Eleven cyclists, including some former students of Dr Graham's Homes, a prominent educational institution in Kalimpong, are pedaling all the way from Paro in Bhutan to the hill town to raise funds for the school and promote bicycle tourism.
Among them, five are foreign nationals — three from the US, two from the UK and one from Nepal — and six Indians.
On Friday, they crossed the India-Bhutan border through Phuentsholing in Bhutan, and Jaigaon, the town near the international border in Alipurduar district. At the GST More, a crossing in Jaigaon, administrative and police officials welcomed them. They also flagged off the cyclists, who headed for Chalsa in Jalpaiguri where they will stay the night.
“There are ex-students of our school in this fundraiser. Others who have joined them are in some way or the other associated with our institution. We expect them to reach here by Sunday evening,” Neil Monteiro, the principal of Dr Grahams Homes, told The Telegraph over the phone from Kalimpong.
Sources said on September 17, the cyclists reached Bhutan and on the next day, they started pedaling from Paro. “The team moved to Thimphu, Chukha and then Phuentsholing. They entered Alipurduar on Saturday. We welcomed them. Then, they headed for Chalsa,” said R. Vimala, the district magistrate of Kalimpong.
