Trans-Himalayan Cycling Expedition by Chandan Biswas

153 Days
6249 km
4 countries (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan)
Start Point: 17th February, From Home
End Point: 18th July, Hunder Village (Nubra Valley)
Highest Point: Khardung La (18380 ft)

I started on 17th Feb from Hridaypur, Barasat. First I reached Bangladesh from Kolkata followed by Tripura, Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal, Assam and Meghalaya. I spent one day in Bhutan. Then I proceeded to North Bengal followed by Sikkim, Nepal, Uttarakahand, Himachal Pradesh and finally Ladakh in Kashmir.

The last point of my journey was Khar Dung La pass. At present I am in Keylong. Within the next 7-10 days the journey will be completed. I have crossed many high passes including Kunzum Pass, Tanglangla, Khar Dung La pass.

No noteworthy passes in Nepal. Challenges faced in Arunachal were mainly due to unexplored terrrain. Shimla-Kaza route is not at all feasible for cycling. It was difficult for me because the road condition was very bad. Road was full of rocks which can fall at any moment on you.

From Batal there was no motorable road. Everytime while crossing I had to unload luggage from my cycle and after crossing reload it. I also witnessed a landslide upfront. It was not at all a good experience. The waterfalls were all over the roads. Every time my bicycle encountered a technical problem, I had to repair it myself. Altitude was not a problem as I have driven in high altitudes before.

Since I have been cycling for a long time, I am used to driving in low temperatures and low oxygen conditions. The difficulty was mainly in the terrain. Khar Dung La pass was tough (8900ft).

• 18th Jul Day 153 Hunder Village (Nubra Valley), 6249 km
• 11th Jul Day 145 Keylong, 5771 km
• 10th Jul Day 144 Koksar, 5726 km
• 9th Jul Day 143 Koksar, 5726 km
• 8th Jul Day 142 Batal, 5671 km
• 7th Jul Day 141 Batal, 5671 km
• 6th Jul Day 140 Losar, 5640 km
• 5th Jul Day 139 Kaza, 5582 km
• 4th Jul Day 138 Kaza, 5582 km
• 3rd Jul Day 137 Tabo, 5532 km
• 2nd Jul Day 136 Nako, 5468 km
• 1st Jul Day 135 Spillow, 5406 km
• 30th Jun Day 134 Rekong Peo, 5362 km
• 29th Jun Day 133 Rekong Peo, 5362 km
• 28th Jun Day 132 Jeori, 5265 km
• 27th Jun Day 131 Kumarsain, 5198 km
• 26th Jun Day 130 Kumarsain, 5198 km
• 25th Jun Day 129 Kumarsain, 5198 km
• 24th Jun Day 128 Theog, 5146 km
• 23rd Jun Day 127 Shimla, 5113 km
• 22nd Jun Day 126 Shimla, 5113 km
• 21st Jun Day 125 Solan, 5065 km
• 20th Jun Day 124 Batol, 5018 km
• 19th Jun Day 123 Nahan, 4978km
• 18th Jun Day 122 Paonta Sahib, 4935 km
• 17th Jun Day 121 Delhi
• 16th Jun Day 120 Delhi
• 15th Jun Day 119 Delhi
• 14th Jun Day 118 Delhi
• 13th Jun Day 117 Dehradun, 4880 km
• 12th Jun Day 116 Dehradun, 4880 km
• 11th Jun Day 115 Haridwar, 4810 km
• 10th Jun Day 114 Haridwar, 4810 km
• 9th Jun Day 113 Nabibabad, 4744 km
• 8th Jun Day 112 Kashipur, 4648 km
• 7th Jun Day 111 Sitargunj, 4553 km
• 6th Jun Day 110 Bhimdutta, 4489 km
• 5th Jun Day 109 Baliya, 4376 km
• 4th Jun Day 108 Kohalpur, 4284 km
• 3rd Jun Day 107 Lalmatiya, 4160 km
• 2nd Jun Day 106 Butwal, 4050 km
• 1st Jun Day 105 Galyang, 3970 km
• 31st May Day 104 Pokhara, 3885 km
• 30th May Day 103 Pokhara, 3885 km
• 29th May Day 102 Mungling, 3792 km
• 28th May Day 101 Mungling, 3792 km
• 27th May Day 100 Kathmandu, 3681 km
• 26th May Day 099 Kathmandu, 3681 km
• 25th May Day 098 Kathmandu, 3681 km
• 24th May Day 097 Kathmandu, 3681 km
• 23rd May Day 096 Dhulikhel, 3647 km
• 22nd May Day 095 Mangaltar, 3608 km
• 21st May Day 094 Khurkot, 3561 km
• 20th May Day 093 Sindhuli, 3524 km
• 19th May Day 092 Bardibas, 3477 km
• 18th May Day 091 Kalyanpur, 3380 km
• 17th May Day 090 Belbari, 3275 km
• 16th May Day 089 Kankai River, 3226 km
• 15th May Day 088 Siliguri, 3163 km
• 14th May Day 087 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 13th May Day 086 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 12th May Day 085 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 11th May Day 084 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 10th May Day 083 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 9th May Day 082 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 8th May Day 081 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 7th May Day 080 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 6th May Day 079 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 5th May Day 078 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 4th May Day 077 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 3rd May Day 076 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 2nd May Day 075 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 1st May Day 074 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 30th Apr Day 073 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 29th Apr Day 072 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 28th Apr Day 071 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 27th Apr Day 070 Siliguri, 3063 km
• 26th Apr Day 069 Singtam
• 25th Apr Day 068 Reang Forest, 2918 km
• 24th Apr Day 067 Murti, 2850 km
• 23rd Apr Day 066 Murti, 2832 km
• 22nd Apr Day 065 Chalsa, 2816 km
• 21st Apr Day 064 Jaldapara, 2752 km
• 20th Apr Day 063 Alipurduar, 2704 km
• 19th Apr Day 062 Alipurduar, 2704 km
• 18th Apr Day 061 Alipurduar, 2704 km
• 17th Apr Day 060 Alipurduar, 2704 km
• 16th Apr Day 059 Alipurduar, 2704 km
• 15th Apr Day 058 Phuentsholing, Bhutan, 2646 km
• 14th Apr Day 057 Alipurduar, 2588 km
• 13th Apr Day 056 Alipurduar, 2588 km
• 12th Apr Day 055 Alipurduar, 2588 km
• 11th Apr Day 054 Alipurduar, 2588 km
• 10th Apr Day 053 Alipurduar, 2588 km
• 9th Apr Day 052 Barovisa, 2556 km
• 8th Apr Day 051 Bongaigao, 2462 km
• 7th Apr Day 050 Barpeta Road, 2402 km
• 6th Apr Day 049 Nalbari, 2337 km
• 5th Apr Day 048 Guwahati, 2250 km
• 4th Apr Day 047 Guwahati, 2250 km
• 3rd Apr Day 046 Guwahati, 2250 km
• 2nd Apr Day 045 Rowta, 2127 km
• 1st Apr Day 044 Tezpur, 2055 km
• 31st Mar Day 043 Tezpur, 2055 km
• 30th Mar Day 042 Tezpur, 2055 km
• 29th Mar Day 041 Tezpur, 2055 km
• 28th Mar Day 040 Gohpur, 1925 km
• 27th Mar Day 039 Lakhimpur, 1840 km
• 26th Mar Day 038 Silapathar, 1746 km
• 25th Mar Day 037 Silapathar, 1746 km
• 24th Mar Day 036 Aalo, 1598 km
• 23rd Mar Day 035 Aalo, 1598 km
• 22nd Mar Day 034 Sissen, 1545 km
• 21st Mar Day 033 Pasighat, 1493 km
• 20th Mar Day 032 Pasighat, 1493 km
• 19th Mar Day 031 Pasighat, 1493 km
• 18th Mar Day 030 Simon Chhapri, 1416 km
• 17th Mar Day 029 Jamirah, 1353 km
• 16th Mar Day 028 Sivsagar, 1274 km
• 15th Mar Day 027 Jorhat, 1215 km
• 14th Mar Day 026 Golaghat, 1164 km
• 13th Mar Day 025 Dimapur, 1077 km
• 12th Mar Day 024 Dimapur, 1077 km
• 11th Mar Day 023 Dimapur, 1077 km
• 10th Mar Day 022 Diphu, 1014 km
• 09th Mar Day 021 Lumding, 973 km
• 08th Mar Day 020 Maibang, 888 km
• 07th Mar Day 019 Haflong, 845 km
• 06th Mar Day 018 Harangajao, 801 km
• 05th Mar Day 017 Silchar, 736 km
• 04th Mar Day 016 Silchar, 736 km
• 03rd Mar Day 015 Karimganj, 684 km
• 02nd Mar Day 014 Dharmanagar, 604 km
• 1st Mar Day 013 Kumarghat, 564 km
• 28th Feb Day 012 Ambassa, 518 km
• 27th Feb Day 011 Agartala, 436 km
• 26th Feb Day 010 Agartala, 436 km
• 25th Feb Day 009 Bhairab, 382 km
• 24th Feb Day 008 Dhaka, 294 km
• 23rd Feb Day 007 Dhaka, 294 km
• 22nd Feb Day 006 Dhaka, 294 km
• 21st Feb Day 005 Dhaka, 294 km
• 20th Feb Day 004 Barisal, 286 km
• 19th Feb Day 003 Pirojpur, 233 km
• 18th Feb Day 002 Khulna, 170 km
• 17th Feb Day 001 Barasat to Jessore, 105 km

Had to stay at Siliguri for chronic discentry. Almost got to hospitalize myself. After recovery able to enter Nepal yesterday. 1st night was at Kankai River. Todays probable stay at Itahari.

Touched Bhutan. Completed several wildlife sanctuary, reserve forest and national park of Tarai and Dooars. Been at Sikkim. Today I'm reaching Siliguri. Will be there for 3-4 days and then Nepal. Last few days in india before entering uttarakhand.

Destination unknown. All I know is I'm gonna reach Guwahati after 2-3 days. Till then depending on the wind.

And it's gonna rain.

Into dense Arunachal forest and hill areas now. Population is very low here. You will hardly find a village in 20-25 kilometers. Road condition is horrible. But it's Himalaya. I am glad it's even there. Will update more if I get a better network.

Reached Pasighat. Oldest city in Arunachal. From tomorrow I'm entering core himalayan region. It was an wonderful journey so far.

I could say the toughest route is starting from tomorrow. A few people has entered this route before. From Along to Ziro to Itanagar. Wish me Luck?

Today at Jorhat town. District town of Jorhat district. There is some security risk ahead so had a long conversation with the local police authorities. They extended their welcome and assured me that if any problem arises they will provide an escort van.

Crossed Dhansiri river yesterday. Road here is good so far. Will see Brahmaputra in two days. So a bit excited.

Yesterday I stayed at Maibang Police Station. Today at Lumding. Road is hilly but ok. Tomorrow heading for Diphu. Can't say the journey will be ok.

For some unknown reason political condition is not suitable. Let's see what happens tomorrow. Will update soon.

Dear SDPO arranged my stay here for today.

Four muddy roads in the four directions. No traffic signs, no one to ask. Waited 30 minutes before a pick-up driver came up and directed the right way. This is National Highway no. 54.

Remember the 'JATINGA's? The flock comes to Assam every year just to die. This is the place. The whole area is named after the them. Welcome to Jatinga.

Still no sign of another cyclist/traveller/tourist in the last eleven days. Your only friends are truck-drivers and chay-wallas. A long way ahead to fly solo.

Due to the political condition in Manipur and Myanmar I am not being able to enter Manipur. Thus goes my Myanmar plan off the route.

I'm going straight to Nagaland (Dimapur) via Haflong and Lumding.

Attention Riders/Travellers:
Road condition is very bad after entering Assam from Tripura. Karimganj to Silchar road is severe and very dusty. Use scarf all the time.

It's not fog in the photo. Its dust.

Only one day cycling/travelling in Tripura you will understand why it has the second highest literacy rate in India. Tripura can be a poster state for clean and green. Bengalis and Kockborok tribes live here simultaneously and peacefully. And they both are awesome.

Leaving Tripura, entering Assam for a brief period. Fun fact is I haven't seen another cyclist/traveller/tourist in the last four days. It's like roads are there only for me.

Life here at Agartala is very tranquil. Enjoyed a lot in this small but pleasing state capital.. Tomorrow I am leaving for Ambassa. Road will be hilly, so a bit concerned. I think the challenge is beginning.

I still miss Bangladesh, Bangladeshi foods and friends.

Photo was taken at Akhaura-Agartala Border. Security personnel at the checkpost tried to ride my cycle but after 10 meter he give up.

Adab,
Barasat > Bangaon > Jessore > Khulna > Pirozpur > Barisal > Now at DHAKA (by ferry service from Barisal). Will stay here for 2-3 days. It's a very good thing that I spent 21st February 'International Mother Language Day' at Dhaka.

The main hurdle is front luggage. It's the first time I'm riding with them. Acclimatization is taking time. But I'm getting habituated sooner than I expected.

Roads are okay, people are very nice. Enjoying a lot.

Cheers! Good night.

From tomorrow 17th February I am starting my 'Solo Trans-Himalaya and SAARC Countries Cycling Expedition' for 'Peace Movement & Cultural Exploration'. Total riding distance will be 8000 km (approx.). I will try to cover 5 countries - Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal and India. I will try to cross 15 high passes. It will take almost 240 days to complete the journey.

My probable route is:
Kolkata > Bangladesh > Tripura > Manipur > Nagaland > Arunachal Pradesh > Assam > Bhutan > North Bengal > Nepal > Uttarakhand > Himachal Pradesh > Jammu & Kashmir

This is my live blog. I will try to update my location at least twice a week. You can count it as a logbook.

Stay fresh. Cheers!