WHEELIE GOOD TIME: A MUMBAI HERITAGE CYCLE ADVENTURE WITH GUL PANAG

Ever dreamt of exploring Mumbai’s rich tapestry of heritage sites alongside a Bollywood celebrity? Well, buckle up (or rather, clip in!) for a unique adventure and a virtual tour through this blog.

Famous actress Gul Panag led a heritage cycle ride through the vibrant streets of Mumbai, weaving through historical landmarks and hidden gems on a Sunday morning of 10th March 2024. This exciting journey fulfilled promises of fun and nostalgia discovering the city’s captivating past, all under the guidance of a passionate advocate for cycling and fitness.

The Train Journey:

My eyes opened with the ring of an alarm at 4 am. Thank God! that I can see today. I feel for the visually impaired and the challenged souls. Our eyes truly are a gift. They play such a vital role in our lives, and it’s easy to take them for granted.

Is baat se toh aap vaakif ho ki rab ne duniya badi khoobsoorat banai hain,
Kuch log jise dekh paate hain par kuch log kewal mehsoos kar sakte hain.

Excited and ready, I exited my house, took a rickshaw, and arrived at the Bandra Station. The site of the revamped station was warm, and the heritage station was in its full glory with amber lights, sandstone walls and pillars, and wooden roofs – all woven aesthetically.

Vendors were sitting on the floor outside the station and sorting out newspapers to deliver on parked bicycles next to the the ticket booking office. You shouldn’t be surprised to know that our morning newspapers still gets delivered on a bicycle. Cycle logistics plays a crucial part in bringing our daily news, breads, eggs, milk packets, gas cans and much more, right at our doorsteps. Such is the power of two wheels which is fighting for existence in the ever-increasing shift in urban lifestyle, and which has a lasting impact on micro-mobility and livelihoods.

Do paiyoo ki sawaari, chalti hain sayam banai,
Ghar ghar samaan pahonchati, jevit hain sangharsh banai.

As I descended downstairs from the foot over bridge the train had already arrived, and I entered a boogie and found the compartment empty. Felt like a business class private coach but without any frills and hostess. The site of the labour standing on the platforms loading their bags, sacks, baskets and what not provided real and live entertainment arousing a view that life is hard in this city. Not just the sleep, people sacrifice so much to make ends meet. Thoughts rippled my heart as the journey continued. My destination arrived and I disembarked from the train and walked through the fully lit-up platform and the sharp incandescent light bulbs staring into my vision.

The scene changed when I stepped out of the Churchgate station and witnessed the Western Railway Headquarters and was subtly introduced to the work of British architect Fredrick Williams Stevens (1847-1900). He designed two more landmark structures in the Fort area which I will talk about further in this blog. My heritage tour had already begun in the dawn as I walked pass the Eros Cinema art deco building opposite to the Western Railway Headquarters. The theatre is a testimony of Indian film industry and has cherished several celebrated stars from the yesteryear era from Hindi cinema. It hit an instant connection with me as I approached the Flora Fountain to meet the super talented Bollywood actor Gul Panag.

Morning Tea with Conversations:

My mind moved from reel to real life. Gul Panag was fully charged and welcomed me with a sweet good morning greeting with a handshake and allowed me to join the circle with other participants. Cycling was the central conversation point and we all shared our past cycling experiences. The discussion was further infused with a hot cup of tea, and we relished our ideas over the symbolic beverage which is part of our culture and morning ritual. Why is tea considered symbolic? Because of its hospitality and social connection, relaxation, and mindfulness, simplicity and purity, enlightenment, and focus, and it stands as a cultural identity.

Bringing your focus back to the ride, soon, the rest of the participants joined one after the other and a final round of introduction and briefing was done. Our Hero Lectro ebikes were ready and we started testing them and made final adjustments in the saddle height before we could hit the road.

Flag off and admiring the glorious UNESCO CSMT Station:

Gulaami ki janjirein chaahe sone ki hi kyon na hon, bojh to lagti hi hain – Subhash Chandra Bose.

The ride was flagged off with much hope and desire to revisit the colonial past. Upon arrival of the UNESCO listed CSMT Station (formerly called as Victoria Terminus) and the BMC headquarters, my heartfelt gratitude to the freedom fighters who gave up their lives for national freedom struggle. From a land of golden bird, India was reduced to the mercy of the British empire who looted us. Apparently, both these structures were designed by Fredrick Williams Stevens, an engineer who worked under British raj. The structures reminded me of the atrocities imposed on the Indians by the brutal colonial rule. Although a visual delight and a tourist spot, the landmark structures carry a baggage of the cruelty and slavery. Thankfully, we didn’t stop at these venues and continued to pedal ahead leaving behind the sad part of history.

Vidheshi hukumat ka sooraj dhal chuka hai, ab Bharat ka naya savera hoga – Mahatma Gandhi

Asiatic Library with no book reading:

The Asiatic Library in Mumbai stands as a testament to the city’s rich history and intellectual heritage. It has a grand entrance with a flight of stairs with milky white greek style towering columns. It is a world of knowledge, and a heaven for scholars. More importantly, it is an undeniable fact that the reading habit is fading with the increasing shift in digital world. Once cherished pastime for example reading newspapers every morning is fading away. The book shelves are missing in new houses and the concept of a neighbourhood library is a passe. But I am grateful to you that you are still reading this blog and you have managed to keep your love for reading alive. I will appreciate your comments on this blog and you can also write an email to me pedalandtringtring@gmail.com which will motivate me further to write and bring reading content for you.

Sunrise at the Gateway of India:

Our next stop was at the Gateway of India where we spent time having conversations and doing sunrise photography. The Gateway is another majestic monument that whispers tales of the bygone era. The flight of pigeons declared our arrival as we admired the spectacle of golden light. The sky exploded with the shades of orange and yellow while the sea shimmered with boats lined-up on the Bombay harbour. We left for our next destination with contentment and ease.

Renewed moments at the Queen’s Necklace:

Our next stop was the Marine Drive aka Queens Necklace guarding the Arabian Sea. The energy from the vast sea renewed my hopes. We have left behind the pain and now moving towards a refreshing change. A change that is lighting our nation and igniting human capital towards a better future. A sea of change and improvements in the government under the leadership of a strong personality is pedalling the nation to achieve greater heights and setting new benchmarks. The history is behind us, and we are now a bunch of creative, talented, and hardworking population contributing for our future growth.

Nayi technology, purani sanskriti – yehi hain sapno ka naya Bharat.

The made in India Hero Lectro electric cycles made me proud of the fact that India is now capable of producing top class ebikes. Gone are the days when India was dependent on our neighbour for supplies. As India advances forward to become a global manufacturing hub, Hero Lectro ebikes are playing a pivotal role in taking India on a global map in the cycling manufacturing. With its state-of-the-art engineering and latest technology, Hero Lectro ebikes offer a smooth ride experience, with premium looks and are affordable compared to its European counterparts. They offer a variety of e-cycles, including mountain bikes, city bikes, and cargo bikes. Hero Lectro electric cycles are a great option for people who are looking for an affordable and eco-friendly way to get around. They are also a good choice for beginners and for people who want to get some exercise but don’t want to break a sweat.

Sea Gull point, Walkeshwar – Uturn:

The pedal bunnies rode through the wide roads of Marine drive, in company of dogwalkers, runners and fitness enthusiasts gracing the occasion. The atmosphere lifted our spirits and we pedaled to the Seagull point Walkeshwar. It is a hidden gem in Mumbai offering stunning views of the Arabian Sea and the city skyline. It is also good for someone who is seeking a peaceful escape from the chaos of the city. The migratory birds were missing at the time of our visit.

With the sun blazing over our heads, we returned to the start point – Flora fountain completing a 15 km loop. By then, life had taken a full circle and a lot happened in between which you have already read about.

Dialogues with breakfast:

With our tummies asking for food, we made our selves comfortable at a south India restaurant ‘Anna Idli’. The chit-chatter continued with smiles, and it was time to say goodbye to our super host Gul Panag. She signed-off with a promise to cycle with our tribe in a new city and a new destination.

Testimonials:

Nikla mein musafir jis ki talaash mein, woh manzar dekhne mila aap k saath mein. Thank you Gul Panag and team. – Vijay Malhotra

Thank you Gul Panag, Let’s Magucho and DCP Expeditions for a wonderful experience. It was a pleasure meeting the fellow participants and getting to know some of them. Gul as always was a gracious host and sharing moments with her today will remain etched in my life. Looking forward to meeting you’ll again. Take care, stay safe. -Suheil Merchant

Thank you to the Magucho and DCP team – wonderful experience for us it was very easy for commute + long ride + breakfast with good ebikes, and we all enjoyed till the end and Gul Panag was very humble sharp and nice team work appreciated, see you soon. – Hina Parikh

Thank you so much guys, it was wonderful meeting you all. – Rohit Mahadev

Many thanks to all the organizers of today’s Mumbai Heritage e-ride. Enjoyed riding and communicating with Gul who is such a sweet, humble, and friendly person. It was an amazing ride with e-bikes. So smooth, effortless, and enjoyable ride. Appreciate the work of entire team. Very nice to meet all the riders. Looking forward to many more such rides. – Mangala Pai

Today, was so much fun! Thank you team DCP and Let’s Machago for the amazing experience. Loved every bit right from the cycling to the food hogging! – Preeti

Thank you all for such a wonderful Sunday Morning – Bhavana

Thank you team DCP, Let’s Magucho and Hero for a lovely Sunday ride and breakfast. – Diipti

You might also like to read: EXPLORING INDORE – THE CLEANEST CITY OF INDIA ON A MYBYK

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Author: Vijay Malhotra, Mumbai