ANANTAPUR: Pedalling where even footsteps fail, a young engineer from Rayalaseema is turning some of the region’s toughest hilltops into moving tributes to history and heritage.
Sai Kumar, an engineer from Hindupur in Sri Sathya Sai district, is drawing widespread attention for his unique bicycle expeditions that blend extreme adventure with the promotion of Rayalaseema’s history and culture.
Recently, Sai Kumar achieved a rare feat by cycling and trekking to the Singemoothi peak on the historic Madakasira hill, a five-century-old fort site that is considered difficult to access even on foot. The expedition, completed amid rugged terrain and multiple obstacles, has been hailed as a record of endurance and determination.
Through his journeys, Sai Kumar has been highlighting the historical and cultural significance of remote hilltops across the Rayalaseema region. Unlike conventional cyclists, he often treks along with his bicycle through steep and inaccessible routes.
A resident of the Chinna Market area in Hindupur, Sai Kumar completed his engineering degree at a local private college and is currently employed at an ancillary unit of Kia Motors India. For the past six years, he has pursued cycling and travel not merely as a hobby but as a means to study rural life, heritage and social evolution.
His passion has taken him beyond Indian borders, with visits to Nepal, Thailand, Pakistan and Malaysia. Recalling his travels, Sai Kumar said he covered more than 100 km on foot across rural Thailand, interacting mainly with farmers to understand their agricultural practices and lifestyles.
He has also undertaken a 2,400-km bicycle journey across multiple regions, often combining long-distance cycling with trekking. Local youth Skanda Mahadev recalled that while many have climbed Madakasira hill over the years, Sai Kumar’s feat of reaching the Singemoothi structure stood out for its difficulty.
Coming from a modest family background—his father is an auto driver and his mother a tailor—Sai Kumar balances his professional responsibilities with his passion for exploration. His ambition is to travel extensively across countries, observe urban and rural life closely, and bring traditional cultures into the public spotlight.
Apart from adventure travel, Sai Kumar is also known for his creativity. During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, he created a 40-foot pencil sketch using 225 dots, earning recognition as a world record. The artwork was later displayed at a function hall and recorded in the India Book of Records.