Bikers at Nandi Hills
| Picture Credit score: Particular Association
Bengaluru’s ‘bicycle mayor’ Sathya Sankaran reckons the bicycling group right here isn’t any much less vibrant than those in different cities. As a pastime, biking has been fast-growing in Bengaluru particularly for the reason that pandemic. When you just lately began biking and are questioning the place to trip, we obtained you lined. We requested Bengaluru’s knowledgeable bikers to counsel their favorite locations in and across the metropolis.
Hessarghatta Highway
The Hessarghatta Highway within the North-West of Bengaluru is one among my go-to routes for driving. A few times a month, on a Saturday or Sunday, I begin from Sanjaynagar at about 6am – this manner, you possibly can escape the solar and the site visitors. Relying on the place you wish to go, the space can vary from 60 km to 100 km. If you’re doing a 60 km trip, you possibly can return by 10-10:30am. The perfect factor about this highway is that it results in some stunning water our bodies just like the Madhure Lake and the Hessarghatta Lake. These are glorious vacation spot for birders. I generally go there with my digital camera to {photograph} migratory birds. This route additionally has many tree-lined again roads that take you to some quiet fields and farms. You have got small-but-good eateries alongside the way in which. Having ridden alongside Hessarghatta for the final 10years, it additionally made me realise how shortly the water our bodies have shrunk and the town has sprawled. If city planning continues to be poor, we won’t have these locations within the subsequent 5 to 10 years.
Sathya Sankaran, the ‘bicycle mayor’ of Bengaluru, is part of BYCS, a Dutch social enterprise that promotes biking. When you have any cycling-related queries, you possibly can attain out to him by way of Twitter @bicyclemayorblr
Antara Gange Hills
Nandi Hills could be among the many favorite locations of 99 % of the cyclists right here, together with me. For a similar cause, nonetheless, Nandi Hills has began to get crowded after a degree. So, about six years in the past, my buddies and I made a decision to search for routes close to Kolar. We stumbled upon Antara Gange Hills. We went there for the primary time on New Yr’s Day in 2016. Ever since, it has grow to be a ritual: We go there on the primary day of yearly. Antara Gange is shorter than Nandi Hills however provides an outstanding vista. It’s a good spot for trekkers and cyclists. You may also try the Antara Gange temple there. We often begin from the Vishnu Bhavan restaurant in Hoskote early morning on weekends and return by 10 am or 11 am. The Chennai freeway we take is fairly good, making certain a clean trip. When you attain the hill, nonetheless, it will get a bit steep.
Venkateswara Rao aka Bikey Venky is a biking coach and race organiser. You’ll be able to attain out to him by way of his Instagram web page @bikeyvenky
Nandi Hills
The route we often take today is the Airport Highway simply by the advantage of comfort. From Central Bangalore, if you wish to go as much as the toll gate and return, you get a very good 50-60 km trip. It’s a straight, clean highway. You have got loads of eateries alongside the way in which, if you wish to seize a chew or use the restroom. We additionally transcend the toll gate and head for Nandi Hills. The tree-lined highway with a hill-view is gorgeous to trip on. On the weekends, many individuals do the ‘Nandi Darshan’ when going uphill. Whereas returning, they’ll have breakfast at Nandi Upachar. Of late, it has grow to be a bit too crowded. So, now we go there on weekdays largely. There are additionally many backroads that lead you to some fascinating spots. Throughout one among our explorations, we discovered a quaint, picturesque railway station known as Nandi Halt. So, if you wish to do a little bit of off-roading, you may make a detour to the railway station and spend a while there.
Vidya Chandran runs an all-women biking membership known as SpokesWomen. You will get in contact together with her by way of Instagram @spokes_women
Lake hopping
As somebody who has been curating bicycle rides in and away from Bengaluru, it’s onerous for me to select one vacation spot. Among the many rides we provide inside Bangalore at my enterprise, Pedal In Tandem, one among my favourites is the Lake Hopping bundle. You get to trip throughout a dozen lakes and reservoirs set in opposition to a backdrop of rolling hills on the fringes of the Bannerghatta Nationwide Park and the Ragihalli State Forest. Other than having fun with these scenic water our bodies, you can too get a glimpse of rural and semi-rural life as you go by some villages. You trip on grime roads flanked by fields, orchards, and plantations. You additionally get to look at flocks of birds hang around on grasslands and backwaters. Relying in your problem, you possibly can go for a 25 km or a 40 km route. We often begin from the MTR at Kanakapura Highway at 6 am and finish at 10 or 11 am.
Dheeraj Subramanian is the founding father of Pedal In Tandem, which provides curated bicycle excursions and equipment. You’ll be able to try the Lake Hopping and different tour packages at pedalintandem.com or contact +918277580808
Bannerghatta-Kanakapura Highway
The highway that goes from Bannerghatta to Kanakapura is nice for cyclists due to its greenery, rolling terrain, and extra importantly, low site visitors. There are usually not too many settlements or buildings alongside the way in which. As a gaggle, we have a look at driving 50 km, backward and forward. It takes about three hours. And, early mornings are one of the best time to cycle in Bangalore. Often, we begin and finish at Jayanagar. One other good route for driving could be in the direction of the west, the place you will have the Bangalore College – in the event you transcend, you’re going to get to the Large Banyan Tree. That is a few 60-km loop, which can take about three to three-and-a-half hours. The primary eight or 9 kilometers have a little bit of site visitors however after that, it will get very nice. You’ll be able to even spot a couple of peacocks alongside the way in which. As a gaggle, till the pandemic, we used to trip each Sunday to find new routes. We’re planning to restart that quickly.
Rohan Kini is the founding father of BumsOnTheSaddle, a premium bicycle and bike equipment model in Bengaluru. To hitch his rides, you possibly can contact