The city’s now-famous cycling culture is set to reach the “frozen highways” of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir. On Tuesday, four Bengalureans set out for an expedition of a lifetime, riding through snow-capped and winding roads of Ladakh. They will be capturing their one-month journey in a documentary film, which they hope to screen in the city.
Sharath Vishnu, a final year BCom student, and Rajesh P Nayak, a freelance interior designer, will be accompanied by Prashanth Nayaka, a professional film-maker and his assistant Chandrakant. Sharath and Rajesh are experienced cyclists who have undertaken expeditions in the Himalayas separately.
The quartet flew to Leh from where started off on their bicycles. They plan to visit the frozen Zanskar river and some of the highest motorable passes in the world, with temperatures reaching as low as -40°C.
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Sharath and Rajesh had been to the State separately late last year to prepare themselves for the expedition. “We have the required equipment and winter gear. We are going to take each day slowly as we don’t just have to survive, but also perform. Though we are Bengalureans, we have experienced what the weather can be like and know what food will suit our bodies,” Mr. Vishnu said before leaving the city.
The added challenge will be shooting the film with intermittent power supply and available battery backup.
“We are trying to do something different here. We want to show the world that Indians too can push the limits. We want to document our journey and encourage more people to take up such adventures,” he added, while admitting that his family is not as thrilled as he is about their adventure, but had to accept it.
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