So the story starts from here.
Just 10 days before Kashmir to Kanyakumari, I had a bad fall during my final practice ride.
At first, I brushed it off thinking it was nothing serious… but soon the pain hit hard. I couldn’t even walk properly.
I tried everything—painkillers, doctors, constant icing, advice from co-riders—anything that could help.
I was worried. Really worried.
The doctor finally told me it was a muscle tear, and it would take at least 3 weeks to heal.
But I had only one week before the expedition.
Day and night, I kept icing.
The doubt kept growing.
Would I be able to ride? Should I cancel? Was this the end before the journey even began?
Two days before leaving, I was finally able to walk properly after medication.
But I couldn’t even do a test ride because my bike had already been couriered.
So I took a leap of faith.
I decided to travel to Kashmir anyway, do a small ride there, and see if my body could handle it.
I rode 5 km in Kashmir… and to my surprise, it didn’t worsen the injury.
That’s when I knew—
I’m going for it.
Who Is This Extreme Adventure Athlete?
This is the story of Mrs Pinky Kharal Sharma, a french teacher, wife, mother, runner and a cyclist extraordinaire! She recently was part of a cycling expedition from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
Being a hardcore running enthusiast myself, I can imagine what an incredible achievement this is.
What Pinky has done is something extremely mind boggling. Very few have managed to ride the length of this incredible country called Bharat.
I have been dreaming of doing such expeditions on foot and on my cycle for sometime now. I followed her journey on Strava from Day 1 and eventually had to message her to get the story.
So, with the help of photographs and write-ups , Pinky is here to share her journey with all of us.
I usually get bored riding the same routes, so I prefer exploring new places. But Kashmir to Kanyakumari aka K2K wasn’t really on my mind at all. I was only planning a long ride—maybe 1000 or 1200 km—but definitely not the full 4000 km.
Then one fine morning, my co-rider told me she was going for K2K and asked if I could take leave and join her. She explained that it was sponsored by Fit India, and that I should at least try for it.
The procedure was simple but selective: fill out a Google form, let them review my details and riding profile, and only then they would choose the riders.
And somehow… I got selected.
She always believed in me more than I believed in myself.
“Arey, you’re a good rider, you’ll be able to do this,” she had said.
And that’s how I ended up at the starting line.
Kashmir to Kanyakumari – Day Wise Story
As written by Pinky on her Instagram post-
“4000 km of grit.
16 days of stories.
Roads that tested me, views that healed me, moments that overwhelmed me.
I felt it all.
From the mountains of Kashmir to the tip of Kanyakumari,
each state whispered its own lesson.
Blessed to have co-riders who pushed, supported, and inspired me every single mile.
This wasn’t just a journey — it was a transformation.”
Powerful start to an unforgettable expedition from the top of the nation.
Started in the freezing cold, but it got better as the afternoon sun came!
The morning started with swollen eyes and the body that felt far from ready for another long haul. But the moment I climbed into saddle, everything changed!
By the time I reached Doraha, 305 km later, the tired sense of morning had transformed into quiet sense of accomplishment.
Another day done! Another state crossed!
Another reminder that sometimes, all you need to do is get back on the saddle – and everything falls into place.
Eyes were still swollen but spirit was untouched.
I was excited to meet family and friends, but the long day meant reaching much later than planned.
One thing I must say that Delhi is one of the most dangerous places to ride in for a cyclist. Every kilometre demanded focus and courage.
Leaving Delhi was just as scary as entering it – the traffic never gives you a break. But cycling on home ground gave me a strange sense of comfort and happiness.
The roads felt familiar, the energy felt local and that gave me the push I needed.
Took a compulsory halt at Panchgaon to recharge before pushing ahead.
Crossed the beautiful Man Sagar lake and the view of Amer Fort was amazing. The roads towards the end of the ride were absolutely stunning.
Today was relatively relaxed with shorter distance to cover. With extra time at hand, thoughts drifted to small chores – washing clothes and getting them dry.
The ride itself was a treat with a beautiful route and scenic views throughout.
Till now, I had finally gotten comfortable about taking out the phone for few pics and videos along the way.
On this stretch I felt unexpectedly emotional – realising how far I’d come. Reaching here filled me with a deep sense of gratitude. I truly felt blessed.
The body is finally getting used to the routine now. The fatigue from initial days is easing, making the daily rhythm more natural.
The route was very smooth with some elevation.
Today was again a short and easy going ride.
The road conditions weren’t the best, with few rough patches along the way. But the journey still had its own charm!
Day 9 was the toughest part of the entire journey.
The road conditions were the worst, I had faced so far – broken patches, uneven stretches and a long distance that felt never-ending. I kept saying ” How come Modi’s own state doesn’t have good roads?”
Despite everything – bad roads, the tiredness, low spirits, we lived another day. We kept moving and that’s what counts!
The only bright moment I remember from this day was a small photoshoot in the cotton field – a brief pause that brought a little joy in an otherwise harsh day.
Started the day with some beautiful elevation and amazing views.
The climb felt so smooth that one fellow rider even asked if I lived near a hill station after watching me ride uphill effortlessly.
Most of the route was plateau landscape and was absolutely stunning. I was noticing this kind of a view for the first time and I just loved it!
After the initial ascent, it was all downhill, making the ride even more enjoyable. Despite the long distance, the journey felt easy and satisfying – thanks to the smooth roads and stunning scenery throughout.
Another wonderful day completed on this incredible expedition.
The day before we rode past countless sugarcane farms, and the whole time I wanted to stop and grab a few canes. But I didn’t dare ask the fellow riders as the distance was long.
Since today’s distance was short, we finally pulled over. We spent some slow, beautiful minutes enjoying fresh sugarcanes right in the fields.
Honestly, this turned out to be one of the best days of the trip. I felt so happy, so content – fully present in the moment, just being there and soaking it all in.
A smooth, effortless day of ride, the kind of road that makes the journey feel lighter and keeps the rhythm steady.
I was just enjoying my ride with no doubts in my mind – only the roads, the views and quiet sense of clarity.
By now, it has almost become a habit to take a sunset picture everyday. That quiet moment when the sky turns golden has started to feel like a small ritual – my way of closing the day with gratitude.
A long and demanding day on the saddle. I was really missing home and family today.
It feels like the countdown to the finish has begun. Yet, at the same time I am truly enjoying these days on the road.
Morning and evening rides were still pleasant, but the mid day sun was brutal. The heat made every kilometre twice as long!
During lunch I somehow managed a quick nap, which helped me recharge to push through the final stretch.
Day 14 was truly one of the hardest day of the entire journey.
Navigating through Bengaluru was the toughest part! Cycles weren’t allowed on the highway, so the guard guided us to an alternate route, which barely had a road. At one point, we were even walking with our cycles!
It took us almost 3 hours to get out of that mess and back on our route.
There was a moment when I genuinely felt like taking an auto and escaping it all! But thanks to Gandhi, who kept me calm and said “Just a little more, we will be out of this traffic” And he was right. What a terrific and testing way it was!
Started the day with a very good cup of tea – made differently and absolutely perfect – alongwith Parle G biscuits.
The route today was unbelievingly beautiful, especially towards the end. Windmills everywhere! I didn’t even feel like I was on the saddle. I was lost in the view and the moment!
Lunch was simple and good and the sweetest part – it was sponsored by one of the riders. He arranged it for the entire team. Such kind gesture truly lift your spirits on long days like this.
Later I met the family of one of our riders, Naveen and I couldn’t hold back my tears. I have been missing my family so much and seeing them brought so many emotions up. Naveen’s wife also brought a Gajra for me because I had requested one and I wore it happily.
Another unforgettable day on this incredible journey!
It was the last day of the expedition.
I was happy that I was successfully completing this journey, yet a little upset that it was coming to an end!
I am carrying a lot of unforgettable memories with me. This was one of the best trips I ever had!
Not even for a moment I felt like I was sitting on the saddle. I wasn’t just covering the miles – I was living every moment and collecting memories along the way.
With every kilometre I covered, my heart was filled with gratitude – gratitude for the universe, for all the crew members whose support made this journey possible. They were incredibly helpful – always checking in on us, making sure we were hydrated, motivating us and handling everything behind the scenes, so we could ride without worry. Their dedication truly kept us going.
And to my co-riders, who stood by me through every ups and downs. There were moments when I felt like giving up, but they pushed me forward.
It was an amazing journey which I will always cherish.
Behind this successful journey, there are countless people who lifted me, supported me, and believed in me more than I believed in myself.
A special mention for my mentor, Aneesh Sir:
The moment I said, “I’m going for Kashmir to Kanyakumari,” your first reaction was “Mat ja…” 😄
And yet, you were the one constantly guiding me with hydration, multivitamins and everything else.
Waiting for me at the Delhi stop with your family & Anant, even though we arrived at midnight. It made me so emotional.
I’ll forever be grateful to you.
Cost of Kashmir to Kanyakumari Expedition
1. I spent approximately ₹60,000 on tubes, protein, hydration, spare tyres, jersey, cycling shorts, gloves, etc.
2. Since it was a sponsored ride, it didn’t cost much. The total expense was around ₹80,000, which included breakfast, dinner, and stay.
Most Challenging Part of Kashmir to Kanyakumari Expedition
The most challenging part of this trip was packing our luggage and dropping it off every morning by 5 a.m. Then picking it up again after a tiring day of riding.
The luggage would be left on the hotel lawn, and finding our own bags amongst so many others was exhausting. After that, we had to carry them back to our rooms—sometimes up the stairs when there was no lift, and at other times when the lift wasn’t working.
This last part of the daily journey really tested our patience and resolve!
Most Memorable Moment of Kashmir to Kanyakumari Expedition
The most memorable moment was stopping by a sugarcane field and sharing fresh sugarcane with my co-rider. In that quiet moment, away from the rush of the ride, everything felt calm and pure.
It was simple, peaceful, and easily the moment I cherished the most.
These kinds of adventures are not something which you do just like that. It requires a lot of patience, preparation, mental fortitude and support from loved ones.
And to be able to then successfully finish it, requires the hand of God!
Pinky had it all and showed us that it is not impossible to do anything when one set their sights on!
Daud Bharat wishes her more such incredible adventures in the times to come.
Follow her on Strava and Instagram for more.
Jai Hind.
Pinky, you are an inspiration to many in all the aspects I can think of . But this journey that you have taken is truly remarkable. It is difficult to put into words the amount of determination it would have taken for you to continue the journey and but here you are, standing tall with a feather in your cap !