Ranji Trophy star Arjan Kripal channels his passion for motorcycles to start an adventure travel company

‘Travellers yearn for experiences rather than run-of-the-mill holidays.’
Arjan at Kilimanjaro
Arjan at Kilimanjaro

ARJAN KRIPAL SINGH is something of a star in the first-class cricketing circuit. A right-handed batsman, who represented Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy, he holds a joint world record with WV Raman for the only instance in first-class cricket when two batsmen have scored triple centuries in the same innings (1988-89). 

However, despite having parted ways with the pitch in the mid-90s, he is still connected to the gentlemen’s game. Nowadays Arjan spends a large chunk of his time officiating matches all across the country as a match referee with the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India).

So, what does this 50-year-old do in his ‘free time’? “My go-to is mountain trekking. I like to keep pushing myself to the limit and soak in as much of my pristine natural surroundings while I’m at it. Eventually, I decided to convert this thirst for adventure and passion for travelling into an enterprise called Get Up and Go — that offers hiking, rafting, skiing, and more in foreign locations. Now, I’m tapping into my other obsession, touring on motorcycles” explains the Chennai-based sportsman, who recently launched another experiential venture called Indus Rides.
 

Trekking in Tanzania
Trekking in Tanzania

Perfect innings
Indian cricketers have a long history of converting their interests into commercial ventures. For instance, Virat Kohli, who is a fitness aficionado, started a nationwide chain of health centres and M S Dhoni’s superbike fixation led to him owning a racing team. Arjan seems to be taking the same route. 

“Before starting in a travel sector that’s driven by online reviews, I realised that the next innovation in this sphere revolves around personalised service and word-of-mouth marketing. Travellers yearn for experiences rather than run-of-the-mill holidays. Adventure travel will soon be the norm as people are starting to push their boundaries and I want to provide such opportunities with Indus Rides,” shares the adrenaline junkie, who, earlier this year, led a team of 23 Indians (mostly Chennaiites) on a trek to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania—one of the seven summits of the planet.

His latest niche project’s USP is slightly different but equally exhilarating. He offers safe and curated motorcycle tours in the Indian Himalayas, Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet (through the Everest base camp). Expect everything from hi-end riding gear, well-serviced bikes, stops at secret culinary havens, support cruisers, and a tour mechanic — all necessities while traversing these routes. 

 

Bike tours
Bike tours

For those looking to explore within the nation, Indus Rides also offers a journey that combines heritage and luxury through Rajasthan. Despite making a living out of connecting people with their preferred destinations, has this former captain of India’s U-19 team checked everything off his travel bucket list? “Besides a long-pending trip to Kamchatka in Eastern Russia, my dream is to ride a bike from Panama down through South America to Tierra del Fuego in Chile — the end of the world,” concludes Arjan.

For upcoming rides, check indusrides.com

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