Interested in adventure sports? Try off-roading in Chennai this summer

A trail of nine SUVs leads to an undisclosed location north of Chennai. Past wetlands and red clay fields they reach sandy land, well beaten path. The vehicles spawn a group of recreational off-roaders who meet every weekend to keep their passion for the sport alive.

For this community, the rugged terrain is a barometer for the adrenaline this underrated sport generates. The thrill of the sport is linked to two key points – the ups and downs or nature of the landscape and the mechanical challenge that the SUV or four wheeler must take. And of the latter, Chennai is witnessing a strong growth of off-roading communities whose engagement is in the struggle – with terrain as diverse as mud, dirt, sand and rock.

Sundarraj Subbarayalu, a mechanical engineer, says, “Off-roading for me is about three things – first, being with nature, second, the relationship between man and machine. Lastly, it is like meditation because it requires full attention.”

Arkaprava Dutta, off-roading organizer and automotive technician with Chennai-based Terra Tigers, has been organizing expeditions for the past fifteen years. “Terra Tigers started as a recreational spot which has now grown into a professional team due to growing interest. We organize sessions, build vehicle prototypes, train off roaders How to get out a stuck vehicle and on sports in general.We also have our own technical division called Terra Tech India.

Competitive off-roaders from Chennai love to unleash the high level of sport and test their mechanical prowess on bumpy, sandy and snowy terrains. While the community is growing, Chennai has always produced a committed group of off-roaders. The Palar Challenge, which is held annually before the onset of monsoon, is organized by Terra Tigers and is one of the oldest and most famous off-roading challenges in the country.

Jaisalmer in Rajasthan is famous for its Ultimate Desert Challenge, where expert athletes race across dunes followed by a series of activities that range in endurance and high levels of difficulty.

Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is popular with off-roaders, who own sports bikes and walk the extremely rocky trek to Sela Pass.

Goa is a very popular destination for the Rain Forest Challenge, held annually during the monsoon season.

Across the country, the activity is picking up and people drive through the sand dunes and sand pits of Rajasthan, the rugged and rocky terrains of the Himalayan passes, in the snow in Himachal or across marshy and swampy lands in Kerala. India’s growing off-roading community is testament to the fact that the sport is no longer confined to its former stronghold of Russia, Abu Dhabi or Africa, where it has been popular for over four decades.

unwritten rules

Some unwritten rules of the game are the same for both recreational and competitive players. Major Swaraj Roy, a retired Army Major and an adventure sports enthusiast from Chennai who runs Adventure Zone, explains, “When newbies learn about off-roading places and activities on Facebook, they come unsupervised And often poor lands, wetlands, barrages and drives. Man-made structures are built for specific purposes – to put them in legal conflict and to reduce the bad faith of people living in the area. So, when off-roading organizers organize a session, they ensure that none of these limits are crossed.

In Chennai, as more people experiment with off-roading, the search is on for quiet and relatively unexplored sandy beaches or muddy river bed crossings. The locations, most of which are about an hour away from the city, are heavily guarded, thus we find ourselves sworn to secrecy, even when we visit a fisherman close to the Pulicat border. Let’s board an SUV in the village. Off-roading organizers also focus on showcasing the sport only on landscapes that do not run the risk of erosion or environmental damage. That is why the places to protect natural bodies remain unknown.

What gives the game a sense of life is the pure moment that gives it pause. As soon as Arka switches off the ignition after a session and sets the rear view mirror right, he has a changed look, able to see challenges defensively. With every journey there is a yearning to come back. Because, an off-roader can’t go out without a tread mark on the sand.

In 2005, the seed of off-roading in India germinated on a Yahoo group called Jeep Thrills. In a world devoid of WhatsApp, groups gradually splintered into private Facebook groups. The larger agglomeration is broken into several smaller communities belonging to different regions of the country, one of them being Chennai. “It is difficult to quantify the number of groups in Chennai, but most have 30 to 40 players who practice diligently,” says Arkaprava.

Four wheelers off roads on sand | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

auger

When one vehicle goes off the road, six other vehicles surround the area and form a platform like a protective shield. While off-roading with a group of recreational sportsmen in a sandy field at Pulicat, one of the cars – a Pajero, had stuck its heavy wheels into the ground. After being pulled with a tow strap and electric winch, the driver got out of the car, hugged and punched the driver, who took the car back. The beauty of the game lies in these subtle nuances, which make the entire spectacle a lived-in experience.

Veena poses | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“We want the cars to get stuck so that the victory of overcoming the challenge doesn’t get to the head,” Arca said.

Veena posing with Mahindra Thar | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Veena Murali is one of the few amateur women players from the community. After 10 years of contemplation, Veena bought a Mahindra Thar in 2022. On weekends, she goes off-roading with the senior players of the Chennai Jeep Club. “I love four-wheel drive and believe that whatever a man can do physically, a woman can do in any terrain. I hope more women join me in Chennai. The roader friends are from Kottekkad and Perumbavoor in Kerala,” says Veena.

off roading in water | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Sports for Major Roy is not limited to just one sport. “When I was in the Army, we were trained and molded to endure a high degree of hardship by navigating our vehicles in areas accessible only by the Army, in border areas and in inclement weather conditions, they say.

modifying cars

The SUV is heading towards an off-roading spot. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The world of an off-roader begins in the garage where even damaged sports utility cars can undergo a prototype transformation and be crafted into a fully functioning off-roading vehicle. “While Mahindra’s Thar is suitable for off-roading, other sports utility vehicles (SUVs) have to be a modified 4xwheel drive vehicle,” says Arkaprava.

Off-roading is an expensive hobby. Each session runs the risk of getting stuck and causing wear and tear on the tyres, the inevitable dents on the vehicle body or abrasions on the underside of the vehicle. “After each session one would have to spend between ₹5,000 to ₹10,000, depending on the type of damage,” says Major Roy. He also adds, “This is probably the reason why most off-roaders are in their late thirties or forties and are driving their third or fourth purchased vehicles. Young people with new cars will think twice before getting into the game.”

A drone shot of the Palar Challenge | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In case of vehicle getting stuck, it is required to winch the vehicle or tow it with another vehicle. At times the automobile may even go into self-recovery mode and pull itself out. If all else fails, a tractor is arranged to facilitate recovery.

The Palar River glistens under the summer sun. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Attempting to explain the allure of the game, Major Roy says, “Every time I encounter a challenge, I want my vehicle to overcome it – so you either modify the vehicle or your driving skills. It is a mechanical challenge where you are pitted against the terrain.

An aerial view of the SUV before an off-roading session. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement