A cycle expedition from Bikaner to Visakhapatnam

Sourav Gahlot, an aspiring academician and a Musician recently completed a cycle expedition from Bikaner to Visakhapatnam on a mission to discover himself and the cultures across the country. He shares his experience with Yo! Vizag.

What inspired you to embark on this bicycle journey from Bikaner to Visakhapatnam?

It’s just my love for the nation. I started my journey on the 26th of January. The actual plan was to travel 2,100 kilometers in 21 days but I ended up traveling around 2,400 kilometers in 20 days.

What is the motto behind this trip?

The main motto was to discover me through this journey. I also love to interact with people. During this ride, I’ve seen people with minimal basic needs and it entirely changed my perspective towards life.

How many days did it take to reach Visakhapatnam?

It took 20 days from Bikaner to Visakhapatnam. I rode for 16 days with frequent halts at Bastar, Bhopal and many other cities.

Tell us about your opinion on Vizag? Is this your first time here?

It’s lovely! I’ve been here in 2012 for a couple of days but this visit is quite special as I rode all the way from Bikaner and I find my much-needed peace in this city.

How was your overall experience?

It’s a once in a lifetime experience for me. This was my dream ride. I’ve been planning it since last year and I finally did it. I was riding solo on a not-so-fancy cycle but I enjoyed the ride a lot. I listened to music, met new people and eventually, got used to it. The landscapes, weather, and culture kept changing in every city and it was very fascinating.

Any special memories along this cycle expedition?

Many! This trip was full of warmth, affection, and hospitality from different people. I left my home and family but thanks to the kind-hearted strangers along the way, I found a new home every night. Everything about this bicycle journey was beautiful and special.

What are your future plans?

I’m planning to ride from Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari this summer. But I’ll not keep my hopes high as I’m a teacher and I don’t get to travel much.

Also, I want to dedicate this ride to the soldiers who were martyred in the Pulwama attacks. I actually planned to celebrate my ride at the Dockyard but the news of the martyred soldiers left me devastated.