Why India is the most exciting place on Earth to Motorcycle?

India is one of the most fascinating countries in the world. Diversity is one word that truly defines this cradle of civilization and this holds true for its landscapes, culture, and traditions. The country is a paradise for travelers as it offers unparalleled natural beauty, heritage sites, ancient landmarks, adventure activities, the wide variety of cuisine and world-class hospitality. From the great Himalayas to the beaches of the south, dense wilderness in the east to the golden sand dunes of the west, the county is home to diverse landscapes. ‘Incredible India’ is the name of the country’s official tourism campaign and it seems apt as this great country that is simply incredible and awe-inspiring. Apart from culture and traditions, India is also featuring as the best location for the adventure lovers.  Taking a motorcycle tour in India is the best way to explore the land of culture and adventure. With valleys, plateaus, deserts, forests and all kinds of terrains to ride through, bike tours in India will have you covering some of the best explorations of the country.

Riding a Royal Enfield bike has benefits like no other tours. Apart from unleashing their adventurous side, it is the best way to get a close to nature as possible and explore the nooks and corners of any place.

The diversity of India is unique. India has retained its diversity from an ancient time to till date. Being a large country with large population, India presents endless varieties of physical features and cultural patterns. It is a land of diversity in race, religion, caste, language, landforms, flora, fauna and so on. In short, India is “the epitome of the world”. Yes, you can blow your mind on two wheels in other parts of the world. But here are 5 good reasons why India trumps them all:

1. The Geographical Factor

Spanning an area of 3,287,263 square kilometers, India is a vast country with great diversity of physical features like dry deserts, evergreen forests, snowy Himalayas, a long coast and fertile plains. Certain parts in India are so fertile that they are counted amongst the most fertile regions of the world, while other are so unproductive and barren that hardly anything can be grown there.

The region of Indo-Gangetic valley belongs to the first category, while certain areas of Rajasthan fall under the latter category. From the point of climate, there is a sharp contrast; India has every variety of climates from the blazing heat of the plains, as hot in places as hottest Africa to freezing points of the Himalayas as in the Arctic.

The Himalayan ranges which are always covered with snow are very cold while the deserts of Rajasthan are well known for their heat. As India is dependent on Monsoons, the rainfall is not uniform across the country. While the places like Mawsynram and Cherapunji in Meghalaya, which are considered to be the places which receives highest amount of rainfall in the world gets rainfall almost all the year, places like Sindh and Rajasthan gets hardly any rainfall in an year.

This variation in the climate has also contributed to a variety of flora and fauna in India. In fact, India possesses the richest variety of plants and animals known in the world. The unique geographic demographics also host a unique eco-system rich with vegetation, wildlife, rare herbs, and a large variety of birds.

2. The Cultural Factor

India's culture is among the world's oldest; civilization in India began about 4,500 years ago. Many sources describe it as "Sa Prathama Sanskrati Vishvavara" — the first and the supreme culture in the world, according to the All World Gayatri Pariwar (AWGP) organization. In India, there is amazing cultural diversity throughout the country. The South, North, and Northeast have their own distinct cultures and almost every state has carved out its own cultural niche. There is hardly any culture in the world that is as varied and unique as India. India is home to some of the most ancient civilizations, including four major world religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. India, a place of infinite variety, is fascinating with its ancient and complex culture, dazzling contrasts and breathtaking physical beauty. India is the best place in the world to see the different cultures from modern to ancient and find the similarities in these diversified cultures.

3. Art & Architecture

The most well-known example of Indian architecture is the Taj Mahal, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to honor his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural styles. India also has many ancient temples.

India is well known for its film industry, which is often referred to as Bollywood. The country's movie history began in 1896 when the Lumière brothers demonstrated the art of cinema in Mumbai, according to the Golden Globes. Today, the films are known for their elaborate singing and dancing.

Indian dance, music and theater traditions span back more than 2,000 years, according to Nilima Bhadbhade, author of "Contract Law in India" (Kluwer Law International, 2010). The major classical dance traditions — Bharata Natyam, Kathak, Odissi, Manipuri, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam and Kathakali — draw on themes from mythology and literature and have rigid presentation rules.

4. The Food Factor

The cuisine in India is classified into three major categories. Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Sattva stands for balance, Rajas for Passion and Tamas for indulgence. Food is consumed according to the lifestyle of a person. India is known for its love for food and for its diverse multi cuisine. Although each region has its own distinct culinary traits. Major Indian foods include South Indian, Punjabi, Mughali, Bengali, Kashmiri, Rajasthani and Gujarati, one thing can be said of India cooking universally: The myriad spices, techniques and ingredients ensures that it is never, ever boring.

5. The Wow Factor

India can be a very overwhelming place. Your ears, nose and mouth never seem to get a day off. But with time, the sense of overload moderates and transforms to a sense of fulfillment. You feel more fulfilled because no day is ever like the last. Whether it’s racing a camel in the desert to sleeping under the stars on a remote sand dune to drinking tea in a high jungle hill station, India amazes.

Legendary Moto Rides offers Fixed Departure & custom-made India tours to explore this beautiful canvas of numerous and vivid shades, which is waiting for you to be unveiled, felt and treasured. Uncover the charm of this beautiful country with various Motorcycle tour packages in India designed impeccably by a team of passionate individuals who love to share the culture and history of this country. Explore Best Indian Bike Tours: www.legendarymotorides.com 

Responsible Travel & Legendary Moto Rides

We want you to have truly memorable holiday, and we want local communities and wildlife to benefit too. However, our mission has always been bigger than that. We want to make tourism a more caring industry, one that improves places rather than ruins them.

Responsible tourism is - and always has been - one of the driving principles of Legendary Moto Rides. We care deeply about travelling in a way that positively impacts the people and places we visit. To us responsible travel means that:

At Legendary Moto Rides we have always believed in three simple guiding principles for the way in which we want to travel.

• We realise that every destination is someone else’s home

• We should leave places as we would like to find them

• We should ensure that communities benefit from our visit

Tourism is one of the most important and largest industries on the planet. It employs more people worldwide than any other, with millions of families relying on tourism for their daily needs.

The last few decades have been dotted with disaster stories where tourism has resulted in over-development, destruction of environments and in cultural misunderstandings and mistrust. It has also recently been embroiled in the debate about global warming and carbon emissions caused by flying. At Legendary Moto Rides we believe that our type of small scale, positive impact tourism can bring benefits to many communities, help preserve the environments we travel to see, and provide real and positive social exchanges.

Legendary Moto Rides, the environment and responsible tourism

As tourism becomes a truly global industry, we recognize our obligation to operate our tours in a responsible and sustainable fashion. We view this not only as an environmental issue but an economic and social one as well. Above all we are committed to the well-being of the communities that are our hosts and the natural environment that we are there to experience. We also believe that by following these policies we can provide a more rewarding and interesting experience to you our clients.

The following are the key points in our philosophy:

ü  Small groups have less impact on local communities and environments.

ü  Where possible we believe in putting money directly into the communities we visit by using locally owned and run accommodation and eating locally produced food.

ü  We are careful to ensure that local staff and operators receive a fair rate for their services.

ü  We encourage our own staff to take an active interest in responsible and sustainable tourism and train them accordingly so that they can put our policies into practice.

ü  We endeavour to ensure that our practices help in the environmental conservation of the areas we visit.

ü  We provide our clients with advice and guidelines on how to respect the social, cultural and religious beliefs of local communities.

We’ve worked hard at these things to ensure we are welcomed in the places we all love to visit, meaning local people benefit and our clients enjoy a better trip. It could be through some of our great community based tourism experiences, meeting local people or experiencing the pristine wilderness and leaving it untouched.

Top Attractions & Highlights in India

                                               Top Attractions and Highlights in India

1. Agra & the Taj Mahal

Built by Shah Jahan to honour his beloved Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal may well be the greatest monument to love that was ever built. Around Agra you can also visit the Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar's Tomb and Itimad-ud-Daulah.

2. Ladakh

Hidden away in the north-eastern corner of India, Ladakh is a sanctuary of Buddhist calm. Cradled between the two highest mountain ranges in the world, the Himalaya and the Karakorum, Ladakh is so remote that you can take a walking holiday here with almost a total absence of Western influences. With its combination of breathtaking landscapes, ancient settlements and deep spirituality, the former kingdom of Ladakh is an unmissable corner of the Indian Himalaya. Snowcapped peaks, high mountain passes and striking moonscapes dotted with prayer flags and Buddhist monasteries await you in this remote and majestic Himalayan region.

Explore the fascinating high altitude city of Leh, a cultural crossroads of Buddhist stupas, hilltop forts and bustling market bazaars. Marvel at the Lamayuru Monastery, one of the region's oldest and most sacred; and discover Ladakh's rich history at the Alchi Monastery, home to some of the Himalaya's finest religious artwork.

Whatever pace you're after, take a look at our unique program of Ladakh itineraries and start planning your adventure into this remote and rugged gem of the Indian Himalaya.

3. Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh situated in the Western Himalayas with spectacular snowy peaks and plunging river valleys, beautiful Himachal is India’s outdoor adventure playground. A convoluted topography of interlocking mountain chains also makes Himachal a spectacular place simply to explore, by bus, car, motorbike, jeep or foot. For something a little more off the beaten path, take the train right to the heart of India’s colourful culture for a different look at this dynamic country’s northern region. Experiences like the India-Pakistan Wagah border ceremony with the incomparable Golden Temple of the Sikhs at Amritsar and Dalai Lama sights in Dharamsala get you in touch with the spiritual side of India, while the toy trains in Shimla are always a delight. In between are quiet country roads, frequent superb views of the Himalaya glinting in the distance and the satisfaction of reaching the highpoint of the Jalori Pass.

4. Spiti Valley

Spiti, also known as the “Middle Land”, is a trans- Himalayan terrain located in the north-eastern part of Himachal Pradesh in India. The name “Spiti” means “The Middle Land”, i.e. the land between Tibet and India. Spiti valley is a place. Spiti valley is home to some of the oldest monasteries (Tabo, Sherkhang and Dhankar- all around 1000 years old), highest motorable villages in Asia (Langza and Komic), highest post office in the world (Hikkim), Chandrataal lake, beautiful and vast landscape, ancient and intact culture and simple people. Spiti valley possesses a distinctive Tibetan Buddhist culture similar to that found in Tibet and Ladakh region of India.

Along the northern route from Manali or Keylong via the Rohtang or Kunzum Pass respectively, the valley lies in the North East of the Indian hill state of Himachal Pradesh, and forms part of the Lahaul and Spiti district.

The sub-divisional headquarters (capital) is Kaza, Himachal Pradesh which is situated along the Spiti River at an elevation of about 12,500 feet (3,800 m) above mean sea level. Spiti valley is a research and cultural centre for Buddhists. Highlights include Kye Monastery and Tabo Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in the world and a favorite of the Dalai Lama. It was the location of the spectacular scenery and cinematography in the Indian films Paap and Milarepa, a biographical adventure tale about one of Buddhism’s most famous Tibetan saints.

The Buddhist monastery in the valley served as the locus of the set and some of the monks appeared in the film. The Pin Valley of Spiti is home to the few surviving Buchen Lamas of the Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism. Spiti is summer home to hundreds of semi-nomadic Gaddi sheep and goat herders who come to this valley for grazing their animals from the surrounding villages and sometimes as far as 250 km. They enter the valley during summer as the snow melts and leave just a few days before first snowfall of the season.

5. Uttrakhand

Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, Uttarakhand is one of the most beautiful northern states of India that enthralls everyone with its spectacularly scenic landscapes. Charming hill stations juxtaposed against snow-capped peaks, quaint villages along winding mountain roads, serpentine rivers carving their way through hills, world renowned conservation parks like ‘Jim Corbett Tiger National Park’ and ‘Asan Wetland Conservation Reserve’, world heritage sites like ‘Valley of Flowers’ and ‘Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve’, waterfalls hurtling down slopes and serene lakes shimmering amidst beautiful towns- also known for its Hindu pilgrimage sites. Rishikesh, a major centre for yoga study, was made famous by the Beatles’ 1968 visit. The city hosts the evening Ganga Aarti, a spiritual gathering on the sacred Ganges River that's Uttarakhand for you.   

6. Udaipur

The famous city of lakes, with beautiful ornate palaces and a romantic air. It is also known as 'the Venice of the East' and has appeared as the location of many films including James Bond's 'Octopussy'.

7. Jaisalmer

The gateway to the Thar desert, this distinctly golden city has majestic fort ramparts that rise up like giant sand castles holding inside them elegant havelis (private mansions) and carved Jain temples. From here you can venture into the desert on the back of a camel, just like the locals.

8. Khajuraho

Sensual, Kama Sutra-esque sculptures decorate the walls of these exotic temples and it is what draws most of the visitors. No one really knows the meaning of the carvings – educational or just bragging? – but once you're done having a giggle over their creativeness, you'll notice how beautiful and magical these thousand-year-old buildings really are.

9. Varanasi

A spiritual hotspot on the banks of the Ganges River. See the press of humanity against its shores wash, pray, give offerings and cremate their dead in one of India's holiest locations. Away from the river wander the labyrinth of narrow alleys of old Varanasi, side-stepping buffaloes and cows as you go.

10. Darjeeling

A quintessential hill station reminiscent of a bygone era, the very name Darjeeling has overtones of the exotic and tantalisingly unfamiliar. Drink in the scenery and the local brew, surrounded by rolling hills covered in tea plantations with the Himalayas framing the horizon.

11. Jaipur

The so-called 'Pink City' with its beautiful palace and nearby fort. Its elegance and proximity to Delhi and Agra make it part of India's 'Golden Triangle'.

12. Delhi

The nation's capital and starting point for many adventures. While to many it offers the first hit of culture shock, Old Delhi also holds within its boundaries the sprawling Red Fort and Jama Masjid mosque with its delicate minarets. By contrast, New Delhi's tree-lined boulevards seem like another world with Jaipur Gate (a very European-style monument) and the National Museum.

13. Kerala

A network of palm-fringed rivers linking lakes and lagoons make a gorgeous, peaceful location to explore by teak and palm thatched houseboat. Unwind and escape in this charming tropical hideaway while enjoying some succulent Keralan seafood.

14. Goa

Everything you would expect from a tropical paradise from its white sands to shady palm groves, Goa is a place to do nothing and let it all slip away. No longer undiscovered you will likely meet other travellers here and perhaps enjoy some seafood together at one of the beach-side restaurant shacks.

India Travel Guide

India Travel Guide

India is exciting, colourful, diverse and challenging like no other destination on earth. The natural diversity is fitting for a country its size, from the snow-draped Himalayas to vast, sandy desert, to verdant steamy jungle. The culture is colourful and engaging and at times almost incomprehensible; famous temples teeming with sacred rats or ruins carved with what may be the world's most risqué reliefs are just two of the more bizarre scenes you may encounter. Love it or hate it – and many travellers to India swing between the two – travel in India cannot be anything other than eye-opening. A singular experience, bound to forever change your view of the world.

History

India was the location of one of the world's earliest civilisations. From around 3500 BC the Indus Valley civilisation began to establish an urban culture, founding large cities which became the focal points of the Harappan culture. The Harappans traded with Mesopotamia, developed bronze-work including art and jewellery and had established religious ceremonies.

The Harappans were in decline by 1500 BC and the Aryan people had began migrating and invading from the north into India. Initially nomadic herders, the Aryan people eventually began to settle and establish kingdoms. This was the time of the development of Hinduism as well as the rise of Buddhism and Jainism. In 332 BC Chandragupta Maurya became king marking the beginning of the Mauryan Empire which, at its height, included North India, neighbouring regions in central Asia and stretched as far south as Karnataka. Prior to the opening of the seas, most invasions and migrations occurred from the north via the Hindu Kush making northern India the stage for much of the region's power struggles and cultural upheaval, while southern India was left largely unconquered.

The Mauryan Empire had completely collapsed by 184 BC and there was a period of smaller, more short-lived empires including the Sungas (184-70 BC), Kanvas (72-30 BC), Shakas (from 130 BC) and Kushanas (1st century BC to 1st century AD before the next great empire emerged, called the Guptas. The Gupta Empire was founded in the 4th century AD by Ghandragupta and their power expanded to control north and central India. During this time trade with China flourished and advancement in poetry, literature, art, mathematics, astronomy and medicine were made. The Hun invasions of the 6th century marked the beginning of the end for the Gupta Empire and in 510 the Guptas were defeated by the Hun army and India was once more devolved into a number of different kingdoms.

From the 10th century the Turks began incursions into central Asia, eventually taking northern India in 1192 establishing the Delhi Sultanate and imprinting an enduring Islamic influence on the region. This empire began to decline until it came to a dramatic and bloody end when Timur (Tamerlane), a Mongol and descendant of Ghengis Khan, sacked Delhi in 1398 mercilessly massacring its inhabitants. After Timur's withdrawal several splinter kingdoms emerged leading to a period of violence and instability which was resolved with the establishment of the Mughal Empire founded by Babur in 1526 who was a descendant of Genghis Khan and Timur. At its height the Mughal Empire was massive, encompassing almost the entire subcontinent. It was also an era of great building works, including the Taj Mahal, and a golden age of art and literature.

The end of the 15th century saw the first European arrivals to the region with the Portuguese landing in modern-day Kerala who captured Goa in 1510. In 1600 the English East India Company was formed and in 1613 the English established their first trading base in India, forming further bases at Madras in 1639 (now Chennai), Bombay in 1661 (now Mumbai) and Calcutta in 1690 (now Kolkata). The French also sought to benefit from trade in India and they made their own bases, becoming rivals with the British which sparked the Seven Years war. Eventually India became a British colony.

Throughout British control of India, revolts and fighting were common. By the turn of the 20th century the Indian National Congress was formed spearheading Indian independence. The Congress was, for a time, led by Mohandas Gandhi who is most famous for his non-violent protests and message of tolerance and inclusion. Despite his efforts, he was largely excluded from independence negotiations. India finally gaining independence on August 15 1947. The following year, Ghandi was assassinated by a Hindu zealot. Fighting and bloodshed between Muslim and Hindus, led to the division of the country into India and East and West Pakistan. This solution proved ineffective and 25 years later East Pakistan became Bangladesh.

Geography

India dominates the South Asian subcontinent, spanning climatic zones from tropical monsoon in the south to temperate in the north. It covers an area of more than 3 million square kilometres making it the 7th largest country in the world. Its coastline borders with the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal and it has land borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma/Myanmar, China and Nepal. The southern geography is characterised by upland plains called the Deccan Plateau, with flat to rolling plains along the Ganges, arid desert in the north-west and Himalayan mountain ranges along the north and north-eastern borders.

Etiquette and Culture

While there are estimated to be more than 2000 ethnic groups in India, the majority of the population fall into two major groups, the North Indians which are Indian-Aryan speaking and the South Indians which are Dravidian-speaking. India's main religion is Hinduism practised by 80.5% of the population. Next is Islam with 13.4%, Christians 2.3%, Sikhs 1.9%, Buddhists 0.8% and Jainism 0.4%. There are 22 recognised languages in the Indian constitution and more than 1600 additional languages spoken throughout the country. English is often used as a bridge and is widely spoken. Great efforts have been made to install Hindi as the default national language; it is spoken widely in the north but rarely in the south.

It will help you avoid hassle to dress modestly in India, avoiding tight clothing and keeping your shoulders and knees covered. When entering homes or holy sites it is customary to remove your shoes.

Saying namaste with your hands pressed together in a prayer-like gesture is a respectful way of greeting people in India and may be more appropriate than shaking hands depending on the situation.

Money

India's currency is the rupee (symbol: ₹) which breaks into 100 paisa. Banknotes come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 rupee denominations and coins in 1, 2, 5, 10, 100 and 1000 rupee denominations and 50 paisa (rarely used).

Most urban centres have ATMs which accept international cards, but you should always carry a mixture of cards and cash in case you cannot get money out. Mastercard and Visa are the two most commonly accepted cards.

Tipping is optional and given the low wages a small amount to reward good service is always appreciated. Tipping your driver or guide at the end of a trip is customary if you are pleased with the service. Giving sweets, gifts or money to begging children is not encouraged as this promotes a culture of dependency and child exploitation. If you wish to donate, it is better to find a reputable school or charity and give directly to them.

Best time to travel in India

India is a year round destination with somewhere being ideal at any time of year.  There are many factors to be considered apart from just the route of the journey, such as the best season to travel, the distance to be covered and how many days and what to be prepared with for the journey. To ensure that you make the right choices most fit for you, we have combined a list of Best Motorcycle tours in India on our website. (www.legendarymotorides.com) 
From October to March you choose Rajasthan, Goa & Southern India & from April to September you can explore Himalayan destinations like Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh & Uttrakhand.

Other factors you may want to take into account when deciding what time of year to travel is India's somewhat packed festive calendar, with several of its celebrations catching the world's attention to the point where they have been adopted across the globe.

Diwali, the festival of lights, falls in October in November and is a five day celebration where Indians light fireworks, burn oil lamps or hanging lanterns and give gifts. It is the most important event in the Hindu calendar and one of the prettiest festival of the year.

Holi is a festival celebrated in North India in March. Hindus celebrate the coming of spring by throwing coloured water or powder (called gulal) at anyone and everyone, in a chaotic, colourful and exuberant mess. Bonfires are lit on the night before Holi as a symbolic reference to the downfall of the demoness Holika.

Food in India

One of the world's international cuisines, Indian food is a tantalising balance of flavours and textures. Far more complex than the Western-style Indian curry; the cuisine in India varies from region to region each with its own cook techniques and ingredients. Part of India's great culinary heritage is owed to its history as a spice growing region. Black pepper, turmeric, cumin and coriander are just a few of the spices used. In the south food is complemented by the likes of cardamom and tamarind and saffron is grown in the north in Kashmir.

Rice is a staple throughout the country and is served as an accompaniment to most 'wet' dishes (known as curries in the West). It is served plain; as biryani, spicy steamed rice with meat or vegetables; or as pilaf, rice cooked in a flavoured broth with spices.

In the north, wheat is more prevalent than in the south and there are a variety of flat breads made including roti/chapati, an unleavened flat bread cooked on a hot plate. Other variations include puri which is deep-fried dough and paratha which is a flaky unleavened bread often stuffed with fillings such as meat or paneer (a soft unpasteurised cheese). The most famous of all is naan bread cooked on the walls of a tandoor oven.

Although vegetarianism is common in India, dishes with meat are common with chicken, lamb and mutton being the most common – beef is off limits for Hindus and Muslims are not permitted to eat pork. Meat dishes may include kebabs, koftas (spiced, shaped mince meat) and Tandoori meat.

Snacks include pakora which are deep-fried vegetables, paneer or meat in a batter made from gram flour (chickpea flour), aloo tikki which are mashed potato patties, bhajia which are vegetable fritters and samosas, deep-fried pastry triangles with various fillings. Street side snacks are collectively known by the term chaat.

Indian sweets include jalebis which are a sweet, syrupy coil of deep-fried dough, kheer which is similar to rice pudding, gulab jamuns which are deep-fried balls of dough and barfi which is a fudge-like sweet. Kulfi is a sort of Indian-style ice cream made from caramelised milk. Popular drinks include lassi, made from yogurt and of course, chai (tea).