As many as thirty national and international cyclists have covered 1,300 kilometres in 13 days from Bhubaneswar to Koraput.
The cyclists, under the banner of the Roots of Odisha Foundation, undertook the journey from Bhubaneswar on December 8 after Governor Ganeshi Lal flagged off their expedition and reached Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
The cyclists pedalled through Bhubaneswar, Konark, Puri, Satapada, Brahmapur, Chandragiri, Paralakhmundi and Rayagada. They returned to Bhubaneswar via Rayagada, Belghar, Phulbani, Nayagarh and Khordha.
“It was a tough journey. There was snowfall-like situation and we faced Cyclone Phetai. However, our team members overcame the difficulties with indomitable courage,” Sudhir Kumar Dash, founder of Roots of Odisha Foundation, said on Friday.
The cyclists were overwhelmed by the pristine beauty of the nature along their way.
“The Puri-Konark marine drive, the Chilika lagoon, the mountain terrains of the Eastern Ghat, the Tibetan culture, the tribal culture and the lush-green forests have tremendous potentials to be a corridor for cycling tour and adventure. The leadership and citizens’ forums should work collectively for promotion of Odisha’s tourism potentials,” said Dash.
Yogendra Singh from Haryana, who has participated in many international cycling expeditions, said Odisha has enchanting spots and ecosystems that can match the world’s best tourism destinations.
Lt Col Parminder Kaur from Delhi and Sonali Sahoo of Odisha, the two women members of the team, said the virgin serenity of Koraput and Rayagada is simply unmatchable and has every potential for the world’s best ecotourism.
Upon their return, the cyclists were felicitated by Bhubaneswar North MLA Priyadarshi Mishra, India’s former 100-m hurdle race queen Anuradha Biswal, industrialist Badri Narayan Pattanaik, social activist Badri Narayan Mishra, sand artist Manas Sahoo, ex-Vice-Chancellor of Tirupati Sanskrit University Harekrishna Satapthy and Congress State vice-president Aryakumar Jnanendra.