South India West Coast Cycling Tour

Detailed: Our guide will pick you from Goa International Airport. We will drive for roughly 90 mins through the village roads with a view of Portuguese styled houses, Churches, Mangroves, Coconut and Cashew trees, restaurants serving Goan Fish Thali and favorite beverage - the Feni brewed from the juicy Cashew fruit. We drive along the silent beaches of Varca & Cavelossim to reach the tranquil beach in South Goa. Here we spend overnight in a cozy wood cottage nestled in palm groves adjacent to the pristine beach. After you settle down, the bike fitting is scheduled for the afternoon. Rest of the day, you can relax by the beach and prepare for the West Coast Ride ahead.

Detailed: Crossing the Goa state border, we will transfer you to Karwar in Karnataka which will take an hour and a half. The drive will be through the hilly undulating terrain with sparse forest and woody patches. En route, you can also view the sea shaking hands with the river Kali. We will cross the river on a Ferry along with the locals. From here, we start cycling towards our first destination - Gokarna. Further, we ride on the backcountry roads, mostly flat terrain with the view of fishing harbors, Coconut, Cashew, and Mango Tree groves along the western coast. We will finish today’s ride at a scenic nature resort in Gokarna. Being a prime pilgrim center in South India, Gokarna is famous for the 4th century CE Sri Mahabaleshwara Swami Temple. According to legend, the Atma Linga – the Soul of Lord Shiva is worshipped here. Hence, it is believed that the Mahabaleshwara temple is one of seven temples to be visited for attaining Moksha. In the evening, you will be visiting tranquil Ohm Beach for a sunset walk followed by a special dinner at the beachside restaurant.

Detailed: Today, we will start our bike ride Southwards, along the coastal road with the Arabian Sea in the west. We will pass through the fishermen villages of Honnavar and Manki with its off the grid beaches and small temples. The terrain is a combination of flat and undulating back roads. En route, we will visit the majestic Murudheshwar Temple standing 20 stories tall in the coastal village of Bhatkala. A mechanical lift will take you to the roof of the temple. From here, you can see the gigantic statue of Lord Shiva sitting gracefully with blessing mudra and the vast sea in the backdrop. We will wind up the ride for the day in nature's lap at a tranquil eco-resort. The unique accommodation will take away your senses with lush greenery around and its oldtime comfy feel. Here, we can go for a short trek in the nearby forest area to see endemic birds and the scenic Kosalli waterfall (if time permits).

Detailed: Today, we ride further to the south along the west coast on the rustic roads through the endless coconut palm groves. We will be riding along the scenic Maravante Village close to the Arabian Sea. With a few climbs, the terrain will be mostly flat. We will reach Udupi town by noon and a visit to holy Sri Krishna temple is scheduled in the afternoon. The temple is conjoined with an Aashram - a place for living and worship. Food is being prepared in the temple kitchen using local ingredients and distributed to an approx. Twenty Thousand devotees as Prasadam - the Sacred Food every day. Janmashtami festival, the birthday of Lord Sri Krishna and many other festivals like Navaratri, Deepavali are celebrated here with great pomp and glory every year. Post Temple visit, we will ride to Malpe town, the hub of Mogaveera Fishing Community. Here, we will go for a stroll on the white sandy beaches with coconut palms striking a rustic pose against the clear blue sky.

Detailed: Today, we exit the state of Karnataka, the sentinel of the Konkan coast. We will ride through the undulating roads towards the Malabar Coast. In India, the culture, traditions and cuisines change with each village. South India is no exception to this cultural diversity. You will be able to notice the cultural difference as you reach Kanjangad in Kasaragod district. Kasaragod is predominantly known as the land of forts in Kerala. We will be visiting the historic forts, the Bekal and the Kumbala built by the ancient rulers. These forts were conquered many times, yet they stand undestroyed as a testimony of time in front of you. Presently, the Bekal Fort is being maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. The view of the forts towering adjacent to the sea coast is majestic as well as a never miss sight along the South Western seaboard of India. Don't forget to click a smiling selfie with the locals here.

Detailed: Free Day at Kanjangad can be spent relaxing in the sea-facing cottage at the resort, with the serene beach close by. If your tour is during the right time of the year, we will be visiting the traditional family temples nearby to witness the age-old temple ritual performance - Theyyam. The festive season starts from the end of October and lasts for a few months depending on each temple. It’s a great feat for culture lovers to witness this bizarre and unique temple ritual in all its original colours. There are more than 400 types of Theyyam out of which as many as hundreds are highly significant. It is believed that the performer embodies the spirit of ancestors or the family god/goddess and possesses special powers to see into the future and give blessings. If you are not travelling during the festive period and miss this opportunity, we will be visiting, a breeding centre for the endangered Olive Ridley turtles in Thaikadapuram beach. Here, this rare species crawl to the shore for laying eggs and mass breeding, best witnessed after the monsoon months from September to January

Detailed: Today, we will ride along the scenic shores of Northern Kerala on mostly flat terrain with the view of villages, small temples, and coconut groves. The ride will pass through main towns of Nileshwar, Payyanur and Pazhayangadi crossing numerous bridges across the west-flowing rivers to reach Kannur. We will be visiting a traditional weaving industry in here. You can witness beautiful clothing being made by the master weavers using the generations-old handloom. After the visit, you will reach the cosy accommodation with a private beach at Thalassery. It’s time to taste the exotic North Keralan seafood cuisines prepared from the fresh catch for lunch. Evening, we can go out for the local visits - to see youngsters play cricket or check out the cake shop nearby or a casual walk through the market. During the festive season, we can also visit specific temples around here to witness more Theyyam performances as well.

Detailed: Today, we ride through the flat coastal roads to Kozhikode, erstwhile Calicut. It was a major seaport during ancient times under the rule of sea warriors – The Zamorins. The port has served as a trade centre for spices and other local commodities with the western world and the Chinese. This land is also known for its traditional Vadakan Pattukal - Northern Ballads singing the stories of epic heroes and deities. Riding past trade towns of Mahe, Vatakara, and Koyilandy, you will reach the famous Kappad beach. Here the great explorer, Vasco da Gama first landed in the year 1498. Today, the place is progressing as a futuristic IT Hub in itself. Food enthusiasts should never miss the famous local dishes here. Kozhikode Biriyani and Halwa are few dishes to savour and witness how it’s being prepared. We will wind up the ride at a comfy beach hotel to relax for the rest of the day.

Detailed: Today, we ride further southwards to the cultural district of Kerala - Thrissur. We will cross the ancient port town of Beypore and significant rivers like Chaliyar and Bhratapuzha, traversing on the flat village roads. Thrissur is well known for the Pooram festival in the Vadakkunnathan Temple. It is one of the biggest temple festivals in Kerala and takes place during the month of May every year. The festival showcases more than hundreds of decorated elephants with a huge gathering of people and visitors. Trissur is again famous for its food joints where you can try out the delightful and special local dishes. Afternoon, it’s time to visit the the Anakottai - Elephant fort (Punnathurkotta). Once was a palace of the local ruler, it is now being used to house and nurture temple elephants. This unique facility in 11 acres of land has around 50 – 60 elephants dedicated to the famous Guruvayur Mahavishnu Temple.

Detailed: Today, we will progress our ride to the fisherman village of Cherai through the flat coastal roads. You will be visiting the Kodungallur Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple en route. Goddess Bhadrakali - one of the fiercest forms of Goddess Shakti is worshipped here. This ancient temple is also the prime Bhadrakali Temple in Kerala. After the temple visit, we will ride to the excavated sites with traces of the 1st century port of Muziris, believed to be washed off during a deluge. This urban port was once the gateway to India for the Arabs, Chinese, Jews, Romans, Portuguese and the Dutch. Further, you will be riding past numerous wetlands with its vast fish farms, a key occupation of natives. The quaint village of Cherai awaits you with its myriad colours of sunset striking against the ocean and the wetlands. You can also book a soothing Ayurveda massage here at the beach resort.

Detailed: It’s the time to say Adieu, with fond memories of the South India West Coast Ride. We will be happy to drop you at the Cochin International Airport if this is as per your schedule