Cycling
or motor biking in the Himalayas in India is one of the most challenging
and physically demanding adventure sports you have ever indulged in. It
is not for the faint hearted, and definitely not for those who have not
been keeping in shape. For even the fittest have trouble in lugging
their bikes up the hill, should they be cycling, or have aching backs
with the long drives on their motor bikes. But if you are one of the
tough Harley Davidson role model types, then this adventure activity is
just the one for you!
There is no better way to get a feel of the local culture of a place
than by actually biking through it, and stopping at the villages and
towns to get a closer look at the town and village way of life. Mountain
biking in the Himalayas is one of the most adventure filled and novel
ways of combining travel with experiencing the local flavor and culture
of a place. It keeps you in contact with the local people in the
villages and market place. Add to this the astounding mountain beauty
and indescribably beautiful Himalayan locales that you'll be passing
through, and you have the perfect adventure holiday that you will
remember throughout your life.
The ever changing landscapes and
increasing altitude makes it an out of the world experience. Some of the
best places for mountain biking in India are stretches from Jammu and
Kashmir to Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, and then through Sikkim
and Arunachal Pradesh. Each of these states abounds in immense verdant
natural beauty and a ride through them couldn't but be one of tremendous
pleasure.
The best part of cycling in the Himalayas is that, there are dozens of
less frequented routes in the mountains where travelling by cycle is an
entirely joyful experience.
Popular Biking Routes of Himalayas
Himalayas offers plenty of picturesque less frequented routes in the
mountains. Tarai forests along the foothills of Nainital and the hill
state of Himachal Pradesh have some really lovely stretches, where
traveling by cycle is an easy and joyful experience. These stretches do
not unduly tax your physical capabilities as well as offer some
extremely attractive areas for the mountain cycling adventurers. The
easy pace of the ride, the pollution less environs, the lightly
trafficked roads and the ride through the luscious greens and the wooden
valleys promises an unforgettable adventure holiday in Himalayas
Ladakh
The Himalayas provide a plethora of choices that you can select from,
but the foremost destination to start off any biking trip is Ladakh, the
cold desert of India. The biking adventure list of the Indian Himalayan
region include from light and introductory cycling to the ultimate
challenge of travelling age-old trade routes winding along the mountain
ranges toward higher Himalayas.
Terai Region of Uttaranchal
One can make a beginning in an area, which does not initially require
much exertion. The Terai forests along the foothills of Nainital give
one an introduction to the pleasures of cycling and yet do not unduly
tax your physical capabilities. One can start from Thakurdwara and cycle
on to Ramnagar on the outskirts of Corbett Park.
Himachal Pradesh to Uttaranchal
Himachal Pradesh offers some extremely attractive areas for the lover
of mountain cycling. One can start from Kumarhatti on the Shimla-Kalka
road. A link road runs through a forest of pine, rising and falling till
you reach Sarahan a small Tehsil town. From Sarahan, the road drops
steeply to Nahan and you race down through heavily wooded dark forests
on a road, which is remarkably free of traffic. On the way, you can come
across valleys, barrage and through fertile fields of the Doon valley
set against the backdrop of the sadly denuded lower reaches of the
Garhwal Mountains.
