E-Rickshaw Driver Takes 'Riki' 12,500 Feet Up Spiti Valley

When his friends planned a road trip to Spiti Valley in the Himalayas, Sumit Kumar Prajapati faced a problem: he didn't own a car. But the e-rickshaw driver from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, refused to miss out on the adventure.

His solution? Take the vehicle he already had—his humble three-wheeler named "Riki."

Prajapati trucked his battery-powered e-rickshaw to Manali first, then began his real journey on August 19, climbing toward one of India's most remote and demanding mountain regions. He documented every twist and turn through 27 Instagram videos that quickly captured the travel world's attention.

The sight of an e-rickshaw navigating Spiti's treacherous mountain roads was so unusual that fellow travelers would stop to take photos and ask questions. Prajapati became an unlikely celebrity on the route, proving that extraordinary journeys don't require extraordinary vehicles.

His biggest challenge wasn't the steep inclines or thin mountain air—it was keeping his electric vehicle charged. Prajapati charged at different stops along the way and carried a generator for emergencies, turning a potential dealbreaker into a manageable puzzle.

By August 26, he reached Kunzum Pass, the western gateway to Spiti at roughly 15,000 feet. The journey took him through dramatic barren landscapes, ancient monasteries, and high-altitude villages where most travelers arrive in sturdy SUVs or motorcycles.

Sunny's Take

What makes Prajapati's journey special isn't just the technical achievement of getting an e-rickshaw to high altitude. It's what his trip represents: the determination to not let circumstances define your possibilities.

After a viewer suggested he use the e-rickshaw as intended, Prajapati began giving passengers rides along the route. His three-wheeler transformed from a personal challenge into a shared experience, offering lifts through some of India's most stunning mountain scenery.

The journey resonated with thousands online because it challenges our assumptions about what adventure requires. While Spiti Valley typically attracts travelers with expensive gear and powerful vehicles, Prajapati arrived with resourcefulness and creativity instead.

His story reminds us that travel doesn't always begin with the perfect equipment or an unlimited budget. Sometimes it begins with a destination in mind and the simple decision to find a way there, even if that way has three wheels and runs on battery power.

Prajapati's unlikely expedition proves that the biggest obstacle to adventure is often just our own imagination.