Bicycle Touring South Asia: India, in Delhi

Cycling around South Asia, my latest bicycle touring update from India. In Delhi. Early start today. I was up at four o’clock trying to sort out another hotel. I’d already spent an hour or two last night trying, but everywhere seemed full. Well, apart from hotels at the top end of the market or the ones at the very bottom. In the end, I decided it’s probably better, the devil, you know, so I’m staying where I am. I later found out that the Delhi half-marathon is tomorrow, which would probably explain why all the hotels were full.

After filling up on the buffet breakfast (to make sure I got my money’s worth!) I went to source packing materials for my bike, ready for my flight home on Tuesday. The hotel concierge pointed me to the area in town where I might find some. I’d already sorted a bike shop where I could get a box from. But they didn’t open until 11 am, so I went off to get some bubble wrap, which I found remarkably quick!

Now To Find A Bike Shop

After returning to the hotel to drop the bubble wrap off, it was time to find the bike shop, which was about five miles away in South Delhi. That, too, was pretty easy to find. And he had a box, which he delivered to the hotel in the evening.

On the way back to the hotel, after sorting out the box, I went for a spot of sightseeing. I went to see the Indian Gate and the Parliament Buildings, which was enough for me. And I returned to the hotel.

Whilst I was out playing the tourist, I got speaking to Nick, who was also from England and was staying at the same hotel as me. Nick was over here on business and playing the tourist on his last day before flying home in the early hours of tomorrow morning. It was nice to converse with somebody and not have to keep guessing what they said because of their accent! We also had supper together tonight.

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

• Photos: See my photos on Flickr
• The route: View my route across India & Nepal
• Videos: Check out my YouTube videos
• Tour page: Ride overview

Follow My Bicycle Touring Adventures

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I continue to travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always buy me a beer. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.

Bicycle Touring South Asia: India, Khatima to Moradabad

Cycling around South Asia, my latest bicycle touring update from India. Khatima to Moradabad. 84 miles. Now, what came first: the bad mood, the bad roads or the bad drivers? I suspect it was the bad mood! The hotel, or rather the place I stopped at last night, was so noisy it kept me awake for much of the night. Some party or celebration was going on across the road, with loud music. It wasn’t so much the loudness of the music that annoyed me. It was more the fact that the music was so distorted! They always have to play music to the limit of the speakers.

Not too sure what time I fell asleep, but it wasn’t for long. I soon got woken up again by somebody in the hotel, possibly the staff, playing loud music! So it was no wonder I woke up in a bad mood, which wasn’t helped by the bad roads and drivers. And when somebody cut me up and forced me off the road, they felt the full force of my bad mood. I had a right go at them! And what was their response? They just looked back at me as if they’d done nothing wrong, but I made sure they knew I wasn’t happy! As far as I was concerned, everybody was a tosser today!!

Come Back Nepal

I’m already missing Nepal. All the places I stayed were pretty good and had good wifi, whereas what they pass for good here in India leaves a lot to be desired. They also don’t tend to have wifi. Or if they do, it’s ridiculously slow!

Don’t get me wrong, I love India. I just find some of the accommodation a bit frustrating, especially when they bill it as a luxury hotel when it’s not! But I can’t complain tonight; the hotel is lovely and clean, with good wifi, a bar and a restaurant. And it’s only costing me £6. Hopefully, I’ll be in a better mood tomorrow. Good night, everyone!

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

• Photos: See my photos on Flickr
• The route: View my route across India & Nepal
• Videos: Check out my YouTube videos
• Tour page: Ride overview

Follow My Bicycle Touring Adventures

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I continue to travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always buy me a beer. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.

Bicycle Touring South Asia: Ghodaghodi, Nepal, to Khatima, India

Cycling around South Asia, my latest bicycle touring update from India. Ghodaghodi, Nepal, to Khatima, India. 79 miles. Well, I didn’t do too bad in the end today, considering how bad my stomach was at the end of yesterday!

I didn’t venture very far from my room at all last night, just downstairs to have an omelette, which was alright and stayed in!

First thing this morning, I loaded up on Imodium and had another omelette (seeing as that was ok last night, I thought it would be ok today!) I didn’t want to start the day the way I finished yesterday, which seems to have worked. Although I’ve not taken any chances and have not stopped for anything to eat all day! At the end of the day, I was pretty hungry, and as soon as I’d found somewhere to stay, I ate the packet of biscuits I’d been carrying all day!

At The Border

I reached the Nepal/Indian border at about 2 o’clock and immediately stocked up on water and snacks, as I was half expecting to have to camp tonight because not many places take plastic, and with no cash, I didn’t see an alternative!

As I went to the Nepalese immigration, I got talking to a French guy who was coming the other way from India. So I asked him what the money situation was like; a nightmare, he said! Which is what I suspected! He said that there was a money exchange on this side, and before I get my exit stamp, I should try and change my money up there, as you’ve got no chance on the Indian side.

Without delay, I left the immigration office and headed back up the road. It was only about 100 yards away, and I don’t know how I missed it in the first place, but then maybe I was looking for the immigration office at the same time, so didn’t spot it!

I managed to exchange my Nepalese rupees for Indian rupees and also some US $, which even the bloke in the booth said that I was being ripped off, but with no other choice, what was I to do?

Once across on the Indian side, I spotted one ATM that was open. But it had a massive queue, and all the others that I saw were all closed, so even though I was ripped off, at least I had some cash!

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

• Photos: See my photos on Flickr
• The route: View my route across India & Nepal
• Videos: Check out my YouTube videos
• Tour page: Ride overview

Follow My Bicycle Touring Adventures

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I continue to travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always buy me a beer. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.