This ubiquitous vehicle is easy to spot or miss in the thronging roads of Rajkot. A cross between a Royal Enfield Bullet motor bike and a cart, this strange contraption spilling over with colorfully dressed villagers and a driver sitting as if astride a stallion, caught my eye.
Soon we saw various
avatars carrying school children, gas cylinders, construction material, just anything that needed to be transported. Beautifully painted, with logos and eye catching designs, many had a extended roof which made the little chariot an appealing subject for a picture.They are manufactured around Rajkot and it is estimated that there is one Chakda for every 80 Gujaratis.
We hitched a ride on one for a couple of kilometers on the way to Dwaraka. The amused driver of the Chakda refused to collect a fare (we had to force him to) and our taxi driver trailed behind, satisfied that he had kept his promise when I had exclaimed at the first sight of the 'funny gaadi' two days back. (He had stopped and talked the driver into letting us hop on!)
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| Family ride |
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| A Chakda taking a breather! |
A journey in a new land and an unforgettable freedom on wheels!
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