India's Best Cycling Routes

Image: Dileep Prakash for Forbes India

Arun Katiyar and Manjula Sridhar give you the complete lowdown of India's best cycling routes.

NORTH
Manali to Leh
Medium to advanced
Over 500 km covering the range of the Himalayas, from Himachal’s valleys to Ladakh’s sparse mountain passes
“It’s is a brilliant route. Ulhas Joshi of Pune Cycle Prathishtan organises a Manali - Leh cycling trip every year. Though anyone can do the route on their own as well.” – Arun
“Probably the most beautiful route in India.” - Manjula

NORTH-EAST
Many parts of Sikkim
Advanced
“Lots of people do this route every year, though its meant for advanced cyclists and requires some training.” - Arun

WEST
"Many routes in Gujarat in and around Mount Abu" - Arun

Around the Alibag coast
Beginner
“Its very even territory to cycle on, though windy.” - Arun

Goa
Beginner
“Cycling is fabulous in Goa with its great streets. There is a Goa Cycling Group run by a Canadian woman which organizes regular weekly cycling events.” - Arun

Pune to Panshet Dam via Sinhagarh
Medium
About 100 km
“One of the best routes in India. The route is quite rolling as you have to climb Simhagarh fort. But it offers a great view of Panshet Dam throughout - at first just a blueish speck on the horizon which later on turns to blue waters on both sides of the route. On your final ascent you climb the hill leading to the dam with the backwaters of the dam all around you. The blueish green waters are almost New Zealand like. By the time the sun sets in the evening you are surrounded by rolling hills and clear waters all around you.” - Manjula

SOUTH
Tour of Nilgiris
Medium
A once in a year tour covering 900 km over 8 days (tourofnilgiris.com)
Ooty and thereabouts
Beginner
“The tea estates around Ooty, Coonoor, Craigmore, Palanniappa are a great place for anyone to cycle.” – Arun
“Ooty routes offer lots of hills, cool weather and lakes all around.” – Manjula
Irpu to Ooty

Medium
“All around you are the forests of Wayanad which offer great views. In addition you will also encounter wild animals many times.” - Manjula
“Take a break in Sulthan Bathaery to rest.” - Manjula
The East Coast Road from Chennai to Pondicherry

Beginner
“No road in this country that can equal it, non-stop ocean on the left. If you’re on a road bike you can literally close your eyes and complete the route.” - Arun

Kerala
“There are many cycling tours in Kerala nowadays, covering scenic backwater routes around Alleppey.” - Arun

Around Bangalore
Beginner
This is a good beginner route – start on Kanakapura Road towards Jigani, then take left at Harohalli. The next 30 km stretch covers hills, scenic views of paddy fields and a tribal population. The entire route is 80 km and can be covered in 3-4 hours. It is very popular among Bangalore cyclists.” - Manjula

Resources
“A great resource for cycling routes is mrpumpy.net – has descriptions of many routes across the Asian subcontinent, including India. He’s like the Bible for me.

“Though Mr.Pumpy is quite experienced in his own right, yet I feel the sad part is that we require foreigners to tell us where to cycle in our own country.” - Arun cyclingandmore.com run Sriharsha offers some very good tours for beginners, including overnight ones.” - Arun

-Arun Katiyar, ex-journalist and avid cyclist, also writes a column on cycling for Man’s World magazine. -Manjula Sridhar is an IT professional and triathlete.

Also Read: Cycling: Join the Ride