Come Saturday, July 20, the Kathmandu Valley and cities across Nepal will transform into a vibrant tapestry of cyclists as thousands pedal through streets, alleyways, and dirt tracks at the annual charity event, the Kora Challenge.

This year, the event is expected to draw up to 4,000 riders, covering a combined distance of 200,000 km, making it the largest charity bicycle ride in the Himalayas.

‘Kora’ refers to the clockwise circumambulation of a Buddhist stupa, monastery, or mountain, a practice believed to ensure holistic well-being through meditative Karma.

Since its inception in July 2011, the Kathmandu Kora Challenge has grown exponentially, attracting cyclists who seek a break from the city’s traffic-choked, polluted streets.

Raj Gyawali, a tourism entrepreneur and cycling enthusiast, conceived the idea 13 years ago. “Back then, just 35 riders joined the event,” Gyawali recalls. “Today, we’re thrilled to see thousands participating, with the event staged in 25 locations across four countries.”

The event is also being held in Singapore, Denmark, and Germany. Gyawali notes, “We’re excited to see more people organizing their own Kora challenges in various towns and even abroad.”

The Kathmandu Kora Challenge offers riders the choice of three different loops—50km, 75km, and 100km—each designed to traverse towns, green fields, and hills, culminating in Patan.

In 2022, the organisers launched Kids Kora, a 1-km cycling event for children aged 4-8 in Patan’s Nagbahal area. The route forms a loop through the streets and surroundings of Nagbahal, offering a fun introduction to cycling and safety.

Participants also raise funds for charity, aiming to collect Rs100 per km ridden. According to Gyawali, the proceeds from this year’s event will go toward maintaining the recently built pump cycling track in Nepalgunj.

The event not only promotes cycling culture in the country but also strives to raise awareness about the deteriorating air quality due to uncontrolled vehicle emissions.

Additionally, it aims to encourage Nepalis to adopt cycling as a mode of transportation and urges local leaders to develop much-needed bicycle lanes in urban areas.

Since last year, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has joined hands in this endeavor.

“This partnership aims to encourage individuals to use a cleaner mode of transport, with the idea being to foster cleaner air, road safety, and community building,” says Bhushan Tuladhar, who heads the USAID’s Kathmandu Valley Clean Air program.

However, as Tuladhar points out, there is still a significant gender disparity in cycling, with statistics showing a noticeable lack of female cyclists. This gap is mainly caused by safety concerns, inadequate infrastructure, societal expectations, and the numerous responsibilities that women often have to juggle.

USAID aims to address these challenges and promote gender equality by leveraging cycling as a vehicle. The 57-year-old environmental engineer explains that their assistance includes initiatives to improve cycling infrastructure, enhance safety measures, and create programs specifically designed to encourage female participation.

Through these efforts, the Kora cycling event not only serves as a platform to showcase the benefits of cycling but also as a catalyst for change, aiming to close the gender gap and ensure that everyone can enjoy the numerous advantages of this sustainable mode of transportation.

As cyclists gear up for the event, they hope to send a clear message: embracing bicycles can lead to a healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable future.