Off-beat Bangalore to Goa Bike Tour

Arrive and settle for a boutique stay, Casa Cottage, in the heart of the city. After resting for a short while, hit the arterial high street of the city, M.G Road. Criss-crossed by narrow streets lined with bookshops, contemporary clothes, pubs, cafes, and trinkets, the place is abuzz with shoppers in the evenings. Bangalore acquired itself the moniker of the ‘beer capital’ of India, with around 70 pubs in a radius of 2 km in this area.

Your Art of Bicycle Trips (ABT) tour leader meets you at 05:00 pm for bike fit and trip briefing over dinner.

Get well rested tonight.

We know you are eager to ride, but we get on a different set of wheels (a train), to omit the traffic and long transfer between the cities. Post-lunch (lunch is served on the train) is to take in the magnificent structures of Mysore.

We start with the palace, also known as Amba Vilas Palace is a 14th-century enthralling structure, which is beautifully lit at night on special days. After the historic sight, we make our way into the busy Devaraj market. The market is a concoction of sights, sounds, and smells – a real visual treat. Walk around the stalls stacked with conical mounds of Kumkum, stacks of glittering bangles, blocks of jaggery, and huge mounds of fragrant marigolds, jasmine, asters, and even antiques!

We convene tonight at the dinner to celebrate the start of a fabulous cycling journey.

A short transfer of about 1hr brings us to Somnathpur Temple, a 13th century Vaishnava Hindu temple on the banks of River Kaveri at Somanathapura, Karnataka. The ornate temple is a classic illustration of the Hoysala architecture, built-in soapstone. Enjoy the stunning temple with our local guide.

Bike from here along the idyllic river Kaveri past paddy fields, sugarcane, banana plantations towards Srirangapatna, enclosed by the river Kaveri to form a river island. Srirangapatna was a scene of the decisive battle fought between Tipu Sultan and the British East India Company, a turning point in Indian history. End the ride with a well-deserved local meal.

Take a short tour of the surroundings and get on the bikes for a ride toward Shravanbelagola, en route to Hassan. Shravanbelagola is a Jain pilgrimage with a mammoth statue of Gommateshvara Bahubali atop a hill, overlooking the town. The statue was constructed in 993 AD and is the subject of intrigue and reverence for many travelers. We make a short stop here and later head towards Hassan. The ride today is going to be nothing short of a roller coaster.

We start riding from Hassan through the sparsely populated roads, through thick foliage, vast coffee plantations, and green paddy fields into Belur and then Halebidu, the two essential temple towns on this route. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Belur temple is also known as the Chennakesava Temple. 103 years of hard work resulted in 4000 exquisite carvings in slate stone. You can see the Hoysala emblems, statues of dancing ladies and portions of the Indian epics unfold in the black stone. In Halebidu, the Shiva temple is similar in aesthetics but also has some distinct intricate features. The depiction of the mythological ‘seven in one animal’, Makara, and tales from Ramayana and Mahabharata are more explicit here. All this is better understood with a guide.

Time-dependent, we take a ride up or take the shuttle to Chikmagalur. Once you are past the town, the sprawling coffee estates start emerging, with a promise of copious cups of coffee and great weather.

Chikmagalur is one of the most picturesque stretches in Karnataka. With its dense forests and wealth of flora and fauna, it has been declared one of the 36-biodiversity hotspots in the world. You are free to plan your day with our help. Take a challenging ride up to the highest peak in Karnataka, Mullayangiri, at about 6,314 ft above sea level.

If you want to take it easy, simply step out and walk through the coffee plantations. You can also take a coffee plantation tour organized by your hotel.

This morning, we cover some distance by the shuttle and then ride along the rural countryside, making our way to Karnataka’s largest Military Fort, Chitradurga. En route, we see typical Indian village life – farmers at the fields, livestock lazing through grassy patches, small streams, and neat village huts in clusters.

Depending on arrival time, visit the astounding Fort either in the evening or morning of the next day.

We take a shuttle transfer of about 3:30hrs to Hampi. Today discover the ruined city of Hampi on your bike that weaves through the centuries-old history and culture of this ghost city. Once the flourishing capital of one of the mightiest empires in South Asia, Hampi was sacked in 1565 after a terrible battle and never settled again. Evidence of its former glory lies strewn all around in the form of beautiful temples, magnificent statues, and royal edifices, all in ruins, and looking all the more spectacular for it.

We cross the mighty Tungabhadra river as it flows by angrily confined to a narrow ravine by granite hills. Coracles float by as huge boulders stand at odd angles, quiet witnesses to over half a millennium of history. Ride past local villages, watch village folk at work in rice paddies and learn about the history and architecture of some of its most beautiful temples.

We leave the spectacular Hampi and head towards Badami, a heritage town known for its ancient cave temples.

It’s a long day ahead of us as we are headed towards Dandeli today, passing through Hubbali, one of the largest cities in Karnataka. We plan to start early today with a transfer in the van, followed by cycling to Dandeli.

Here, we arrive at Dandeli and settle into our simple accommodation, surrounded by views and sounds of nature.

With a few uphills and a constantly green-forested region for the company, we enter Goa. The countryside area is brilliant to cycle around with rich green thickets and nothing but birdsong filling the air around. Our next stop is Mollem, where you can get a feel of rural Goa.

This morning, we make our way to Goan beaches. Ride past a road flanked by beautiful forests with a robust wildlife population. Continue riding to Cabo de Rama Fort for stunning views of the Ocean. It’s a classic coastal route today with gradual climbs along the way.

For a leisurely final morning in Goa, consider taking a stroll along the beach.