Cycling in India: From Maharashtra to Ladakh (25,000 km Story)

From a Small Farmer Family to cycling in India for 25,000 Kilometres

Hi, my name is Pranali Chikte. I come from a very small farmer family in Maharashtra.

During the COVID period, when the world came to a standstill, I also felt stuck. For a long time, even before COVID, I had been questioning why the world was running so fast—like a rat race—and where we were actually heading. Along with these questions came worries about my own future.

With these thoughts, I decided to begin a journey alone. I started my cycling journey during the pandemic with almost no money, carrying just three sets of clothes, and relying on simplicity and people’s kindness.

For more than two years, I cycled from Maharashtra to Ladakh, covering nearly 25,000 kilometers.

This journey became my real education far beyond the four walls of formal learning. I learned through lived experience, from farmers, communities, and ordinary people across different states. I witnessed diverse landscapes, cultures, and realities of India.

Throughout this journey, I actively promoted cycling, created awareness about environmental protection, and spoke about women’s freedom and mobility.

What Cycling in India Taught Me About Life and Consumerism

As I traveled, I realized that problems exist everywhere—no matter which place or region. But at the core of many of these problems lies our consumerist lifestyle. It comes from individual choices as well as collective social behavior.

In the name of comfort, demand, and greed, we are slowly destroying our environment and disconnecting from nature.

Through this understanding, I chose the bicycle as a medium to restore balance between humans and nature, and to promote coexistence.

Cycling in India showed me that change does not always require grand systems—it can begin with simple personal decisions.

Building the CYCLE CHAAK Movement Across India

I am now working to integrate cycling into everyday life, especially in rural and small-town areas, to reduce pollution, improve public health, and protect the environment.

With this vision, I am currently traveling across South India by bicycle. I began this journey at the end of December 2025, and it has been more than a month on the road.

This journey is not just about traveling. It is about building connections, sharing the vision of the CYCLE CHAAK Movement, and raising small but meaningful funds to support both the ongoing journey and future projects.

My work includes developing and delivering cycle education workshops, especially in schools and community spaces. For this, I need support in the form of contributions to arrange learning materials, build a small paid team, and conduct workshops in different regions. You can connect with me on my Instagram, to know more about contributions, and collaborations.

Alongside this, I am also working on research and advocacy for safer cycling infrastructure in cities and towns, beginning from the Nagpur region.

Wherever possible, my work goes beyond cycling alone. Women’s empowerment is a strong part of this journey. I actively encourage and involve more women in cycling, workshops, and public spaces.

My own journey is a process of exploring freedom and, through it, creating pathways for other women to experience confidence, mobility, and independence.

If you believe in sustainable living, safer public spaces, and mobility as freedom, your support can help this movement grow—one region at a time.

About Wonder Woman Wednesday

This story is shared as part of Wonder Woman Wednesday, a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of women who are building, leading, and redefining possibilities in their own ways.

Wonder Woman Wednesday brings visibility to real stories, stories of courage, experimentation, impact, and change. By sharing journeys like mine, the platform hopes to inspire more women to question, explore, and take bold steps toward their own freedom.