Travelling South India on a Bullet & a Budget (India Bike Trip Summary)

On 28th December I said goodbye to my job, loaded bags on a Ladakh career, rode a bike for the first time and went South. I was accompanied by my friend in what seemed the craziest thing I have ever done. We initially hoped to survive on an aspirational budget of 1000 INR per day per person. And this is what ensued.

We completed this journey with an average spend of around 500 per person per day (including food, accommodation, petrol & other stuff). Total expenditure = a little less than 70000 INR.

I learnt how to ride a bike while riding 8300km of some of the most beautiful roads in the world.

Spent 2 months exploring South India and its incredible culture, and fell in love with it.

Jumped in the middle of ocean in Goa and camped at paradise beaches,

explored the temples & caves of Badami (of which I had read so much in our history textbooks)

A picture with kids because they always add to good memories

climbed rocks & smoked pot in Hampi,

camped at highest points of South India,

Waiting for sunrise at hampi — Waiting for the magic of Sunrise

broke forest dept. boundaries in Madikeri,

fell in love with Ooty,

paddled across backwaters in Alleppey,

surfed near the Shore temple of Mahabalipuram.

Witnessed magical sunrise in Kanyakumari,

and an equally enthralling sunset in Varkala

We rode on the dirt tracks through Paddy Fields of Thrissur,

serpentine roads through thick jungles of Ghats,

along beautiful coastal roads,

passed some of the greatest bridges in India,

and of course passed through the tea estates of Munnar

and 6 lane Asia Highways in t-shirt & shorts.

Visited some of the oldest & biggest temples in the world, to have kindled a newfound love for this religion.

wp_ss_20150313_0001 — Shiva Shrine at Meenakshi Temple

Had amazing food,

sometimes for free

Free meal at Annapurneshwari temple — Prasadam at Annapurneshwari temple

Understood that a simple smile can surpass language barriers with bridges that communicate much more than words can.

Enjoyed & learned so much in the past 2 months that we now leave for North India by this month’s end. Will keep on updating this post, and blog with new posts and better photos & videos.