62-yr-old cycles Leh-Manali route in 48 hrs

Panchkula resident Alok Bhandari has set a new record in cycling by covering 428 km from Leh to Manali in less than 48 hours. A heart patient, Bhandari now has his name registered in the International Book of Records.

A retired Punjab Government official and a fitness enthusiast, Bhandari overcame the challenges like bad weather and a difficult route to achieve the feat. “I started cycling in 2020. Having suffered from heart problems (having a stent), I started cycling after consulting a doctor and travelled from Manali to Leh in 2022. It took me five days. In the following year, I completed the same journey in four days and in 2024, I took three days. This time, I completed the journey of 428 km from Leh to Manali in 47 hours 32 minutes to set a record,” he said.

“At 60 plus, I have always paid special attention to fitness and encourage others to do the same. I thought of completing the route in June and started practicing hard from January. I used to cycle daily and didn’t miss a single day. I ate more protein, maintained my water intake,” he added.