Skoda Kylaq Pune to Prague Leg 2: Prague calling
In the previous issue (August 2026), you saw the Skoda Kylaq take on the familiarity of India, the hills and traditions of Nepal, and the variety of China through Tibet’s gorgeous but bone-shaking terrain, followed by the sensory overload of food and culture. Now, it was time for a fresh experience through Central Asia on the ancient Silk Route, subsequently entering Europe towards our final destination.
Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan – Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Crossing the Chinese border into Kyrgyzstan was like crossing into a different world. The differences are immediate, right from the signage, fonts and faces to the sights, terrain and traffic. Being a landlocked country peppered with alpine mountains, one doesn’t need to go far to experience what Kyrgyzstan has to offer. As you drive through the ribbon of tarmac between the peaks, you realise why it is called the “Switzerland of Asia”.
A roughly 400km drive to our first halt in Naryn was smooth sailing. However, the chilly weather was a far cry from the piercing heat of China. We pulled out our jackets that were buried deep in our bags and made a beeline the next day for the capital city of Bishkek. The roads are a driver’s delight, and while there aren’t many sights to stop and admire, the Orto-Tokoy Reservoir made for a stunning photo-op.
| Kyrgyzstan in numbers | |
| Torgart – Uzbek border | |
| Distance covered | 1,321km |
| Fuel consumed | 126.49 litres |
| Average fuel economy | 10.44kpl |
| Approx. fuel cost | Rs 11,727 |
| Avg. per-litre fuel cost | Rs 92.58 |
| Total time driven | 34hrs 23min |
| Average speed | 38.4kph |
From Bishkek, we headed to Osh, which is also known as the capital of the south and is the oldest city in Kyrgyzstan. Walking through the Jayma Bazaar in the city centre, you may get a bit of celebrity treatment, as the locals aren’t used to having many tourists just walking through. Some playful heckling and wide smiles add to the overall experience.
What the market offers is mounds of kurut, a snack made from curdled milk or oghurt, salted and then hardened. The best part is its extended shelf life without needing a refrigerator. We packed some with the hope of eating it at home, knowing fully well that it would vanish by the next town.
From Osh, we would be exiting the stunning valleys and terrain of Kyrgyzstan and entering the city of Fergana in Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan
Like Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan also has its own personality. While there are similarities in the faces and fashion, the city of Fergana has a tinge of European infrastructure. Roads are lined with trees and patir shops – flatbread made from butter or lamb fat, with intricate detailing and some sesame seeds sprinkled on top. It’s pretty enough to dissuade you from eating it, but tastes like something that would go extremely well with a cup of chai.
| Uzbekistan in numbers | |
| Kyrgyz-Uzbek border – Turkistan | |
| Distance covered | 1,257km |
| Fuel consumed | 81.74 litres |
| Average fuel economy | 15.37kpl |
| Approx. fuel cost | Rs 9,800 |
| Avg. per-litre fuel cost | Rs 120 |
| Total time driven | 27hrs 5mins |
| Average speed | 46.4kph |
What is also fascinating is the number of old Soviet-era cars still running on the highways with no fuss. We shared road space with old Ladas crammed with luggage inside and on the roof. Over the smooth highways of Uzbekistan, the Kylaq had an easy run, allowing us to focus on the sights around us.
From Fergana, we headed to the capital city of Tashkent. A properly modern metropolis with high-end malls and low-slung supercars, parks, walkways and everything you expect from a big city. So, to get a taste of age-old tradition, we ventured towards Samarkand, which used to be a major trading hub on the Silk Route.
Entering Samarkand, you almost feel the tradition in the air. Years of cross-cultural civilisation have made it a stunning destination to get a glimpse of history, and it is unlike any other Western or Eastern city. The highlight here, of course, is the Bibi-Khanym Mosque in the Registan ensemble. Turquoise domes kissing the sky, with walls adorned with hand-carved artistry, are nothing short of breathtaking.
You can walk through the corridors and the square innumerable times, and each time, you will gasp at the sheer detail and effort. And to think it was built as far back as the 15th century. Magnificent is an understatement.
After soaking in the stunning detail, we headed back to Tashkent and straight to the equally fascinating Chorsu Bazaar. What looks like an IMAX dome on the outside is a full-fledged one-stop shop on the inside. Teas, dry fruits or even a leg of lamb, you can get it all here.
After a long walk that ended with bags of tea and dehydrated kiwis, we headed for Uzbekistan’s pièce de résistance: the famous plov. Like a biryani, but made with different spices, and if you want to go heavy on culture, you can have one with horse meat, too. Some bravehearts did try it and resorted to chicken or lamb, but it did offer the lost taste of biryani and got us homesick in the first bite.
After days of driving through mountains and around lakes, and walking through corridors that were once at the peak of world trade, our next adventure would take us to the Great Steppe of Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan
Crossing from Turkmenistan after vigorous checks, Kazakhstan feels almost desolate. Arrow-straight highways for kilometres, between acres of flat land with nothing on the horizon. We were driving through green pastures that would turn into brown, dried patches before turning green again, kilometre after kilometre.
The Great Steppe, while stunning in size, is also a bit monotonous when you’re driving through it for days. The only respite would be a herd of double-humped Bactrian camels, cooling off at a nearby pond and often curious to know what a cherry-red Kylaq was doing in the middle of Kazakhstan.
An interesting stop between Turkistan and Aral is the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which is the world’s first and largest operational space launch facility. However, thanks to the endless highways through Aral, Aktobe and Atyrau, we only got to test the Kylaq’s wheel alignment and its highway stability more than we would have liked.
The mighty Stans were all about breathtaking sights, warm people and mouth-watering cuisine. The region still feels unadulterated, and that itself is what makes it special.
| Kazakhstan in numbers | |
| Turkistan – Kazakh-Russia border | |
| Distance covered | 3,237km |
| Fuel consumed | 229.52 litres |
| Average fuel economy | 14.10kpl |
| Approx. fuel cost | Rs 13,325 |
| Avg. per-litre fuel cost | Rs 58.17 |
| Total time driven | 42 hrs |
| Average speed | 77.1kph |
Georgia – The Birthplace of Wine
Compared to the vast landscapes and long highways of the Stans, Georgia was a contradiction. Based within the Caucasus Mountains, it has its share of twisties, which the Kylaq enjoyed. But the capital, Tbilisi, is the largest city and thereby pretty chaotic to drive in. Peak-hour traffic is just like what you would have in India, so we parked the car in a worryingly narrow alleyway and, for the most part, made our way on foot.
Like any big city, Tbilisi has its modern side, with glass buildings and modern restaurants, but there is still a large section that is rooted in tradition. Cobblestone streets with wooden houses and sulphur baths are a fascinating experience, as is the fantastic view from near the monument of King Vakhtang Gorgasali, the founder of Tbilisi.
The monument itself is a striking bronze equestrian statue located on a rocky cliff above the Mtkvari River, next to the historic Metekhi Church in Tbilisi, Georgia. But Georgia is known to be the birthplace of wine, and on our drive to Tbilisi, we spotted several vineyards sprawling for acres. We had to get a closer look, and thankfully, our guide’s friend owned one of them.
The Georgians still use the ancient process of fermenting wine in barrels under the floor, but have now blended it with modern technology that allows them to control the temperature and get a more consistent batch each time. Wine connoisseur or not, the experience is enthralling.
The city tour built up an appetite, and we followed the scent of fresh bread for some authentic khachapuri. A Georgian flatbread that is hollowed out in the centre and filled with cheese, khachapuri varies depending on the region you’re in. You can have it with an egg cracked into it or with meat, too.
With sightseeing done, we drove the next day to the coastal city of Batumi. A vibrant, modern city with a lot more European influence. However, if the roads in Tbilisi were narrow, Batumi was on another level. Despite the compact dimensions of the Kylaq, our hotel parking was a sidewalk cordoned off by the hotel manager, as there simply was no space to park.
Still, we made the most of it by strolling by the shore of the Black Sea, watching the locals angling for fish. Georgia, just like the Stans, offered a unique glimpse into this part of the world and its diverse culture. For our final stretch before Europe, we had one last country to drive through – the colourful Türkiye.
| Georgia in numbers | |
| Tbilisi – Türkiye border | |
| Distance covered | 624km |
| Fuel consumed | 58.62 litres |
| Average fuel economy | 10.64kpl |
| Approx. fuel cost | Rs 7,607 |
| Avg. per-litre fuel cost | Rs 129.78 |
| Total time driven | 17.5hrs |
| Average speed | 58.5kph |
Türkiye – Gateway to Europe
As the Kylaq crossed into Türkiye, our first stop was in Erzurum. A major winter sports town, but thanks to the time of year, our ski resort was bright, sunny and without an ounce of snow. A quick stroll through the small town and we hit the sack in preparation for a 700km-plus drive to the tourist haven that is Cappadocia.
The next morning, the plan was to do what you must do in Türkiye – take a hot-air-balloon ride. A pre-dawn wake-up call is never comfortable, but the peace was soon shattered by the sound of a group of old diesel Land Rover Defenders revving to keep themselves warm while they waited to transfer tourists to the balloon launch site. The balloon ride is arguably the largest tourist attraction in Türkiye, so there was quite the rush.
We, too, loaded up the Kylaq and hit the road to get the perfect shot of the sun coming up over the hills while the sky was filled with balloons. And boy, did we get it. As the orange tinge hit the fairy chimneys, we saw what the hype was about. The visual is nothing like you have ever seen: watching one colourful hot-air balloon is rare, and here there were over a hundred. We shot GBs worth of images and videos and got back to catch up on the broken sleep from earlier.
| Türkiye in numbers | |
| Erzurum – Bulgaria border | |
| Distance covered | 1,436km |
| Fuel consumed | 98.1 litres |
| Average fuel economy | 14.63kpl |
| Approx. fuel cost | 17,187 |
| Avg. per-litre fuel cost | Rs 134.19 |
| Total time driven | 19.5 hrs |
| Average speed | 73.64kph |
A relaxing drive the next day got us to Istanbul, which, to some, might seem like the capital thanks to its bustling character – a glimpse of which we got as we got closer. A traffic jam stretching for more than a couple of kilometres brought the Kylaq to crawling speeds. To avoid the repercussions of driving next to hasty cab drivers, we parked the Kylaq and headed to check out the nightlife, but more importantly, the döner kebab.
Similar to a shawarma, the döner kebab consists of a pile of meat that is cooked on a rotisserie over a flame. The dripping fat is mopped up by pita bread, which is then loaded with the sliced meat and seasonings. After a long walk through the Grand Bazaar, haggling for a fake Rolex, the döner becomes almost a necessity.
What’s also equally stunning is the Blue Mosque. Known formally as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, it was constructed between 1609 and 1617 in the Ottoman era by Ahmed I. To get the entire mosque in frame, you need to fall back to the Hagia Sophia Mosque, which is in the same vicinity. Both equally grand, equally detailed and equally important.
To explore more of Türkiye, we got back into the Kylaq and realised there was a bridge that is unlike any other in the world. The Bosphorus Bridge is located over the Bosphorus Strait, but its claim to fame is that it, quite literally, has one end in Asia and one end in Europe. You can cross the bridge in about two minutes, depending on traffic, but the sense that you can practically drive over from Asia into Europe before you can finish watching a reel is unreal.
Europe – Home Stretch
Bulgaria – Romania – Hungary – Slovakia – Prague
The end of our incredible Pune-to-Prague drive was now a matter of days away. After over two months on the road, we were a couple of thousand kilometres away from the finish line. The excitement that had tapered off midway was back in full force.
We would be entering Europe through Bulgaria, and the border, as expected, was busy. Documentation, carnets, passports, stringent car checks and some explaining later, we were finally in.
Haskovo is a quaint town with a slow pace and none of the bustle of a European city, but it boasts a Guinness record for having the towering Monument of the Holy Mother of God, the tallest statue of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus in the world. Naturally, we had to check it out before we headed further.
Crossing countries in Europe is the equivalent of crossing states in India. There are no significant border checks or passport-control booths. A board with the blue EU flag and the name of the country is all you will see.
We crossed into Romania rather unassumingly and headed for Bucharest. The capital is picturesque and is also colloquially known as “Little Paris”. Like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, Romania too has its own version. A tad smaller in comparison, but just as iconic.
However, what takes the cake is the Parliament Building, formally known as the Palace of the Parliament, which is also the heaviest building in the world, standing at approximately a ridiculous 4,098,500 tonnes. We couldn’t verify that, but since the Kylaq looked like a mere speck in front of it, it was all the proof we needed.
Bucharest also has a thriving nightlife, with the quiet cobbled streets turning into party hubs post-sunset. As we headed towards Hungary, we couldn’t help but make a stop at Bran Castle. Despite the myth that it was once home to the famous Dracula, there is nothing but merchandise at the foot of the castle to prove that claim. Historians have dismissed the claim and, while it is fascinating, there is plenty of evidence against it. Still, that did not stop us from buying some fake vampire teeth and Dracula magnets.
From the shores of the Black Sea, we drove into landlocked Hungary. The drive to Budapest was long, but thanks to Europe’s seamless highways, it was light work for the Kylaq. In Europe, it just blended in with the other cars, and at no point did it feel out of place. It might have been built in India, but it felt every bit as European as it got closer to Prague.
As we drove by the banks of the Danube, we were in awe of the stunning Hungarian Parliament Building. Budapest is also known for its bridges, with as many as 13 iconic ones, each with its own identity.
The last country before we entered the Czech Republic was Slovakia. The small country, with a quarter of the population of Mumbai, has a rather interesting Indian connection, as we found out in the pedestrian-only zone of its capital, Bratislava. Bratislava was visited by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru in 1938, along with a young Indira Gandhi, regarding the freedom movement under British rule.
The town square is also an open market with rich produce, handmade jewellery and a lot more. After buying the last few souvenirs before our bags exploded, we were set for the home stretch.
Prague was no more than 200-odd kilometres away, and the bittersweet feeling of it all coming to an end loomed over each and every one of us. As we crossed Brno and got closer to Mlada Boleslav (Skoda’s headquarters), we all reminisced about how gigantic this drive had been. Seventy days, almost 20,000km and not a single fault with the car, not even a puncture.
We crossed the Skoda factory gates with employees gazing in amusement and confusion. They had never seen this car, but strangely, it had a Skoda logo. As we parked the car near the iconic museum that preserves over 130 years of history, we had to peek in and see where it all started.
The fact that a simple bicycle gave birth to one of the largest auto manufacturers in the world is pretty astonishing. Road cars, racing cars and rally legends, Skoda has done it all. A reputation built over a century for being tough, resilient and deeply desirable.
Watching the Indian-made Kylaq sitting proud and faultless in the gleaming sunlight against the backdrop of Prague Castle, looking exactly like it did on the factory floor in Chakan, only proves that the 130-year-old ethos is still the same, no matter where Skoda builds a car.
In a world rapidly shifting towards more screens and fewer experiences, a drive like P2P isn’t just a rarity; it’s a statement of defiance: as long as there’s a world to explore, we will find a way to drive across it.
| Europe in numbers | |
| Bulgaria – Prague | |
| Distance covered | 1,842km |
| Fuel consumed | 172.59 |
| Average fuel economy | 10.67kpl |
| Approx. fuel cost | 32,247 |
| Avg. per-litre fuel cost | Rs 186.84 |
| Total time driven | 25.89 hrs |
| Average speed | 71.14kph |
from Autocar India https://ift.tt/abIfxJA
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