Cycling Through the Western Ghats: Into South India’s Wild Heart
07:06:50 June 13, 2025
The Western Ghats are more than just a scenic mountain range-they are a living, breathing stretch of ancient biodiversity that runs along the southwestern edge of India. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these hills are home to over 7,400 species of plants and animals, many found nowhere else on Earth. Cycling through them is like entering a hidden world rich, wild, and deeply alive.
There’s a raw, untamed beauty hidden in the folds of the Western Ghats, a world of emerald hills, mist draped forests, and winding roads where nature still calls the shots. Cycling through this ancient mountain range is not just a physical journey, but a deeply sensory one. It’s where adventure, wildlife, and solitude meet on the open road.
Running parallel to India’s southwestern coast, the Western Ghats are among the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots. These hills, older than the Himalayas, are home to elephants, tigers, leopards, hornbills, and hundreds of endemic plant species.
A Journey Through Changing Landscapes
The terrain shifts dramatically as you ride: lush tea gardens in Munnar, dry forests and sandalwood groves near Chinnar, misty rainforests around Valparai, and open grasslands dotted with elephants and deer in Wayanad and Bandipur. The sounds of civilization fade, replaced by birdsong, rustling leaves, and the occasional crack of branches from something large moving in the underbrush.
The Wild Awaits
Cycling through the Western Ghats is a journey into the wild heart of South India. It’s where the road curves around ancient trees, where silence speaks louder than words, and where every turn offers a chance encounter with nature’s untamed spirit.
This is not a ride you’ll race through. It’s one to absorb slowly one pedal stroke at a time.
Best Time to Go
October to March offers cool weather, green landscapes, and great chances for wildlife sightings.
Ready to ride into the wild
Join Tropic Trails Cycling India on a one-of-a-kind adventure where every turn brings you closer to South India’s natural wonders.