Sumit Gupta, a passionate traveler from Delhi, India, has officially entered the Guinness World Records by completing the longest journey by scheduled public transport in a single country, covering a staggering 61,445 kilometers (38,180.15 miles) across India between 11 September and 5 December 2021.
This extraordinary journey, accomplished solely using India’s vast network of state roadways buses and railway services, required meticulous planning, unwavering dedication, and a deep understanding of the country’s public transport systems. Sumit mapped out his route with precision, leveraging the strong road transport infrastructure in states like Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
Recognizing the strategic importance of India’s four major railway hubs—Delhi, Mumbai, Howrah, and Chennai—he coordinated his railway travel from these stations to efficiently reach distant parts of the country. His goal: maximize distance covered while complying with Guinness World Records (GWR) requirements.
Sumit, who began preparing nearly a year in advance, credits his love for travel to his late maternal grandfather, Mr. Ram C. Gupta, a former Accounts Officer in Indian Railways. “I believe the travelling genes were passed down from him to my mother and eventually to me,” Sumit shared. “This journey was not just a personal milestone, but a tribute to the legacy of travel and public service in my family.”
This achievement not only celebrates Sumit’s passion for exploration but also underscores the scale and accessibility of India’s public transportation system—one of the largest and most complex in the world.
