There is something imposing about a Jeep. The squared-off shapes, the fantastic size and the sheer height of the driver’s seat make you feel special enough. Then, when you pop the hood, a 6.4L HEMI V8 stares back at you - it begs to be pointed at a long stretch of road and munch miles with a throaty roar. But, this is a Jeep first and foremost, and a performance vehicle second. Jeep prides itself on its ‘Go Anywhere, Do Anything’ attitude – and this Grand Cherokee SRT certainly proved capable of living up to the legend of Jeep.

Across 8 days, an owner from Kolkata took his Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT on an adventure unlike those expected of a performance SUV. Usually, V8 engined SUVs are used for pootling about suburbs, intimidating smaller, lesser cars out of the way. On the route chosen – the SRT would be made to feel small against the sheer magnificence and magnitude of nature.

Kolkata – Bhagalpur – Kathmandu – Beni – Jomsom – Muktinath – Beni – Kathmandu – Kolkata. In eight days. In an SUV with ‘low’ ground clearance (for a Jeep) and with a 6.4L HEMI V8.

The inner petrolhead in us salute's the owner’s bravado.

On day one, the Grand Cherokee SRT stretched its legs as it covered the 262-kilometer journey from Kolkata to Bhagalpur with aplomb.

With the V8 in its natural habitat, munching miles – it was smooth sailing till a heavy fog descended and wrapped the behemoth so tight it could no longer continue safely. An overnight halt at a petrol pump was necessary as the fog thinned out and the sun pierced the skies once more.

With dawn, the imposing Himalayas promised a twisting ribbon of tarmac swooping onwards and upwards towards Kathmandu. For a car that weighs 2500 kilograms, the Grand Cherokee SRT certainly pulls its weight around the twisty bits, and hustles hard. The Brembo brakes get worked hard as the V8 whirrs and roars around the hills, echoing off into the distance.

After covering over 700 kilometers in just two days, both the SRT and its owner needed a day off in Kathmandu. This day off would be critical as the plan to tackle the real off-road bits was jotted down and studied. The next destination called for extreme off-roading in a vehicle built to devour race tracks and drag strips – not a boulder the size of a grown man’s head. Leaving Kathmandu saw great roads break down, into a strip of tarmac barely enough for half a two-wheeler to squeeze through. Cue the legend of Jeep capability – progress slowed but never stopped.

On reaching Beni, the car was given its toughest challenge yet – low slung meets zero tarmac. Normally, the stuff of absolute nightmares. Whether it’s the cliched river bed crossing we see so often in videos of traveling into the hills or landslides and even encountering wild foxes – the SRT took it all in stride and sailed on without a hitch. A trekking map and a steady right foot guided this beast to Jomsom and the halt for the night before the final destination.

With 5 days already under its belt, the Grand Cherokee SRT finally saw some good tarmac at Jomsom-Muktinath. However, the bane of all naturally-aspirated engines, altitude was rearing its ugly head. With the powerful HEMI V8 losing power as the car climbed over 3800m, it soldiered on towards its destination. Greeted by weather of 10 degrees below zero, the owners bathed in the holy waters of the Muktinath temple – and they got there with American muscle pushing them along. An experience of a lifetime. On the descent towards Beni from Muktinath, the darkness really challenged the sharpness and skill of the driver and co-passenger.

On the road home, from Kathmandu to Kolkata, the Grand Cherokee SRT was once more in its natural environment. And, although caked in dust and dirt, the Jeep did exactly what it promised – it went everywhere and did everything. Truly, a machine with capability at its heart, and a stonking great American V8 to hustle it onward.