Woman cyclist and mountaineer from southern district of East Godaavari in Andhra Pradesh, Jyothi Rongala, who is on a country-wide cycling tour, arrived at central Assam’s Hojai on Thursday.
Highly energetic and young Jyothi embarked on the biggest adventure of her life – a 30,000 km solo bicycle ride across India, including the Northeast.
Also read: Hyderabadi cyclist Jyothi Rongala arrives at Dhemaji
Rongala has set off on her cashless-journey into the hinterlands to prove a point to the world that ‘Indian roads are perfectly safe for women and people of India are very rich in hospitality.’
Talking to this correspondent, 35-year-old Master of Business Administration and a degree holder in mountaineering from Nehru Institute Of Mountaineering shared her experience and challenges.
Jyothi said, “After coming to Hojai I was overwhelmed by the warm welcome by Baibsai Ganpati Udayapan Samitee.”
She her adventure in the Northeast began in January early this year.
She has already touched Arunachal Pradesh, now in Assam for few more days then move to Nagaland and other north-eastern states.
“I have completed 15000 km till date, my aim is to complete 30000 km in a solo bicycle ride within 300 days and set the world record for the longest solo bicycle ride in a single country,” Rongala informed.
She said her mission began three years back in 2017 and she has not stopped.
However, she had to give a break when she met with an accident while she was travelling from Delhi to Nagpur.
She has to stay bedridden for some months, but her will power and strong dedication to complete 30000 km couldn’t stop her.
Rongala stated,”Guinness World Record is not my goal but to complete 30000 km is my aim.”
She said,”Northeast is very refreshing with enormous flora and fauna, a must see destinations from everyone to rejoice.”
“People of Assam are very helpful and supportive, especially while my travel the truck drivers are helping me a lot. If I had any defect in the bicycle they use to give me lift and food,” Rongala added
She shared the message for the youths that , “Happiness cannot be brought through money, for happiness one should do what they are interested in, step out and enjoy the universe it’s refreshing, sitting in home will not bring anything.”
Her parents have supported her in this expedition.
Her entire journey is based on crowd funding and as she passes by from one area to another whoever gets in her touch extends help in completing her mission.
In Rongala’s Journey, five days ago 41 years old Momina Wasim who hails for Dibrugarh joined her from Jorhat town.
Momina said she has completed 250 km cycling with Rongala till date.
It is her longest cycling journey and in all probability she will accompany Rongala in rest of the five north-eastern states expedition.
She met Rongala through Dibrugarh Cycling Club.
She also hosted her in Dibrugarh.
Momina is running a Startup in Tinsukia and she is the sole earner of her home as her parents have already expired.
She has a younger sister.
“I had a dream of doing something adventurous and instantly when I met Jyothi Rongala, I thought why not give it a try now as such my journey began five days ago,” Wasim added.