A 21-year-old from Bongaigaon, Assam, rode a standard government‑issued scooty to reach Gongkar La Lake in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, in March 2026, completing a four‑day, three‑night high‑altitude expedition to one of Northeast India’s least explored lakes at about 15,000–15,600 ft. The vehicle was not a customized off‑roader but the same model distributed to meritorious students under the Dr. Banikanta Kakati Merit Award as part of the Pragyan Bharati scheme, underscoring the unusual nature of the feat.
Ankur Sarkar set out with minimal gear — basic gloves, a helmet and a puffer jacket — and no high‑end riding equipment. Riding with a friend, he faced no mobile network, no Google Maps route options and no roadside or emergency services. “There’s no return until I see Gongkar La,” Ankur said before pressing on.
Ankur built up to the challenge through shorter runs of 200–300 km to nearby destinations such as Meghalaya, and later trips to places including Tawang, Banaras, Ayodhya and Lucknow. His Gongkar La route began from Dirang and took him past Bumla Pass, Madhuri Lake and Tawang Monastery, then through Mago Chuna Valley toward Tulung La checkpoint and the final ascent.
The climb proved severe. Heavy rain in Mago Chuna Valley turned to freezing rain and sub‑zero temperatures — reported as low as −3°C — with thick fog and low visibility. Local riders warned that the scooty’s small tyres would get stuck in mud; at one steep stretch Ankur asked his pillion to dismount so he could push the vehicle uphill. The pair also encountered a small landslide near Tenga Valley.
When doubt set in amid the fog and freezing conditions, a passing vehicle proved a morale boost: a traveller’s surprise at seeing a scooty so high up encouraged them to continue. Ankur reached Gongkar La with about 400 metres to spare and found the lake completely frozen. “The view of Gongkar La Lake was so surreal I felt like I was dreaming,” he said.
High‑altitude weather turned quickly; a worsening snowstorm made it unsafe to stay and they left within 20 minutes. “The journey was not easy, both the road and the weather were unforgiving… We also encountered a small landslide near Tenga Valley. But the final view made up for everything,” Ankur told India Today NE when asked if he would attempt it again.
Ankur’s ride challenges the belief that only powerful, expensive machines can reach extreme landscapes. For many young people in Northeast India with limited resources, his trip — and his closing reflection, “It’s the mindset, not the machine” — offers a vivid example of ambition, planning and perseverance overcoming material limits.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/how-this-assam-rider-took-a-merit-award-scooty-to-the-roof-of-arunachal-1410528-2026-06-18?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-06-18 22:26:00
