Visiting India

10 Exhilarating Biking Trips in India

In this article our guest writer, Rohit Agarwal, explores 10 great biking adventures in India. See his bio below.

For the biking enthusiasts among us, India can prove to be a wonderful destination to take amazing trips because of the differing levels of challenging terrains across the country and the breath-taking view of the landscapes it has to offer. Here are ten of the best trails within the country that are sure to provide you with a delightful experience.

1. Iruppu To Ooty

Photo by Zigg-E, CC BY-ND 2.0

Distance Covered: 4 h 35 min (157.0 km)
Places of Stay: Hotel Lakeview in Ooty & Tropical Blooms in Iruppu.
Bike Rentals: From Royal Brothers Bike Rental in Coorg (1 hour away from Iruppu). One way rental not available.

A trail that takes about 4 to 5 days to complete, the places the trip of Ooty covers are absolutely stunning. The glorious sound of the mountain streams and lush greenery of the Nilgiri Hills will make you gaze in wonder at the beauty of Mother Nature.

2. Bomdila To Tawang

Photo by Bobinson K B, CC BY-SA 2.0

Distance Covered: 5 h 48 min (170.2 km).
Places of Stay: Hotel Tashi Ga Tsel in Tawang & Hotel Seagull in Bomdila.
Bike Rentals: Rent a bike from Guwahati via Rentrip, Awerides or The Highland Outback Riders etc. One way rental not available.

With the snow-clad mountains peeking in at almost every point of this trip to Bomdila, this is a trail that offers a moderate difficulty level and unlimited views of Nature’s exquisiteness. The rice plantations and gorgeous forests the trail takes you through are truly sights to behold.

3. Shimla To Manali

Photo by _paVan_, CC BY 2.0

Distance Covered: 7 h 4 min (247.5 km).
Places of Stay: Hotel Sidharath in Shimla and Hotel Greenfields in Manali.
Bike Rentals: Rentrip offers one way rental services in this route.

The trails of Himanchal Pradesh are absolutely stunning and the Spiti Valley offers many challenges to get the blood pumping in your veins as you travel to Manali through the charming valley as the rich vegetation surrounds you with its splendour.

4. Salem To Kolli Hills

Photo by Sodabottle, CC BY-SA 3.0

Distance Covered: 1 h 13 min (61.8 km).
Places of Stay: Nallathambi Resort in Kolli Hills and Hotel Ashwa Park in Salem.
Bike Rentals: Self Drive in Salem, A 1 Tour & Travels and many other options available. One way rental would require extra charge.

Not only are the impressive Kolli Hills known for the amazing view of the extravagant landscapes but also for the 70-hairpin bends that offer a real challenge to all those biking junkies with prior moderate experience.

5. Mumbai To Daman

Photo by Jugni, CC BY-SA 3.0

Distance Covered: 2 h 54 min (176.9 km).
Places of Stay: Silver Sands Beach Resort in Daman & Hotel Transit in Mumbai.
Bike Rentals: Ziphop, GetSetWheel and many more. One way rental would cost more.

This is a calm and quiet trail filled with beautiful forts, fun casinos and striking beaches. It takes about 2 to 3 days to complete the journey to Daman and is an ideal choice for those looking for a modest trip to appreciate the quaint town out in Daman.

6. Pollachi To Chalakudy

Distance Covered: 2 h 43 min (129.3 km).
Places of Stay: Pollachi Classic Club in Pollachi and Bethania Resorts in Chalakudy.
Bike Rentals: From Coimbatore via Rentrip or Royal Picks. One way rental not available.

Rated as one of the most breath-taking journeys to take, this trail passes through the amazing Vazhachal Forest, with numerous waterfalls, streams, dams and reservoirs along the way to make the experience that much more memorable. The evergreen forests and stunning flora along with the thrilling terrain creates an experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

7. Jaipur To Jaisalmer

Photo by Jorge Láscar, CC BY 2.0

Distance Covered: 9 h 19 min (558.9 km).
Places of Stay: Hotel Tokyo Palace in Jaisalmer and Hotel Kalyan in Jaipur.
Bike Rentals: Rent Set Go, Rentrip, Wicked Ride etc. One way rental would cost extra if the bike rental is not in the end destination.

What makes this trail unique is that it takes you through astonishing deserts and beautiful views of the landscape of Rajasthan. You also get the chance to experience the colourful local food, the jaw dropping architecture and the inspiring lifestyle of the people inhabiting the rural parts of the state.

8. Darjeeling To Sikkim

Photo by MithilaConnect, CC BY 2.0

Distance Covered: 4 h 36 min (126.2 km).
Places of Stay: Hotel Shangri-La Regency, Darjeeling and Hotel Saikripa, Gangtok.
Bike Rentals: Adventures Unlimited and Darjeeling Riders. One way rental would cost more.

A trip to Darjeeling, that is sure to mesmerise your senses and get your adrenaline rushing through your veins, this trail offers a fantastic view of the mighty Himalayan mountains all throughout the surreal journey and the various cultures and religions you get to discover and explore along the way are unique and impressive in their own rights. Add to that the hospitality and warmth of the local people and what you have is a beautiful collection of memories and lovely experiences to take away.

9. Delhi To Nainital

Photo by Ekabhishek, CC BY-SA 3.0

Distance Covered: 6 h 50 min (301.0 km).
Places of Stay: Hotel Delhi Darbar, Delhi and Treebo Cloud 7, Nainital.
Bike Rentals: Rentrip, Rent Set Go and Wheel Street. One way rental available.

The trip which starts from the enthralling capital and leads to the exquisite city of lakes via Corbett-Mukhteshwar is a journey filled challenges and thrills. The winding roads, orchards lining the sides of the trail and lavish woodlands filled with various types of flora are truly sights to behold.

10. Siliguri To Gangtok

Photo by Christopher J. Fynn, CC BY-SA 4.0

Distance Covered: 3 hr 45 min (116.1 km)
Place of Stay: Hotel Saikripa Gangtok and Hotel Sharda, Siliguri.
Bike Rentals: Darjeeling Riders, Adventures Unlimited, Rentrip. One way rental available.

One of the most popular trails in the North-Eastern region of the country, the journey is quite challenging due to the steep route that is sure to test your skills. The astonishing culture present here is a lovely mix of both Hinduism and Buddhism.

So, what are you waiting for? Pick up your gear, choose the destination and set on a trail that challenges the biker in you. With the rush of adrenaline pumping through your body and the exquisite scenery you get the chance to visit, any journey you choose is sure to be unforgettable and full of lovely memories to take back home.

Guest Author Bio: Rohit is an adventure sports junkie and enthusiastic traveller residing in India. He enjoys writing content for Trans India Travels and hopes to inspire his readers to join him on the numerous trips he takes across the country.

The World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and Ellora Caves – Part II

In my last post I shared our visit to the Ajanta Temple Cave complex in central India. In this post I will cover the Ellora Caves and the Daulatabad Fortress. The Ellora Caves are about 105 km (60 miles) north of Aurangabad (which is about 217 miles northeast of Mumbai).

As outstanding as the Ajanta Caves are, the Ellora Caves, which are carved out of solid rock, are even more stunning. While they don’t have the ancient temperas (paintings) seen in Ajanta, the magnificence of the structures and intricacies of the carvings—formed and shaped with rudimentary tools out of a rock escarpment is truly an amazing sight. These temples, monasteries and chapels were carved over five centuries starting with the Buddhist caves around 600 AD. There are 34 caves in all. The monks were clearly master stone masons.

Known as Cave 32, this is a Jain temple at the northern end of the Ellora complex.

Cave 15, a Hindu temple.

The “granddaddy” structure is the Hindu Kailasa temple, which is the largest and grandest structure of the Ellora complex and the world’s largest monolithic structure. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It took 7,000 laborers about 150 years to create this magnificent temple.

The entrance to the Kailasa Temple.

Kailasa Temple from the courtyard.

One more view of Kailasa Temple – the people around the base give an indication of the enormous size.

A detail of Kailasa Temple showing some of the original paint decorations.

Although very few do it, it is worth hiking up behind the temple to look down on the structure from above and to get a better feel how this temple emerged from a cliff side of rock (go to the right of the temple entrance and hike up the hill). Imagine taking a hammer and chisel and starting to chip away at the hard ground, and having to precisely carve to create this masterpiece – one mistake and the structure would have to be redesigned – there is no forgiveness working in the solid rock.

A view of the Kailasa Temple from above – imagine just a rock hillside and starting to hammer and chisel away at the rock with this beautiful structure in mind.

A closer look at Kailasa Temple from above.

Practical Information: There are Buddhist, Hindu and Jain Cave groupings within the complex. We started at the north end (Jain caves) and worked our way south (Hindu caves are in the middle and Buddhist caves are in the southern grouping). The caves stretch over a 2 kilometer (about 1.2 mile) length of rock escarpment, so be prepared for some walking. You can have your driver drop you off at the north end and work your way south on foot. The main car park is near the Kailasa Temple, in the middle of your route. Guides are available if desired. The Ellora Caves are closed on Tuesday, so plan your visit accordingly.

Daulatabad Fortress

This fortress can be seen right off the road on the way to the Ajanta Caves. Since the Ajanta caves are closer to Aurangabad, it’s probably best to visit this Fortress on the same day as the Ajanta caves. The Fortress dates back to the 1100’s and was continually developed over the next several centuries.

One of the gated entrances to Daulatabad Fortress.

A minaret at Daulatabad Fortress.

A deep moat – another defensive feature inside the Fortress.

One of the most fun things we did was to go through a literal “bat cave” on the way to the top. This is a long tunnel (perhaps 50 yards or more length) that is completely dark (bring a flashlight) and the thought of knowing that there are thousands (no joke) of bats hanging right over your head was an experience!

The entrance to the “dark passage” which is long, winding and full of bats. It was purposely designed to confuse enemies seeking to take the fort.

A few of the bats visible just inside the entrance to the dark passage.

Bring a hat unless you want to take a chance on getting bat dung in your hair! You definitely hear the thousands of bats and near the entrance you can see them in the little light that is available. This tunnel is not for the faint of heart.The Fortress covers a huge area and can be best appreciated from climbing up to the top structure that sits on the highest point encircled by the walls – the walls spread out in each direction for miles.

After surviving the dark passage – we’re hiking up to the top of the Fortress. Some of the extensive walls and defensive fortifications are visible in this image.

Reference: Lonely Planet Guide to India.

Jodhpur, India – Home of the Colossal Mehrangarh Fort

From Udaipur (via Ranakpur and Kumbahlgarh) we visited the large Rajasthan city of Jodhpur, about 198 miles (319 km) distant. For a map of locations visited in India, click here.

The huge Mehrangarh Fort dominates the landscape for many miles.

One of the main sites in Jodhpur is the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort, sitting on a prominent hill dominating the sprawling city which has seen tremendous growth in the last decade. The fort was built around 1460. The thick, high walls (over 100 feet) of the fort make it an imposing structure and it must have been a very intimidating sight for potential invading armies 500 years ago. There are miles of old walls extending around the area in every direction.

One of the gates leading into the fortress.

Cannonball pockmarks from the 1800’s can be seen on this bastion.

The fort dates from the 16th century, and contains palace rooms with numerous intricate lattice stone carvings; ladies of the court could view the activities of the fort’s daily life without being seen.

The intricate lattice stone work can be seen in this photo.

The fort is now a museum containing various displays in the rooms (such as a collection of highly decorated palanquins and paintings as well as a collection of arms) and period furniture.

One of the palanquins on display.

Display of daggers and other formidable weapons.

Interior of the Phool Mahal at Mehrangarh fort.

North side of the fortress, with several gates leading up into the main area.

An audio guide provides a good overview of the fort. On the north side, just outside the main gate are some beautiful gardens that are worth a vist. Jodhpur is known as the blue city. The city’s founder decreed that the homes surrounding the fortress be painted blue, but no one seems to know why blue was chosen. A number of homes near the fort still retain the blue hue.

The blue buildings near the fort’s north side.

Other Sights in Jodhpur

Jaswant Thada. Close to Mehrangarh fort is the beautiful Jaswant Thada, a white marble memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. There are nice views of the fort from this location. It was built in 1899.

A view of the Jaswant Thada.

Mandore. This area was the original capital of the local Marwar Kingdom until the 1400’s. This small city contains beautiful temples, tombs, and gardens. It is an area that does not see a lot of tourists, but we found it quite fascinating.

A view of Mandore with the shrines, temples and gardens.

Inside one of Mandore’s temples.

One of the Hindu shrines in Mandore.

Clock Tower. This is a landmark in the older part of the city. During the day there are numerous market stalls selling all kinds of food and other goods.

A view of the Clock Tower at night.

Markets near the Clock Tower.

Our hotel in Jodhpur, the Pal Haveli Inn. It has a very peaceful and quiet courtyard inside, a respite from the chaos of the city.

Our hotel (above) was in an excellent location, in the heart of the old city next to the Clock Tower and square. From the peaceful courtyard of our hotel you are immediately plunged into this market area and feel the ‘real’ India. The hotel had a rooftop restaurant that overlooked the fort for a lovely night view.

A view of Mehrangarh Fort from our hotel rooftop restaurant.

Udaipur – Considered the Most Romantic Spot in India

One of the most pleasant places to visit (and considered the most romantic) in India is the city of Udaipur (for a map of locations we visited in India click here). The city sits on the shores of Lake Pichola, which adds a peaceful element to the setting.

A sunset view of Lake Pichola from our hotel rooftop.

We enjoyed our breakfast time sitting on the rooftop of our hotel overlooking the calm lake waters and the isolated Lake Palace Hotel. Udaipur (and specifically the Lake Palace Hotel) became a popular tourist destination after its use as a setting in the James Bond film “Octopussy” with Roger Moore. If you’re dying to see the movie again, it plays nightly at a number of restaurants in the old part of town near the shore of Lake Pichola. I think the restaurant owners would go crazy after seeing the film over and over!

Lake Palace Hotel in Lake Pichola.

Although our hotel (Jaiwana Haveli) was good and in a perfect location, in hindsight, I wish we would have spent one night at the world famous Lake Palace Hotel, even though its room rates are pricey ($300 to $1,400 US/night depending on the season). Having a reservation is the only way you can visit the hotel. It was built in 1754 and was originally a summer royal residence. It became a hotel in the 1960’s. Even though the setting is serene, you’re still in India. The local population uses the lake as a bathing and laundry room. It’s a major contrast – one of the world’s most exclusive hotels within a few hundred yards of people who have few material positions taking care of life’s daily needs.

Teeth brushing and bathing in Lake Pichola.

Women washing and bathing in Lake Pichola.

You can visit Jagmandir Island, just a bit further out in the lake, on which is located another small palace and tower. It’s a lovely setting and the site is used for weddings and receptions. It is worth visiting just for the boat ride to and from the island which provides excellent views of the City Palace, Lake Palace Hotel and surrounding mountains.

The elephant statues greet you as you arrive on Jagmandir island.

The beautiful gardens on Jagmandir Island in Lake Pichola.

City Palace & City Palace Museum. The City Palace dominates the lakefront and is the primary tourist sight in Udaipur. It is a fantastic place with beautiful artwork in mirrors, paintings and tiles. It is Rajasthan’s largest palace and dates from the 16th century.

A view of City Palace from the lake.

City Palace night view.

A courtyard at City Palace.

One of the audience rooms at City Palace.

The Peacock Courtyard – with intricate artwork.

The peacock – symbol of Rajasthan. The feathers are all inlaid colored stone.

Colored mirror decor in City Palace.

Another reception area in City Palace – it has an English “Wedgwood” look.

Next to the City Palace is the Crystal Gallery. It houses a collection of rare crystal furniture, which has an interesting story behind it. Maharana Sajjan Singh ordered the crystal pieces from F&C Osler & Co in England in 1877. The maharana died before it arrived, and all the items stayed forgotten and packed up in boxes for 110 years. Once the crystal was recovered it was put on display here. Officially, I couldn’t take photos in this museum, so the quality is poor, but you can get an idea of the crystal furniture’s beauty.

A crystal love seat and “coffee” table.

A crystal canopy bed.

Jagdish Temple. This Hindu temple sits in the middle of the old town and it’s hard to miss. We got a short tour by a local worshipper during an evening service. The temple was built in 1651. The town has narrow twisting streets and alleyways, a tiny bit reminiscent of Europe.

An evening view of Jagdish Temple.

Udaipur is also a great location to shop for textiles and jewelry. We enjoyed wandering the narrow streets and myriad of shops. There’s a lot to see in the surrounding area as well. I’ll cover those sights in a separate post.

Street scene in Udaipur.

A colorful textile store in Udaipur.

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