If you’ve traveled by road around India, you have likely had chai along the way at various tea stalls. Yes, some places sell beverages that don’t deserve to be called chai, and some punch you in the tastebuds out in the middle of nowhere!
A transparent glass of chai held in hand against the background of lush green hills.
I recently started using OsmAnd app on my phone to record my practice rides. I’m also creating lists of places I find interesting. One such list is “Chai Trail” where I’m adding every chai shop where I have had a cup on these rides.
A cup of chai placed on the tank of a Royal Enfield motorcycle. Background is green hillside with a trees.
Today I took half the day off to ride without an agenda or any tasks to complete on the way. Had chai at a few usual spots and found a new place deep in the hills.
A hole-in-the-wall cafe with snacks displayed in glass jars outside the window. A customer is looking for something to buy and the shop owner is inside, framed by the window and clutter of more wares hanging by the shelf behind him. Four banners printed on A4 sheets read: tea, coffee, bread-omelette and noodles.The cafe from outside. It has a makeshift shed outside the main structure.A overhead signboard above the road pointing to Kilavarai 3km on left, Polur 2km ahead and Kodaikanal 43km back the way you came. A few houses and a state transport bus are in the busy background.
I’m yet to explore beyond this point, leaving me an excuse to take this road again, soon. Although it’s a scenic route, so no excuses are needed.
A road curves right behind a hill. A house with rusty tin shed is on left below the road level. A range of hills marks the horizon far away.A yellow-black traffic chevron just out in front of a serene landscape with lush green hills and a blue sky with a few clumps of clouds.A winding road leads to a hillside with terraced farms and rustic houses.Looking below at a small village on a hillside with terraced farms next to the houses. A deep valley lies behind the village and further away a tree-covered hill.Looking over a hillside with terraced farms. Some have been ploughed recently, making them stand out with red soil in an otherwise green and blue landscape.A road curves around a hill with terraced farms. Tree covered hills are further away in the background.
A beautiful partly sunny, partly misty day in the hills, spent riding at an easy pace, soaking in the pretty sights. Truly, my cup runneth over. Please, not the chai cup! The metaphorical one.
Hiway Rides 