Re: Hyundai Elantra : Official Review {Dear Mods I am unable to place the pictures in the set order, all are coming at the end.} Elantra and the kiddos go to the Himalayas!! The Itch- Me: Let’s go for a holiday
Wife: Don’t have time + difficulty with kids
Me: Please (kinda in a begging tone)
Wife relents…
Wife: Where should we head to? Goa or Andaman..
Me taking a step back..
Me: Whoa Whoa Whoa I was meaning for a road trip
Wife: With kids? Have you lost it?
Me: Pretty please
Wife relents again… (guess I was having a good day)
Me: Let’s go to Shimla..we will stopover at Chandigarh for the kids’ sake
Wife: Ok..plan it out baby!!
Me: I’m on it Booking process: Park Plaza, Zirakpur, Punjab- 1 night (onward journey)
Marigold Sarovar Portico, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh- 3 nights
James Hotel, Chandigarh- 1 night (return leg)
** All bookings done courtesy MMT App Checklist: Travelling with a 3.5 year old and a 9 month old requires special skills of packing (else you may end up packing the whole house and stuffing it in the boot of your chosen ride). We made a list of the essentials and chalked out a packing plan. I am a tad meticulous about the whole thing so I was in-charge of this. My frequent travels for my job require me to be airborne 10-15 times a month, so I guess I was the right pick in the art of packing. Pic 1
Packing complete, simultaneously get the car ready for the trip ahead. The Ride: I drive a Hyundai Elantra SX(O) AT- Petrol 2017 model. Prior to the trip had completed ~9000 kms in 11 months. I have a brief review of it posted on the Hyundai Elantra 2016 thread.
I refer to her as the “Fair Maiden”. It has been a pleasure to be associated with the Elantra and it has surpassed my expectations in many ways. Pic 2
Got a brief check-up done by a known FNG, air in all 5 tires, a tankful of petrol, and we are ready to roll Departure from Delhi: 15th June 2018 1PM
Lazed out from Delhi by midday (cause wifey had to see a few patients) with yours truly in the navigator seat.
Some images: Pic 3
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Kids’ car seats in place. Check
Pic 5
The boot easily swallowed a full sized foldable stroller, a small suitcase, 2 backpacks and a mat with a lot of space to spare.
The drive to Zirakpur (at the entry of Chandigarh) is always a pleasure. The highway is well specced and traffic isn’t all that heavy. A smooth ride is ensured once you cross Delhi and the traffic lightens up considerably. A customary stopover at one of the famed dhabas (this time Amrik Sukhdev) of Murthal is always a joy, keeps the driver and the car occupants happy.
The car was driven by my wife 50% of the total distance and she too felt comfortable and not tired by the process. As kids grew restless we had to switch seats and I finally got to drive the Fair Maiden.
The highway manners of the car are spot on, ride quality and sound insulation is above average. If one uses the throttle judiciously, you end up with a healthy mileage too. Overtaking was never a problem and the pounding 150 horses overpower any obstacles thrown. GC was also not an issue and we never scraped the bottom in the whole journey. Air conditioning (Dual Zone ACC) kept both me and the wifey happy ( as we have different definitions of an ideal temperature in a moving vehicle).
Evening at 6ish, checked into Park Plaza. I have come here multiple times and it’s a nice friendly place bang on the highway. In room dining and breakfast buffet is a delight.
Day 1 stats:
Distance covered: 290kms
Duration: ~5 hours
N.B: Speed and time were never a priority as we had planned this trip keeping the comfort of or kids as the top priority. 16th June 2018 10 AM Checked out from the hotel and started enroute to Shimla. As my wife is a relatively new driver, the car key stayed with me.
The drive to Shimla is majestic. Sweeping sections, tight turns, exquisite scenery, you name it and you find it. We got a prophylactic tank full before starting the mountainous section of things. Wifey and the kids were slightly sedated owing to the motion sickness meds, but all felt well.
Driving an automatic up the mountains, I read about using the manual mode if power delivery becomes an issue. To my delight and surprise the full journey was covered in auto mode and no lags or abandoned overtakes were encountered. The power and the torque were always adequate. The sun roof was finally used for its full potential (now got my money’s worth finally!!) and kept the kids entertained.
Reached Shimla in ~4 hours and our hotel (beyond Shimla on Mashobra-Naldehra road) in quarter to 5 hours. Pic 6
Check in at Marigold Sarovar was smooth and welcoming. Adequate parking was available ( a point of concern in many hotels in main Shimla). Got a nice spot for her just near the reception. Pic 7
Most vehicles at the resort were SUVs (Fortuners, Endeavors et al ) with Chandigarh or Punjab registrations. Spotted a few sedans from Delhi in the parking lot too.
The hotel/resort is a great place for families and has something for all age groups. Ranging from slides, trampolines, swings to art & craft hobbies for kids. The rooms are adequate with nice sit out balconies offering a sweeping view of the mountains (that’s what we came here for..right!!) Pic 8
We had an unexpected visitor in our balcony. Hotel staff had pre informed us about monkeys and that we should keep our balcony doors locked at all times. Pic 9
Certainly got the kids’ attention!!
Evening we spent lazing around the resort, enjoyed a little walk and came to a sumptuous dinner buffet.
Day 2 stats:
Distance covered: 150kms
Duration: ~5 hours 17th June 2018 11AM After a relaxing sleep, enjoyed the breakfast and were prepared to head to main Shimla city. Pic 10
Pic 11
Morning view: Rains!!
As we progressed towards Shimla, the rains subsided and the weather opened up a tad. The way from Naldehra to Shimla is quite picturesque. Traffic ain’t too heavy. Entering and proceeding in Shimla is another story altogether, can be summed up as: Crowded as Hell!!
It’s a painful ordeal looking for a decent parking when you want to head to the Ridge or Mall Road. We found one which was a bit far, but it was an available licensed parking. Pic 12
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St. Michael’s Church- a peaceful nest in the cacophony
We saw the usual touristy places of Shimla, enjoyed a walk on the Mall Road, had a customary Giant Samosa and Coffee and headed back to Marigold Sarovar. Exiting Shimla we realized how much we were blessed not to have taken up a hotel in Shimla proper, gave a high 5 to each other and moved on.
At our resort, took the kids to the activity center for a couple of hours and then retired post a delectable dinner.
Day 3 stats:
Distance covered: ~40kms
Duration: ~2 hours 18th June 2018 11AM Post the morning rituals, thought of heading back to Shimla proper. Drove to Shimla, searched for a reliable parking spot for an hour!!! (not kidding, not exaggerating). In the end just gave up, wifey suggested we can go towards Naldehra instead. So that’s where we decided to go. Pic 14
Wife and the kids making up their minds…
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Gorgeous view!!
Pic 16
Majestic indeed..
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Vegetation change observed..
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In the Naldehra valley
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Live to Drive!! That’s what we do ..right??
After a visit to Naldehra (nothing much to see here, just a few guys with smelly horses who want to literally take you for a ride) we thought of some pet-pooja after all. Stopped at a quaint place called WoodStock..’twas nice and cosy.
Pic 20
Wood StockED!!
Headed back post food to our resort, lazed around, enjoyed the dinner courtesy a live band.
Day 4 stats:
Distance covered: ~60kms
Duration: ~3 hours 19th June 10 AM Checked out from Marigold Sarovar and headed to Chandigarh. I tried and used a fair bit of engine braking here as we were headed downhill. Came across a few reckless cowboys headed full throttle downhill and stayed away from them for the most part.
Saw the upcoming Santro mule in camouflage being tested, however as I was driving and wife was involved with the kids, missed on an opportunity to sneak a click.
As we neared the plains, the weather again reminded us of the dreaded summer awaiting us. Pic 21
Happy-pre nausea; soon it set in and there was a puke bomb. But we were prepared and a few strategically kept cloth pieces saved the car from particulate and stench. My daughter later enjoyed as she got to wear my shirt!!
Pic 22
Making the most of a pitfall…valuable lesson learnt from my kiddo.
We arrived at James Hotel, Sector 17, Chandigarh by late afternoon. After a siesta, went to the Sector 17 market for a stroll and ice cream!!
Day 5 stats:
Distance covered: 150kms
Duration: ~4 hours 20th June 2018 10 AM Time to head back home. Final leg of our mini adventure with kids. Pic 23
Got a tank full at Chandigarh itself and headed to Delhi. The drive back home was uneventful and was shared between me and wifey 50:50. Stopover at Garam-Dharam in Murthal for customary Paranthas and Lassi.
We reached home safe and sound by approximately 3:30 PM. Road Trip well executed. We grew in confidence overall pertaining to our travel with kids in tow and are already scouting for our next scheduled road vacation somewhere in December-January.
Back Home!! Pic 24
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Yours Truly!! |