Power Couple

Bijoy Kumar

Whose idea was it, and why did you choose the Mahindra Thar? Nishith Jois: “We were always fascinated about exploring places abroad, so much that we drove from Bangalore to London, crossing 18 countries over 20,000km across two months, back in 2017. That left us with a new dream to explore the most diverse country in the world, our motherland, India. Being home to varied terrains, it was very important for us to choose a vehicle that could ‘take it all’ and there was no second thought on buying a Mahindra Thar, to embark on ‘Expedition India’.”

What is the significance of the name “Tusker”? Priyanka Jois: “Tusker is huge, brave and has all the strength to take on a dense and massive jungle. No other name would Located on the Old Silk Route, the Nathu La Pass connects Sikkim to China’s Tibet region have suited our boy better, as he has been designed to brave any terrain that comes his way."

What is the longest stretch of road you covered in a day? PJ: “Since our expedition was for eight long months, we believed in detailed exploring more than mile-munching in a day. The longest distance we covered was 465 km in a span of 15 hours, in the Northeast. This was a drive from Tawang to Tezpur with a visit to Bum La pass.” What terrain did you drive on? NJ: “From the tarmac of the cities to the dirt track of the jungles, from the scary slush to the joyful snow, from the rocks of the mountains to the gravel of the countryside, Tusker gleefully took it all!"

Did your Thar have any modifications? NJ: “Yes, from the inside. The rear seats were taken off and wardrobes were designed and built for convenient storage of all sorts. After all, Tusker practically was our home for eight long months.”