Riding on cycles has its own charm; however sadly, it has turned into a lost recreation given the chaos that we live in today. Its almost next to impossible to find routes and streets where you can ride your bike safely with minimum traffic in a country like ours.
In such situations, you must be craving to find the perfect cycling route that’s low on traffic and offers a scenic ride too. Thankfully, we managed to discover few amazing cycling routes in India that every biker would fall in love with. Check these out!
Manali to Leh
If you’re a fervent cyclist, then this is the route you dream about. The route starts from lush green grass lands of Manali followed by semi-desert region of Lahaul finally ending in highly influenced Tibetan valley of Leh. Undoubtedly, one of the most challenging cycling routes in India, you need to cross 5 stunning passes including Khardung La, that”s located at 5602 mts heights.
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Each one of these passes is unique in their own way: Bara Lachha La being one of the loopiest passes; Naki La & Lachu lung La is like Twin brothers standing just next to each other, The famous Rohtang Pass is the most unpredictable and moody of them all, and last but not the least is Tanglang La that is the toughest to cross. Difficult terrain and tough ascents of this cross will make this region challenging for everyone be it an amateur or a professional. But, then that’s the drill right?
Route: Manali – Keylong – Patseo – sarchu – Whisky Nullah – Moray Plains – Debring – Rumptse – Leh
Total distance: 560 km approx.
Difficulty Level: challenging
Time: 12 Days
Mangalore to Goa
Journey along the coastline is definitely a ride to remember. Passing through magnificent waterfalls to sacred temples to exotic beaches to great national parks will show you quite different scenes and culture of south India; typical goan villages are add on.
Route: Mangalore – Kaup – Udupi – Bhatkal – Gokarna – Karwar – Goa
Total distance: 360 km.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Time: 6 Days
Chennai to Pondicherry
If you are looking for an easy route having an abundance of beautiful locations, then this route is for you. This cycling route mainly moves around the coastline with palm trees swaying on both sides. The fascinating sound of beach waves throughout the route makes this journey quite special and breathtaking. You can also halt for a while to visit the Olive Island and the boat house of Muttukadu, the Covelong Beach and the Tiger Caves of Mahabalipuram en route.
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Route: Chennai – Muttukadu – Kovalam – Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry
Total distance: 140 km.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Time: 3 Days
Book a hotel in Chennai.
Pune to Panshet Dam
It’s monsoon time and so if you are in the mood for a day trip on a weekend, then this is probably the best option. Leisure cyclists love this route as it provides the most ravishing view of the Western Ghats, moreover the sight of the blue-green water of the Panshet Dam is worth the ride. Enroute, you can also pause to visit the Sinhagad Fort, nestled atop a hill about 25km southwest of Pune.
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Route: Pune – Ramnagar – Khed – Kodanpur – Gorhe Khurd – Khanapur – Malkhed – Panshet Dam
Total distance: 70 km.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Time: 1-2 Days
Tour of Nilgiris
Tour of Nilgiris is one of the most popular cycling routes in India among professional cyclists. This route passes through the three wildlife sanctuaries of Bandipur in Karnataka, Wayanad in Kerala and Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu. Each year, the tour decides the different route to be traversed but stunning views of Nilgiries remain constant. Steep terrain test one’s endurance, temperament, physical and mental limits.
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Route: Bengaluru – Mysuru – Madikeri – S. Batteri – Ooty – Palakkad – Pollachi – Valparai – Munnar
Distance: 100+ km every day.
Difficulty Level: Challenging
Time: 7-8 Days
Gangtok to Nathulapass
The route is very close to Indo China border hence used a lot by army personnel. The route passes through gorgeous roads and a breath-taking view of snow clad mountains. It’s steep enough to make you enervate but also provide sweet fruits in terms of beautiful towns, monasteries and tea estates.
Route: Gangtok – Changu Lake – Nathu La road – Nathulapass
Distance: 58 km
Difficulty Level: Challenging
Time: 2 Days
National Parks In Rajasthan
Cycling through the vast terrains of Rajasthan is an experience in itself. And surprisingly, there are many routes that you can go for. The most enjoyed among them are- Keoladeo Ghana National Park, home to more than 360 species of bird, then, the Kaila Devi National Park near Karauli and thirdly Ranthambore National Park, which of course is well known for the mighty, ferocious tiger. You are bound to have a thrilling ride in these routes.
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Route: Keoladeo Ghana National Park – Kaila Devi National Park – Ranthambore
Distance: 50 – 400 km
Difficulty Level: Easy
Time: 1-7 Days depending on route
Somnath to Diu
This route is quite famous among denizens of the Gujarat state. Though, not much popular this route provides the best view of the sea that runs smoothly engulfed by coconut trees. The route starts from the holy town Somnath which is believed to be the first among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva and ends in Diu, quite famous for its beaches.
Route: Somnath – Kadvar – Sutrapada – Dhamlej – Mul Dwarka – Diu
Distance: 120 km
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Time: 3-4 Days
Shillong to Cherrapunji
Another hilly terrain but with altogether different views, a ride from Shillong to Cherrapunji is so fulfilling that you wouldn’t want to stop. One of the craziest cycling routes in India, it also tops the chartsin terms of scenic beauty and challenging terrain, Shillong to Cherrapunji is stuffed with breathtaking view of the |Himalayas, frequent drizzles, lakes beneath you on both sidesa with verdant greenery abound.
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You will ride through patches of pasture lands, cliffs, deep forests and the plains of Sylhet in Bangladesh. You will be lucky enough to encounter a small waterfall and a newly discovered cave on the way, which is a must visit. The route changes its beauty as you eventually traverse on top of the hills.
Route: Shillong- Mawphlang- Mawsynram- Cherrapunji
Distance: 280 km
Difficulty Level: challenging
Time: 7-8 Days
Kochi to Backwaters
This is one of the best cycling routes for weekends. The ride starts from Kochi and continues towards south along the beach road. The route passes through rural villages and fishing communities where you get the chance to interact with the locals and comprehend their day to day life. Coir making, toddy tapping, fishing, duck farming are some of the activities to take not of during your ride.
Route: Kochi – Andharakaranzhi Beach – Arthunkal – Mararikulam – Alappuzha
Distance: 60 km
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Time: 2 Days
So, pick your favorite and most suitable trail and get set going!
