Kashmir's Adil Teli sets Leh-Manali world record

Story by  ATV | Posted by  Aasha Khosa • 1 Years ago
Adil Teli on way to Manali from Leh (Twitter)
Adil Teli on way to Manali from Leh (Twitter)

 

Srinagar

Kashmiri cyclist Adil Teli on Monday claimed to have set another Guinness World Record by peddling 450 km distance from Leh to Manali in 29 hours 18 minutes, and 21 seconds.

Teli said he had finished the expedition in a record time at 10:59 am Monday. He surpassed the previous 'Leh to Manali' record of 35 hours 32 minutes 22 seconds of Bharat Pannu set on 11 October 2020.

Teli holds the World Guinness record of cycling from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in ‘8 days 1 hour 37’ minutes in 2020.

He told Rising Kashmir Newspaper on phone: “I am grateful to the Almighty who gave me strength in registering another Guinness World Record. "My happiness has no bounds. I don’t have words to express my feelings after achieving this feat.”

The 24-year-old Adil hails from the Narbal area in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. He started his expedition from Srinagar on September 9 with Secretary Tourism Sarmad Hafeez flagging him off.  At Leh, where the measurable part of the expedition started he was flagged off by Superintendent of Police Leh, PD Nitya.

He started his expedition from Leh at 5:41 am Sunday, pedaled through difficult terrains and passes like Tanglang La, Luchulang La, Nakee La, Barcha La, and Rohtang.“To make my dream come true, I cycled without sleep and had just 40 minutes of break for the physiotherapist's check-up and refreshment in the middle of the expedition,” he told local media.

Teli said though 475 km seems a small distance, the roughness of the road with high altitude terrains made the expedition difficult. He also had to negotiate snow-covered roads at many spots.

Adil Teli with his cycle

He had to cross five passes on the Leh-Manali route and it was a difficult thing to do. The highest pass is approximately 5,300 meters above sea level and the rest four passes are above 4000 meters. Low oxygen levels also take a toll of the body.

“I was ready for all these challenges.  I had prepared for the event by spending 45 days in Ladakh, and had acclimatized to the atmosphere already there,” he said. Every rider who attempted the expedition used to come four to five days in advance to Ladakh. "I spent 45 days in Ladakh and have ridden Khardung La pass (road) five to six times.

His expedition was sponsored by the J&K Department of Tourism. He thanked the government and said,  “Without their sponsorship, I would not have made it.”

Teli extended special thanks to Akshay Koul, India’s well-known landscape architect and Professor at Manipal University, Jaipur. “I dedicate my success to my parents and the people of Kashmir,” he said.

ALSO READAdil is the fastest Kashmir-Kanyakamari cyclist

In 2019, Teli completed another cycling journey of 440 km from Srinagar to Leh covering the distance in 26 hours and 30 minutes. He has now become an inspiration for many cyclists of the valley.