About Me - Bicycle Mayor, Travel Blogger, Bikepacker

Kanishka Poddar

Bicycle Mayor of Ranchi, India

Bikepacker, Designer, Travel Blogger, Author

Traveling has always been the balancing factor in my work-life harmony. I completed my masters from IIM, Ranchi, and I run a design studio for men’s ethnic wear under the brand Mulberry Lifestyle. Our products are sold globally through online marketplaces and exhibitions.

My journey as a bikepacker began in 2015 when I bought my first single-geared bicycle, aiming to get fitter and incorporate cycling into my daily life for errands and commuting to work. Over time, my daily rides transformed into long weekend adventures, and cycling blossomed into a passionate daily routine, inspiring others around me to embrace this lifestyle. Cycling became my form of yoga and meditation.

What started as local cycling in and around my city evolved into remarkable bikepacking adventures across different regions of the world. I've embarked on trips like the ride from Bombay to Lonavala (220 kms), Guwahati to Shillong (110 kms), and I’ve cycled through the stunning southern coast of Thailand from Krabi to Bangkok (800 kms). My travel stories also include the banana circuit in Vietnam from Saigon to Hanoi (1700 kms), Bangkok to Phnom Penh (1100 kms), and the challenging ride from Manali to Leh in the mighty Himalayas (500 kms with a 16,000 mt elevation gain). This is just the beginning, and the entire world remains to be explored.

This narrative captures how, while touring places on my bicycle, I discovered the silver lining of my passion.