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Emil Georg at Umling La, the highest motorable pass in the world | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Automobile/travel enthusiast and digital content creator Emil George says he didn’t do much research when he embarked on a road trip covering 28 states and six union territories. It also came with its surprises and rude shocks. “We landed in Tripura at night, not realizing that there is a night curfew in the state. They asked why did you come so late and suddenly the police surrounded us. Nighttime thefts are common. We spent the night in the car waiting at their camp during the day! Emil said he is the India Book of Records record holder for the fastest solo car expedition in mainland India.
As part of his ‘Discover India’ trip, he traveled 19,426 kilometers in 97 days, departing on September 20, 2022 and returning to Kochi in December. 26, 2022 He was awarded the certificate at the end of April this year.
The experience in Tripura was one of the many he gathered from his travels across the country. “I drove all the way, I had a friend there to keep me company,” he clarified. The drive wasn’t meant to be a record, “It wasn’t until a friend suggested I apply for one that I realized I’d set a record!” As a digital creator of travel-based content, since 2018-19, he is no stranger to long-distance driving. He once drove more than 1,000 kilometers from Patna to Meerut, over 20-odd hours on the Purvanchal Expressway, “Driving gives me immense joy,” says the 35-year-old.
At Sela Pass, Arunachal Pradesh | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Driving through changing landscapes where temperatures rose and fell were experiences he cherished. “I have gathered a bunch of experiences with food, people, driving styles and road manners and sometimes the lack thereof. Mizoram has the ‘quietest’ roads in the country with zero honking and disciplined drivers. Much of Sikkim too. Driving in Mizoram is like driving in Europe, sensibility wise! His share of aggressive driving came from encounters on the Pune-Vapi highway where truck drivers “show no mercy”.
The travel bug has bitten
Emil developed his love for automobiles, driving and traveling until he grew up in the hills of Kannur, where “Jeep driving was a way of life.” He learned to drive early and when he turned 18, he came to Sacred Heart College in Kochi, where he found “freedom and my driver’s license”. On his first trip he traveled to various states in South India, and that bike trip fueled his appetite for more travel.
“Weather wise there is no perfect time to travel to India. It’s either too hot or too cold”, said Emil when asked about the time he chose to travel. He traveled in his SUV, a Tata Harrier, and was relieved to return ‘without a scratch’. The company has solved the minor vehicle woes. “We couldn’t have done it without them, ” he jokes. Driving in sometimes hostile terrain, he has anti-skid snow chains, gadgets to check tire pressure, lights, etc. at the ready. These trips are ideal for him to test the equipment as he has a vehicle to explain the business.
Sikkim Gurudongmar Lake at Emil | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
If the journey had been smooth and he had driven continuously, Emil said he would have made it back sooner. For example, he lost 12-odd days due to landslides in Sikkim and Ladakh. A forced stop in Ladakh was more adventurous than he bargained for. Ladakh winters don’t get many travelers on road trips like Emil. Those traveling there need special permits to travel to certain parts of Ladakh. North-eastern states like Manipur require permits so that checks are stricter.
“But due to the impact of climate change among other reasons, the snowfall was delayed and we were able to go closer to the Tibetan border from Leh to Demchok, which is about 250 km away,” he said. Landslides forced them to stay in sub-zero temperatures for 10 days in Drass and Kargil. Tourists cover the Ladakh-Hanle-Umingla-Demchok-Hanle-Ladakh route in four days, but Emil completed it in one day.
Understanding the machine
“Temperatures dropped to -25 degrees Celsius and these conditions also put a strain on the vehicle. Even under test conditions the temperature [for this SUV] It did not go below -10 degrees Celsius. The engine was constantly on, I couldn’t freeze the other oils and fluids in it…this is where your ‘relationship’ with the machine comes into play. You have to understand the machine, especially when you push it to extremes. You have to keep your ears open and pay close attention to every sound your vehicle makes, wheel alignment, tire pressure… every little thing!”
Emil had to fight the heights he was prepared for, he said. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) makes it difficult to breathe at high altitudes when air pressure drops, as do oxygen levels. “It numbs you. You may tilt your head without realizing it, you have to be very careful. I take a break every 45 minutes, wash my face, drink something, do some very light stretches to warm up a bit and start driving.
Since he traveled through many states in mainland India, which is the slowest moving traffic?
“Kerala! The average speed of vehicles on the road is 35kmph, making it the slowest moving traffic in the country. We started planning the Kerala stretch after our return from Gujarat. It takes a long time to travel 50 kilometers here!
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