Bikepacking in India

Bikepacking in India can be a very interesting prospect on a well-chosen route. India is diverse, large, densely populated and offers some excellent opportunities for cyclists. Many people head for the mountains, where the weather is significantly better and the sparser population can make camping more practical. The main mountain regions in the north are Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh, and Uttarakhand.

Starting at Manali and going to Leh via the direct highway, or taking a diversion through Zanskar, Tso Moriri or Pangong Tso, are some of the most common bikepacking routes in Ladakh. Monasteries are perched on many mountains, and food and accommodation are widely available. These routes are no longer the remote corners they once were, but they still offer numerous passes higher than 4,000 and even 5,000 metres.

Himachal Pradesh has Spiti Valley as its main attraction, and it is especially good in winter. The route from Chandigarh to Kaza via Shimla offers diversions to places such as Kalpa, Sarahan, Chitkul and Kibber.

Uttarakhand is generally greener and lower in altitude. Common bikepacking routes lead towards Gangotri, Badrinath and Munsiyari, with the Adi Kailash route gaining popularity as the road crosses close to the Nepal border in places.

In winter, the rest of the country becomes a strong bikepacking destination. Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are particularly suitable, with good roads, some mountains, forests and wildlife sanctuaries.