The mood in the morning was somber as today was the last driving day. We would be driving to Jodhpur, the end point of the Royal Escape. We checked out of the hotel. Everyone was handed a plaque as a souvenir and photos were clicked. A final radio check and the convoy got rolling. I took to the wheel for the final while Rohit handled the music and photo takeouting duties. We stopped for lunch at the Samsara resort which was beautiful property nestled in the middle of nowhere. It was late afternoon by the time we resumed driving. As the sun set in front of the windshield of the Bolero Neo, it was time for one final tea break after which it was non-stop to Jodhpur. We entered the city in evening traffic and reached Radisson Jodhpur at 7.30 pm. Parked the Bolero Neo, switched off the lights and ignition, gave my faithful companion a pat on its bonnet and said my goodbye. Checked into the room and then went for a quiet dinner. Said my goodbyes to those having an early morning flight and few us chit chatted for a while, took some final pictures and headed off to the room.

Time to head back to base. Woke up early, bags packed and headed to the roof top restaurant for breakfast. You get a wonderful view of Jodhpur from here, and can spot the beautiful Umaid Bhavan palace in the distance as well. As I sipped my morning tea and relished a croissant, I looked back at the week that was. And then it was time to leave. Got dropped off at Jodhpur airport and a couple of hours later, I was back home in Mumbai.

So that’s another one ticked off the bucket list. Driving through the beautiful state of Rajasthan and who better to do it with than Mahindra Adventure. As usual, superbly organized by the team. The wait of two years to get back to doing an expedition was totally worth it. The 8 days of this road trip just flew by and I came back with so many memories and new friends. A big shout out to all my mates on this trip, my friends at Mahindra Adventure, Madanji of Rajasthan Motorsports and to Rohit for being a fantastic co-driver. And I can’t end this travelogue without mentioning the Bolero Neo. It held its own amongst the XUVs and the Thars and was quite a head turner itself. Robust as a tank, it would just fly over bad roads without the need to slow down. And at the same time it was easy to drive, fuel efficient and comfortable. Totally love it for its simplicity. That said, if you want to experience the real Rajasthan, the Royal Escape is highly recommended. Amazing roads, fantastic food, beautiful properties to stay and friendly people. As for me I’m already thinking of the next expedition that I want to do in 2022. On that not, signing off…

2021 Mahindra Adventure Royal Escape photo gallery:

Mahindra invited Throttle Blips to the 2021 Royal Escape. They took care of all the expenses and logistics.