Gowhar Wani/New Delhi

At 19, Musaib Yousuf, a cyclist from Kashmir, has embarked on an ambitious journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, covering nearly 3,600 km. Riding an ordinary bicycle and carrying around 50 kg of luggage, he is determined to reach the southernmost tip of mainland India.

“I have to reach my destination. This is both my passion and my stubbornness,” Musaib, who hails from Tangmarg, North Kashmir, told Awaz-The Voice during an interaction in Delhi.

What makes his expedition particularly challenging is not just the distance but also the modest means at his disposal. His bicycle, which is prone to frequent breakdowns, is far from the sturdy, specialised cycles usually used for long-distance expeditions. Yet, Musaib believes that determination matters more than equipment.

His first major expedition could have ended in disappointment. While cycling from Kashmir to Manali via Punjab, he encountered an unsettling experience following the Red Fort blast. He said some people confronted him because he was a Kashmiri Muslim and wanted to search his belongings. The police intervened and rescued him.

Musaib in Delhi

The incident could have shaken his confidence, but Musaib refused to let it define his experience or deter him from travelling. Instead, he decided to undertake a much bigger challenge: cycling from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

His ambition goes beyond covering a long distance. He wants to meet people from different regions, understand their lifestyles and engage with them to learn about their thoughts and experiences.

By the time he reached Delhi, Musaib had covered nearly 800 km, passing through several towns and cities in Punjab and Haryana.

He said the decision to undertake such a demanding expedition was not an easy one. Before preparing physically, he had to make up his mind mentally. It took him three to four months to convince himself to attempt a journey that he initially estimated would cover between 4,000 and 4,500 km.

Musaib during his travel

For him, mental strength is the most important preparation for an adventure of this kind. He believes that once a person is determined and clear about a goal, others are more likely to come forward with support.

The Kashmir-Manali expedition proved to be a turning point in his life. It transformed his outlook, strengthened his confidence and inspired him to attempt something bigger.

He recalls telling himself that if he could cycle from Kashmir to Manali, he should challenge himself with an even longer journey. He does not follow any particular cyclist as his role model, saying that his own experiences are his greatest source of inspiration.

Musaib has been pleasantly surprised by the warmth and encouragement he has received along the way. In Punjab, people welcomed him and cheered him on in cities such as Jalandhar and Ludhiana. He received similar support in Karnal and other places in Haryana.

Musaib with Gowhar Wani

For him, the greatest reward of travelling is the opportunity to meet people from different regions, experience their cultures and exchange ideas. The journey has opened his mind to a much bigger world and exposed him to things he could never have imagined while sitting at home in his comfort zone.

His biggest challenge, however, remains his bicycle. It is an ordinary model costing around Rs 14,000 to Rs 15,000. A stronger, better-quality bicycle, which could cost approximately Rs 50,000, would have made the expedition considerably easier.

But Musaib chose to begin the journey with what he had, believing that reaching the destination was more important than having the best equipment.

Carrying nearly 50 kg of luggage puts considerable pressure on the bicycle. Its tyres have been damaged repeatedly, forcing him to replace them along the way. At times, they have even come off. The bicycle has not been specially modified for the expedition, and its brakes and other basic components remain as they were when he purchased it.

Locals in Punjab clicking selfies with  Musaib

After leaving Kashmir, Musaib travelled through Jammu and entered Punjab via Kathua. He then passed through Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Ambala before reaching Karnal. From there, he continued towards Delhi. Contrary to some fear mongers in Kashmir, who tried to put negative thoughts in his mind he was greeted with warmth and love everywhere.

As soon as Musaib entered Punjab, a local villager treated him to a gole-gappa chat while the man selling lassi on the roadside refused to accept the payment. 

The stretch into the national capital was particularly exhausting. He covered 128 km in a single day to reach Delhi, describing it as one of the most difficult parts of his journey.

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Musaib says cycling is also gaining popularity in Kashmir, particularly among young people, who are taking it up as a hobby, sport and recreational activity. His own expedition has received financial support from Le Delice, a French bakery in Srinagar.