JOURNEY TO THE WEST

An Indian man cycles from his country to Europe in the pursuit of love, Jocelyn Eikenburg reports.

PK Mahanandia, the subject of the book The Amazing Story of the Man Who Cycled from India to Europe for Love, has been called a "Silk Road hero" for his feat, which spanned 3,600 kilometers over more than four months in 1977. But few know that his epic journey to the West was, in part, inspired by the legendary Chinese monks Faxian (337-422) and Xuan Zang (602-664).

"I said, 'If Faxian and Xuan Zang can walk from China to India, why couldn't I go by bicycle?'" recalls Mahanandia. "There was no doubt. I will do it or I will die."