History, culture and wildlife adventure blend in abundantly and seamlessly on a South India Cycling Tour through the three states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
South India stands out as a travel destination of interest primarily on account of its comingling geographies. The Deccan Plateau spans the heartland of peninsular India at heights varying from 450 meters to 800 meters. The Western Ghats, or the Sahyadri Mountain Range, nudges it from the western perimeter and the Eastern Ghats poke it from the eastern flank, thereby creating a unique landscape that ranges from high flatlands to lush green mountains, verdant vales, tea estates, coconut groves, paddy fields, coastal backwaters, and pristine beaches overlooking the Arabian Sea.
On this collage of varying topographies, dab a few fines and captivating brush strokes of the ancient Dravidian culture, its customs, religious practices, its temples, its monuments, their stunning architecture, and what you get is an incredible setting for an Indian biking adventure. Some of the best Indian tourist hotspots share the pride of place with some of the remotest biking trials of South India on this tour. There are beaten tracks and rarely-explored routes that wind through the cities, towns and villages to give you an up-close look into the lives of the locals.
Much depends on how you choose to go about your South India Cycling Holiday. Karnataka’s capital Bengaluru is the right place to start. Travellers flying in from abroad or India can land in and take a day’s rest before driving down to Mysuru, the culture capital of Karnataka.
Those who are not well acquainted with South Indian culture may feel thrown in at the deep end while touring the city’s magnificent Mysore Palace, which has had a checkered history of multiple reconstructions after ravages of wars, fire and time. The oldest structure dated back to the 14th century, but none of it remains now. The present structure was built at the turn of the twentieth century and boasts a hybrid architectural influence of Hindu, Mughal, Rajput and Gothic styles. The splendour of the palace’s façade, its interiors, its exquisite tile-work and geometric designs can keep you hooked for hours on end. Evenings in Mysuru are best reserved for one of its bustling bazaars for souvenir shopping followed by a sumptuous dinner of a Mysuru delicacy.
The good thing about this sightseeing tour of Mysore palace is that it helps you get the tourist frenzy out of the way. You put your mind on biking, which begins with a breezy 20-km ride to the town of Srirangapatna to the north of Mysuru.
Srirangapatna is a small island surrounded by the river Cauvery but well connected by road through a bridge. Its biggest attraction is the eponymous Ranganathaswamy Temple, but if you are not religiously inclined there’s still a lot to keep you interested. Because of its geographical location (natural defence provided by the river), Srirangapatna was the capital city of Mysore under the kings Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. It is inside a fort here the latter died in the battle against the Brits in 1799. There’s a lot of history to take in during this leg of South India cycling adventure.
After these back-to-back jaunts into Karnataka’s historical legacy, it’s best to head to the woods of Bandipur National Park, a premier tiger reserve, and Mudumalai National Park, a hotspot of rich diversity of wildlife. Ideally, a biker must spend at least a day each at these parks. Nature lovers, wildlife photographers, birdwatchers and vacationers – all will cherish the safaris, the long walks, and the bike rides in these pristine woods.
Speaking of biking challenges, the most trying one of South India cycling trip comes on the way to Ooty, a hill station in Tamil Nadu. The 1251-meter ascent from Bandipur to Ootyhas 36 hairpin bends that can knock the breath out of many an earnest cyclist, but that is not to say the ride is undoable. Seasoned bikers often display their grit and pedal power on this uphill stretch and are in return rewarded with the stunning views of the Nilgiri Hills.
A day’s rest at the cooler altitude of Ooty(2240 meters) is a refreshing break from the heat of the plains down below. It also primes you for the downhill trip towards Guruvayur in Kerala.
The third state of South India Cycling Holiday Tour, Kerala is a land that bewitches you with its natural beauty, its religious plurality, and the Kerala cycling trails that wind through forests, tea gardens, spice plantations, coconut groves, backwaters and beaches. Guruvayur, the first pitstop in Kerala, is renowned for Guruvayur Shri Krishna Temple, which attracts thousands of Hindu devotees every day because it is believed that the temple houses one of the oldest idols of Lord Krishna. Covid curbs have reduced their number drastically, but a reverential air still pervades this holy town.
Guruvayur is situated close to the coast. From here-on, the biking route of Kerala cycling adventure runs parallel to the Arabian Sea. The journey from Guruvayur to Fort Kochi is a bit long (about 90km), so it’s best to start early in the morning and enjoy the cool breeze coming in from the sea. The road is metalled and easy to cycle on. Making good time along the route, one usually arrives in Fort Kochi by evening, only to be enchanted by the intermingling of multiple cultures in this heritage town.
Fort Kochi is a crucible of Portuguese, Dutch, British, Jewish, Chinese and Indian cultures. Portuguese explorer and seafarer Vasco Da Gama, who first found out the sea route to India, was once buried at St. Francis Church in Fort Kochi until his remains were exhumed and carried off to Portugal. Historical documents dating back to 600 CE reveal that the town had a population comprising of Hindus, Jews and Christians. In the 17th century, it came under Dutch rule and in the 19th century the Brits took over. To this day, architectural influences of these colonial rules abound in Fort Kochi. One of the biggest tourist attractions of Fort Kochi is the Chinese Nets on the shore. Any earnest traveller must reserve a whole day, if not two, to explore these wonders of Kerala in Fort Kochi.
The final leg of South India biking tour becomes a trip of sensory pleasures. Alleppey, the next destination, is a sandy strip of land with an intricate network of lakes, lagoons and freshwater rivers that create the famed Kerala backwaters. An overnight and a day’s stay in a houseboat in Alleppey is highly recommended for a relaxing and rejuvenating experience of the scenic backwaters. Just a 30-km ride away is Marari Beach, a pristine sand haven for beach buffs.
Rated as one of the world’s top five Hammock Beaches by National Geographic, Marari Beach caps the South India Cycling Vacation on a high note. The endless blue ocean and the azure sky stretch on for as far as the eye sees. The soft golden sand slips out from between the fingers. All good things come to an end. So does this marvellous biking expedition of South India.
