Shrestha, who hails from Jhapa, an eastern part of Nepal, had planned to cycle through the plains of the country during early 2020. But like many others, she was forced to change the plan early last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But as Nepal started easing COVID-19 restrictions and people started to travel freely, Shrestha jumped on her bike in November and started the epic journey of reaching another side of the country.
Instead of choosing a major highway that connects the eastern and the western point of Nepal, Shrestha chose backroads for her journey.
Cycling through Nepal’s backroads, which many see as cultural highway, can educate one about the local heritage, lifestyle and culture.
Nepal's Tarai region is culturally rich with a population representing diverse ethnic groups. Source: RSS
“Cycling through major highways can be easy but I wanted to see and experience the life on the backroads,” she told us.
Shrestha wanted to give a message of women empowerment and supported the UN’s activism against gender-based violence, which was marked during November and December last year.
The journey through the backroads had its own challenges. In some places, the roads were quite bad and full of potholes, and she had to walk while carrying her bike.
She recalls one instance in which she had to cycle through the river as a bridge was missing. Shrestha did injure herself during the journey, but that did not falter her motivation of achieving the dream she had for the last few years.
“The trip was uncomfortable and scary at times. But I always kept my eyes on the goal,” she added.
She hung a doll, named Kanchi, in the front of her bike and rode with her throughout the journey.
Kanchi, she said, represented women, who are unable to travel due to housework and other pressures. “The message here is women should and can travel.”
Source: Supplied
During her 22 days of cycling through the country, she was quite mesmerized by the richness and diversity that exists in Nepal.
“You meet so many people in different parts of the country with different cultural backgrounds but all of them are very kind-hearted,” she told to SBS Nepali.
She was really amazed by how welcoming people were to her in different regions of the country.
“Especially local cyclist groups, they rode alongside me in different parts of the journey to express solidarity. It was quite special,” Shrestha recalls.
She also wants to give a message to young girls of Nepal who are thinking to follow her trail.
Source: Supplied
“Listen to yourself and follow your dreams. Let no one else decide your fate,” she added. “if you feel ready to do the job, the criticism that may come along the way should not stop you. Keep moving.”
Shrestha completed 1,245 km of the road journey during this time.
