Though I didn't plan on travelling alone, but was compelled to do so.

I had planned a trip to

Leh, ladakh with a group of friends. The discussions were done, plan was made, routes
decided, necessary purchases made, motorcycles readied everything taken care of.
The plan was to ride 4 motorcycles from Bangalore to Leh. As the day of the journey started
approaching, people started dropping out one by one. Each giving a different reason. On the
day of the journey the last and the final person backed out..
So, had to make a choice, whether to give up on the plan or attempt a solo ride to the
Himalayas riding across the country on a 20 year old motorcycle.
I decided, what the heck, let me have a go at it, I've already applied those leaves no point
backing out. I made up a mental agreement, the moment when the motorcycle gives up is
when I will give up and head back.

starting point, Mysore Infosys.

As it turned out for the next 26 days it never did. Me and my motorcycle, we took it a day at a
time, picked a destination and tried to make it. Almost always we did.

The route took me across the country, Blore - Pune - Mumbai- Ahmedabad - Mt AbuUdaipur- Jaipur- Amritsar- Chandigarh- Jammu- Srinagar- Kargil- Leh

I noticed, everybody was surprised to see a 22 year old guy traveling alone from Bangalore
on a motorcycle almost nearly as old as him.

By the time I had reached Leh, I had already covered 4000kms, was tired and fell sick as I
didn't expect AMS to set in. But the bike was in perfect condition and I remembered the
agreement we had made. Kardungla pass, the highest motorable road at 18380 feet and the
beautiful Pangong lake is what I came all the way for.. Decided to make one final push..

the kid on the left.. No back up crew, no company to rely on. Just a few biker friends who I
had met on the way.
Soon after, the AMS started getting really worse and I had to head to lower altitudes but the
toughest road Leh- Manali was what I had to tackle to reach home. Crossing those flooded
roads, no tarmac to insane traffic. I remember very less of the journey but just kept going.
Reached Chandigarh shipped the bike and took a flight to Bangalore.
Though I spent the next 7 days at a hospital recovering from losing over 12 kilos on the
journey, I had the most memorable experience of my life. Met some amazing people on the
way, some in Punjab who took me to their home and offered me lassi, to the amazing biker
brotherhood who stop to help any stranded biker on those routes, to the couple of army
fellows who offered me free lodging in Leh for a couple of days just because they saw my
number plate which belonged to their state.
It removed my inhibitions and fear of traveling alone. It's a beautiful world out there, and
some really amazing and helpful people you'll meet along the way.
Traveling alone is a way to know your own self in ways you never imagined.
After this I've traveled 6 more times to the Himalayas, 3 times of those solo biking.. And I
don't think I'll stop anytime soon.. :) cheers..

I have Planned to travel all over India on Royal Enfield. Target to cover 28 states (Andhra
Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal
Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu,

Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal) May also try to cover a few Union
Territories.
This would be a trip for peace and Understanding, will be Spreading a message of Unity.
Want to Promote Tourism in India. I have dedicated this ride towards awareness of Global
Warming. To educate people and spread the message about Global warming and
consequences of it .
Wish to Know different Cultures, Food Habits, Way of Living, Ways of Interaction etc &
want to explore India and gain Knowledge. I am also Looking for SPONSORS. I am
prepared with my Travel kit, Riding Kit, First Aid Kit, Tool box, Maps, Planner and other
necessary equipments for this trip.
I have also approached Guinness Book of World Records and its going to be a world record
to cover more than 17,000 Km. in a single journey.
Riding Motor Bike to all 28 states in India is approx. more than 18000 Km. and completing it
within 60 days .
After two brothers from Canada's trip in China covering 16,240 km in 64 days. (0fficial
Guinness Books of World Record).This is going to be the the longest continuous journey on a
motorbike within a country. I have planned to start on 2nd October'2011 considering Climatic
Condition and Weather in different parts of India .
I don't belong to any group or club. I don't have any sponsors. And I am an Individual Rider.
I have Booked Royal Enfield Thunder Bird Twin Spark (Bike) for this ride.
We only live once, but once is enough if we do it right. Live your life with class, dignity, and
style so that an exclamation, rather than a question mark signifies it!
This is going to be the the longest continuous journey by motorcycle within a single country.
The current record (current as at the date of this letter) is: The longest continuous journey by
motorcycle within a single country is 16,240 km (10,091.05 miles) by Ryan and Colin Pyle
(both Canada), who toured China between 16 August and 17 October 2010. The brothers
started their trip in Shanghai and rode a circular route around the country and returned back
to their starting point. The longest rest period taken was a four-day stop at Lhasa in order to
have a motorcycle repaired. (0fficial Guinness Books of World Record) I will break the
record....
I have planned to start by first week of October considering Climatic Condition and Weather
in different parts of India.
We work very hard to make money and we are lost. Give time for Yourself and Explore.

Mohsin Haq