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The Ultimate Off-roader

A ground clearance of 200mm, 4 wheel drive and a strong suspension system allow Thar to venture out in uninviting landscapes

By Sujan Tiwari

Agni Incorporated Pvt Ltd has good news for off-road fanatics, and the news comes in the form of Mahindra Thar. The much awaited 4x4 off- roader was launched in December, and is expected to take good position in the sporty four-wheeler market segment. According to the company, Thar is targeted at the off-road enthusiasts, retro look seekers and to those who want to make a unique style statement. The Thar CRDe is a stylish and an evolved version of the Mahindra CJ340, the MM540, the Classic and the Legend. A typical off-roader, Thar is now said to be faster, stronger and more powerful than its highly acclaimed predecessors. Thar attempts to evoke nostalgia of old times with its classic design and retro look. Thar, with its bold stance and huge front grill reflects toughness and ruggedness. It bears a masculine look with the signature slotted grille and classic round headlights.

Apart from its eye catching design, the tough steel body guarantees extended durability. Thar uses a ladder-on-frame chassis designed that is very tough and is used in military vehicles. It has widest tyre footprint in its segment that offers good grip even on slippery surfaces. A ground clearance of 200mm, 4 wheel drive and a strong suspension system allow Thar to venture out in uninviting landscapes. Thar’s power steering, along with its small turning radius of 5.25 m and compact dimensions makes it easy to take quick turns and improves maneuverability. Besides, there is an AC with an integrated blower for the convenience of occupants. Thar has a premium soft top canopy that keeps away the dirt and dust during your off-road venture. The Thar CRDe is powered by a 2.5 litre turbocharged intercooled diesel engine which generates a maximum power of 77.23 kW and a maximum torque of 247 Nm at 1800-2000rpm. The engine comes with a five speed manual gear box. The powerful CRDe engine delivers on power and fuel economy, and has reduced noise generation. The cabin can seat seven people, and the two rear bench seats can be folded to create a massive luggage area. The customization options and accessorized vehicles are also available for booking.

The Thar is also available with a Di engine as a base variant. According to the company, Thar Di will be positioned as a lifestyle vehicle for the off-plain market with both 2 wheel and 4 wheel drive options. Thar Di is powered by a 2.5 litre diesel engine. Along with the excellent exterior build and superior off-roading capability, Thar also boasts of a reasonable price. This powerful off-road machine can be yours at a price of Rs 2,898,000. Go ahead and take on the most challenging terrain with Thar.

Drink & Dine at Chapter 9

The bar has a huge assortment of local and imported spirits, including aila, strong Newari homemade liquor. The bar boasts of 80 different cocktails, classic and signature included. By TC Correspondent It might be hard to believe for some, but the busy street of Jhamsikhel that houses numerous restaurants and bar now, had only eight eateries about three years back. Chapter 9 Restro Bar was named so as it was the ninth restaurant in the area, explains Tara R Sthapit, Manager of the restaurant. Chapter 9 sees a huge crowd of families and corporate clients every day. According to Sthapit, 90 per cent of the customers are Nepalis. “The food here is mainly Indian, that is hot and spicy. Nepalis live this kind of cuisine, so they swarm here a lot,” said Sthapit. Though the area of expertise of Chapter 9 is Indian cuisine, it also serves good continental and Chinese delicacies.

The menu features a ‘Special Starter’ page, as there are numerous varieties available here, so to avoid confusion of the customers, the page is created. Also, the dishes in the menu are marked with ‘Best Selling’, ‘Spicy’, ‘Time Consuming’, and ‘Chapter 9 Special’ icons. These really help the customers to order what they want, says Sthapit. The most appetizing starter here is American corn. Canned corn is marinated in flour, black pepper, white pepper and salt, and then fried. This is really the best tasting corn you ever have, crunchy on the outside and mushy from the inside, barely needs any sauces. Another 'not to miss' here is the barbeque dish. It can be chicken, mutton, fish and for vegetarians, paneer and mushroom barbeque is also available. The meat or the vegetable to be barbequed is marinated with spices like ginger, garlic, tomato, lemon juice and others, and is left for about 6 to 8 hours. After all the spices are absorbed, it is barbequed in coal and finally served with mint sauce. A shot of whiskey or vodka is free with every order of barbeque.

The main course here includes biryani. For this, Indian Basmati rice is cooked with chicken, mutton or vegetable for almost 4 hours. When it done, it looks really colourful and delicious, it is served with raita (Indian spiced yogurt). Rumali roti with various spicy curries is another best seller here. Indian, Chinese and continental styled trout is another specialty of Chapter 9. The seating arrangement here is very comfortable. You have a lot of options to sit and eat. There are two lounges with comfy sofas, a projector lounge, a family for about 12 and two meeting halls. You can also sit in the outside garden that is very well maintained and attractive. Chapter 9 can serve 120 people in one go. The bar has a huge assortment of local and imported spirits, including aila, strong Newari homemade liquor. The bar boasts of 80 different cocktails, classic and signature included. Live music is played every Thursday to Saturday. With a pleasing ambience and scrumptious dishes, Chapter 9 could be the perfect place to eat out with your family and friends.