How do you plan the perfect road trip?
The narrative follows a septuagenarian man and his spouse as they embark on an unplanned road trip, emphasising the joy of freedom and connection with nature. They drive along a modern expressway, experiencing stunning sunrises and the lush beauty of the countryside while enjoying tea and snacks. The man reflects on the past, contrasting it with the ease of contemporary travel. They stop to admire scenic views, including a pond and a historical building, before reaching their destination, a site of archaeological significance. The journey highlights the importance of preparation, safety, and enjoying the experience beyond mere sightseeing.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- The narrative features a septuagenarian man and his spouse enjoying an unplanned road trip, emphasizing freedom and connection with nature.
- They experience the beauty of the countryside, stunning sunrises, and the joy of shared snacks while reflecting on travel’s evolution.
- Their journey illustrates the importance of preparation, safety, and savoring moments beyond mere sightseeing.
- Cautiously adhering to traffic rules, they encounter various landscapes and historical sites, enhancing their travel experience.
- Ultimately, the couple reaches a world-renowned archaeological destination, showcasing the deeper meaning of a memorable journey.
The man
After travelling about fifty kilometres, the car stopped beside the road. The man sitting behind the wheel scanned the area and took a deep breath. The familiar, rustic fragrance, mixed with the scent of moist, green understories, filled his senses. Opening the door of the car, he got out and took a few deep breaths, as if wanting to fill his lungs with fresh oxygen, which was scanty in fast city life. He was on a road trip. The air was fresh and crisp, and the ambience was soothingly cold. He looked around, taking a full circle to see the place and enjoy the pure natural beauty of the area.
A septuagenarian
Draped in simple cloths the man looked physically fit. He was a septuagenarian but his straight posture and gait showed something different. It was quite evident that he was driving his car on an expressway. A slim-built person, he looked impressive in a pair of jeans, paired with a cotton shirt, a bucket cap on his head, a denim jacket, dark green aviator sunglasses and leather boots. Firmly standing on the ground, he was keenly watching the green countryside dotted with trees.
Long road trip
It was an access control, greenfield expressway. These roads are one up from regular highways. Equipped with advanced technology and modern facilities, they permit fast movement of vehicles with ease, cutting short the travel time considerably. Time was no constraint for them, he and his accompanying spouse, who was sitting in the copilot seat of the car. She wore a loose cotton dress to keep herself at ease and enjoy the road trip. They did not plan their journey. Last night, it was decided to go on a long drive, and here they were! (Conzit dot com)
Road trip and Preparations
He is a meticulous person. Before taking a long road trip, he would make it a point to service his car. His car was in excellent condition. Before rolling the wheels on the expressway, he had it checked at his favourite service centre a few days ago. After a thorough check-up and minor ratification, the person in charge of the service station has given his car a clean chit. The pressure was on the mark and other fluids were at perfect levels. Last night he topped up the tank of his car to avoid unnecessary hassle. The couple is now enjoying the ride.
Sunrise
They started early in the morning before daybreak. By the time, their car reached here, the daybreak had started. The sky painted with different hues of pink, red, and tangerine looked beautiful. The change of colours in quick succession showed the sun’s arrival. Lo and behold! The crimson ball of the sun looked on the horizon amidst the morning mist. It was an unforgettable experience. He stood staring at the rising sun admiringly. A sense of deep satisfaction and joy was writ large on his face. Sitting in her seat, his spouse grinned too but she did not come out.
Refreshment on the road trip
She had packed some dried fruits, packets of chips, salted snacks, and a thermos full of tea for the road trip. They were standing at an elevated point where the expressway crossed a small rivulet. It had a sufficient and safe place, already marked by the expressway authority for rest and stretching of the vehicle drivers. She placed snacks on a paper plate. They started eating dry fruits and sipping the tea while enjoying the rustic ambience traversed by the rivulet. People had started their activities in the village, and the sun was gradually rising high, playing hide and seek with stray patches of clouds.
Nostalgia
While watching and enjoying, he slipped into the past. Those were the days when such joy rides were not possible. Cars were not frequent and two-wheelers were rare. Travelling was limited to visiting places as and when required. Bullock carts were frequent and buses or trains were the swift mode of travel. People would cram into a crowded bus or passenger train and reach their destination taking a bumpy and slow ride. The road conditions were pathetic and the highways used to be narrow.
Hassle-free road trip
Having finished the tea, she called him. He was startled as if awakened from a slumber. Looking at her, he smiled and sitting behind the steering wheel, cranked the engine. The car growled and moved on to the road. He loved driving and preferred to go places in his car. The expressways are progressively becoming increasingly numerous and longer. The road they were travelling on was about five hundred kilometres long, traversed by several toll plazas. Toll collections have become automated using computer technology. It eased the process making it hassle-free and fast. The FASTag sticker, containing information is scanned while crossing the barrier and money is deducted automatically. The car barely had to pause; an electronic beep was like a musical note that kept the rhythm of the journey intact.
Adherence to rules
They crossed the toll plaza, and now the car was gliding on a black curvaceous six-lane road. While on a road trip and driving, he is very cautious and particular to stick strictly to the traffic norms. He never crosses the specified speed limit and stays in the lane marked for light motor vehicles. The car kept rolling and both of them were quietly enjoying the ride.
Road trip in Monsoon
It was monsoon. The season had changed a few days ago. The rains had considerably mellowed down the harsh, scorching and sultry heat. The pleasant easterlies and showers had transformed the whole ambience. Nature wore green stoal and seasonal rivers filled with muddy pluvial water. The quiet surroundings were full of an orchestra created collectively by the symphony of croaking frogs and stridulating crickets. Black hovering clouds and a series of herons in a peculiar “V” shaped formation looked poetic and mesmerisingly beautiful.
Village pond
After journeying for about two hours, his car passed a pond brimming with water. He slowed down his car and stopped to enjoy the serene atmosphere around the pond. Expressways don’t allow users to leave roads until the user takes an outside curve to leave it. Leaving the expressway would mean the wastage of time. He, therefore, stopped his car in the provided space and enjoyed the scene from a distance standing on the road. There was a small temple on the bank of the pond which had a “Ghat” with a flight of stairs descending to the water. There was a dense Ficus tree with a slab around it. The place was deserted but squirrels were running to and fro, collecting food for themselves.
Heavy vehicles
The brief halt broke the monotony. Feeling fresh, he took a few strides around the car while watching and observing things. The traffic on the road had considerably increased. Besides small cars and MPVs, heavy vehicles were plying in their respective lanes. The friction of heavy tyres of big vehicles produces a strong sound, intermittently overtaken by the shrill horns. It was a perfect scene of expressway traffic. After a few moments of striding, he started his car and moved.
Dilapidated edifice
A few more kilometres and he saw an old dilapidated building. He slowed down the car while passing it. Prima facie the building appeared historical. Its thick walls consisting of small, thin “Lakhauri bricks” told a lot about its antiquity. The archways and stucco that could be seen from a slow-moving car told about its owner. While travelling many such sites try to tell their stories.
Changing landscape
Gradually, the landscape changed. Flat and fertile alluvial plains gave way to mounds of boulders and hillocks. The land changed to a stony plateau and an occasional seasonal overflowing “Nallah”. The hillocks wearing green stole looked beautiful with waterfalls that came up due to the monsoon. It was the rocky terrain famous for many warrior kings who bravely fought and kept at bay the invading clans. It is the land of the famous Chandelas, who constructed iconic temples in this area. The famous temples are now protected monuments as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Destination
By the time the couple reached their destination, the sun was on its downward journey. Soon it sank low on the horizon, and crepuscule set in. They were in a world-famous spot of archaeological importance. The world-famous Eastern and Western Groups of temples are more than a millennium old. Some of them are well-preserved and present a spectacular art form with deep philosophical meaning. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Shiva and Parvati, the temples are of great cultural importance.
Road trip: when the path becomes more endearing
Journeying is not merely visiting places of historical and natural importance and learning superficial information through a guide’s eyes. It is much more than this. A journey is enjoyable when taken with a free mind and due care. A traveller, especially a road user, must adhere to traffic rules and plan the journey after considering possible difficulties. All valid documents must be kept while travelling, in digital or physical form.
Small cautions lead to a hassle-free and enjoyable journey, which lingers in the memory of the individual. Travel safely and enjoy full throttle should be the mantra.
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Kamal Kishore Srivastava
A retired government officer turned writer and photographer, Kamal Kishore Srivastava is a regular blogger and essayist who explores life’s deeper meanings through immersive reflections on nature, impermanence, and happiness. On his blog Nature’s Narrative, he blends philosophical storytelling with practical insights. Writing 1,200–1,500 words or more regularly, Kamal is committed to refining his craft, expanding his audience, and building a sustainable space where thought and feeling intersect.
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