Cyling tour Shimla-Kinnaur-Spiti

Andypolls

Hi everybody,

I’ve just registered for this excellent forum and I’m hoping for some advice and information regarding a cycling tour my mate and I are doing this July and August from Shimla –Kinnaur – Spiti – Manali – Leh. I have most of the information I need for Spiti and Manali-Leh, but I’m looking for some answers to the following questions covering the Shimla – Kinnaur –Spiti section…

1)Is the Hindustan-Tibet road from Shimla a busy road in terms of traffic? If so is it possible to avoid it by riding backroads to Rekong-Peo? I would like to ride back roads in this area regardless, but not if I lose too much time doing so because I only have a limited time to complete my route.

2)I hear this area is subject to landslides and as I’m going during monsoon (I have no choice) I’m a bit concerned that I may not even be able to get through to Rekong and on to Spiti – can somebody put my mind at rest on this please? What are the conditions of the roads now? Are they open?

3)Can anyone recommend any backroads which are worth cycling and don’t detour from the route too much in the whole of the Shimla – Kinnaur – Spiti region?

4)Which maps do you recommend – I have Nelles North India and a Himachal Pradesh map – both are not great

Note: We are traveling on tough touring MTBs with camping and cooking equipment.

Any advice /tips/info on the whole of the route will be appreciated

Thanks
Andypolls

anindya911

Hi Andy,

Welcome to Indiamike!

Though I have no info on the said region, I am sure somebody will be there with you shortly.

However, for the maps on back-roads, you might want to do what I usually do for my bike rides. Trace out roads from Google earth and www.wikimapia.org , the roads (metalled) are easily identifiable.

Wiki gives me the names of the places while Google earth gives me the coordinates and even altitude. I plan a route and feed the data to a GPS receiver. It worked for me.

Cheers

Anindya

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rkarthikeyan

I remember reading some info about these places in www.myadventuresports.blogspot .com

just check that, it might be useful.

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himadventures

I am trying to answer your questions here.

1.There is no monsoons beyond SHIMLA and precisely beyond RAMPUR. So, do not worry about rains.

2. There is no other route-no backdoor...only ONE road which in NH21

3. You have to have permit to travel on INDO-TIBETAN ROAD from civil authirities at RECONG PEO.

4. You do not have to worry much about any natural disaster like landslides....these are common and you may find none...or you may find every second day.

5. Road from SHIMLA to RAMPUR can be called busiest....take care but nothing to worry. This is common feature of INDIAN ROADS and I can say proudly....we can beat any world class driver...michael S. is having sleepless nights after he saw ...how we drive !

TAKE IT EASY...me and you can not change this !

HERE IS PHOTOGRAPY OF A BIKING TOUR- YOU CAN UNDERSTAND ABOUT ROAD,TOPOGRAPHY and SCENE.
http://www.himadventures.net/media-g...ion/index.html

rishabh6296

during monsoon season,Kinnaur becomes inaccessible at times due to heavy rains,flash floods and landslides.Spiti side would be dry since its in tyhe trans-himalayan region.You can try it through the manali side and cover Lahaul region as well.

vistet

Check out this site, you´ll find a lot of your questions answered there.

I had Leomann´s maps on my latest visit in Kinnaur, I can recommend them as a way of learning more Hindi , more than actually finding the way.

capt_mahajan

himadventures, nice pics.

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Andypolls

Thanks guys for the info

voyager61

Hi! The H-T road closes for motorized traffic quite regularly,but generally for few days and normally one can always walk through these blocks. The same thing can happen in Spiti as well,it did so at least a couple of times because of heavy rains last summer( it rained something like 26 days in a row between the end of july and the beginning of august).There are no backdoor roads(or very short tracts perhaps) in Kinnaur,but after Recong Peo there isn't much traffic,and in Spiti even less.

vasuki

Could'nt stop myself to post this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKa1wsZmIb4 to have a dekko of traffic in Indian cities

As Himadventure said.. Don't Worry...
You may come back becoming a great believer in God!

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rishabh6296

cool video vasuki!

himadventures

heee thanks but let me explain how I see this region.

1. I am usually worried upto Narkanda. This road is under pressure from humans...traffic and land use. When I cross NARKANDA- mountain broadens ...and I am more at ease with bike or jeep.

2. Landslides..yes, everyone is right about SPITI or KINNAUR but this is regular feature ...and a adventurer who is out on these remotest regions will find lot of colors in this natural disasters also. You may find how people help each other-when Govt. response is too slow or you may find that you are extra charged for a cup of tea....beacuse someone thinks that I am rich and you are a walking dollar )

3. I take both situations with normalcy....but seriously speaking...a normal guy in mountain is like me. He will help if asked. So if you require any help-do not hesitate to ask. You will educated people who are speaks English very well.

4. It is always better to report to someone about your where abouts- it always helps when you are struck-up for long. Although this does not happen in this area but we saw this road being cut-off for months when river SATLUJ swells.

Besides everything- this region requires your eyes and heart !

GO AHEAD !!!

Andypolls

hehe great vid vasuki, India just as I remember it!

khaadu75

[quote=himadventures;319959]I am trying to answer your questions here.

1.There is no monsoons beyond SHIMLA and precisely beyond RAMPUR. So, do not worry about rains.

2. There is no other route-no backdoor...only ONE road which in NH21

QUOTE]

Hi Himadventures, Im very confused about these 2 statements that you made .

1. What do you mean there is no monsoon beyond Shimla ...?? I just hope that guys havnt taken your word for it -- I dunno why he said what he said , but Ill tell you that there definitely is plenty of monsoons beyond Simla .

2. As for the other route ... If you want there is a quiet back road that goes from Simla to Luhri ( vis Basantpur ) . Its got very sparse trafic .. but not as scenic as the Simla-Narkanda-Luhri road.

Let me know incase you need any help on your route ... I live in Kotgarh which is 80 kms beyond Simla , so if you planing to halt you are most welcome if I am there .

Cheers

dhananjay

Hi,

Long time I have been here ... Visit www.out-there-biking.com or the respective blog for good information. For weather updates www.accuweather.com is the best resource. The Hindustan Tibet road from Rampur till upto pooh is good traffic. You cannot avoid that. Most of the road after that is less traffic and makes up for some good riding.

Cheers
dhananjay