Tripping on nature: An adventure trip to Madhya Pradesh with 'Riders in the Wild'

Bike route in Tamia

Say bike tour, think Ladakh? Moustache Escapes is here to change that perception with their first-ever large-scale biking event in central India. In association with Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, the platform will offer the biking community a distinguished bike tour called Riders In The Wild, where instead of riding the mountains and chasing those rewarding sunset views from vantage points, riders will get the chance to explore new terrain - the name gives it away - the wild.

Biking route in Pench

The travel company that hails from Jaipur began its operations in 2018 as a backpacker's hostel in Delhi. The route for this event will have riders cruising 1,400 km over seven days through four national parks, namely Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench and Satpura, with stopovers at other serene locations such as Moustache Panarpani Retreat on the way. Kickstarting at Khajuraho on September 21, the event will culminate at Minto Hall at Bhopal on September 27. Deepak Agarwal, director, Moustache Escapes, tells us, "With this event, we want to promote the culture of biking outside of Ladakh. Many parts of India have scenic routes perfect for biking tours, particularly Madhya Pradesh, as it offers the greatest crossroad between wilderness and adventure." The route, Agarwal notes, won't be as rocky as typical mountainous rides, and will be supervised by a team of experts from the get-go and throughout the journey. This is a BYOB - Bring Your Own Bike event; where the platform will offer all other amenities such as stay, meals and mechanical assistance during the event. The ride is open to all including those who haven't been on bike rides before, with just one criterion, that participants must know how to ride a bike.

Riders on a bike trip in Indore

This event isn't all ride and no play. When not on the road, riders will have the opportunity to explore the locations at which the group halts. The director shares that the event includes cultural programmes and fun activities such as kayaking in the Tawa Reservoir, local sightseeing, short treks to explore nature, and activities to see and learn more about the ancient architecture at various sites. The ride will include planned safaris, boat rides, and nature walks so that participants can familiarise themselves with the biodiversity of the region.

Deepak Agarwal

ON September 21 to 27
MEETING POINT Khajuraho
LOG ON TO: moustachescapes.com
CALL 8929100705
COST Rs 5,000 onwards