For Samrat and Varshali Dambe, losing their jobs in 2024 did not lead to the future they had planned. Instead, it gave them an unexpected chance to pursue a dream they had carried for years: riding a motorcycle along India’s borders.With limited savings, one motorcycle and no certainty about what awaited them after returning home, the couple from Mhapral in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district set out on the Art India Ride. Over 80 days, they travelled 16,428 km, crossed difficult terrain and encountered people who made unfamiliar places feel like home. Their achievement was later recognised by the India Book of Records. The journey was not planned as a record attempt. It began with a decision to stop waiting for the perfect time.
A childhood sketch became a shared road trip
Samrat’s idea of riding around India began when he was 12. He would draw the country’s outline and imagine following its borders on a motorcycle. Years later, the dream became something he and Varshali wanted to experience together. The couple had been riding together since 2018 and bought a Benelli TRK in 2022, hoping to take on longer journeys. Before their expedition, Samrat worked in digital marketing at a multinational company, while Varshali was a digital marketing manager at an agency.Their plans changed when both lost their jobs around June 2024. They suddenly had three to four months without the routine of work, but their finances were uncertain. “We didn’t know if we had enough money to complete the journey. We did not even know what we would do when we came back. But we knew that if we kept waiting for the right time, we might never go,” they recalled.They initially considered covering only half the country, as their savings were limited. However, by August, they had decided to begin. Heavy rain in South India also led them to change their original route just eight days before departure. They chose to start with Gujarat and travel clockwise. The couple began the Art India Ride in September 2024 and returned to Mhapral on December 8.
Five bags, one motorcycle and a strict spending limit
The journey required more than enthusiasm. Their motorcycle averaged around 20 km per litre, making fuel a major expense. They set a daily budget of Rs 3,500 for fuel, food and accommodation, usually choosing rooms that cost between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500. They also made a practical agreement: if their savings dropped to Rs 40,000, they would return home and look for jobs.Their belongings for 80 days fitted into five bags. They carried a few clothes, riding gear, raincoats, winter layers, laptops, cameras, documents and a basic toolkit. Rather than planning every stop in advance, they generally decided where to go next a day or two before setting off. The route took them through western, northern, northeastern and southern India, including Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.The road did not always make things easy. Near the Gujarat-Rajasthan border, a storm and a long, isolated stretch left them anxious. In Ladakh, they faced freezing temperatures, poor network connectivity and hotels that had shut for the season. Around Pangong Lake, the temperature fell to minus 12 degrees Celsius. At Upshi, Varshali was shivering in the cold. They eventually found a local Maharashtrian who helped them arrange a room with a heater. The experience reminded them that preparation mattered, but so did knowing when to seek help.
Strangers turned unfamiliar places into home
Some of the couple’s strongest memories came from people they met along the way. In Punjab, a family welcomed them into their home. In Tawang, a woman from Maharashtra offered them blessings and greeted them with a traditional Tibetan white shawl. In Bhalukpong, Arunachal Pradesh, an elderly couple running a cafe treated Samrat with the affection of a son. When the travellers returned to meet them on their way back, the uncle became emotional as they prepared to leave.Another memorable meeting happened at a breakfast stall in North Bengal. A group of people noticed the Maharashtra registration on their motorcycle and began asking about their journey. One of them, Kolkata-based corporate professional Arun Sircar, told the couple that travelling across India had once been his own dream. He and his wife later invited Samrat and Varshali home, arranged a meal and gave them a place to stay. For the couple, the meeting showed how their journey could connect with people who had never travelled the same roads. “After travelling 16,428 kilometres, it felt like one giant, compassionate family,” Samrat said, describing the warmth they received across different regions.
From a record to a riding community
The couple spent around Rs 3.75 lakh on the expedition, including fuel, food, accommodation and motorcycle maintenance. They had not set out to earn a record, but a friend encouraged them to submit their journey for recognition. They provided photographs, fuel receipts and other documents. In January 2025, the India Book of Records recognised both Samrat and Varshali as IBR Achievers for their 80-day, 16,428-km expedition. Its individual entries record the ride as covering 20 states and three Union Territories on their Benelli TRK 502X motorcycle.The experience also inspired their next step. On April 6, 2025, they started Souls of Motorcycle, a riding community intended to help enthusiasts learn, travel responsibly and build confidence on the road. According to the couple, the group has grown to more than 700 members, with over 8,000 Instagram followers. For Samrat, riding also offers a way to stay focused on the present. The sound of the engine and the attention required on the road, he says, make the experience feel like meditation.Their journey began after an unexpected career setback, with no guarantee that their savings would last. They returned with a record, new friendships and a different understanding of the country. More than the distance, the Art India Ride showed them what could happen when two people chose to begin before every uncertainty had been resolved.
