Can there be a better fellow traveller than the humble bicycle? Can there be a better prospect than a behind-the-handlebar view of the world?
Often a car is too fast, and a walk too slow to get a sense of place, or freely and fully experience the many charms of a destination. A cycle ride, on the other hand, turns meandering into a gentle art form. But to pedal through the buffer areas of some of India’s most prominent parks and some of the most picturesque corners of Central India is to experience slow travel at its unvarnished best.
The Kanha Earth Lodge is one of the places that offers the option of riding a bicycle on the semi-rugged trails around the Kanha National Park. Rides are customised to match a traveller’s fitness levels and appetite for adventure.
Focused on reducing its carbon footprint and using biodegradable products as much as possible, the Lodge organises bicycle rides for anyone who is open to the idea, partly because it’s a non-motorised, sustainable experience, and partly because it’s a great way to explore the stunning landscape.
The ride usually starts early at 7am, and the cyclists enter the Park through the Khatia Gate nearby, riding past the villages of Sarekha, Parsatola and Narna, often negotiating ‘traffic jams’ caused by herds of goat and sheep put out to graze every morning.
Pedalling towards Parsatola, the cyclists follow well-paved roads flanked by rice and paddy fields, stopping to catch their breath on the banks of small ponds along the way. Soon, the path begins to get rugged again.
The bicycle ride is also a great option for bird lovers who are bound to spot flocks of Parakeets chasing each other from tree to tree. Often Cattle egrets or Common mynas cross their path too, as do Red-wattled lapwing, House sparrows, Little cormorants, White-throated kingfishers and Grey hornbills, to name a few.
In short, a ride around Kanha on two trusty wheels is a wonderful opportunity to observe the rhythms of the region at your own pace, and to get a morning workout for free!
More adventurous travellers can also cycle all the way to Pench from Kanha. If you are looking for something that pushes your physical limits, while showing you the beautiful biodiversity of Kanha and Pench, you can look up the trips organised by Pugdundee Safaris and plan your dates accordingly. Shergarh Tented Camps is another lodge that organises cycling trips around Kanha.