CHENNAI: If you thought off-roading was just playing in the dirt, think again. The Terra Tigers, India’s undisputed trailblazers of the off-road world, just wrapped up the 19th edition of their mud-splattered, axle-busting annual spectacle — The Palar Challenge — all while revving into their 20th anniversary like a Mahindra Thar on a caffeine high.
Hosted along the unforgiving terrain of the Palar riverbed, the 2025 edition was as much about horsepower as it was about willpower. From winching out of sinkholes to forging friendships in four-low, this year’s challenge was a roaring tribute to two decades of Terra Tigers’ dirt-fueled legacy.
Flagging off the action was Vinod Gandhi, Managing Director of Geekay World School and Vice President of the Tamil Nadu Cycling Club — a man more used to pedal power than diesel torque, but no less enthusiastic about the thrills of terrain taming.
“Reaching our 20th anniversary is a proud moment for everyone associated with Terra Tigers,” said Arkaprava Dutta, Founder and chief tiger-tamer. “The Palar Challenge isn’t just a competition — it’s a test of character, camaraderie, and clutch control.”
🏁 Champions of the Chaos 🏁
- Overall Winners: Dr. Mohammed Fahed and Ashish from Jeepers Of Bangalore — proving once again that medical precision applies to more than just surgery.
- Most Performing 4WD: Pradeep Kumar M and Siddhartha Chennagiri Santosh from Team BODA, Bangalore — where “BODA” apparently stands for Built On Dirt and Adrenaline.
- Individual Category: Chetan Chengappa and Sabu Xavier of V5 Off-roaders, Coorg — rumour has it they didn’t flinch even once.
- Thar Category: Naveen Bollineni, Sarfaraz Bhasha, and Sunil Kumar — who took the phrase “Go anywhere” a bit too literally.
Beyond the race, Terra Tigers continue to stoke the engines of India’s off-roading passion through their SUV 4×4 Off-Road Expedition Drives. Think of it as off-roading with training wheels — except the training wheels are 33-inch mud-terrain tires, and your teacher’s yelling “more throttle!”
With a blend of rugged competition, skill-building, and just the right dose of madness, the Palar Challenge is not just an event — it’s a rite of passage. Here’s to Terra Tigers and their 20 years of splashing through puddles, climbing boulders, and proving that the road less travelled is always more fun in 4WD.
