Best bike ride destinations in India: The offbeat adventure
A bike ride is all about the good vibes and undying spirit of a rider. Biking tours are common on the mountainous terrain. It not only gives an adventurous ride but also helps one witness the beauty of the highlands. India offers many destinations to indulge in biking with exclusive experiences.
Bike riding in India also promotes a better understanding of the country’s diversity. Here are some of the best bikes in India:
The Leh-Ladakh Bike Trip
This mesmerising bike ride in India gives a fascinating experience, offering views of high snow-covered mountains, rugged landscape, beautiful lakes, Buddhist monasteries, etc. It is one of the best bike trips in India. Some other highlights of this trip are The Pangong Tso Namgyal, Tsemo Gompa, ZanskarValley, Nubra Valley, The Shanti Stupa, The Khardung La Pass, Royal Leh Palace, Magnetic Hill, etc. The ideal duration for a Leh-Ladakh bike tour would be 15 days or more.
The probable routes for the bike ride trip in Leh-Ladakh are as follows:
- Delhi → Jalandhar - Jammu -Srinagar -Kargil –Leh
- Distance Covered: 2,295 km (approximately)
- Delhi - Manali -Sarchu - Leh -Khardung La -Nubra Valley
- Distance Covered: Approximately 2,569 km (approximately)
- Delhi- Manali -Sarchu - Leh -Khardung La - Nubra Valley
- Distance Covered: Approximately 2,022 km (approximately)
The best time to go on this bike trip is from June to October.
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh Bike Trip
Located in the Himalayas, Spiti Valley is a huge cold desert mountain valley in Himachal Pradesh. This bike trip in northeast India offers another challenging experience. The capital of this valley is Kaza, situated near the Spiti River. The Hindustan-Tibet highway leads into Spiti valley.
Some of the highlights of this trip are the villages of Kibber, Kaza, Tabo, Baspa, and Kinnaur regions with apricot and apple orchards, Satluj river, and monasteries. The ideal duration for the Spiti valley bike trip would be 9 days.
The probable routes for the bike ride trip in Spiti Valley are as follows:
- Manali- Rohtang pass- Kunzum pass- Spiti
- Distance covered- 196 Km (approximately)
- Shimla – Sangla – Chitkul – Baspa – Kalpa – Kinnaur – Tabo – Spiti
- Distance covered- 697 km (approximately)
The best time to go on this bike trip is from Mid June to Mid October.
Western Arunachal Pradesh Bike Trip
This is one of the best places for a bike trip in northeast India with the most humbling landscape. Some of the highlights of this trip are the views of Waterfalls, lakes terraced paddy fields, alpine forests, mountain streams, small human settlements, Bomdila, Dirang, Tawang, Gorshem Chorten, Ziro, Parsuram Kund, and Namdapha National Park, Nameri national park, Kameng river, Sela pass, Tawang monastery, Zemithang valley, etc.
The probable route for the bike ride trip in Western Arunachal Pradesh is:
- Bhalupkong – Dirang – Bomdila – Tawang
- Distance covered- 300kms (approximately)
- Guwahati – Nameri National Park – Dirang – Tawang – Zemithang
- Total Riding Distance: 900 km approximately
The best time to go on this bike trip is from March to May or October to November.
Kolli Hills in Tamil Nadu
This bike tour in India is another thrilling experience with varied terrains and a tropical climate. Kollimalai (named after the Goddess Kollipaavai) or Kolli hills is a hill station located in Tamil Nadu’s Namakkal district. The 70 continuous hairpin bends popularize the hills; hence the name “the mountain of death”.
The locals consider the hills to be holy and protected by the deity. The region is also known for its exclusive and rare herbs. Some other highlights of this bike trip are the SeekuParai View Point and AgayaGangai Falls. The ideal duration for a bike trip to Kolli hills would be the weekends.
The probable route for the bike ride trip in Kolli Hills is:
- Bangalore – Krishnagiri – Salem – Rasipuram – Kolli Hills
- Distance covered: 280 kms (approximately)
The best time to go on this bike trip is throughout the year except the monsoons.
Kerala Bike Trip
A bike ride in Kerala; “God’s own country”, is a memorable experience with fresh beaches, beautiful lighthouses, and delightful greenery. Apart from being one of the best bike trips in India, it also offers serene views of tea and rubber plantations and paddy fields. Some other highlights of this bike trip are National parks like Eravikulam and Periyar, Wayanad, and other sanctuaries which are home to elephants, langur monkeys, and tigers.
The probable route for the bike ride trip in Kerala is:
- Kochi- Thattekkad- Muthuvaankudi- Munnar- Periyar- Kulamavu- Kumarakom – Alleppey-Marari
- Distance covered- 4.5 kms (approximately)
The best time to go on this bike trip is from September to May.
Darjeeling to Sikkim Bike Trip
This is another popular route for a bike ride in India from the north of Bengal to a destination in northeast India. This trip involves many steep and winding roads. This bike ride in India from Darjeeling to Sikkim is a scenic one. Some highlights of this trip are the views of the Kanchenjunga, sky-high hills and pollution-free environment along with many monasteries, viewpoints, gardens, etc.
The probable route for the bike ride trip from Darjeeling to Sikkim is:
- Siliguri – Darjeeling – Kalimpong – Gangtok – Pelling – Yuksom
- Distance covered- 650 km approximately (approximately)
The best time to go for a bike trip from Darjeeling to Sikkim is from September to October.
Jaipur to Jaisalmer Bike Trip
This bike tour in Rajasthan offers one of the best long bike ride trips in India. It guides the rider to explore the land of forts and palaces through the paved roads and tricky deserts.
Some of the tourist attractions of this bike tour are the Mandawa castle, Junagarh Fort, Amber Fort Palace, Jal Mahal, city palace, Jantar Mantar, Pushkar Lake, Lord Brahma's temple Lok Kala Mandal, Fateh Sagar lake, the Jaisalmer fort, Patwonki Haveli and other Havelis. Some other highlights of this bike trip are its long straight roads, the Rajputana architecture, the innumerable villages with their unique culture and local cuisine.
The probable route for the bike ride trip from Jaipur to Jaisalmer is:
- Jaipur – Nagaur – Jodhpur – Ramdevra – Jaisalmer
- Distance covered- 1400-1500 kms. (approximately)
The best time to go for this bike trip is from October to February.
Bangalore to Munnar Bike Trip
This bike ride in India from Bangalore to Munnar; a town in the Western Ghats in Kerala, is another good bike ride in India. Some attractions of this bike tour in India are the Chandira Choodeswarar Temple, Krishnagiri Dam, Hogenakkal Falls, Thirumoorthy Falls, Thirumoorthy Temple, Lakkam Falls, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Dindigul Fort, Yercaud hills, Kiliyur Falls, Kolukkumalai Tea Estate, Dindigul Fort, Masinagudi Village Forest, and the Mudumalai National Park.
The probable routes for the Bangalore to Munnar bike ride trip are:
- Bangalore → Hosur → Krishnagiri → Salem → Dindigul → Theni → Munnar
- Distance covered- 536 kms. (kapproximately)
- Bangalore → Mysore → Masinagudi → Ooty → Udumalpet → Munnar
- Distance covered- 527 kms. (approximately)
The best time to go for this bike trip in India is from April to May.
Jaipur-Jodhpur-Jaisalmer Bike Trip
This bike tour in India enables the rider to explore the royal state of Rajasthan in many ways, riding through Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer. Some of the attractions of this bike trip is the Amber Fort Palace, Jal Mahal, city palace, Jantar Mantar, Lok kala Mandal , Fateh sagar lake, Kumbhalgarh fort, Jaisalmer Fort and some other Havelis. Some other highlights of this long bike ride in India are the ancient structures, mild green forests, and no-man lands.
The probable route for the Jaipur-Jodhpur-Jaisalmer bike ride trip is:
- Jaipur - Pushkar - Udaipur -Kumbalgarh - Ranakpur - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer
- Distance covered- 1400-1500 kms. (approximately)
The best time to go for this bike trip is from October to February.
Guwahati to Tawang Bike Trip
This bike trip in north-east India enables the rider to explore the beautiful territories with ravishing natural beauty, vague culture and indigenous tribes. Some of the attractions of the Guwahati to Tawang bike ride in India are, the Bum la Pass, Nameri Eco Park, Jaswantgarh War Memorial, at Sela Pass, Tawang monastery, Chakzam village, kameng river, Jung waterfall, etc. Some other highlights of the bike tour are the twisting mountain roads with alpine trees and sharp slopes.
The probable route for the Guwahati to Tawang bike ride trip is:
- Guwahati- Nameri – Dirang- Tawang
- Distance covered- 135 km (approximately)
The best time to go for this bike trip is from April to June.
Shillong-Cherrapunji-Dawki-Mawlynnong Bike Trip
This magical bike tour in India, in the north-eastern state of Meghalaya, offers one of the best road trips in India by bike. Some of the attractions of this bike trip are picturesque views of the Borapani Lake, Sylvan Hills, Dawki river, Elephanta falls, Nohsngithiang Falls, Seven sisters falls, Nohkhalikai Falls, East Jaintia Hills, etc.
The probable route for the Shillong-Cherrapunji-Dawki-Mawlynnong bike trip bike ride trip in Leh-Ladakh are as follows:
- Guwahati- Shillong - Mawphlang - Sohra - Nongriat - Mawlynnong - Dawki - Shnongpdeng - Shillong - Guwahati.
- Distance covered- 139 kms (approximately)
The best time to go for this bike trip is from June to August.
Although there are many other places for bike riding in India, the above-mentioned bike ride destinations offer the best road trips in India by bike which provides the rider a few days of refreshment and offbeat adventure.