It's All In A Line

WE TOOK A HONDA WR-V TO THE OTHER SIDE IN BHUTAN. AND HAVE ONE THING TO SAY. WHAT A COUNTRY

- Sriram Narayanan

Sorry guys. I apologise for leaving an hour early, as something’s come up. I will leave you with this one goodbye song and join you all tomorrow. For sure. Enjoy.”

This might seem like a guy leaving a party or maybe even work early. It is. Sort of. It’s the Radio Jockey of Bhutan’s 107 Mhz station leaving at 1:30pm instead of 2:30pm. It might be a doctor’s appointment, or a lunch date. This about sets the tone for things to come in Bhutan with Honda’s WR-V. Why Bhutan?

The reason is simple. Why not? Honda had organised what they call the Drive to Discover. And you do what the title says. Drive to discover. Why the WR-V? I had the entire line-up of Honda cars. From the Amaze to the CR-V and even the Accord Hybrid. But if you aren’t sure of how things are going to be and where you are headed, a diesel six-speed manual with compact dimensions, enough space in the boot and rear seat, some body cladding and ground clearance to tackle loose gravel below and around the car wouldn’t be too much to ask.

What would be too much to ask is for Google Maps to show the actual directions to Phuntsholing – the town right at the border – rather than just a preview of the route. Apparently, Google Maps does not show precise directions in border areas lest someone enters the border by error and blames the navigation software. However, the road from Bagdogra, up to Jaigaon – about 160km – will take you to Bhutan Gate in Phuntsholing. And once you enter this gate, the difference is stark. From chaos, vehicles coming at you from all around, filth, seeping sewage, you enter a bastion of peace, discipline and cleanliness that’s separated by a mere line on a map. It’s like ten metres away lies an entirely different world – Bhutan – a land of more than 64 percent forests, and more importantly, no traffic signals.