Bantwal youths embark on epic journey on auto rickshaw — Cover 4,200 km in 11 days

Team Udayavani, Jul 15, 2024, 8:37 AM IST

Bantwal: In an incredible adventure, two local youths traveled 4,200 km across four states in an auto rickshaw, visiting five Jyotirlingas in just 11 days!

Vijit Nayak, a catering entrepreneur from Melkar, and Vishwas Prabhu, a software engineer from Kalladka, began their journey on June 29 at 4 AM and returned home on July 9.

Childhood friends, Vijit and Vishwas have taken many trips in an auto rickshaw before, but this was their longest. The duo said that they have always had a passion for travel and trekking, even visiting North India’s holy sites by train in the past.

Vijit bought a private (white number plate) rickshaw a year and a half ago for his business. It requires no tourist permit to travel to other states.

Budget Travel on a Shoestring

Starting from their hometown, the adventurous duo passed through Karnataka and Goa before reaching Maharashtra. They visited the Grushneshwar, Bhimashankar, and Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlingas. Their journey continued to Nageshwar and Somnath Jyotirlingas in Gujarat, with stops at Ellora, Dwarka, and the Statue of Unity.

The entire trip cost each of them around Rs 14,000. They prepared their own meals during the 11-day journey, carrying groceries, a gas stove, and utensils. They took turns driving the auto every three hours.

“This was our first long journey. We planned the route and kilometers in advance, and everything went as expected. The new rickshaw was in great condition, and we faced no problems at all,” said Vijit Nayak.