1.7 Bihar to West Bengal

29/2/24 Thursday

A good night's rest helped fade away the echoes of yesterday's harrowing experience as we met with the wonderful AO team—Prachur, Fareed, and Harish.

Today, our convoy of five cars set forth for Siliguri at 9 am, accompanied by the wonderful LaxmiNivasji, a familiar face from our previous "Road to London" escapade, Supernaji, and Sanjay Sir, adding a touch of excitement to our Northeast expedition.

Navigating the highways amid ongoing construction hurdles, our progress was a test of patience. 

However, the pit stop for lunch turned into an unexpected thrill as my curiosity was sparked by a champiwala wielding sticks. Observing his mesmerizing techniques with a few customers, he boldly promised to relieve tired muscles and stiff joints. After a brief hesitation, I succumbed to the temptation and allowed him to work his magic on my back and legs. Oh, what a decision it was! As he worked his wonders, my fatigue melted away, leaving me relaxed and feeling good. Mazaa aa gaya -  turning an ordinary pit stop into a pleasant experience can happen only on a road trip. 

Once we entered West Bengal, a quaintly named town called "Panitanki" lies on the border with Nepal. You can actually saunter into Nepal, have a chai and come back. Another interesting piece of information I learned is that we traveled a short while on Asian Highway 2 that runs from Indonesia to Iran. I will do some research on this tonight. 

The figures:

9.00 am Dalaan Resort near Darbhanga

11.00 am Bio break - 75 kms

1.45 pm Lunch at Sagar restaurant, Jahanpur - 134 kms

6.30 pm Hotel Cygnett Style Tania’s, Siliguri - 119 kms

Tolls paid today : Rs. 435

Total Tolls paid : Rs. 3125

Traveled today : 328 kms

Total distance covered : 2300 kms