The Shashtrokt Ashtvinayak Cycling Parikrama with Mitesh Modi as he covers 750 km in 7 days on his cycle riding around the Western Ghats…
Meet Mitesh Modi from Palanpur, Gujarat. He recently cycled 750 km around Pune covering the Shashtrokt Ashtvinayak circuit. This 26-year-old medical student uses his bicycle for everything, from commuting to exploring the world around him. He chose to take his faithful companion with him on this ride as well.
Cycling for him is about ‘freedom & fun’ and not about competing. It was never about speed or the fancy gears which cyclists typically identify with. Here he tell us about his fuel-free way of exploring, meeting people and enjoying the journey at a leisurely pace.
In his words:
Shashtrokt Ashtvinayak Cycling Parikrama
Travelling has become essential for me — not just a hobby but a way to restore balance in life. But when I set out on my bicycle, I don’t call it travel. I call it exploration. The bicycle isn’t just a mode of transport anymore; it has become everything to me.
Quick Glimpse: https://youtu.be/WICsxeYYNO4
Reflections from the Sacred Saddle
A couple of years ago, I undertook the Narmada Parikrama on a bicycle. That journey changed me, both internally and externally. Going solo on unknown paths for days transforms you. You disconnect from your daily life and familiar people, and connect — deeply, genuinely — with strangers, with nature, with yourself. The time you spend on the saddle, well, it becomes sacred. The sacred saddle.
I can’t keep myself away from nature for too long. That’s not an exaggeration — it’s my truth. After the Narmada Parikrama, I found myself in Gangotri, stayed for 10 days, walked to Gaumukh. Later, I planned an Ashtvinayak Parikrama, inspired by a colleague who was taking his parents on a pilgrimage around Pune.
That thought stayed with me. I began reading, mapping the route, estimating the time. I took 9 days off, planning to cover an average of 100 km per day — a total of around 700 km, with one day for rest.
Ashtvinayak Parikrama: A Journey Through Devotion and Terrain
Ashtvinayak — meaning “Eight Ganesha” — refers to the eight Swayambhu (self-originated) Ganesha temples around Pune. While today most people complete this circuit using fuel-powered vehicles, I chose my bicycle, knowing that following the Shastrik path would require more effort, more distance which will also be more fun.
The physical challenges didn’t worry me — but the changing terrain and urban traffic did. The most testing part was crossing Pune three times. Yet even that had its lesson according to me that God tests our patience in mysterious ways. In today’s world of chaos and pollution, such trials reaffirm belief and resilience. According to me, Ganesha is the most tolerant and approachable deity in Indian culture. During Ganesh Chaturthi, we see him in forms ranging from Avengers to cartoon characters and even as doctors, postmen, and rail workers. No other deity adapts to society’s imagination so freely.
One beautiful detail I noticed that all eight temples had different aarti timings — a rare thing, as most temples follow a fixed 5–6 AM and 6–7 PM schedule. Despite the crowds, movement was smooth and time-efficient. Each temple had a Bhojnalaya (canteen) and Bhakt Niwas (dormitories) with basic but clean amenities at nominal rates which helped a lot.
Childlike Love for Cycles
On the way, kids aged 7–12 would look at me, wide-eyed and hopeful. At that age, cycling is a proud step into independence. Whether rich or poor, every child starts their journey with a bicycle. It’s freedom, ownership and identity. Cycle is a basic tool for everyone surpassing socioeconomic discrimination. I am talking about basic cycles without gears of 5 to 6k. I love that. More than going for a long expedition on bicycle I would like to use it as a commute vehicle and I have been using it for the same since long.
The Sahyadri stood majestic as watching over me as I rode. Witnessing their beauty from the saddle was an unparalleled experience. My aim wasn’t religious ritualism. It was simple: to enjoy these routes with gratitude, without polluting, while offering my thanksgiving to the divine – mother earth. My connection to God feels like an insurance premium — something I must pay regularly, with love, to feel protected. My faith lies not just in idols but in natural forces — the sun, the moon, the stars, the rivers, and the trees which work as a fuel.
I saw people in the rural stretches of Western Maharashtra using their bicycles not by choice but by necessity. Pushing loads three times heavier than mine, often barefoot, without pedals. These cycles carried firewood, vegetables, construction materials, and sometimes even animals. It made me reflect — I ride by choice while they ride to survive. For many bicycle is not just for an adventure but it is the only way forward.
Time is Timeless
Out in nature, time is no longer a number. It becomes a feeling like a pure connection between skin and sky. Sunshine lifts you, darkness soothes you. Time isn’t spent, wasted, or chased instead it’s felt. After five days of pedalling alone, my thoughts realigned with the rhythm of the earth. My mind became wilder, freer. I know when I return to daily life, I may look back on these words and wonder, “What did I mean?” But here and now, I feel every word.
On every pedal, a story unfolds. Life is not just about mast majedar (fun) moments. It’s about lessons, departures, growth, and return. Every departure transforms you, every return brings emotion but soon, you feel the urge to leave again, to follow another road. That’s the beauty of human nature. Don’t leave your dreams in a drawer. Don’t postpone your departures. Life is wonderful (even more on a bicycle!). Every morning, we leave home with targets. We return, tired, and prepare for sleep. We begin where we end. That, too, is a Parikrama, like a cycle of life.
Be the one who rides a bicycle… Feel the rhythm of the earth under your wheels… Ride without reason…
Thank You, Ganesha
Disclaimer: These are my thoughts, not prescriptions. You don’t have to fully agree. We’re all unique individuals, exploring life in our own ways. I’ve chosen the bicycle. And I’m thankful to everyone and everything due to whom neither me nor my bicycle had to face any difficulty.
The Route
- Day 1: Pune to Mayureshwar to Siddhatek
- Day 2: Siddhatek to Pune to Mulshi
- Day 3: Mulshi to Tamhini to Pali to Mahad
- Day 4: Mahad to Pune to Theur
- Day 5: Theur to Lenyadri to Ozar
- Day 6: Ozar to Ranjangaon to Mayureshwar
You can read about Mitesh’s previous ride here: https://cyclingmonks.com/topic/narmada-parikrama-bicycle/