around India- 180 days- on a bike

time passed, and I moved around India, although not as planned.
During this one year, I have got more insight on this journey, which is now commencing this NOV 1, from Delhi.
I am doing this on a bike, ie cycle.
Many factors made me take this choice, and these days, I can be seen cycling on the roads of Delhi, trying to cover 50 kms a day.
The journey of this magnitude can not and should not be planned too much, as he one abouve has his own plans. Still, there is a brief outline that I wish to share, and need advice on a few issues.

Two of us will be on our bikes, trying to discover South Asia over 6 months, starting Nov 1, 2012.

Nov 1 Delhi to Jhajjhar 70 kms
Nov 2 Jhajjhar to Pilani 120 kms
Nov 3 Pilani- Bagar- Jhunjhunu 50 kms
Nov 4 Jhunjhunu- Mandawa 30 kms
Nov 5 Mandawa - Sikar 70 kms
Nov 6 Sikar- Khatu Shyamji 50 kms
Nov 7 Khatu- Jaipur 80 kms
Nov 8 Jaipur
Nov 9,10 Jaipur-Sambhar- Tiloniya 160 kms
Nov 11 Tiloniya- Ajmer 50 kms
Nov 12 Ajmer- Pushkar 15 kms
Nov 13- 15 Pushkar- Jodhpur 200 kms
here I need to know at which places can I break this 3 day journey
Nov 16 Jodhpur- Osiyan 70 kms
Nov 17 Osiyan- Ramdevra 100 kms
Nov 18-19 Ramdevra- Pokhran-Jaisalmer 120 kms
Nov 20- 25 Jaisalmer- Pak Border- Munabao 300 kms
here too I would be needing some guidance on what to expect. This leg is important as it would be totally different, and in case some inputs are available, that would indeed be helpful.

Nov 26-30 Munabao- Barmer- Rann of Kutch- Bhuj- 500 kms.
Here, Indiamikers can help me a lot in planning.

This is the plan of November, the first month. It is hectic, specally because its on a bike, but in case we are too exhausted, we aren't averse to putting the bike on a tractor, or a passenger train, and moving on to the destination. These days, if I cycle too far in Delhi, I hop in a DTC bus, with my cycle, and return.
I do need your opinion, encouragement, and best wishes.

Karan,
All the best!!!!!!
I didn't know you planned it on a cycle, I am sure you know your capabilities and limitations and have planned this tour.

I am glad that you responded so soon.
Yes, I do know them, and thats why I am practicing for the past month;
a lot of thought was given to this and then I realised that I would have the following advantages:

1- lack of a mobike was one reason why I dint start this on Jan 1 this year, though not the most important reason.
2- On a bike, I need no petrol.
3- A bike (specially the one I have) is light and can easily be carried over/ behind/ inside tractors, buses, jeeps, passenger trains etc, as and when needed.
4- in plains, biking is easy.
5- A friend who is doing a similar journey, though over a period of 2 years, on a cycle, told me that a biker has more chances of getting co-operation wherever he goes, specially villages.
6- I am convinced about this mode, and I do own a decent bike.

By the way, where do You stay? I'd love to include that place as well.

Dec 1,2 Bhuj to Mandvi 70 kms

Here is a question- will I be able to catch a boat to Okha from Mandvi? If yes, that would be great indeed.

The plan from here depends on this question.

Dec 3-5 Okha - Dwarka - Porbandar 140 kms
Dec 6-8 Porbandar- Sasan Gir 140 kms
Dec 9-11 Sasan Gir- Junagarh- Rajkot 160 kms
Dec 12-14 Rajkot- Nal Sarovar- Ahmedabad 220 kms
Dec 15 Ahmedabad
Dec 16- Ahmedabad- Anand 70 kms
Dec 17 Anand- Vadodara 50 kms
Dec 18,19 Vadodara- Sardar Sarovar Dam 100 kms
Dec 20-22 Sardar Sarovar- Surat- Dandi 170 kms
Dec 23-25 Dandi- Silvassa - Mumbai- 250 kms

So, we celebrate Christmas in Mumbai if things go as planned.

If there is no boat from Mandvi to OKha, we reach Ahmedabad and then continue from there.

Now-
We would be spending few days in Mumbai , and reach Pune by new year.
The journey from here is:

Mumbai- Pune-
Here, I am wondering where I should cross the western ghats? But till now, Mahabaleshwar seems the choice.
So , it becomes- Pune- Wai- Mahabaleshwar- Poladpur- Konkan and Goa

I would be taking many detours here- Tapola, Kas, Kolhapur I am aware of this region, so would decide things at the moment.
Suggestions for remote villages, organisations, activists are welcome, though I am myself well aquainted with this region. I also need help in the Gujarat Leg, which I have posted before.

In South Goa get off the NH 17 at Chinchinim, and head through Betul, Canaguinem, Agonda, Palolem, Galgibag, Talpona, Penguinim...Stunning ride!

I'll take a look at you Gujarat itinerary tomorrow, my brain is aching right now, due to the flu!

You could break this journey at Cab De Rama, a really nice quite place to stay.

Also recommend the eagle temple at Sawantwadi and the fort at Malvan

25th- 31st Dec- Mumbai and Pune
Jan 1- Pune- Wai
jan 2- wai- Mahabaleshwar
Jan 3,4,5- Mahabaleshwar- Tapola- kas-Satara
Jan 6-11 Satara- Kolhapur- Belgaum- Dudhsagar- Panjim- Madgaon- Karwar
Jan 12-16 Karwar- Gokarna- Mangalore- Madikeri 400 kms
Jan 17-22 Madikeri- Mysore- Bandipur- Mudumalai- Ooty- Mettupalayam- Coimbatore- Palakkad
Jan 23-31 Palakkad- Thrissur- Kochi- Allepy- Kottayam- Madurai-Chennai (here, the plan is to explore Tamil Nadu till 30th January, then, take a train to Chennai from wherever I am, reaching Chennai, and moving to Sri Lanka.

The first two months have been relatively clear, where to go, how much to travel. There are important questions, like:
1) Do I get a boat/ ferry from mandvi to Okha?
2) Places between Ajmer and Jodhpur.
3) The Indo- Pak border areas- jaisalmer- Munabao. What to expect.
4) I am clueless about the route to be followed from Barmer into Kutch, to reach Bhuj.

Meanwhile, have plotted a map, though one has to open and zoom in to see it.

I am not sure how much time or access would you have to internet and IM once you start on this journey. Would be a pleasure to catch up with you for a gluconD(thats what you will require with so much cycling) when you around Pune.

No, pls check gujarat forum for a similar question. this has been debated to death on other dedicated car/bike forums (team-BHP / bcmtouring). etc.

Beawar, Barr, but nothing much scenic unless you're willing to fork it out for Nimaj.

Very dusty and hot. The classical border drive is to Tanot Mata, Jehreela Kua etc (north west of Jaisalmer - 100 km one way) - but that wont work for you I guess. The Jaisalmer Barmer highway is great. You can consider Kiradu / Kiratkup if you have the energy.

While i can tell you my suggestion would be to skip the entire western Rajasthan due to the harsh terrain and the availability of public transport being limited. Consider the following:

a) Put the bike on a truck near Kishangarh and take the Rajasthan Mega highway all the way to south of Barmer (ramji ki gol). The highway doesnt exist on google maps but it is better than even the 6 lane Jaipur-Kishangarh or Bombay-Pune due to a fresh tarmac, virgin countryside and very low traffic. Then continue via the usual highway that goes towards Kandla port.

b) Instead of going west to Jodhpur, go south from Kishangarh along the NH and go towards chittorgarh. You can stop over at Nathdwara, Udaipur and then move west to Mount Abu. It will provide you with a better rest option. From Mount Abu there's public transport to Ahmedabad. Then, go from ahmedabad to Bhuj (that connection and road condition is much better than the other option you're considering).

It's a really ambitious journey and my suggestion would be to consider rest stops more adequately.

take it easy,
Vaibhav

Vaibhav, thanks and it seems that you are a great resource person, specially about the areas which are lesser known.
reagding rest stops, I do not plan to stay in hotels/ guest houses/ lodges et al, as this is not a 'tourist' trip.
I would stay wherever I get a roof, or have the sky as the roof. I can do that.
The objective (if at all there is one) is to move across villages, talk to people, see the ground reality, (this trip is after I'd have given my civil services written exam.)
now that you have an idea, you can advice me accordingly

also, my bike is a light one, easily accompanies me in buses,
(at least in DTC)
so, sometimes, it would carry me, other times, I would.

well i just saw this thread, as i came back to IM after a long time (culprit FB). I found this close to my dream tour. Great going dear DRK go ahead man....well i can suggest you for accommodation that you can get life time membership of youth hostels of India.which ll cost around 1600 rs online for whole life and with the help of this i am sure you can have an added advantage of YHI membership as & when required in this trip

Nice idea, specially when I am in cities, this would help.