around India- 180 days- on a bike

Around My Country in 180 days.
This is something which is a dream that I see with open eyes. The desire to see the nation was there for a long time; it was partly fulfilled by the solo trips to south India, north east India, the TATA Jagriti Yatra (which is a train journey across India); resulting in exploring 22 states by now. But what ahead? Heard Pundlik, my friend who did a similar journey, talk about his Bharat Yatra on a bike. I am not a passionate biker, but love to ride and go on trips covering 500 km a day. This man covered the whole nation. I couldn’t keep myself any less excited, and finally, put my idea on paper, and as things progressed, the idea concretised. I wish to travel 18000 km, over 180 days, covering India and its neighbours- The sub-continent. To see the way people live, the way India runs, the way it relaxes, sings, dances, rejoices and struggles; in the lofty peaks of Himalayas, or the beaches of Karnataka. The hills of north-east, the forests of Chhattisgarh, to the 4 metros. To see how our neighbours are different from us, rather how much they are similar to us, to live life before …
This idea is not a new one, but I want to live this dream. It is nowhere near practicality but it is a dream that does not let me sleep. There are thousand reasons for not doing it, but still I want to go ahead. And not dump the map on which I’ve plotted the route as another piece of garbage; but see it happening, making it happen.
I am sending this to the best people who can answer this and understand why I am doing this- The INDIAMIKERS, not to publicise my intent, but for an honest piece of advice/ consultation/ suggestion, which will help me shape this dream further.
A journey of this magnitude cannot and should not be planned. But I wanted to make a blue print, for me to look forward to and get inspired, and to have a rough estimation for you of the task. There is no specific motive behind my journey, but if I ask myself why I am doing this, the following points come to my mind.
1- I want to do something of which I can feel nice of.
2- I want to meet people, different people, in a different manner.
3- Take time to look inwards.
4- Motivate people to think differently, and not to hold back themselves by thinking any task to be insurmountable.
5- To write a book if everything goes right.
6- To travel to the immediate neighbours of our nation about which I’ve been curious, and to see how we can learn from them, vice versa.
7- For national integration.
8- To widen the horizon, and looking at the sub- continent as a single unit.
What do you say?
The skeleton of my journey is as follows, with the neighbouring countries in coloured ink:
Delhi – Pilani – Jaipur – Ajmer - Jodhpur – Jaisalmer – Bhuj - Kotlakhpat – Ahmedabad – Anand – Silvassa – Mumbai – Pune – Kolhapur - Madgaon – Gokarna - Jog – Manipal – Thrissur - Kodiakanal– Madurai – Trichy - Tanjore – Pondicherry – Chennai and Kuthambakkam – Tirupati - Vijaywada – Vishakhapatnam – Jagdalpur – Raipur – Sambalpur – Kharagpur – Kolkata – Dhaka – Chittagong – Agartala – Aizawl – Silchar – Imphal – Kohima – Mokokchung –Kaziranga- Tezpur– Tawang – Thimpu – Gangtok - Darjeeling – Siliguri – Biratnagar – Darbhanga – Motihari – Birganj - Kathmandu – Pokhra – Mahendranagar –Corbett - Haridwar – Dehradoon – Shimla –Manali – Leh – Kargil – Srinagar – Jammu – Amritsar – Lahore – Ludhiana – Chandigarh - New Delhi.
There are many uncertainties involved, but they can be tackled. This world is a small place. A journey of this scale alone is a test of persistence and will remain a box of surprises thrown every moment. I want to make it self-sustainable, so tell me how I can do that. The journey is too long by any standards, and hence I spread it over a period of 6 months, covering around 100 km each day, every day for 180 days. This way it sounds conceivable.
There is no starting date that I have in my mind but 1st January sounds good, looking at the climate. By the time I reach Tawang, it would be April, and in Leh, it would be May, so good enough. Which 1st January is it supposed to be, is a question; I look forward to all of you for the answer of this question. Mail me whatever you feel about it. Whatever comes to your mind- good- bad, right or wrong. Whatever you feel. If you have been on some parts of this journey, then share your experiences. Suggestions of making this better, more inclusive, covering some great individuals who are doing a fantastic work, whom I can meet, organisations I can visit.
Why did I choose this route? It covers the most diverse regions of our sub- continent. The Thar Desert, Kucchh, eastern and western caostal plains, the Western and Eastern Ghats, dense forests, densely populated metroes, many IITs and the best colleges, the mighty Himalayas, uninhabited stretches of Laddakh, the origins of Ganga and Yamuna, to the sea where they culminate. Going into our neighbours, talking to people, reading on the way.
I am glad to share this with you. Now it’s only my mind which is thinking, and so there might be some aspects which are not visible to me. If more minds start working, things will proceed towards a better destination- in the journey which is going to be a memorable one.
Have a great day.
Regards,
Dr. Karan Choudhary.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Mark Twain

More than the plan, what I appreciate is the fact that you actually conceived it! For many (me being one), even thinking of something of this magnitude is certainly improbable, if not impossible. As you are aware, to make this plan a success, you will require a lot of things - a lot of time, money, zeal, passion, physical fitness....however the one thing that you'll be nneding most is the right attitude....an attitude to imbibe and appreciate different cultures, face and smilingly accept diffculties et al. If you feel you have the right blend of all of these, then go for it. India is such a vast and diverse country with so much cultural plurality, that even after this effort, you might only be able to see only a fraction of it. However, I am certain that once you (if you!) undertake this journey, you will be a different person at the end of it. And since you are planning to traverse a part of the sub-continent as well, you might find yourself at the end of highly opposing cultural experiences (not necessarily objectionable experiences, but they may be very different from the other).

Right now, my suggestion would be (assuming that you are serious about it), to plan for your journey. Research, read, arrange for the necessary funds and time, and most importantly condition your mind to an extent that you keep the same zeal and passion throughout.

All the very best!

Sagarneel.

I read a travelouge of a person from South India going pan-India on a bike including visit to Nepal and Bhutan. Have been searching where I read it since I received your PM yesterday drk. Not sure whether read it on BCMtouring or TeamBHP.

That person maintained a daily blog of his travel. If I get that I will post the link here.

Dear sagarneel, you read my mind. If I ask myself why i am doing it, the answer that comes out is- To see how i evolve out of this experience. Attaching a visual map of the journey. I have done a lot of research, and to be frank, in this journey, the will would prevail over all the research that I do. I will keep buzzing you all, with all that i want to know. Also, announcing it here puts the pressure on, making me get up to do this.
Thanks again.
@aarosh- i contacted that guy (if we are talking about the same person, but I want to read the journal you are talking about. so tell about the links.
Dhanyawaad.

Saw something here in IM. Although the thread has been closed on account of self promotion, there might be something relevant in the links provided:

Pan India Backpacking Trip

....On a lighter note, once you complete the journey, along with your experience, you'll have a loads of stuffs to freak our brains out in the 'Where was this photo taken' thread

This is not the one I was talking about Sagar. That link might help drk though. This person was on a bike travelling all over India. I will find that link and post it here.

seriously. i love that game. searching thru google to all the places that I've never seen, and scraching my head. Be prepared.

Will look fwd to the link...must be an interesting read!

Got this while searching for the other http://www.oktatabyebye.com/Travel-b...bike-trip.html

round the world on a bike-
www.ultimatejourney.com
the guiness book record holder. and please remind me beforehand if i am violating any rules here, as I got a chill when i saw the thread of backpacker closed. no such intentions here.

Got the link drk. Here it is http://praveenkm.blogspot.com/

Thanks aarosh, actually most of the links that you have found out have been useful, and motivating too.

Drk, 180 days biking around India sounds awesome... agree with sagarneel on WWTPT2 thread.. .

We have done a lot of road trips by car and minivan around the US with the girls. Some weekend and a few long.. The longest spanning three weeks and about 5000 miles.. the goal being to cover most the states before the girls head out to college.. It's really fulfilling to set a traveling goal and go for it.. It definitely opens the mind and the spirit.. And add on to that the feeling of pride in traversing the country you live in. It's also creates a respect for the place and the people who live there....

woooo, man its really exciting, to get a 6 months break from your daily routine is real tough job. I appreciate for you efforts and best of luck for your journey.
Check this http://praveenkm2.blogspot.com/
this will surely help you a lot in your journey.

If you donot mind, can i ask you how your are able to get 6 months for your journey. this all india tour on bike has always been my dream.