The Man Who Cycled Around The World in 1884 | Thomas Stevens & Penny Farthing

Added: 2026-06-03

[00:00:00]Penny Fathering This was Penny's full name.

[00:00:04]But what was the relationship between Penny and Thomas? G Penny was not Thomas's girlfriend or wife but his bicycle. The Penny Fathering was different from modern bicycles, having one larger wheel. Due to which it was able to cover more distance in less time and that is why Thomas chose this bicycle to travel the world.

[00:00:27]Thomas was a true adventurer and took only a few things for this trip besides Penny.

[00:00:33]An extra shirt, some socks, a raincoat that doubled as a tent on occasion, and a 38 Smiths & Besson revolver.

[00:00:45]Thomas started this iconic journey from San Francisco in America and ended in Yokohama, Japan. His journey was full of difficulties. Sometimes bandits chased him in Turkey and sometimes the police harassed him in Afghanistan.

[00:00:59]He was not allowed entry into Russia because the Russians thought Thomas was an American spy. But he reached India on 1st August 1886. At that time the British ruled India.

[00:01:16]Initially the heat here made him sweat.

[00:01:19]But he found peace only when he started travelling on the Grand Trunk Road.

[00:01:27]He writes about his fun journey on GT Road, “This road is undoubtedly the best highway in the world.”

[00:01:33]This road made of tar i.e. asphalt and pebbles is not only wide but also flat. Most of the road is covered with shady trees on both sides. Thomas' first major stop was Amritsar. He writes that at that time the rent for a deluxe hotel in Amritsar for one night was ₹4, which included dinner, a cot and a small hazaari (evening snack).

[00:02:03]Thomas was surprised to think how the people here cope with such extreme heat?

[00:02:09]But then he saw the makeshift fan here.

[00:02:12]This fan was a long cloth which was hung from the ceiling with the help of a rope.

[00:02:19]Another rope was tied to that fan which went out of the room through a hole or window. The fan man sitting outside would shake the rope and provide cool air from the fan for three annas.

[00:02:32]So that his master can sleep peacefully.

[00:02:37]Thomas cycled from Amritsar to Jalandhar and Ambala. It had been 6 days since he had come to India and till now his experience was much better than other places. He found people in India friendly. Thomas writes that Indian people do not harass at all, rather their respect and hospitality and their connection with traditions are praiseworthy.

[00:03:02]He has highly praised the hospitality and hospitality of the Sikhs.

[00:03:07]From here he paddled to Delhi and from there to Bogan, a city in Uttar Pradesh. The sight of a temple in Bogan astonished both Thomas and Penny.

[00:03:16]There he saw only couples.

[00:03:19]He was surprised because he did not see any lonely person or old person. When they inquired, he was too shy to give any answer.

[00:03:28]Then later he came to know that it was the temple of Kamadeva. Where lovers and married couples come to fulfill their wishes.

[00:03:37]For the next 27 days, Thomas continued to experience new things in North India. Like he tasted toddy wine at Mirran Sarai.

[00:03:50]Saw textile mills and businesses in Kanpur. Many people now started knowing Thomas Stevens.

[00:03:53]British soldiers, eager to meet him, used to call him to their cantonment. The soldiers would prepare many dishes for them and ask them to tell stories of their journey. India 's oldest Bice Clubs of Kolkata and Allahabad also invited him as Guest of Honour.

[00:04:10]After Kolkata, Thomas and Penny said goodbye to India and boarded a boat to China.