London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 65 – 31 October 2016
New Year Reflections, Kolkata Sights, and an Unexpected Farewell
Yesterday was Diwali, the Festival of Lights, and today marks New Year’s Day according to the Hindu calendar.
For most years, this is a time when all of us would be surrounded by family, visiting relatives, exchanging greetings, enjoying festive meals, and celebrating together.
This year was different.
Instead of being at home with our loved ones, Team Kontiki found ourselves thousands of miles away from Leicester, in the bustling city of Kolkata, continuing our epic journey towards Mumbai.
Of course, there was a little sadness in missing those family celebrations.
But then again, every great adventure demands some sacrifice.
And this journey was certainly proving to be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Over the previous few days, we had also begun to notice a change in Dayal.
He seemed quieter than usual, a little tired, and perhaps a little less enthusiastic about the road ahead. At the time, we put it down to the long journey, but as the day unfolded, we would discover there was more to it than that.
To make the most of our time in Kolkata, we hired a taxi and driver for the day and set out to explore some of the city’s most famous landmarks.
Our first stop was the iconic Howrah Bridge, one of India’s most recognisable structures, spanning the River Hooghly.
Built during the British era and opened in 1943, the bridge remains one of the busiest cantilever bridges in the world. Considering its age and the millions of vehicles and pedestrians that use it every year, it has been remarkably well maintained.
Standing beneath it and watching the constant flow of traffic was quite an impressive sight.
From there, we continued to the legendary Eden Gardens Cricket Stadium.
For cricket lovers, Eden Gardens needs little introduction.
Often referred to as the “Mecca of Indian Cricket,” it has hosted some of the sport’s most historic matches and has witnessed countless memorable moments over the decades.
Indians are passionate about cricket.
In fact, to many people here, cricket is far more than just a game—it is almost a religion.
It was fascinating to visit one of the sport’s most famous venues.
Our next stop was far more reflective and emotional.
We visited Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity Convent, where the Nobel Peace Prize winner dedicated much of her life to helping Kolkata’s poorest and most vulnerable residents.
Mother Teresa’s humanitarian work touched millions of lives around the world, and her legacy remains deeply respected.
We paid our respects at her tomb, where she is laid to rest.
Standing there in the quiet surroundings of the convent gave us an opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary difference one person can make in the lives of others.
May her soul rest in eternal peace.
As we travelled around the city, one sight particularly caught our attention.
Kolkata remains one of the few places in the world where traditional hand-pulled rickshaws are still in operation.
Seeing these simple vehicles being pulled through busy streets felt like stepping back in time and offered a glimpse into a rapidly disappearing part of the city’s history.
By late afternoon, we returned to our hotel before darkness fell.
After freshening up and enjoying a few drinks, Ramesh and I decided to venture out again to visit a nearby religious celebration that was taking place as part of the New Year festivities.
Dayal, however, chose to stay behind at the hotel.
At the time, we thought little of it.
When we returned later that evening, Dayal had some news for us.
News that we had half expected but were still sad to hear.
He had booked a flight to Mumbai and had decided to leave the journey.
After arriving in Mumbai, he planned to continue onwards to his hometown in Gujarat.
The truth was, we had sensed for a few days that something was on his mind.
The long weeks on the road, the physical demands of the journey, and perhaps the longing to be with family during the festive season had all taken their toll.
At 74 years of age, he had already accomplished something remarkable by driving thousands of miles across Europe and Asia in a 22-year-old motorhome.
We understood his decision completely.
Nevertheless, it was still a sad moment.
For 65 days we had shared meals, stories, border crossings, breakdowns, laughter, challenges, and countless unforgettable experiences together.
Tomorrow, Team Kontiki would no longer be three.
It would become two.
We wished Dayal well and thanked him for being part of this incredible adventure.
The road ahead would continue as planned, but it would not feel quite the same without him.
Location: Kolkata, West Bengal
Weather: Warm and pleasant
Highlights: Visiting Howrah Bridge, Eden Gardens, and Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity
Most memorable moment: Paying respects at the tomb of Mother Teresa
Special reflection: Celebrating Hindu New Year away from family for the first time in many years
Emotional moment: Dayal announcing his decision to fly to Mumbai and leave the expedition
Accommodation: Hotel in Kolkata
Mood of the day: Reflective, grateful, and emotional
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki bids farewell to Dayal and continues the London-to-Mumbai adventure as a two-man team, with the finish line now slowly coming into view.
