Namaste!
Bangalore, or Bengaluru to call it by its local name, is more known for its traffic than as a cycling destination. In 2019, the city took the top spot in the 9th edition of the annual TomTom Traffic index as experiencing the worst traffic jams, so gaining the title of “Most Traffic-Congested City” in the world. But luckily, there is another side to Bangalore: a cycling paradise that I have discovered with my 3T Strada.
In this blog post, I would like to take you on one of my journeys: from the parliament in the city centre to the beautiful outskirts in the north-west, called Hesaraghatta.
Usually, we start riding in the early mornings between 5:30h and 6:00h, when the traffic, temperature and air quality are still pleasant. During those first few kilometres, you will get to know a calm Bangalore; almost a ghost town in those early morning hours. As we leave the city centre, you will start enjoying the beautiful roads, as well as palm trees alongside the roads and the occasional desi cow. Upon reaching the outer suburbs, you will experience a golden sunrise of breathtaking beauty. We will continue our journey to the picturesque Hesaraghatta lake, created in the year 1894 and covering an area of more than 1.000 acres. It is situated in the vicinity of the last surviving grasslands near Bangalore and marks the turning point for us to return to the city.
On the way back to the city, the temperatures and the traffic will be picking up; this is where you will experience some of the creative ways of driving in Bangalore and you can challenge the rickshaw drivers as your new sparring partners.
Welcome to incredible India
| City: Bangalore |
| Country: India |
| Bike: Strada 1x |
| Distance: ~80km |
| Time: ~3h |
| Best period of the year: all year |
| Best time of the day: early morning |
| Elevation gain: 600m |
| Favorite stop (optional): Indian Parliament, Hesaraghatta Lake |
| Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/23660063 |