Info Resources for India
I will have similar posts for every country I plan to visit. It will be a repository of useful links, itineraries, various touring forum comments, recommended places to stay, recent trip reports, etc… This way, it’ll be easy to retrieve when needed on route, instead of carrying bunch of paper copies with me;)… The names below are used as on Lonely Planet - Thorn Tree - On Your Bike forum, if available. Again, helpful when looking for comments later. Btw, I’m there too, as ‘rich007′;) Actually, most information has been lifted from comments on the forum, posted by fellow enthusiastic independent bike travelers:
- CYCLING THE WORLD’S HIGHEST ROADS - Anything there is needed to know about Manali - Leh Highway, from a biker perspective. Includes also Khardung La info. Plus, very detailed mileage and facilities info enroute.
- CYCLING IN THE INDIAN HIMALAYA - Travelouge by ‘billweir’ through the Northern India in 2002. Very nice pictures…
- Mountain Biking In Himachal Pradesh - Home of the MTB Himachal annual race, first ran in Oct. 2005. Great Photos and good ideas on bike routes around Shimla.
- Biking the Indian Himalayas - Written by Laura, a.k.a. ‘pocketsproket’. Another great source of info on Ladakh, Spiti, Lahaul and Kinnaur bike trips. She has been criss-crossing the whole Himalayan region by bike for the past two years, writing a book/travel guide. I posted a link to her website here.
- Cycling in Lahaul, Spiti & Kinnaur - Introduction - Trip in Sept./Oct. 2003. A very good map, lots of useful route info and excellent pictures…
- Rolf Gibbs: Travels in India - Not by a cyclist but love his travel stories. Plus, he has a great info (places to stay) and pics on Rishikesh, Hardiwar, Varanasi and Agra, all places I’m planning to pass through in December. BTW, parts of it he did on a motorbike, so there is a connection;)))
- Making the Journey to India - General info on how to get around in New Delhi, a bit dated though (2004)…
- IndiaMike.com - Probably the most up-to-date travel info and news on India.
- Lonely Planet - Thorn Tree - Asia-Indian Subcontinent - Another travel forum which I frequently scan. Ask nicely and you’ll get plenty of responses. It includes Nepal and Pakistan too…
- Out There Biking - Awesome source of the most complete information on cycling in the North of India. It is an adventure cycling outfitter, ran by ‘Cass Gilbert’ & Cara Coolbaugh. Cass also frequents the LP bike forums, always offering excellent advice, for free;)))) Also, I have posted a link to Cass’ stunning PBase photo gallery from their treks.
I’m sure there will be more…
