Several times during the day, I must admit, the thought has flashed across my mind that I may have bitten off more than I can chew. What has kept me going is the exclamations of excitement from my young daughter, and the gentle words of encouragement from my wife. We are driving up from the old Hindustan-Tibet road into the Spiti valley in the Trans-Himalaya. It is winter. At the moment we are negotiating zig-zagging switchbacks in the tremendous, treeless, rocky gorge created by the confluence of the Sutlej and Spiti rivers. Even though the road, for the most part, has a tarmac surface, there are steeply inclined stretches where it is broken, deeply rutted, and pockmarked with rocks. As we climb higher, melting overnight snow creates rivulets which gush down the mountain. Our 4-wheel drive SUV battles on gamely. At the back of mind are the horror stories we have heard – about getting trapped by landslides that can take days, even weeks to clear. So, what has prompted us to embark on this wild adventure in the first place?

To answer this question let me backtrack several months.

Back to one of those rare occasions when my daughter, having dragged herself away from her usual entertainment on the smartphone, decided to join me on the sofa in front of the television set. At first we couldn’t agree which particular channel would be of interest to both of us. And then we stumbled upon a car rally being televised live from the mountains. What exciting images of mud-splattered rally cars careering through narrow country tracks, only narrowly missing flag-waving, cheering spectators who lined the route. The professional drivers and navigators wore masks of total concentration as they strove to arrive at the next checkpoint without being docked penalty points by rally marshals bearing stop-watches. The racing teams were sponsored by big brands, and there was much riding at stake. This was certainly a test of endurance - equally for the driver and for the machine.

“Wow! Daddy, that looks like fun! And look, isn’t that vehicle the same as ours? Can’t we do something like that one day?”

And so you have it. An offhand remark from my daughter would set us off on a path which would be quite different from our usual, ordered, safe, almost banal lives in the city where we live.

For the moment I was able to deflect her question by pointing out that these were professional drivers who competed in rally circuits around the world. It wasn’t really something that we could do as a family.

A few days later, a chance encounter with a neighbour got us started on our off-roading experiences. I had often noticed his mud-caked Mahindra Thar 4-WD SUV with its strikingly rugged CEAT CrossDrive SUV AT tyres, driving past our house on weekends. He explained that he went on excursions arranged by a local club. Here, driving enthusiasts manoeuvred 4-WD vehicles over unpaved and rugged terrains negotiating a specially set-up track. This challenged the driver's skills and the vehicle's capabilities. The sport demanded both technique and strategy, requiring drivers to navigate obstacles such as steep inclines, water crossings, rocky surfaces, and mud pits. I must admit that my neighbour negotiated the track quite expertly. He declared that the CEAT CrossDrive SUV AT tyres provided an excellent grip, and their zig-zag circumferential groove offered balanced movement for optimal steering response, superior traction, and increased durability. The tyres featured an open tread pattern, a lower lateral void and various stone ejector elements useful on dirt and gravel surfaces, conviction in handling, and superior control while accelerating or braking. Inevitably, the mud pit proved to be my nemesis in my debut off-road performance next Sunday! My daughter’s reaction to this failure would prove to be less of a commiseration than an actual goad. 

“Daddy, this track isn’t like how it actually is in the wild, is it?!”

With those words ringing in my ears, I was inspired to start gathering information about actual, real-life off-roading possibilities in India….

India's vast geographical diversity offers a plethora of off-road driving opportunities across the country. The vast expanse of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan offers a unique off-road experience. Desert safaris allow drivers to navigate through undulating sand dunes, testing their skills on loose, uncertain soil in extreme temperatures. In contrast, the lush green forests of the Western Ghats provide an enchanting backdrop for off-road excursions. Locations like Coorg, Wayanad, and Munnar offer exciting trails through thick forests, steep inclines, and muddy terrains. India's long coastline also presents thrilling opportunities for off-roading. Goa, with its sandy beaches and rugged coastal trails, is always popular as it combines the excitement of beach driving with challenging terrains. In the rugged terrains of the Himalayas you would drive through high-altitude mountain passes, negotiate snow and ice; cross rivulets, both perennial and seasonal; climb and descend steep inclines. One of the rewards is the breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks and serene landscapes. Off-road vehicles, equipped with 4-wheel drive systems, high ground clearance, sturdy suspensions, and specialized tyres, offer the necessary capability to conquer these challenging terrains.

And soon we would be setting off on our very own first real adventure – a winter trip to the Spiti valley up to elevations of 13,000 feet. My off-roading neighbour had an important piece of advice for me before we started. Having noticed that our SUV’s tyres were starting to show their age, he suggested that we invest in a new set of wheels. We didn’t need to look beyond the wide range of CEAT’s premium CrossDrive SUV tyres. These new tyres would be our 4-WD SUV’s ideal companion on our imminent adventure.

If, at all, the off-roading enthusiasts needed any reminding of which trails beckon them, our experiences as enumerated in this article could prove to be a good pointer to other trails still unexplored. And that is precisely what makes off-roading more than a hobby - it is a lifestyle choice which provides passionate adventure enthusiasts with an adrenaline-packed escape from the ordinary. All you need to keep in mind is that you should observe all safety protocols, and be careful to minimize damage to the environment.

And yes, we did eventually get back safely from the Spiti valley. Now my daughter is impatiently looking forward to our next trip!

Happy journeys, and safe driving!