Jharkhand girl Kanchan Ugursandi creates history as the first biker to reach the Lipulekh Pass

In a historic feat, ‘Biker Girl’ Kanchan Ugursandi from Jharkhand has set a record by becoming the first biker to ride to the Lipulekh Pass on the India-China border, at an altitude of 5,000 metres. This achievement, part of her journey along the challenging Kailash Mansarovar road, is a testament to her unwavering determination and love for adventure.

Kanchan, a tribal, started her journey from Delhi, navigating through Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand and facing extreme terrain and high altitudes, before reaching the Lipulekh Pass.

In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, Kanchan said, “For the past two years, I have been trying to reach Lipulekh but had to return twice due to landslides at Dharchula. This time I finally succeeded in my third attempt.”

THE STRATEGIC AND RELIGIOUS IMPORTANCE OF LIPULEKH PASS

The Lipulekh Pass has enormous significance for India, located at the crossroads of India, China and Nepal. For years, China has been building roads on its side, increasing its strategic advantage. The Border Roads Organization (BRO) recently constructed a road to Lipulekh, making the route safer and allowing faster access for Indian troops.

Historically, Indian pilgrims undertook an arduous journey on foot or through Nepal or Sikkim to reach Mount Kailash in Tibet for the sacred Mansarovar pilgrimage, a journey that often took weeks. The new road will simplify this journey and is expected to revive hopes of reopening the pilgrimage route after years of border tensions between India and China.

KANCHANS CALL TO PM MODI

Kanchan appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged him to consider building a corridor to Kailash Mansarovar like the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor in Pakistan. “This would make it easier for Hindu devotees from India to complete the Kailash Parikrama,” she tweeted.

Kanchan, fondly called the ‘Border Girl’, has previously climbed 22 passes in the Himalayas and ridden to zeros on the borders of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Through her travels, she aims to boost the morale of soldiers stationed at the borders and inspire other women through her spirit of empowerment.

“I hope my journey encourages others to push boundaries and support the power of women in every field,” she said.