Age has not slowed Chaturbhai. At 56, the Surat-based cyclist is proving that faith, fitness and determination can still carry you across a country, quite literally.
Chaturbhai is currently on an extraordinary solo cycling journey across India to visit all 12 Jyotirlingas and the Char Dham shrines. Covering thousands of kilometres on a bicycle, he recently reached Srisailam Mallikarjuna Swamy temple in Andhra Pradesh, drawing admiration from devotees and locals alike.
A Dream Deferred For 30 Years
For Chaturbhai, this journey has been three decades in the making. He says the dream of completing a pan-India pilgrimage on a bicycle first took shape nearly 30 years ago. But life intervened.
Family responsibilities, work commitments and the need to
care for his ageing mother meant the plan had to wait. It was only after his mother passed away four to five years ago that Chaturbhai felt he had fulfilled his responsibilities at home.
“With my family’s encouragement, I finally decided it was time,” he says.
On November 2, Chaturbhai set out from Surat, beginning what he calls the most meaningful journey of his life.
Four Jyotirlingas Completed So Far
His route has taken him through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, before entering Andhra Pradesh. Along the way, he has already completed Darshan at Trimbakeshwar, Grishneshwar and Bhimashankar in Maharashtra, and Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.
After cycling through Tirupati, he reached Srisailam in Nandyal district, one of the most revered Jyotirlinga shrines. His next destination, he says, is Jagannath Puri in Odisha.
More Than A Pilgrimage
Chaturbhai insists that this is not just a religious journey. He wants his ride to send a broader message — about health, sustainability and simple living.
“Cycling keeps me physically fit,” he says, adding that despite his age, he feels healthier today than he did years ago.
He is also deeply concerned about rising pollution levels. “People use bikes or cars even for distances of one or two kilometres. If more people used bicycles, fuel consumption and pollution would drop,” he says.
Living Simply On The Road
The entire journey is self-funded, paid for from his personal savings. When possible, he eats vegetarian food at small hotels. On days when that isn’t an option, he cooks for himself.
Strapped to his bicycle are a small stove, basic utensils, a tent and a bicycle repair kit. If needed, he pitches his tent for the night and continues his journey at dawn.
“I carry only what I truly need,” he says.
As Chaturbhai pedals on, his journey has become a reminder that it is never too late to pursue long-held dreams — and that sometimes, the slowest way forward is the most meaningful.
