Mountain biking in India is quite the experience – you will find yourself moving through gorgeous mountain sides, experiencing the hustle and bustle of the local village culture and hearing the sounds of nature. The Garhwal Himalayan region, in particular, is very well known for biking routes; they’re challenging, exhilarating and will leave you feeling literally on top of the world.
Take a biking tour – begin your journey at Haridwar and wind your way through the valleys, hills and villages of Garhwal! Here is a five-day biking tour you have to check out in this region –
Haridwar-Rudraprayag:– Stretching for about 150km, the bike ride is literally along the side of the river. You can ride along the Ganges and make your way through Devprayag and Srinagar. The former is a holy place, revered for its confluence of the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers.
Rudraprayag-Syalsour:– From Rishikesh, ride another 40km, along the Mandakini River, to Syalsour. A moderately challenging ride, you’ll face a number of ups and downs, but it’s well offset by the scenic valleys!
Syalsour-Chopta:– And from Syalsour, ride another 40km to Chopta. This is comparatively a much harder bike ride; the trail is lovely and gorgeous, but it requires grit and determination as well! But keep at it, and you can have delicious local tea at Chopta!
Chopta-Mandal-Gopeswar:– And the trail gets harder! The 40km ride from Chopta, all the way to Gopeswar will not be easy. You will wind your way through dense forests and jungles that are littered with small villages. Experience the local rustic way of life and move through rough but beautiful terrain!
Gopeswar-Karnaprayag:– Wind down from the hard to the moderate when you bike your way to Karnaprayag. From Gopeswar, this is about 50km; the Upper Alaknanda Valley route is scenic and beautiful! The challenge here is to bike through a rather crowded and busy road, so you’ll have to watch out for those civilians, either on foot or on vehicles! And if you’ve finished all of these, cycle back to Haridwar from Karnaprayag – a 180km ride that should quench your thirst for mountain biking! It’s a moderate ride, comparatively easier than the rest, so it makes a good finale to your entire mountain biking tour!
The world of the Himalayas is harsh and rough, but the Garhwal region offers you an excellent experience if you love to ride and to move from one place to another. Experience the local cuisine, the local culture and the wondrous jungles – discover the song of the mountains and the valleys, and wind your way through holy places that will leave you speechless.
