Cycling in Rajasthan is more than just a biking expedition. It’s a foray into an intriguing world where history and modernity meet at the crossroads of new discoveries.
Many of these discoveries await a traveller who chooses to explore Rajasthan at ease, without rushing from one tourist hotspot to another but taking one’s time to linger on the beauties that lurk in between. A Rajasthan cycling tour is meant for just such a traveler. While it touches all the tourist attractions of Rajasthan, the tour goes deeper into the rural recesses of this royal state and reveals the wonders that the jet-setting globetrotters tend to pass by.
First and foremost, what makes Rajasthan a great Indian holiday destination is its diverse geography. Largest state of India in terms of area, Rajasthan is sliced diagonally in two by the ancient Aravalli mountain range. The hills block the monsoon winds coming from the south to render half the state fertile and half desert. Into this geographical contrast, throw in a network of interconnected lakes in the southern parts of Rajasthan and you get the perfect setting for an exciting Indian biking holiday.
This agglomeration of lakes in the city of Udaipur is an excellent start-out point for a Rajasthan biking tour. Popularly called ‘Venice of The East’, Udaipur has a picturesque setting of royal palaces built right in the middle of large lakes. Besides great architectural feats, these palaces teem with history and heritage that take you centuries back to the time of valiant kings, gorgeous queens, chivalrous princes and pretty princesses. Legends and lore about kingly romances, courtships and wars abound in these parts.The sprawling 400-year-old City Palace on the banks of Lake Pichola is worth exploring the whole day. Bikers more interested in adventure can hit the road to the Pipliya hills on the outskirts of Udaipur. It’s quite a view to see the palaces and lakes surrounded by hills from the vantage of Pipliya. Lower down, a biking tour of Udaipur can take up a whole day, given the many splendours worth exploring.
The invigorating Udaipur jaunt is followed by a long ride to Kumbhalgarh, one of the top heritage sites of Rajasthan. Ideally, it’s best to start early in the morning, cover about 30 km by cab to avoid traffic, and then mount the saddle for a ride through the small towns of Rajasthan. The landscape is dotted with sporadic hillocks and biking may be tough at some stretches, but never as tough as the last few miles to the Kumbhalgarh Fort. Built in the 15th century on top of a hill to keep the invaders at bay and have a bird’s eye view of the land for miles and miles, Kumbhalgarh Fort is today one of the popular tourist destinations of Rajasthan. The fort complex has scores of temples and a perimeter wall that runs as long as 36 km.
Bikers riding up from Udaipur usually make it to Kumbhalgarh by late afternoon or evening and reserve the whole of next day for exploring the fort, including the palace right on the summit of the hill.
Things keep on getting more interesting on the Rajasthan cycling trip as you push deeper into the countryside in the days that follow. Some of the villages you visit are rarely visited by outsiders. So, what you get during your visit is an untrammeled look at the local lives in rural Rajasthan. In the village of Korta, for instance, you come upon the people of the ‘Rabari’ sect. Men of this sect are camel herders who wander off to distant places to look for greener pastures. Women wear black headscarves and heavy brass earrings. Some of them may be the lithesome Kalbeliya dancers who imitate the sinuous movements of a snake.
If the massive fort complex doesn’t impress you, wait till the next day’s ride of the Rajasthan cycling adventure to the town of Ranakpur, which is home to one of the most beautiful temples of Jainism. Dedicated to Lord Rishabha, also called Lord Adinatha, the Ranakpur Jain Temple is a beautiful marble structure with the finest stonemasonry you are likely to see in these parts. The temple boasts elaborate marble carvings on the ceiling, walls, pillars, apses and friezes. Among the most intriguing is a marble carving of 1008 snake-heads in which you can’t find any tail-end, and a ceiling designed in a concentric geometric pattern to depict the complex Jain cosmology. There is also a carving of Kalpavriksha (a wish-granting tree) under which people stand to make a wish. Art lovers, culture buffs and aesthetes will cherish every moment spent in the Ranakpur Jain Temple.
Likewise, the village of Bhenswara, which is situated in the lap of the Aravalli range on the northern bank of the Jawai river, offers a glimpse into the bucolic idyll of rural Rajasthan. Speaking of location, the village of Bhadrajun is nestled in a valley surrounded on three sides by the Aravalli hills. Legend from the Mahabharata has it that Bhadrajun made for a perfect hiding place for Lord Krishna’s sister Subhadra and the Pandava archer Arjun after they eloped from Dwarka. The biking tour of rural Rajasthan is rich with many such folklores, if you have a yen for suchtales.
Leaving rural Rajasthan behind, you emerge in an urban landscape full of characteristic Indian chaos and clutter that surrounds unexpected beauties of historical and cultural heritage. Two such cities in Rajasthan are those of Jodhpur and Jaipur. Though alike at first glance, the two cities are very different if you look well and deep enough. The majestic Mehrangarh Fort, a 15th century fortress that sits upon a hill overlooking Jodhpur, is a living testimony to the war-ravaged history of Rajasthan. The splendid Amer Fort in Jaipur is a repository of royal opulence of the valiant Rajput kings. Equally breath-taking is the Hawa Mahal (palace of winds) which has a unique façade consisting of 953 windows laid out in a honeycomb design. Royal ladies of yore used to watch festivities in the city through these windows without themselves being seen. Jodhpur and Jaipur are counted among the best tourist hotspots of Rajasthan, and each one deserves at least a day, if not more.
The final leg of Rajasthan biking trip reserves a bit of wildlife adventure in the famous Ranthambore National Park, where we go on safaris to look for exotic wildlife, not least of which is the Bengal Tiger. When accompanied with a local guide, you stand a good chance to see the big cat. Even if you don’t, the biking tour of Rajasthan has a pleasant surprise saved for last.
The surprise is the sightseeing tour of Taj Mahal in Agra, in the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh. This 17th century monument was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his late beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. One of the modern wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal is a testimony to the sublime art and architecture of the Mughal empire. A daylong visit to the Taj Mahal is easily the best way to sum up a Rajasthan cycling holiday.
It’s a holiday on which you encounter local history, customs, language, music, art and religion intermingled in day-to-day life of the people. It’s a holiday that takes you back in time and makes you appreciate the history filled with remarkable characters. The past comes alive to embellish the present on a cycling tour of Rajasthan. The sands of time slip between the fingers, yet every moment feels precious.
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