Against all odds: Youths ride to Umling La Pass, return from epic 47-day journey

Belagavi: Six youths from the Karnataka–Maharashtra border, including Bahubali Hukkeri and Shubham Badave from Chikodi, returned home on Saturday after completing a 47-day motorcycle Maha Yatra across north India.

The group travelled thousands of kilometres, covering routes from the Panch Kedar shrines in Uttarakhand to Umling La Pass in Ladakh — the world’s highest motorable road at 19,024 ft, close to the China border in eastern Ladakh. As part of the expedition, they also undertook a gruelling 188-km trek en route to Haridwar, underscoring their endurance and resolve.The riders — Bahubali Hukkeri and Shubham Badave (Chikodi), Shamsundar Daivagya (Ranebennur), and Somnath Sutar, Vivek Patil and Adarsh Patil (Kurandwad, Maharashtra) — set out to experience nature, navigate challenging terrain and witness the strength of the Indian Army along border areas. After completing the journey, the two Chikodi youths were accorded a warm welcome by family and friends on their return.Sharing his experience, Hukkeri said the journey, which began on May 11, was more than a multi-state road trip. “It was a spiritual quest to seek Lord Shiva, a deeply personal connect with nature, and a patriotic experience witnessing the sacrifice of soldiers. It also taught us life lessons on courage, resilience and self-belief,” he said, adding that such journeys shape a person’s character and confidence.The Panch Kedar Yatra — covering Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar in the Garhwal Himalayas — involved about 107 km of trekking and 400 km of driving.

“We crossed steep steps, remote valleys, rocky trails, dense forests and snow-clad peaks. Every stretch, combining biking and mountaineering, tested our stamina. We completed the first leg in Shimla,” he said.Badave described Spiti Valley as “nature’s masterpiece”. “Located between Tibet and India, the terrain feels like a different world. From Shimla, we travelled through remote landscapes to reach Chitkul, the last village on the Indo-Tibet border, known for its monasteries and rugged terrain,” he said.Residents of Mahavir Nagar in Chikodi welcomed the group with flowers, cake-cutting and aarti. Dayanand Tubachi, Shivputra Darbare, Annasaheb Kamane, Chandrakant Hukkeri and Abhinandan Hukkeri, along with local women, participated in the celebrations.