7 Most Adventurous Cycling Routes in South India

India is the land of thrill and adventure. There's something special for everybody in this country. What could be better than taking a country ride when you're travelling on a bike from one place to another?

It's time to get your gears tuned, adrenaline pumped and bikes set because we're giving you the best destinations in South India for a wild cycling vacation:

Iruppu to Ooty is an epitome destination for a two-day weekend ride starting from the stunning Iruppu rainfed waterfalls and the adjacent national park, where you can enjoy the best views of the Nilgiris forests in Ooty. Iruppu Falls is one of South India's best tourist destinations, Coorg's best place and Karnataka's famous trekking site for a plethora of gems the site has in its shop. Iruppu Falls is also known as the Lakshmana Tirtha Falls since it originates under the same name as the River Cauvery tributary. Nestled among the hills of Nilgiri, Ooty, also known as Udagamandalam, is a Tamil Nadu hill-station. Ooty is the ideal respite for everyone, filled with tea gardens, serene waterfalls, winding country lanes and charming colonial architecture.

This route will give you an opportunity to see the beauty of south India's tea gardens. You can come across hill stations, sandalwood forests and beautiful scenery along these Tea Paths. The 220 km labelled itinerary follows the best cycling route from Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Starting from Munnar, the cycling expedition will go through hidden hamlets like Madupetty, Marayoor, Amarvathy and finish in Tamil Nadu at Annamalai Hills. In just four days the cycling trail will give cyclists the best of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

One of India's easiest cycling paths, this stretch that connects Chennai to Pondicherry is renowned for its views and seaside sights. The cycling expedition starts from Chennai, passes through Muttukadu, Mahabalipuram, Kalpakkam and ends at Pondicherry, the former French territory. The trail takes about 2-4 days to complete and covers a distance of 155 km. Open roads with sparkling beaches and hilly roads make this a dream journey. One can schedule this trail during the November to February winter months.

It is an early morning trip along the coast of Kochi with glimpses of unevenly scattered backwaters that follow you all the way along. This beach and backwater cycling begins at Fort Cochin from where you exit the busy city-roads and ride along the south-facing beach path. The road passes through rural and fishing villages. Cycling through small villages of fishermen and lush coconut trees, we enter one peaceful end of the backwaters. As you ride along the backwaters, the sight of the lone duck farmer will certainly bring a smile to your face and lightness to your hearts.

Coorg to Munnar is a moderate cycling route of 7 days, where you cycle along the aromatized plantations in the Nilgiris. In the world of cycling Munnar in Kerala is great for beginners but is frequented by riders of all kinds. The amazing natural scenery along the path and the stunning tea estates make it a great trail for travel. Besides the natural ones, there are also a number of man-made trails which take the ride more adventurous and enjoyable. This rural area provides some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and goes hand in hand with winding green paths, forests and hills.

This daunting trek will take you on a roller coaster trip because in 2 days it has so much to offer. Mysore-Bandipur National Park-Masinagudi-Ooty trail is about 136 km long with steep tortuous roads with more than 30 hairpin curves and passes through the forest of Bandipur. Never know that one could see tigers or some other wild animals while cycling. The trek will give one a rewarding experience, bestowed by flowering flora and endangered fauna.

If you want an experience of India's eastern coast, then this is one of the best trails you may be able to travel on. It's smooth and well maintained, has a clearly defined 2-wheelers track, isn't heavy on truck traffic and since it's along the coast, it doesn't differ by much in altitude. There are also nice tourist attractions along the way, as well as numerous beaches and lighthouses As your journey takes you further south, the road gets much less travelled. The wind and sun are getting steadily high, and the roads are becoming fun to ride on.