Day 28 – Tawa, NH 8, Maharashtra to Navsari, Gujarat (Kanyakumari to Leh Cycling)

Resting under a tree

I started early in the morning as I was staying just about 100 metres away from the National Highway. I was in my full speed from the start itself. I had made up my mind to reach Navsari in Gujarat that day itself, which was about 150 kilometres from my starting point. Earlier, I had planned to stay in Vapi, Gujarat  but changed my mind after reading about it a night before, as it was listed at number four in 2007 for being the most polluted city in the world.

Last sunrise in Maharashtra
Last sunrise in Maharashtra

When I entered Vapi, I was happy at not having made my decision of staying there as it was an industrial town and I could smell the factory exhaust in the air. It is a place where chemicals and dyes are made.

Resting under a tree
Resting under a tree

I reached Navsari by 2 p.m. after riding for 148.5 kilometres. As I asked about at the border of the city about the cheapest accommodation, some people directed me to the nearest hotel, seeing the building of which I could easily realise that it was way out of my budget. I had to cycle for five kilometres further inside the city to the railway station, where a policeman told me about a cheap lodge, Gupta Lodge. The rates were painted on the wall behind the reception and I was happy at seeing them. The reception guy was sticking me an expensive room but I asked him to give me the cheapest room after I told him about my travels. He gave me a room on the ground floor so that I could keep my bicycle inside and gave me a further discount of Rs. 20 on the room rate. I was now in Gujarat, a state famous for its mouth-watering snacks like Dhokla, Thepla, Fafda, etc.