Cycle the Ganges – (from the travel diary of our founder director) is a very interesting journey on cycles starting closely from the place of origin of India’s most sacred River Ganges to a point where it is worshiped every day, the Varanasi. It was 1997 when he moved first time on this route starting from Dehradun and getting down to Rishikesh and further to Jim Corbett Park and Taj Mahal to make the journey crispy.
Route Detail & General observations Cycling on the banks of Ganges is not only a charming experience because you see the several colors and faces of this great river but it gives you an opportunity to see the real India which lives on the banks of Ganges, working in small fields, living in small towns to densely populated cities, earning less than half a dollar in a day somewhere or spending life in wealthy regions. Some of the places like Rishikesh and Haridwar are the center of religious exercises and yoga to offer peace of mind, at the same time there are places like Mainpuri and Farukhabad which were the centers of criminal activities sometimes. A beautiful place Kannauj, which is close to Kanpur where even the streets do offer soothing fragrance as it is the perfume capital of India, and at the another end you have the city of intellect Allahabad where three rivers do meet and create history. There are places like Manikpur and Mustafabad which make you stunned with life there on the sandy banks of Ganges and you find the best carpets of the world at Mirzapur.
The whole journey is challenging because of limited facilities at maximum places, but the experience of biking on the Ganges line make you understand the situation of this river also.
- International airport to hotel in Delhi transfer by small coach/ medium or large cars as per the group size
- Sightseeing/ monument visits as per the itinerary
- Delhi to biking beginning point and back to Delhi transfers from bike end point
- Transfer to international airport in Delhi after the trip
- Transportation of cook, kitchen staff and biking guide.
- Transportation of bike mechanic required by the group on extra cost
- Supporting vehicle during the bike tour
- Train tickets as per the program (wherever applicable)
Accommodation – city hotels with breakfast & remaining on full board
- Hotels as per the program
- Biking duration camps with all meals
- Gala dinner at Delhi with expedition mementoes/ souvenirs
Staff
- Cook and kitchen helper (01)
- Bike guide (01) from Delhi to Delhi
- Local sightseeing/ city/ monument guide
- Camp staff and drivers for supporting vehicles
Equipment
- Luxury tents for the members
- Staff tent for cook+ helper and biking guide
- Aluminum cots, thick mattresses, bed sheets, quilts, room chairs, tables etc.
- Kitchen tent, chairs, tables, stools, utensils, crockery and cutlery
- Toilet tents and toiletries
- Medical kit and oxygen cylinders
- Maps and directions
Administrative assistance to the expedition team
- Insurance of the staff
- Inner Line permits/ restricted area permits
The cost doesn’t include
- Air tickets of the expedition members
- Any kind of insurance of the clients
- Personal expenditures of the clients
- Helicopter rescue
- Bikes
Bikes on hire
- You can get any kind of mountain bike and Royal Enfield Motorcycles on hire from our retail shop.
Extension programs
You can write for extension programs to Taj Mahal/ Rajasthan or Varanasi after or before the expedition.
Day 01: Arrive Delhi and on arrival you will be welcomed by our representative who will further take you to your hotel.
Day 02: Delhi full day sightseeing: you can see the places of interest this day in Delhi. The old Delhi still gives a blurt feeling of Mughal period whereas the temples of Lotus and Akhshardham takes one to new architecture and belief. The old monuments like Red Fort and Humayun Tomb are worth to visit and the shopping malls and Connaught Place shows modern India to the visitors. Sightseeing of Delhi is very important for every foreign traveler because Delhi is the capital of India and by exploring Delhi, the foreign tourists can understand complete India, especially a developing India and its pace of development.
Day 03: Delhi to Dehradun by train: After morning sightseeing, you board train to Dehradun, this is the overnight train and you reach Dehradun early in the morning. From the railway station, drive to the hotel. Full day to assemble your bikes and visit to few important places in Dehradun, which is a populated town and the headquarter of Garwhal Himalaya.
Day 04: Dehradun to Rishikesh- Haridwar- cycle 67 Kms: Technical briefing after breakfast in the morning and start expedition to Haridwar through Rishikesh. The road is fine with trees and fields on both sides and beautiful view of Shivalik hills. Enroute visit Rishikesh (Lakshman Jhoola and meditation areas and temples) for some times and I recommend lunch at Chotiwala restaurant. Rishikesh needs no introduction, it is a center of meditation and yoga established on the Ganges banks and you find many Himalayan sages here. After lunch and short exploration, further ride to Haridwar. This place is one of the most important places in Hindu religion where every Hindu is taken in form of ashes after his death following the belief that unless he will never be free from the Karmic Influence. In the evening, visit Har Ki Paudi, a place to see the Pooja at Ganges with countless Diyas (butter lamp on leaves & other carriers) presented by devotees to the sacred river Ganges. Watching hundreds of lamps on the river is probably the experience for life time. Overnight at hotel.
Day 05: Haridwar to Vidurkutti: cycle 76 Kms. Morning we start cycle on the banks of Ganges for few of the miles and after crossing a huge bridge move on the less traffic roads to Kotdwara and Nazibabad and then to Bijnour- a small city. After riding 12 more kilometers, we reach a calm ashram of Vidurkutti on the sandy banks of Ganges. The ashram is dedicated to Vidur- the minister of Kauravas during the age of Mahabharata. Vidur spent his rest of life after dispute with Duryodhan at this place. This is the place where Lord Krishana has visited according to the mythological stories. The temple is surrounded by beautiful gardens, and we camp on sands at the banks of Ganges.
Day 06: Vidurkutti to Gajrolla cycle and further transfer to Dhikala by coach (56 Kms cycling and then drive): Morning after breakfast we visit the temple and start cycling towards Gajrolla. The road is small and nice with small market places in between. Enroute tea at Ghanera and after crossing Chandpur and Dhanavara we turn towards Gajrolla (56 Kms). Cycling on more remote roads in between borders of trees and sugarcane fields, both interesting and beautiful. After having lunch at Gajrolla drive to Dhikala- the place of Jim Corbett park (185 Kms on smooth roads). Overnight at hotel.
Day 07: Full day at Dhikala- Jungle walks and Tiger Exploration at Jim Corbett Park: Named after Jim Corbett, the legendary hunter-naturalist, the Corbett National Park stretches over an area of 1300 sq. Kms. in the Himalayan foot hills with open grass lands, sal and riverine forests and the beautiful life giving Ramganga River, that flows through almost its entire length. Over 50 mammals, 580 birds and 25 reptile species have been listed in Corbett, but it is most famous for the ever-elusive Tiger. The national park was chosen for project tiger of the world wild life fund. Wild life population includes elephants, the leopard and small cats, sambhar, cheetal- the beautiful spotted deer, barking deer, wild boar, sloth and Himalayan black bear and crocodiles. Overnight back to hotel
Day 08: Dhikala to Hasanpur- Morning depart to Hasanpur through Muradabad, the popular brass town of the country. Evening tea at Gajrolla and overnight at Hotel at Hasanpur.
Day 09: Hasanpur to Gannour- After having breakfast cycle to Ganaour crossing small stations/villages on the way like Rehra (21 Kms) Gauan (35 Kms) and Babrala. Lunch at your camp at Ganaour and afternoon visit to Dam on Ganges at Narora, 10 Kms from the camp. The day is with 62 Kms of cycle and 52 Kms of coach. There is no hotel at this place, so we establish a luxury camp for the expedition team here.
Day 10: Gannour to Badayun- cycle 85 Kms: Morning cycle to Badayun with the almost similar landscape, having trees on both sides of the long straight roads at both ends, villagers working in fields and small villages and shops providing tea and biscuits. Sehaswan and Khandak are places we have chosen for you on the way tea and lunch. Evening visit to two famous mosques of Badayun. Badayun is one of the biggest city of Uttar Pradesh. The life here says a lot of the population residing in this state. Overnight at hotel.
Day 11: Cycling till Fatehgarh and then transfer to Agra by coach: We cycle this day on beautiful roads which are almost silent and barren moving through places like Mainpuri and Fatehgarh. This is an incredible day as you get to now notorious stories about the places on the way. We found a person sitting on the elephant in Mainpuri who used to collect the taxes rather having a fixed office. We take coach from Fatehgarh and reach to Agra- the place of Taj.
Day 12: Rest Day in Agra- visit Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri.
Day 13: Agra to Kannauj by coach: Kannauj was the 7th century capital of Emperor Harshvardhana''s empire, which encompassed the entire region between the rivers Sutlej and Narmada. Unfortunately all traces of the past have vanished over by the passage of time but still a lot is there to observe. Kannauj is famous for its manufacturing essence used in perfumes. Walking in the streets of Kannauj is a very different experience. Overnight at hotel.
Day 14: Kannauj to Kanpur- Cycle to Kanpur for 80 Kms. Morning we start cycling from Kannauj to Kanpur and enjoy some tea and biscuits at a place called, Narayan Dham after covering 42 Kms distance on smooth roads. I recommend lunch at Rahi Hotel of UP tourism. On arrival Kanpur, check in to your hotel. This evening is free to explore the old city of Kanpur.
Day 15: Kanpur to Fatehpur- cycle 80 Kms: We do this entire stretch on cycle, as the roads are smooth and almost descending to Fatehpur. It is a part of great Indian Grand Truck Road which moves from Peshawar in Pakistan to Calcutta. While cycling we stop for tea at Aung and take lunch at hotel in Fatehpur. For the night stay, recommended accommodation is Government Inspection House where the accompanying cook will make good food by using their kitchen.
Day 16: Fatehpur to Manikpur- cycle 70 Kms: The day is full of cycling on the Ganges area, sometimes on the sandy paths and long bridges built on Ganges. Up to Saini (45 Kms) it is a nice highway and afterwards cycling on single road gives an impression of riding along Goa beaches as the path is full of sand. Reach Manikpur in the afternoon and evening is free to explore a traditional village area surrounded by different tress and fields. We camp here also as no good hotel is available.
Day 17: Manikpur to Allahabad- cycle 64 Kms: Morning at Manikpur is amazing where you watch the villagers to set the tune with their day’s routine, cows and animals get out for grazing and children rushing to the schools completely unorganized is to witness a life in any remote Indian Village. After only 02 Kms from Manikpur, the road joins to Lukhnow- Allahabad highway with the normal traffic. While cycling we can have tea at any suitable place on the way and lunch at Allahabad. Evening is free to explore Allahabad- which is an historical city of India.
Day 18: Allahabad to Mirzapur- cycle 90 Kms: Morning cycle towards Mirzapur with a stop at Triveni (The confluence of three rivers- Ganges+ Yamuna + Saraswati) to watch one of the most sacred place of India. This is also the place of Mahakumbha (the fair which comes after every 12 years and the biggest meeting place of sages from entire India). Saraswati is known as hidden river and at lot of places proves of its existence are available. After crossing Yamuna Bridge the first town on our cycling route is Naini, which is the industrial center of Allahabad. After this the traffic eases and the scenery improves. After 40 more Kms, we take a left turn and reach Sirsa. Have tea at Sirsa and packed lunch at Devi Temple, 22 Kms short of Mirzapur. Mirzapur is the carpet capital of India where you can meet many foreign industrialists leading the carpet trade. An old city with over population, narrow paths and towering buildings of old architecture, every view is a treasure for your memory that you will always cherish remembering. Overnight at hotel in Mirzapur.
Day 19: Mirzapur to Varanasi- cycle 65 Kms: After breakfast cycle to Varanasi along the River Ganges through Kachva. The road at maximum place is narrow and a very less traffic is seen on the way. After Kachva we find mango trees and sandy beach like path, which takes us to Ranitalab after a distance of 47 Kms cycling. From here we join the Varanasi Highway and the cycling experience changes suddenly. We leave the Chunar fort at the sides, which can be visited enroute. We check in to the hotel on arrival and evening is free to explore Varanasi.
Day 20: Full day at Varanasi- We spend half day to visit Sarnath, the buried Buddhist city where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. Sarnath was a renowned school of learning from 16 century BC to 12 century AD. Visit the ruins, the Stupa, the Buddhist temple and the museum. Next half days is for the sightseeing of the city visiting the Bharat Mata temple with a big relief map of India in marble, Durga temple, Tulsi Manas mandir, Banaras Hindu University which has an art gallery and the mosque of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, built on the site of an ancient Hindu temple.
Day 21: Full day at Varanasi- Early morning boat excursion on the holy river Ganges to see the bathing Ghats and cremation site. Watching people bathing and worshipping at the Ghats is one of the most extra ordinary experiences of a visit to India.
Day 22: Varanasi to Delhi: we must discuss the outcomes of the expedition at the end in Delhi.
Getting there: Your nearest international airport is Delhi where you will meet with our expedition manager and you will be escorted towards the initial point of your adventure as per the program details. After the expedition/ adventure journey, you arrive back to Delhi. After farewell ceremony, you will be driven to international airport to board flight back to your home.
Air tickets: We have our partners in almost every foreign country, so if you need any assistance in your air tickets bookings, you are always welcome to speak to us to know about our partner close to you.
Cargo Management: We have strong tie ups with the cargo management companies to get your consignments clear timely in Delhi. In maximum cases, you will only need to spend just 2 hours for getting your consignment delivery. Once you send the documents and the boxes details, we start locating them in India.
Insurance: It is a condition of joining our trips that you must be adequately insured. All persons are expected to arrange their own insurance. Polices should cover any potential risks involved in such adventure.
Our hotels and camps: We offer you best economy hotels in cities and towns and very comfortable tents with maximum possible facilities in the mountains. We provide the most luxurious camps fitted with dining areas and modern toilet facilities.
Adventure India briefing: We have excellent maps, images and movies of majority of our adventure expeditions/ journeys and sports. A short briefing in our offices is highly recommended so the team understands logistics, forecast problems and know where the solutions would be. We stress on planning, planning and planning in any adventure expedition and till now we have remained successful in all of our expeditions just because of our planning. So we need you to be an active part of it.
Rescue and helicopter evacuation: if the expeditions are well planned, rescue operations can be avoided. In the history of 14 years, we didn’t encounter any serious requirement of rescue but still we can tie up with the agencies to provide helicopter evacuation on your request and willingness to pay the charges.
Ground transportation: We provide the ground transportation comprising of best available cars/ coaches in fine roads and rough trucks in remote areas of the Indian mountains.
Refreshments & food: We offer a mixture of Vegetarian and Non vegetarian food during the trip. We have cooks who make Korean, Japanese and Continental food along with Indian food. We offer the heavy and healthy refreshments during the biking to keep your energy level fine and high.
Our guides & mechanics: We have best experienced bike guides and mechanics who assist the tour leaders and lead the groups of any size individually.
Ground Support system: We have fantastic ground support system developed in collaboration with the local people of nearest villages, army camps, porters and local guides. We have re discovered the use of traditional communication system also along with the satellite phones to stay in touch with the groups at maximum possible.
Our bikes can be hired: We supply best mountain bikes and Royal Enfield Motorcycles from our retail shop on hire. You can ask for any number of bikes on reasonable rates.
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