Exotic India Bike Tour

Udaipur can be a jumble of sights, sounds, and smells but is an absolute must for travelers. On the first day of the trip, our guide meets at your hotel at 13:00, and we cover some Udaipur highlights – a guided walk of the City Palace. The City Palace is enclosed in a large complex on the banks of Lake Pichola and has many more palaces inside.

Enjoy walking the old market and eating street food at Paliwal Kachori, take an amazing cooking class with Sashi, or a boat ride in Pichola Lake.

We convene tonight at the dinner, next to the beautiful lake, to celebrate the start of a fabulous cycling journey.

This day we start early and take a shuttle to a short distance and ride to the next town of Kumbhalgarh. This is the most scenic ride of the trip as you climb the Aravalis, maneuver through the rolling hills, and cycle past a Dhonk (Anogeissus Pendula) strewn topography. The plant adds a spattering of colour to the pale brown stretches along the way. Kumbalgarh is yet another historic fort town from the 15th century.

In the evening, we climb the rugged Kumbalgarh Fort, surrounded by a 35km wall with 365 temples within.

Another beautiful day on a bike through the dense forest and undulating stretches takes you close to the Aravalis and later to the famous Ranakpur Jain Temple here. After you have rested and had lunch, use this time to see the magnificent temple. Made of marble, the temple is an intricate artwork of local craftsmen; do not miss two of the most exquisite carvings here – one made out of a single marble rock, which showcases 108 snakes and 1444 pillars, which will leave you awestruck.

Today we ride to Jawai dam, nestled in the emerald wild forests of Jawai Hills, through the beautiful rural countryside. A colorful landscape unfolds here with brightly clothed village women. Here you can see a typical hamlet in Rajasthan with people busy with farming. As we get closer to Jawai Hills, the landscape changes to a dramatic wilderness.

We have lunch at one of the campsites, spectacularly set in the wilderness. Later, enjoy a fabulous leopard safari, where leopards roam wild and free in an untrammeled wilderness, coexisting comfortably with the charismatic communities.

We start cycling early this day across lush millet vegetation and carpets of yellow mustard fields. The ride remains largely flat. You can enjoy the vistas with ease and look forward to your stay at the Ravla Bhenswara.

An erstwhile Ravla (Castle) was built about 240 years ago in typical Rajput style by Thakur Jagat Singh ji Rathore (Champawat) founder of Bhenswara. Set in the tranquil surroundings of a Jawai river, the low-lying Aravalli hill ranges visible in the distance, and vast shrubby forests teeming with wildlife, the heritage hotel is a great stop. Here you can take a safari to visit the villages to meet the indigenous people and have the opportunity of viewing the abundant wildlife.

We ride through a quiet and narrow backroad that offers ample opportunities for spotting wild animals like the blackbuck, blue bulls and if we’re lucky, the shy but extremely graceful Indian Gazelle too. As we ride past swaying masses of yellow mustard and wheat, run into hordes of camels and goats as well as friendly villagers always happy to pose for a photograph or two.

Today we make our way toward the fabled blue city of Jodhpur. We arrive at Jodhpur and visit the towering Mehrangarh Fort, a key highlight of Jodhpur, which looms over the city from a small hill and can be seen from everywhere. The rest of the evening is free and you can spend as per your plan visiting a local market or spending quiet time at nearby rooftop restaurants.

We take an morning train from Jodhpur to Jaipur. In the afternoon, we take an Arts & Crafts Walk with our local expert Vineet (subject to availability), in the pink city bazaar, to get up-close and personal with the life of Jaipur. The walk covers areas of Marble statue makers, lacquer bangle makers, Metalworkers, Jewelry workers, Embroidery workers, etc. In this walk, we crisscross the medieval center of the city, recapping the most important historical events, while briefly introducing the basic cultural fabric that Jaipur has to offer from its history.

We wind up the day with an early dinner at one of the top restaurants in Jaipur.

We start a trip to the pink city of Jaipur with the famous fortress of Kacchawaha kings at Amber. Large courtyards, intricate carvings on formidable structure, and nuances of Rajput rule can be seen in the fort overlooking the Maota Lake. If you’re up for a walk, take a tunnel to Jaigarh Fort.

The rest of the day is at leisure. Jaipur is the erstwhile capital of the ruling Kacchawahas in the early eighteenth century. We recommend taking a walk in the old city and experience the delightful ancient markets at ease. Hawa Mahal and the numerous bazaars selling bright textiles and silver are worth every hour spent.

Today’s ride is through beautiful rural countryside, chequered with mustard fields and millet farms. Here you can see a typical hamlet of Rajasthan with people busy with farming.

The ride remains largely flat and gives a chance to witness the rural life around Jaipur from close quarters.

We cycle towards the forest of Sariska through the amazing Aravalli hills. We end our ride at Pratapgarh Fort and then take a shuttle to Sariska National Park, a favorite haunt of wildlife buffs & professional wildlife photographers from around the world. The topography of Sariska supports scrub-thorn arid forests, rocky landscapes, dry deciduous forests, rocks, grasses, and hilly cliffs. The park is famous for its Bengal Tigers, one of the most magnificent animals of India, which has long fascinated people with its awesome power and beautifully striped coat. It is the first tiger reserve in the world to have successfully relocated tigers.

Sariska is also ethereal for bird watchers with some of the rarest feathered species like Grey Partridge, White-throated kingfisher, Indian peafowl, Bush Quail, Sandgrouse, Treepie, Golden-backed Woodpecker, Crested serpent eagle, and the Indian eagle-owl.

Please note, we don’t take the Safari in Sariska National Park. If you wish to take one then please book on arrival with the hotel.

Begin the day with a hearty breakfast at the hotel, then set off on a bike ride through the picturesque countryside, chequered with mustard fields and millet farms to the Bharatpur. On the way, we make a stop at Abhaneri for lunch and visit Chand Baori, one of the largest stepwell built over a thousand years ago in the Abhaneri village of Rajasthan.

Later in the evening, we explore the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary on a bike, famous for the avifauna sanctuary that plays host to thousands of birds, where you have an opportunity to interact with the local guide and gain greater insight into the bird lives.

In the late morning, we take a transfer to Agra for a visit to the Taj Mahal. We have a good half-day to visit one of the most awesome and extravagant monuments ever built – the Taj Mahal. It was constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife in 1631-1653, with thousands of semiprecious stones inlaid.

Delhi hoards centuries of history, remnants of which, lie unassumingly in all parts of the city. Weathered monuments mingle with modern life seamlessly. Plan your own day today, if you have time.

We recommend exploring Old Delhi by bike, intense and full of history. You can do this ride with our local Delhi-based cycling partner. The Shah Jahan Bicycle Ride is a classic recipe for an exhilarating glimpse into the life and times of the great Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, and the 1500-acre expanse of his capital – Shahjahanabad.

You will find yourself in a Delhi of another time while you also see the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, the Spice Market, and tranquil Civil Lines, the former British colonial area as a sharp contrast to hectic Old Delhi.

Old crumbling houses precariously line the edge of narrow streets while old wires obstruct your view of the sky here – with so much going on in one place, yet the warmth and acceptance of the area are heart-warming. If you have an appetite for street food, we recommend a bite of oily parathas, kachoris, lassi, and some tea.

You can also take a walk in the old city, an area called Chandni Chowk. Old crumbling houses precariously line the edge of narrow streets while old wires obstruct your view of the sky here – with so much going on in one place, yet the warmth and acceptance of the area are heart-warming. If you have an appetite for street food, we recommend a bite of oily parathas, kachoris, lassi, and some tea.