The Routes of Hinduism

We take a morning ride to Jageshwar temple, a religious site which dates back 2,500 years. Then, just for the pure pleasure of testing out the twists and turns, we head east, where the second highest peak in India, the Nanda Devi (7,816 m) can be seen on a clear day. After lunch we take a short trek through a typical Kumaon hamlet, which managed to preserve its ancient architecture and organisation.

Goodbye Kumaon, hello Garhwal! Not only do we have more “challenging” roads ahead, but at the end of the day, we also have a series of endless curves. Millennial temple of Bajinath, stealthy views of the Himalayan high peaks and small gorges on the Pindar River mark this stage. We have our first meeting with the Ganges, which here is called Alaknanda.

We ride through the beautiful forest of the natural sanctuary of Kedarnath, to the pass of Chopta (2880m). Visit on the way of the very old temple of Shiva in Gopeshwar, a religious landmark on pilgrim routes. After lunch we enjoy a short, relatively easy trek to a small lake; Uttarakhand’s full beauty is revealed when we take the time to walk through it.

We follow the Mandakini Valley and ride up a tiny road through Kedarnath forest, hamlets and terraced fields: a true hidden gem of a road. At 2,200 m, we reach the starting point for an easy trek well worth the effort: we walk to Kartik Swami temple, which offers one of the most spectacular views of Uttarakhand. We climb down towards Rudraprayag where the pure waters of the Mandakini River flows into the Ganges.

We jump ahead of the Mandakini before reaching the Chirbhattiya pass, a charming secondary road, also "forgotten" and devoid of traffic. Picnic, swim in the river. After skirting the huge reservoir of Tehri dam, we ride up to Kanatal for the night, resting on a ridge at over 2000m altitude. Almost a refuge!

After coming down from the fresh air in the peaks, we stop off at Rishikesh. We then go down to Haridwar, the holiest of the holy cities, on a road wedged between Rajaji National Park and the Ganges canal. After dropping off our luggage, we go to witness the daily rituals of devout Hindus on the banks of the sacred river at the end of the afternoon. A permanent spectacle in this town, and a real feast for the eyes!

You are taken to your hotel in the capital and can spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Depending on your flight schedule, you may still be able to enjoy Delhi’s hustle and bustle, go shopping or visit one of the Royal Enfield stores. You’re transferred to the International airport, where our services end.