Arrival note:
Bangalore or Bengaluru (BLR) has direct connecting flights via the Middle East & few destinations in Southeast Asia. Domestic flights can be connected to Bangalore either from Delhi or Mumbai. Bangalore is mainly an arrival/meeting point and you can plan to arrive at Bangalore by afternoon or night.
Day 1: Bangalore
Arrive at Bengaluru Airport and get transferred to a boutique stay, Casa Cottage Hotel, 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.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Mysore – train journey, palace, and market walk
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.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Mysore
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.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Distance cycled: ~ 50km / 30mi*
Day 4: Wayanad
The river Kabini flows alongside us as we cycle through farms and forests. Located on the southern fringes of the Nagarahole National Park, nature has endowed Kabini with excellent weather throughout the year. Damned in 1974, the Kabini reservoir supports a fascinating range of wildlife – tiger, leopard, elephant, gaur, crocodile, blackbuck, sloth bear, and peafowl. Further, we cross the Karnataka border to reach a state of Kerala, also promoted as God’s Own Country. The ride largely remains a rolling one.
Tonight, we stay in a Keralan homestay in the hilly town of Wayanad. Later take a dip into their gorgeous pool and rejuvenate taste buds with a sumptuous home-cooked local meal.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 70km / 42mi*
Day 5: Mudumalai
This morning, wind your way through the tropical forest and tea plantations to enter the state of Tamil Nadu and immerse yourself in a complete wilderness as we cycle through. The initial leg of the ride is through a canopy of dense forest largely consisting of teak trees and the second leg is past gorgeous tea plantations. Today is a stunning day on the saddle.
Later we take a short transfer to Mudumalai National Park, a favorite haunt of wildlife buffs & professional wildlife photographers from around the world.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 80km / 48mi*
Day 6: Red Hills
Take an early morning safari in Mudumalai National Park.
We begin our journey with a drive from the to Ooty. Be rewarded with a breathtaking misty view of rolling hills carpeted with shola forest as we shuttle through hairpin bents and reach Ooty, situated at a level above 2,000m and part of the amazing Nilgiris biosphere. This combination of high elevation and low latitude is typical of the Nilgiris, giving them their unique equatorial highland climate.
From Ooty, we begin the day’s cycling by heading due west. The terrain consists of undulating hills covered by Shola forests – a tropical montane forest-grassland complex endemic to the Nilgiris. The Shola forests consist of stunted forests and grasslands that occur together covering entire mountains whose monotony is broken only by numerous crystal clear lakes gleaming under a mellow sun, giving the appearance of a patchwork quilt of multiple hues. We ride through villages where forests have been cleared to plant cash crops such as tea, coffee, wattle, blue gum, and exotic spices such as cardamom.
The British found the Nilgiris climate so salubrious that they introduced the cultivation of their favorite drink, tea, to this region. Red Hills is thus a place that is surrounded by lush green forests and tea estates that spread out over its mountain slopes like exotic oriental rugs of green velvet. We end the day with a cup of the finest Nilgiri tea, a befitting toast to the commencement of an unforgettable journey.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 40km / 24mi
Day 7: Red Hills
Today we exchange our cycling gear for hiking boots as we go hiking into the Nilgiri forests. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot and a world heritage site by UNESCO on account of the extremely rich flora and fauna it supports, much of which is not found anywhere else in the world. Some of the rare animals found in this region are the Nilgiri Tahr, a critically endangered mountain goat of which a little over 3000 individuals are left in the wild today, and the Gaur or Indian bison. In the distance, we can spot the Doddabetta peak, the highest mountain in the Nilgiris standing tall at 2637m above sea level. We hike for 3-4 hours through the picture-postcard landscape of the Nilgiris. The rest of the day is free for relaxing and enjoying the fabulous views from your window. We recommended trying some traditional Badaga cuisine today that is prepared by the Badaga tribal community of the region using locally available ingredients and traditional techniques such as cooking in wood-fired ovens.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 3-4hrs
Day 8: Coonoor
We get back on our bikes today and cycle towards the hill station of Coonoor, a quaint town surrounded by tea estates and drenched in an old-world, colonial charm. The twin towns of Ooty and Coonoor, once ruled by Toda tribals, were discovered for the modern world by the British civil servant John Sullivan who wrote that they “resembled Switzerland more than any country of Europe, the hills beautifully wooded and fine, strong springs with running water in every valley”. It is a description that still holds true, the only difference being that the beautifully wooded hills and strong springs have been added the charm of verdant tea gardens and quaint colonial bungalows. As we ride past garden upon a garden of lush green tea leaves glistening under a soft highland sun, kissed ever so lightly by the cool mountain breeze so that the very air is diffused with their pleasing aroma, we know we are in a region that produces one of the finest teas in the world.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance Cycled: 50km
Day 9: Pollachi
An amazing rolling downhill awaits you from Coonoor, with spectacular views of Mountains followed by a ride through the hinterland.
Immerse yourself in a countryside living as you stay in a rural village of Pollachi, an unexplored tract in the Indian tourism arena.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 60km / 37mi*
Day 10: Dindigul
This morning after breakfast, ride through Palani, the temple town of Tamil Nadu to reach a village in Dindigul.
We stay at a family homestay near Kamaraj lake.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 70km / 44mi*
Day 11: Madurai
Our last cycling day through Tamil Nadu as we arrive at Madurai. Madurai is one of South India’s oldest cities and has been a center of learning and pilgrimage for centuries. This is where Mahatma Gandhi took the decision, in 1921, to wear nothing but khadi (homespun cloth). Khadi textiles and tailors’ shops are everywhere in town.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 60km / 36mi*
Day 12: Madurai
It’s best to visit the main temple early in the morning when it is relatively less busy. Meenakshi Amman (Sri Meenakshi) temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort, Goddess Parvati. The temple forms the heart and lifeline of the 2500-year-old city of Madurai. The temple complex houses 14 magnificent Gopurams or towers including two golden Gopurams for the main deities.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 13: Periyar
We take in the spectacular views of the western ghat mountains as we ascend to the neighboring state of Kerala. The last leg has a steep climb and we may decide to that in a shuttle.
If time permits, we head to a garden of spices and learn about the spices from a local farmer.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 60km / 36mi*
Day 14: Alleppey
This is going to be a beautiful ride – from the Cardamom Hills of Thekkady, through the tea gardens that lie lower. A hilly ride, with both dips and steep climbs, but the cool weather helps you grapple with this challenging ride better.
After biking, we transfer to Alleppey. Alleppey is the backwater destination of India, as it lies at the edge of the massive Vembanad Lake.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 50km / 30mi*
Day 15: Vembanad Lake
Ride through the narrow lanes and experience a fabulous birdlife before arriving at Kumarakom, situated right at the edge of mesmerizing Vembanad Lake.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 40km/24mi*
Day 16: Kochi
On the last biking day, ride along the beach road and past fishing villages and numerous Christian churches along the coast towards Fort Kochi, the historical port city in Kerala, once glorified for its spice trade.
The tour support staff will say goodbyes, as you reach Fort Kochi and check-in to the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance cycled: ~ 40km / 24mi*
Day 17: Kochi
Depending on your time in the morning you can explore Fort Kochi and learn more about the history of this old port city.
Please make your arrangements for onward travel.
Meals: Breakfast
* With shuttle – short transfers.
