Cycling or motor biking in the Himalayas in India is one of the most challenging and physically demanding adventure sports you have ever indulged in. It is not for the faint hearted, and definitely not for those who have not been keeping in shape. For even the fittest have trouble in lugging their bikes up the hill, should they be cycling, or have aching backs with the long drives on their motor bikes. But if you are one of the tough Harley Davidson role model types, then this adventure activity is just the one for you!

There is no better way to get a feel of the local culture of a place than by actually biking through it, and stopping at the villages and towns to get a closer look at the town and village way of life. Mountain biking in the Himalayas is one of the most adventure filled and novel ways of combining travel with experiencing the local flavor and culture of a place. It keeps you in contact with the local people in the villages and market place. Add to this the astounding mountain beauty and indescribably beautiful Himalayan locales that you'll be passing through, and you have the perfect adventure holiday that you will remember throughout your life.

The ever changing landscapes and increasing altitude makes it an out of the world experience. Some of the best places for mountain biking in India are stretches from Jammu and Kashmir to Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, and then through Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Each of these states abounds in immense verdant natural beauty and a ride through them couldn't but be one of tremendous pleasure. 

The best part of cycling in the Himalayas is that, there are dozens of less frequented routes in the mountains where travelling by cycle is an entirely joyful experience. 

Popular Biking Routes of Himalayas

Himalayas offers plenty of picturesque less frequented routes in the mountains. Tarai forests along the foothills of Nainital and the hill state of Himachal Pradesh have some really lovely stretches, where traveling by cycle is an easy and joyful experience. These stretches do not unduly tax your physical capabilities as well as offer some extremely attractive areas for the mountain cycling adventurers. The easy pace of the ride, the pollution less environs, the lightly trafficked roads and the ride through the luscious greens and the wooden valleys promises an unforgettable adventure holiday in Himalayas

Ladak 
The Himalayas provide a plethora of choices that you can select from, but the foremost destination to start off any biking trip is Ladakh, the cold desert of India. The biking adventure list of the Indian Himalayan region include from light and introductory cycling to the ultimate challenge of travelling age-old trade routes winding along the mountain ranges toward higher Himalayas. 

Terai Region of Uttaranchal
One can make a beginning in an area, which does not initially require much exertion. The Terai forests along the foothills of Nainital give one an introduction to the pleasures of cycling and yet do not unduly tax your physical capabilities. One can start from Thakurdwara and cycle on to Ramnagar on the outskirts of Corbett Park. 

Himachal Pradesh to Uttaranchal
Himachal Pradesh offers some extremely attractive areas for the lover of mountain cycling. One can start from Kumarhatti on the Shimla-Kalka road. A link road runs through a forest of pine, rising and falling till you reach Sarahan a small Tehsil town. From Sarahan, the road drops steeply to Nahan and you race down through heavily wooded dark forests on a road, which is remarkably free of traffic. On the way, you can come across valleys, barrage and through fertile fields of the Doon valley set against the backdrop of the sadly denuded lower reaches of the Garhwal Mountains.