier than turning again up in direction of Pelling. Partly as a result of roads being extra damaged than those from Gangtok to Nathula move, and partly because of us getting used to the comfy journey of the Honda Elevate, our journey within the Honda Amaze was not as clean. 

Don’t get us incorrect: the Amaze is kind of a cushty sedan by itself, however we have been clearly lacking the bigger, plusher Elevate now. We additionally yearned for a sunroof to soak in slightly extra of the pure magnificence alongside the drive.

It had been a comparatively gradual drive and we nonetheless had loads of floor to cowl earlier than dusk, which occurred round 5 PM in that a part of the nation throughout this season. So, through the flat elements of the journey, I pushed the little sub-4m sedan to see what it may do and it left me relatively shocked.

This engine additionally was completely happy to rev previous 4000 RPM and the 5-speed handbook was playful. It was enjoyable to dart up the hills as soon as you bought acquainted with the steering. Following that spirited little bit of driving, I switched to a extra relaxed tempo for the rest of the leg. Just earlier than getting into the steep roads on the method in direction of Pelling, my colleague moved to the again seat. I due to this fact tried to regulate my driving to extend rear passenger consolation and located that the Amaze was in a position to deal with the bends and the inclines fairly easily, if not as effortlessly because the Elevate.

Our convoy lastly reached the resort late within the afternoon and we needed to cancel our plans to go additional as much as Yuksom. This gave us time to unwind with a bonfire to maintain us heat as each journalists and Honda representatives loved a relaxed Sunday evening.

Day 4 – Pelling To Darjeeling And Then To Kalimpong

Eager to ensure we accomplished the itinerary from the day earlier than, I awoke early to ensure we obtained to see the Pelling Skywalk, just some kilometres away from our resort. The early begin additionally handled me to an excellent view of the Kanchenjunga mountain vary from simply exterior my room.

The Pelling Skywalk is alleged to be India’s first glass bridge elevated walkway, however as we pulled as much as the venue in an Elevate, we have been handled to an much more spectacular sight – a 42 metre tall statue of the Buddhist non secular determine referred to as Chenrezig. The glass bridge itself sits at almost 2,200 metres above sea degree, and that’s earlier than the tall flight of stairs as much as the Chenrezig statue. Given that one needed to traverse the skywalk barefoot, I handed on the prospect to tiptoe on the frozen and damp glass, as a substitute having fun with the view from the highest of the steps.

Paying respects to the temple and finishing a spherical of the prayer wheels, we headed off to our subsequent cease of the day – Darjeeling. We made our means again into West Bengal, however the route proven to us by Google Maps was essentially the most tiring one to this point. Faced with lengthy stretches of tight ascents, damaged roads and slim city lanes, the Honda Elevate overcame all of it. Following the minor navigation points, we made our strategy to the lunch spot in Darjeeling referred to as the Ging Tea Estate. 

We made our strategy to Kalimpong within the night, and even managed to identify the long-lasting Toy Train in motion on our means out of Darjeeling. The steep descent down from the hills meant the Elevate obtained to indicate off it’s dynamic capabilities. We have been pretty impressed at how the automotive was in a position to keep settled whereas sustaining a good tempo alongside the twisties. We pulled into our remaining resort at Kalimpong simply in time for supper. 

Day 5 – Kalimpong To Siliguri, Flying Back Home

It was the ultimate leg of Honda Drive To Discover 12 with flights again to Pune within the night, from the identical Bagdogra airport that we had arrived at 5 days in the past. The drive from Kalimpong to Siliguri was a comparatively brief one, simply 65 km.

 

Our remaining journey for this journey was the Honda City Hybrid, a sedan I had already pushed at a previous occasion. While the costliest of the lineup, it additionally had the smallest boot, compromised by the electrified powertrain parts within the again. Given the character of the sedan, I made a decision to expertise the again seat on the drive all the way down to Siliguri and it was as comfy as anticipated. 

The drive was largely uneventful, particularly compared to the gorgeous views we had loved within the earlier 4 days. We reached Siliguri with loads of time to spare earlier than the lengthy flight again to Pune and determined to discover among the native markets looking for Darjeeling tea and native handicrafts.

Final Thoughts

 

My first time being a part of Honda Drive To Discover had confirmed to be a memorable expertise. It was a healthful journey total with the number of Honda automobiles as our trusty companions by way of all of it. But past simply the automobiles, it was the journey to find extra of India’s iconic landscapes, and extra about oneself alongside the best way. 

What concerning the rock-paper-scissors, you ask? Well, I misplaced each single one. 

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