If you’re looking for some off-road thrills but can’t go beyond the city because you have an office meeting on Monday, head to an organised off-road dirt trail in NCR and spend your Sunday morning riding through mud, slush and rough terrain. In NCR, a growing community of SUV owners is turning monsoon weekends into an opportunity to test their vehicles on trails that offer a very different challenge from city roads.“We see SUV owners coming together not just to drive, but to experience their vehicles in conditions that you simply cannot replicate. The camaraderie is a big part of it – people help each other, share techniques and enjoy the adventure together,” shares Amarjit Singh, who is part of an auto enthusiasts community in NCR.
A big shift is that now more women drivers are showing up. Social media and rally coverage have also played a key role in popularising monsoon off-roading
Dr Kshamta Yadav, a participant in her 40s
“Monsoon trails and rallies are about skill, patience and reading the terrain,” says Dr Kshamta Yadav
‘Rain turns familiar trails into a completely different challenge’For off-road enthusiasts, the monsoon changes the character of familiar trails, making them more unpredictable and, consequently, more exciting. Anand Sharma, owner Yansh Adventure Motorsports in Gurgaon, says, “Monsoon is a great time and an absolute fun period for off-roading. People like to test their vehicle on mud, slush, and have a great time.”
‘Social media has also played a huge role in popularising off-roading’
Amarjit Singh, who is a part of Gang of Thars community in NCR, adds, “Monsoon completely transforms the off-roading experience. The rain turns familiar trails into a completely different challenge, with mud, slush, water crossings, and slippery surfaces making every drive more unpredictable and exciting.”The growing popularity of SUVs capable of handling such terrain has also helped expand the off-roading community. Anand says, “The volume of off-road type vehicles has increased significantly with Jimny, Thar, Isuzu, Hilux, Defender, Majestor, Gurkha, Duster, Sierra coming into the market and giving enthusiasts more options to explore.” Dr Kshamta Yadav, an educator in her 40s, adds, “Monsoon is the most exciting, but not necessarily the busiest season. Monsoon trails and rallies are about skill, patience and reading the terrain.”
The growing popularity of vehicles built for such terrain has also expanded the off-roading community. (L-R) Anand Sharma, Lokesh Sehrawat, Rohit Solanki and Akshit Batra on an off-road adventure
‘Participants come to test what their SUV can actually do’Owners no longer want to simply flaunt their SUVs; they also take keen interest in understanding the vehicle’s capabilities. Amarjit says, “Earlier, off-roading was largely a niche activity followed by a relatively small group of enthusiasts. Today, especially with the growing popularity of SUVs, we see a much wider audience gaining interest. We have seen drivers come in and experience off-roading for the first time. They want to test their SUVs and understand what their vehicles are actually capable of.”
Monsoon enhances the off-roading experience, especially the slush sections. Most exciting season is riding in town and off-road
Abhinav Jain, an off-roading enthusiast in his 30s
‘Rain turns familiar trails into a completely different challenge’
‘Social media has also played a huge role in popularising off-roading’Social media has helped bring more drivers into the activity, but enthusiasts say organised off-roading is also about knowing the vehicle, understanding the terrain and driving responsibly. Amarjit says, “Social media has definitely played a huge role. People see these experiences online and want to experience them themselves. But what is encouraging is that the community is also becoming more responsible. Good off-roading isn’t about reckless driving – it is about understanding your vehicle, reading the terrain, using the right technique and respecting safety.”
‘Good off-roading isn’t about reckless driving ‘
For old-school off-roader Nirbhay Singh Bedi, who continues to drive his Gypsy, the attraction remains the thrill of the terrain. He says, “We are too excited for the monsoon season because dirt brings the real thrill when we put our 4x4s in slush; that’s the real adrenaline rush.”
