16 swashbuckling Parsi adventurers, from across India and one from Dubai, took part in this year’s exhilarating Himalayan Challenge Drive. Over 100 participants, in 64 self-driven cars, took part in the Himalayan Challenge Drive, which comprised over 9 days of driving, starting from Chandigarh, on to Jammu – Sonmarg, Leh, Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Hanle and Um Lingla (the highest motorable pass at 19,000 feet – at 3000 feet higher than base camp), then to Manali and back to Chandigarh.

The enthusiastic Parsis included Naheed Kapadia and Jimmy Chinoy who travelled from the UK specially for the event; alongside Adil Darukhanawala, Naheed and Rushad Divecha, Tushna and Rustam Kapadia, Shanaz and Farokh Commissariat, Pouruchisty and Freddy Elavia, Erach Kotwal, Sohrab Anklesaria, Poras Kabir, Zubin Marolia and Karl Bhote, which formed the India contingent.

Speaking to Parsi Times, Naheed Divecha shared, “We drove for over 9 days, from 6 to 13 hours per day, covering an apex 2,500 km in a total of 63 hours of driving, from sea level to 19,024 feet altitudes, from 38 degrees to -7 degrees temperatures! We experienced the world’s highest tunnel, highest salt water lake, and highest mountain passes. But most of all we developed the highest respect for India’s magnificence and nature, for our Army and their dedication and sacrifice to protect us, for all who work at high altitudes and in the freezing weather, clearing roads and passes, and for those who built world-class tunnels and bridges in these treacherous zones!”

The terrain in Ladakh was particularly harsh and challenging, made further difficult by extreme altitude, hot dusty days and sub-zero night temperatures. But the spectacular scenes outside the car windows from the first day itself made it all worth it!

Lawyer – Erach Kotwal added, “Possibly for the first time in history, 16 automobile enthusiastic adventure seeking Parsis drove across and traversed three amongst the 10 highest motorable roads in the world. viz, the Umling La Pass at 19,300 feet, the Khardung La Pass at 17,582 feet and the Taglang La Pass at 17,480 feet. In a motoring experience organised by Firefox, 8 out of 64 cars were piloted by Parsis, once again giving credence to the close bond that Parsis share with their automobiles.”

Legendary automobile journalist and participant, Adil Jal Darukhanawala, shared in a social media post, “Bawas and motorsport or rather bawas and cars and bikes is a time-honoured ongoing legacy cum love affair and so it was no different in this year’s Himalayan Challenge Drive to the Roof of the World! There were sixteen of us Zoros out on the loose in the Himalayas and for sure they must have scared the Chinese appreciably to know not to mess with our land and people, given that we were out in force! Well sixteen is a huge number given our immense spread across the world but hey we did enough and more to prove a point!”