Rajasthan, the ‘land of royals’, is an excellent take-off point for those who are interested in Indian exotica but don’t know where to begin their India cycling holiday. This vast region makes for the western snout of India and is part desert, part hills, part royalty, part rural idyll. A long history of rival kingdoms and wars has left its bountiful heritage here in the form of many royal palaces and strategically built forts that continue to awe and intrigue to this very day. The contrast between the royal and the rural, the opulent and the impoverished is particularly fascinating for a biker pedalling up and down the cycling trails of Rajasthan with an itinerary that lets you do it at a relaxed, leisurely pace.
The tour starts off with a sightseeing tour of Delhi before flying to Udaipur, the city of lakes, in south Rajasthan. As a warm-up, cycle in and around Udaipur for a day and explore its many lakes and palaces. You'll then take on a relatively tougher challenge of cycling the long distance to Kumbhalgarh Fort, which sits atop a hill. In the days that follow, you'll cycle deeper into rural Rajasthan and visit the towns and villages of Ranakpur, Korta, Bhenswara and Bhadrajun.
Each one of these pit-stops is special in its own way. Ranakpur boasts a Jain Temple with most beautiful marble carvings. Korta and Bhenswara are home to camel herders, snake charmers, farmers, and folk singers. Bhadrajun has a legend dating back to the times of ‘The Mahabharata’.
This rural experience barely rubs away when you hit the biggest tourist attractions in Rajasthan: the cities of Jodhpur and Jaipur. Both the cities abound with rich historical heritage that is best appreciated through daylong sightseeing tours of their many forts, palaces, temples, gardens, museums, and local bazaars. Not to be missed are some renowned eateries where you can savour authentic Rajasthani cuisine.
Lest you overdose on culture, we split these sightseeing trips of Jodhpur and Jaipur with a bit of walking on the wild side at the Ranthambore National Park, a famous tiger reserve and formerly the hunting ground of the maharajas of Rajasthan. A jeep safari reveals a great variety of wildlife and birdlife in this sanctuary, but the prize catch is of course the majestic predator, the Bengal Tiger.
The best of the Rajasthan bicycle tour is saved for last when, at the end of two weeks of cycling in Rajasthan, you'll enter the adjoining state of Uttar Pradesh and visit Agra to see one of the most incredible manmade wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. The sublime beauty of this monument of love doesn't need any elaborate descriptions, but suffice to say that you won’t find a better climax to your cycling holiday in Rajasthan.
The tour provides a wholesome and immersive Indian holiday experience without taking anything away from the thrill and sport of biking. The bicycle trails of Rajasthan you'll be going on are easily navigable, save for a few uphill slogs that only help stir up the adrenaline. Of course, whenever you don’t feel like biking, you can always hop into our backup cab, but given the wonders and surprises that Rajasthan throws up at every turn, you would rarely find a good enough reason to go off the road.