An auto-rickshaw driver from Bangalore, 35-year-old Balkrishna Mohan, attracted public attention by undertaking a journey of approximately 8900 kilometers in his auto-rickshaw. His route reached the high-altitude and challenging mountain roads of Ladakh, including Umling La point at an altitude of about 19 thousand feet.
Balkrishna's motivation was not solely tourism; he wanted to showcase the capabilities of the state of Karnataka and prove that an auto-rickshaw could traverse such a difficult path. Despite numerous difficulties encountered during the 24 days of this journey, he continued moving forward.
Balkrishna prepared for this expedition independently. He sold his old auto-rickshaw and purchased a used model. Since the trip was personal, he replaced the commercial yellow registration with a white one. Before starting the journey, he loaded the vehicle with necessary items, including food, bedding, and other essentials. On August 1st, friends and supporters sent him off from Vidhan Soudha in Bangalore.
The journey began in Bangalore and passed through states such as Hyderabad, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir before reaching Leh. From there, his journey continued through various regions of Ladakh, including Dras, Kargil, Nubra, Pangong Lake, and Chang La. He then moved towards Hanle and finally to Umling La. Such a long and mountainous journey on an auto-rickshaw involves difficulties: encountering bad roads, steep ascents, vehicle breakdowns, and tire puncture issues. Nevertheless, Balkrishna did not stop.
During the trip, a situation arose where the difficulties significantly increased. While returning from Umling La, Balkrishna mistakenly headed in the wrong direction for about 13 kilometers, approaching a restricted border zone. Local residents warned him, and thanks to their help, Balkrishna was able to realize his mistake and return to the correct route. This incident became one of the toughest situations in his journey, where, in addition to transport problems on mountain roads, he also faced the danger of getting lost.
Another problem was ensuring fuel for such a long distance on an auto-rickshaw. After arriving in Jammu, Balkrishna had to switch the vehicle from CNG to petrol because there were no accessible CNG refueling stations further along the route. During the trip, he received assistance from military personnel and local residents from Canada when needed.
Initially, Balkrishna started this campaign with the desire to do something special—to gain an experience that both he and his two children would remember. Balkrishna, who is originally from Mysore, now lives in Sarjapur with his wife and two children. For him, this journey was not just about covering thousands of kilometers but also about testing the potential of his auto-rickshaw.
The statistics of his journey illustrate the entire story of this campaign: he covered a total distance of 8900 kilometers in 24 days. The route started in Bangalore, and the main final destination was Umling La in Ladakh. During the trip, he spent about 48 thousand rupees on CNG and petrol fuel.
Transporting the three-wheeled auto-rickshaw to Umling La, located at an altitude of about 19 thousand feet, was the most significant part of this journey. This trip, which started in Bangalore, passed through many states, long roads, difficult mountain passes, and various obstacles to reach Ladakh.
Balkrishna aimed to show through his journey that achieving a goal does not always require taking the easiest path. His three-wheeled auto-rickshaw was his companion throughout this entire trip; despite bad roads, ascents, punctures, breakdowns, and the risk of getting lost, he completed the 8900-kilometer journey and reached Umling La.