Balakrishna Mohan completed a 7,500km, 24-day journey to Ladakh and back in his autorickshaw, reaching Umling La at 19,024ft
Bengaluru: At a time when many auto drivers in Bengaluru refuse to travel from one part of the city to another citing long distances, 35-year-old Balakrishna Mohan decided to take his auto much farther — all the way to Ladakh. Over 24 days, he covered approximately 7,500km, climbed some of the region’s highest passes and reached Umling La, one of the highest motorable stretches in the world at 19,024ft. With a tent, sleeping bag and other essentials packed, he was flagged off by friends and well-wishers from Vidhana Soudha on Aug 1. Balakrishna Mohan, 35, the auto driver On his way back, Balakrishna travelled through Himachal Pradesh, drove through the Atal Tunnel and reached Bengaluru on Aug 24, completing approximately 7,500km.
I wanted to represent Karnataka ,” he said. From there I went through Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Agra, Jammu & Kashmir, and then to Leh,” he said. I had never thought I would be able to do it in my autorickshaw,” he said. It felt good to educate them about our wonderful state,” he said. Any Kannadiga I met there also gave me their number and told me to contact them if I needed help,” he said. If my health had permitted, I’d have even covered Kanyakumari and come,” he said.
“I used to see videos of different types of vehicles, including autos from other states, at Umling La. He claims his is the first autorickshaw from Bengaluru to reach Umling La and return home. Balakrishna spent a few weeks preparing for the journey. He sold his auto and bought a second-hand one, changing its registration plate from yellow to white as it was meant for private use. He decided against modifications, having already taken a loan and wanting to avoid unnecessary expenses. “I took the Hyderabad route. From Leh, he headed to Khardung La and planned to proceed to Nubra, but a landslip forced him to turn back. “The moment I arrived there was one of the happiest moments of my life. “On my way, I saw so many vehicles that had fallen in ditches and thought, ‘What am I doing? But somehow, my auto and I ended up climbing the pass. For Balakrishna, the expedition was also about putting Karnataka on the map. “Many there did not know about our state. He also scaled Chang La and Fotu La passes. “Our army personnel guided me everywhere, from navigation to helping me make the hardest turns. “It was different from what I had imagined.
Near Umling La, he lost his way in the rain and travelled 13km in the wrong direction, almost reaching a restricted border area, before locals helped him back. He then travelled to Pangong Lake and Chang La before proceeding to Hanle and finally Umling La. The adventure came with mishaps. To save money, he had initially planned to pitch his tent at petrol pumps, but after encountering thieves, he switched to dormitories and hostels. Vehicle breakdowns were another challenge. His auto runs on CNG, but from Jammu onwards he had to rely on petrol as there were no CNG stations along the route. He credited army personnel and fellow Kannadigas in Ladakh for helping him through difficult stretches.
He has been driving autos since 2011 and hopes his adventures will inspire his children. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in Bengaluru Stay updated with the latest Bengaluru news. Originally from Mysuru, Balakrishna lives in Sarjapur with his wife and two children. His next adventure is already taking shape, and he hopes a philanthropist will help him undertake the journey. Download the TOI App.