Does anyone know the cyclist touring the Himalayas on a single speed bicycle?

Something of a random question but last year in July I was in northern India travelling around by bus but with my mini velo in a case for getting around locally and heading north out of Manali we passed a chap on a single speed possibly a Hero riding up out of the town towards Leh. He had a large Indian flag on the back and rice sacks for panniers, I thought he was probably on a budget, a week later he passed me going the other way out of Leh I waved and tried to stop him to hear about his trip but he was going quickly down hill and waved back and carried on, I was wondering if anyone knew anything about him as I thought it was an impressive feat on such a bicycle.