Eco Tourism India - Mountain Biking
Mountain Biking is an adventurous sport where the first and the foremost requirement is a daring heart and physical and mental toughness. As it provides an individual with the opportunity to explore life away from the cities and metros, mountain biking also tests the endurance of the biker. It is a sport which is generally carried on off-roads and needs a specially equipped bike having facilities like shock observers, wide tires and large frame tubing. Above all one needs bike handling skills.
Winding your way through the Himalayan rugged terrains, descending to the valleys far below after traversing various ridges, mountain biking in Himalayas has its own charm. The best thing about this adventurous sport is that one can stop frequently to enjoy the picturesque surrounding scenery.
Himalayan mountain biking expedition gives a retreat to captivate panorama of majestic mountains blanketed with pearl white snow, icy waters gushing trough its torrential rivers and rivulets and its green grasslands surrounded by evergreen dense forests, making it a mesmerising travellers' paradise.
Famous Biking routes in Himalayan Terrain
Manali – Leh Route
One of the toughest route in Himalayas, Manali – Leh route is the second highest highway in the world. Biking on this adventurous route checks the endurance of the bikers and fitness of a person is an asset, which helps in enjoying the trip. One gets a rare opportunity to cross some of the dangerous high altitude trails and passes on this route like Baralacha La, Khardung La and Rohtang Pass. It is a distance of around 480 km from Manali to Leh, where one has to climb even at an altitude of 5,300 meters above sea level. Snow capped mountain peaks, dense Deodar and Pine forests, gushing water of the Beas river and chirping of birds in the picturesque route is what makes a mountain biker feel energetic and think to explore better than the best.
Kalka – Shimla Route
This is also one of the most sought after routes by mountain bikers visiting Himachal Pradesh. Where the biker has to cover a distance of 90 km from Kalka to reach Shimla, good condition of the roads make the journey comfortable unlike the rough terrains. On this route bikers travel through several small and beautiful hill towns like Dharampur, Solan and Taradevi. On the way the fresh breeze from the lush green Deodar, Pine and Rhododendron forests welcome riders to Himalayan mountains by injecting energy in them. There are several roadside hotels and one need not to worry about it.
Besides these famous routes there are ample routes in Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, where adventure lovers can enjoy mountain biking. One of the famous routes in Uttarakhand is Nainital – Kathgoadam route, which is most traveled by bikers interesting in delving Himalayan mountains.
Mountain Biking Competition in Himalayas
The Trans – Himalayan Challenge competition in mountain biking is organised every year in the months of July – August by Himalayan Adventure Sports and Tourism Promotion Association (HASTPA). Participants from different parts of India and abroad participate in the competition every year. Bikers need to register in advance with HASTPA, which takes full care of the needs of bikers like accommodation, food, medical, insurance etc.
The 10 days long race starts from Tabo Monastry, which passes through Kaza, Kye Monastry, Spiti Valley, Losar, Kunzum Pass, Chandratal Lake, Zaskar, Chattru, Rohtang Pass and finally reaches Manali, its finishing point.
Where mountain biking checks the grit and strength of the bikers in the steep and winding hill roads of Himalayas, bikers also get a rare opportunity to peep into the culture, tradition and customs of the localites.
