Healing Journey

The day I had been waiting for finally arrived. On 2nd October 2024, I officially began my Bharat Parikrama cycle journey from the Gateway of India, Mumbai at 6:00 AM. My day started early—at 2:00 AM, I left Pune in my friend Abhijeet’s car. My buddies Dhiraj, Bunny, and Mudraksh joined me for this special moment, making the long drive lively. At the Gateway, my dear friend Yogesh was already waiting with his wife Manisha and little daughter Kuhu to see me off. Their warm smiles and encouragement filled me with energy. Standing there, looking at the Arabian Sea and the majestic Gateway, I felt a rush of emotions—excitement, nervousness, and above all, gratitude. This was it. My first pedal stroke into a long solo expedition around India. The ride wasn’t easy. October heat in Mumbai is brutal, and riding along the humid coastline tested my stamina right on Day 1. By the time I reached Vasai in the afternoon, I was drenched in sweat and quite exhausted. I checked into Hotel Farm House, t...

How My Trekking Journey Began It was an ordinary afternoon back in 2015 at my office when my colleague and close friend, Datta Khot, casually asked me to join him for a weekend trek. He was heading to Kalsubai Peak with a trekking group based in Pune. I had never been on a trek before—completely unfamiliar with trekking culture—and naturally, my first response was a firm "no." But Datta was persistent. He kept encouraging me, assuring me that I should give it a shot. At that time, I didn’t even know what Kalsubai was. Later I learned it's the highest peak in the Sahyadri range, often referred to as the "Everest of Maharashtra." After registering somewhat half-heartedly, I told a few friends about my plan. Their reactions made me nervous—“Kalsubai is not for beginners,” they warned. “You should start with something simpler.” I even watched some YouTube videos and almost decided to back out. To add to my hesitation, I was also dealing with a knee problem. Every...