Adventure: Kashmir to Kanyakumari: My Epic Bicycle Ride Across India
A resident of metro Atlanta for the past 23 years, this spring, I found myself pedaling across the length of India— from the snowy valleys of Kashmir to the southern tip at Kanyakumari—in what is considered one of the toughest cycling expeditions on the planet.
For many of us who grew up in the ’70s and ’80s in India, the bicycle was our trusted mode of transportation to school, tuition classes, outings with friends, movies, and just about everywhere else. And so, in my American life, when gas prices shot up to well over $4 a gallon in 2008-09, it was an easy and welcome decision for me to join a few coworkers who decided to commute to work on a bicycle. That oftenrepeated 28-mile round trip to work and back rekindled my love for bicycling.
[Top] Jayesh Patel and his fellow bikers—the group of nine who completed one of the toughest cycling expeditions on the planet.
Before I knew it, I had become an enthusiast. Traversing the Silver Comet, the popular bicycle trail stretching from metro Atlanta to Alabama, with my new bicycle buddies, now became my passion. The pandemic in 2020 became instrumental in pushing me even further into bicycling. It was about the only activity and “entertainment” possible in those months of lockdowns.
[Left] Just getting warmed up... it’s a long way to Kanyakumari!
Looking to broaden my range, I came across Backroads, a leading adventure travel company offering bicycling excursions throughout the U.S. I signed up for a weeklong trip to explore Oregon, including the Willamette Valley, the Columbia River Gorge, and the Fruit Loop. I enjoyed that trip so much that it opened my eyes to a new way of actively vacationing around the world. I started looking for bicycling excursions in India. My first bicycling trip there, in 2024, was from Mumbai to Goa through the beautiful Konkan region. The bug—to explore India on a bicycle—had bitten!
3680 kilometers in just 14 days
They call it K2K, Kashmir to Kanyakumari, or simply, the Ride from Sky to Ocean. Organized by the Delhi wing of Audax India Randonneurs, this was the third edition of the event. With 3,680 kilometers in just 14 days as the goal, this one is called a beast even by seasoned pros who’ve completed the North Cape 4000 or Paris-Brest-Paris.
The ride kicked off on February 23 in Srinagar. Our target was to reach Kanyakumari by March 8. It wasn’t a race for the fastest time, but the clock was always ticking. Each day, the organizers set a flag-off time the night before. Each morning, we’d gather in the hotel lobby, load the day’s GPS route, check our gear, and roll out. We started as a group. But within a few kilometers, riders would spread out, each settling into their own rhythm and pace.
The bicycle, the road, and each other—for the better part of the day—for 14 days straight.
The organizers met us at designated markers—usually every 60 or 70 kilometers—for hydration, electrolytes, snacks, and a quick check-in. Lunch was at a roadside dhaba, with plenty of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Dinner was on our own, and I was lucky to have a small group of four to share meals and stories with at local cafés and restaurants.
At the end of each day, our organizers would ensure our luggage was already in our rooms. After a hot shower and a quick gear check, I’d try to get a good night’s sleep before doing it all over again. Our progress was tracked live with GPS devices. Friends and family back home could follow our real-time location and speed—an extra layer of motivation, knowing they were able to watch every pedal stroke.
Did we miss out on the usual travel experience of lingering in towns and soaking up the sights? Maybe. But this was a different kind of quest. We did have plenty of interactions at rest stops, hotels, chai stalls, and sugarcane juice stands. Curious locals on two-wheelers would ride alongside, peppering us with questions. Those moments of connection made the journey richer.
Negotiating India’s infamously notorious highway traffic on a bicycle
We left Srinagar shivering in subzero temperatures. As we moved south, the mercury climbed. By the time we hit Tamil Nadu, it was a scorching 48 degrees Celsius. The transition from cold to heat was brutal.
Traffic was another constant hurdle. Passing through major cities like New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru meant navigating some of the worst jams I’ve ever seen. And then there was the chaos of Indian roads: vehicles and two-wheelers barreling toward you on the wrong side. Until we cleared Uttar Pradesh, dodging oncoming traffic was a daily adrenaline rush.
The route was relentless, with heavy inclines and descents. We lucked out: two new tunnels had opened just months before, sparing us some of the toughest climbs. My training in Atlanta’s rolling hills paid off— I handled the ups and downs just fine.
Despite the dangers, I never felt unsafe. You learn to be vigilant and not take anything for granted. We stuck to National Highway 44 the whole way. The roads varied: decent through Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh, improving as we entered Maharashtra, and downright excellent through Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
Preparation and Routine
Preparation was everything. I logged countless 30- to 40-mile rides around Atlanta on weekends, mixing in endurance and power spin classes at the gym. The real test, though, was mental: staying focused, determined, and tough enough to keep going, day after day.
If you’re considering an endurance cycling adventure, I can’t recommend K2K enough. It’s the ultimate test, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. With the proper preparation, mental grit, and a sense of adventure, you’ll discover just how far you can go.
This ride wasn’t just about crisscrossing a country—it was about pushing limits, forging friendships, and seeing India in a way few ever do. And for me, it was the ride of a lifetime.
Jayesh Patel is a senior IT director who, when not on adventures such as completing the sacred Mt. Kailash Yatra and trekking to Mt. Everest Base Camp, enjoys his time with his wife, two daughters and their Shih Tzu.
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