Justin D'Siiva
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Sep 29: A young cyclist from Udupi has returned home after completing an extraordinary 11-month-long bicycle journey covering 3,300 km from Udupi to Ladakh, carrying the message of environmental conservation.
The achiever, Dinesh Bovi, son of Parvathi and Sheshu Bovi of Kamalashile, Kundapur taluk, is a former student of Milagres College, Kallianpur. He was felicitated by his alma mater on Saturday for his remarkable feat.
The felicitation programme was attended by Malpe police station PSI Anil Kumar, retired professor Dr Jayaram Shettigar, alumni association office-bearers Alan Lewis, Shekhar Gujjarabettu and Shalet Mathias, and teacher-guardian association member Ganesh Maista, among others.
Dinesh began his cycling expedition on October 15, 2024, from Udupi and reached Ladakh on September 15, 2025, completing his 330-day journey. During the trip, he traversed through eight states – Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir.
Although he could have reached earlier, road access to Thang village in Kashmir (open only for six months of the year) delayed his progress. He spent a month in Mumbai and three months in Gujarat waiting for the route to reopen. The destination, Chang village in Ladakh, is a border area from where Pakistani territory can be viewed.
The expedition cost approximately Rs 1.5 lac, with most expenses spent on food. Milagres College principal Dr Vincent Alva, himself a cyclist, played a pivotal role by arranging financial support through donors and alumni. He also personally gifted Dinesh the cycle used for the journey.
Adding a heartwarming element to the adventure, Dinesh was joined by a stray dog he named Charlie. He found the pup near the Karnataka-Goa border, fed her, and carried her along for nearly 326 days of the journey, eventually bringing her back home to Udupi.
Speaking about his motivation, Dinesh said, “I undertook this journey to spread awareness about protecting the environment. Initially, my parents were reluctant, but later they fully supported me. Earlier, I had walked from Udupi to Dharmasthala and cycled 1,500 km from Udupi to Kanyakumari. This achievement was possible because of the constant encouragement of my family, college and especially my principal Dr Vincent Alva. I owe 90% of my success to him.”
Principal Dr Vincent Alva, expressing his pride, said, “It is a matter of immense joy that my student has completed this challenging 11-month cycling journey. At Milagres College, we encourage and support such students wholeheartedly. Any student aspiring to achieve something extraordinary will always find complete support from us.”