Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Oct 26: Turning a long-cherished dream into reality, four childhood friends from Mangaluru have embarked on an adventurous round trip of more than 7,000 km to Manali and Kashmir in an auto-rickshaw. What began as a casual conversation six years ago has finally become a memorable journey for the group, driven by their shared passion for travel and determination to fulfil their dream.
The four friends are Afreed (27), Hasan (27), Sadik (26) and Azeem (30). They set out on October 10, having once worked together as auto-rickshaw drivers at the same stand in Deralakatte. Over the years, they moved into different occupations, while work commitments, financial considerations and family responsibilities repeatedly postponed their travel plans. When an opportunity arose for all four to take time off together, they decided to prepare an auto-rickshaw for the expedition within a couple of days.
For the friends, travelling in an auto-rickshaw was an essential part of the adventure. Rather than choosing a car or another vehicle, they were determined to undertake the entire journey in the three-wheeler. After travelling from Aurangabad towards Indore, they planned to continue through Agra and Delhi before reaching Manali and Kashmir, and eventually return to Mangaluru.
The journey has also given the group an opportunity to represent their coastal Karnataka roots. A Tulu Nadu flag displayed on their auto-rickshaw accompanies them throughout the trip, and they plan to hoist it after reaching Kashmir.
The expedition has not been without its challenges. The friends encountered police checks while crossing state borders, but they were allowed to proceed after their documents were verified. The auto-rickshaw was serviced before departure, and they had not encountered any major mechanical problems at the time of the report. Their experience with auto-rickshaws has also given them confidence in handling minor repairs themselves.
The friends have received an encouraging response from people along the route. However, the demands of the long road journey have made it difficult for them to share regular updates about their progress.
For Afreed and his friends, the trip is about more than covering thousands of kilometres. They wanted to fulfil a shared dream before their individual careers and family responsibilities made it increasingly difficult to travel together. Manali and Kashmir had long been on their wish list, and they did not want to keep postponing the plan indefinitely.
The adventure may not end with their return to Mangaluru. The friends have already added Kanyakumari to their travel plans for their next expedition, hoping to continue exploring the country together.