Pune: Even at the age of 56, Vasanti Joshi, Associate Professor at SNDT Arts and Commerce College is passionate about adventure cycling expeditions. She is taking up a cycling expenditure from Kanyakumari to Leh covering a distance of 4,275 km in 40 days starting from May 28 to July 5.

She will start from Kanyakumari on May 28, on the birth anniversary of Veer Savarkar and ride to the top of Umling La at 19,300 ft and pay homage to Bharat Ratna Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve, founder of SNDT Women’s University by completing her expedition on July 5, as the university was founded on July 5, 1916.

Joshi said, “I wish to try for an entry in the Guinness World Records by pedalling from 0 ft to 19,300 ft altitude at world’s highest motorable road at new pass Umling La opened by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in November 2017. My mission is to set an example of conquering fear and crossing limits of age and gender for any adventure.”

Shubhada Joshi, Founder Director of Girikand Tours and Travels, Joshi’s daughter Ketki Joshi and Gayatri Paranjape, alumni of SNDT will accompany Joshi on her expedition in a car. 

Joshi said this expedition will be an example of women power. 
“We will also collect information on issues like road conditions, cleanliness of rivers, vegetation, forestry, the livelihood of people especially the women. We will give this data to our policymakers so that they could give them some kind of help,” she said.

I have started adventure cycling from 2007 and participated in cycling expedition in Leh-Ladakh region from 2007 to 2009. In 2007, I was the first lady to pedal successfully on the top of Khardung La of 18,350 ft high. This expedition will be 1,000 ft higher than Khardung La. 
—  Vasanti Joshi, 
(Professor)