10 Best Journeys For Motorcyclists In India
The journey becomes the destination
The best way to experience a place, its culture, and people is to walk through. Most of the time it's not feasible to do so due to our limitations and commitments. The next best way is to take a motorcycle trip.
As a rider, I can tell how amazing it is riding on roads surrounded by beautiful landscapes. The experience of feeling the breeze, rain, dust, and sometimes harsh weather is mind-blowing and can not be explained in words.
I was scared on my first long ride and was eager to reach the destination. But the scenic beauty of the surroundings made me realize:
It's not about the destination, it’s about the journey. Enjoy the journey and the ride.
Here are some of the best routes for motorcyclists in India. Few of these I have traveled on and the others are on my bucket list.
Manali to Leh
This is the most popular motorcycling trip in the country, yet one of the toughest. Even experienced riders face a lot of challenges on this route.
As you travel from Manali to Leh the landscape changes from beautiful green mountains to snowy ones to rocky and then desert terrain of Ladakh. This road takes you through many hairpin bends and high passes where altitude goes more than 17000 ft.
A rider should travel on this stretch at least once in his/her lifetime.
Srinagar to Leh
This is another route to go to Ladakh as the altitude rise is moderate this route is easier than Manali to Leh one.
Srinagar Leh Highway also called NH-1D is one of the two roads connecting Ladakh to the rest of India.
The best time to travel from Srinagar to Leh for a road trip to Ladakh is from July to September. These are the peak summer months and the chances of finding snow on this highway during this time of the year are almost zero.
Darjeeling to Gangtok
On the eastern side of the country, there are two beautiful hill stations Darjeeling and Gangtok. One of the main attractions of the two cities is the view of Kanchenjunga you get to see.
The distance between these beautiful cities is around 100 km. This route is beautiful and has many sharp and blind turns. Darjeeling is famous for its black tea. The flavor of the tea is unique and not to be missed.
On the way to Gangtok don’t forget to stop by at Temi tea gardens. They serve a unique tea called Temi tea aka Red tea.
Lachen to Gurudongmar Lake
I must accept, this is one of the worst and challenging roads I have ever traveled on. This road is about 65 km and it took us around 4 hours one way.
At first, you ride to North Sikkim Plateau where roads are bumpy. Rain makes these roads slushy. You will be off-roading for the majority of the time as a lot of the ‘roads’ in the area are just gravel and pebbles. Though the roads are tough, the mountain views, streams of water around you will keep you going.
Gurudongmar Lake is at an altitude of 17,800 ft and it takes only 20km distance to climb from 15,000 ft to 17,800 ft. The lake is magnificent and breathtaking. The downside is you can stay there for long due to the altitude.
Gangtok to Zuluk
The first attraction on this road is “Lake Tsomgo”. It is pronounced as “Changgu Lake”. Please don’t ask me how!
Next comes the famous “Nathu La”, a high-altitude pass situated on the old silk route at the Indo-China border. You will get to know about the history of the Indo-China conflict and how Sikkim became part of India.
After few kilometers from Nathu La, you will come to the village of Zuluk, a land of numerous hairpin bends. You will be amazed to see the shape of the road from the top of the hill while traveling to Zuluk.
Shimla to Spiti Valley
A ride from Shimla to Spiti Valley can leave you stunned by the range of different kinds of landscapes you experience along the way. The ride starts with the green and snowy hills of Shimla, slowly transforms into the rocky landscape of Spiti Valley.
As you leave the snow-capped hills of Shimla and travel towards Spiti Valley you come across many beautiful waterfalls on the way. The ride is scenic yet quite a difficult one due to hairpin bends, sharp inclines, and harsh weather.
Munnar to Kanyakumari
You would not find many riders in this part of the country. Occasionally you will come across a small group of riders.
Though many prefer to take a ride on a train or a car, we chose to take our motorcycles for a spin. This road is approximately 360 km but full of natural beauty.
You start from the tea city of Munnar, proceed to the ancient city of Madhurai, to down south to the southernmost part of India. The landscape and the weather show you their various shades as you travel on this path.
Mangalore to Goa
This is undoubtedly one of the best coastal roads in the country. Goa tops the list of foreign tourists to visit in India. Believe me, the beauty of this coastal road in the mighty Western Ghats is not to be missed.
Though both the cities have beautiful beaches they differ in their culture. Mangalore is calm and easy-going, Goa is known for its nightlife.
Well, Goa is always a fun place to be in, but the road trip from Mangalore elevates the experience to an all-new level. Many prefer to take a flight, but trust me this journey is not to be missed.
Jaipur to Udaipur
Traveling through the desert state of Rajasthan is very comfortable as the roads are smooth and straight. The best time to take a ride from Jaipur to Udaipur is between October and March.
The distance between these two beautiful cities is around 450 km and takes about 8–9 hours. There are many popular places on the way like Kishangarh Fort, Birla City Water Park, and Vrindavan Bagh. For foodies, there are many eateries in both the cities and on the way.
Jim Corbett National Park to Munsiyari
Unlike other hill stations in Uttrakhand, Munsiyari is a little secluded from the population. You would not find shopping malls, good restaurants, and hotels in Munsiyari. This town is for the folks who love offbeat places and can enjoy the natural beauty. Surrounded by many snow-capped peaks and by a dense forest, you get to see nature at its best.
Jim Corbett National Park needs no introduction. It is one of the best and most popular national parks in the country. Jungle safari is amazing and one should not miss it.
The ride from Jim Corbett to Munsiyari is just 280km but it takes around 11 hours. The ride is scenic and the weather is not too harsh even in the winters. You ride in the green hills of Uttrakhand, roads are curvy and the landscape remains green all through.
Final Words
It feels exciting to go on a ride in the places like Ladakh, Spiti Valley, and Sikkim, but the preparation for the ride is equally important. Be it the safety equipment, the condition of the motorcycle and the health of the rider are few to name.
The ride could be occasionally overwhelming due to the harsh weather, high altitude, or the road condition. But these tough rides create memories that you cherish for life.
My other articles about travel:
Happy riding …
