North or South from Mumbai? - CycleBlaze

Bicycle Travel Forum

North or South from Mumbai?

Andy Buchan

I have a flight booked into Mumbai in early January and another back home in early February.   With my Thorn Sherpa.  And I have to decide whether to ride North or South from Mumbai.

My initial plan was to route North along the coast to Khambhat, Westwards towards the Kutch and back around the coast to Bhavnagar where I can get a ferry to Surat and a train South to Mumbai.  This is all new territory to me and I hope I can find quiet roads and stay away from the large towns.

Has anyone cycled Northwards from Mumbai?  Any advice welcome.

The alternative is to ride Southwards down the coast towards Goa through an area that I know is great to cycle in as I rode there last year.   With some detours further inland.  One reason this area is so good is that there is no major coastal road and traffic in most places is light…….but while there will still be a lot to see I did ride that way last year.

 

Reply    Link    Flag
2 weeks ago
Rachel and Patrick HugensTo Andy Buchan

Hi Andy 

We cycled from Kochi to Mumbai then went inland and up to Udaipur and Agra.

India Map route

Reply    Link    Flag
2 weeks ago
Andy BuchanTo Rachel and Patrick Hugens

I found your Journal and can totally understand taking a lift up the Western Ghats at Lonavla.   Forty years ago I taught hang gliding a little further along that road at Kamshet and frequently had to drive up from Bombay.   The old secondhand jeep we had would not make the climb in one go and half way up it always had to rest to cool off.  The advice was to keep a watch on the parked vehicle as folklore said that sump plugs were sometimes loosened to give garages further along the road more work…..

Thanks for the map, and a great Journal you wrote.

Reply    Link    Flag
2 weeks ago
Rachel and Patrick HugensTo Andy Buchan

Hi Andy,

That must have been a great experience teaching hang gliding!

Happy Travels!

Reply    Link    Flag
2 weeks ago
Andy BuchanTo Rachel and Patrick Hugens

After some thought I have decided to head South from Mumbai - by 16 hour overnight train - to Hubbulli, then cycle about 100 miles further East to Hampi to see the temples and old city there.  From there I will cycle back to Mumbai, across the Western Ghats and along my favourite coastline.  I guess about 1000 miles?

Gujarat will have to wait, maybe another year.  India has so many places to see.

 

Reply    Link    Flag
1 week ago
Rachel and Patrick HugensTo Andy Buchan

That will be a great ride...looking forward to your journal!

Reply    Link    Flag
1 week ago