Discovering the city on a bike

Three enthusiasts, who now run cycling ventures in Bengaluru, write about biking trails in and around the city

A peacock trail, through the forest

Location: Turahalli forest, off Kanakpura road

Difficulty level: Moderate

Photograph: Courtesy, Unventured

Bengaluru has plenty of trails just outside the city limits that most folks are unaware of and which are perfect for a bike ride away from the pollution and honking vehicles.

The Turahalli urban forest, off Kanakpura road, is one such jewel, frequented by climbers, runners, walkers, birders and bikers. It's not a massive area but packs a punch as the area is criss-crossed with trails, has a good tree cover and two small hillocks.

The Turahalli trails accommodate all forms of riding -- some for recreational beginners and others for those who love to be challenged. We have marked out a loop called the Turahalli peacock run trail. This is a 6-km loop, which is a beautiful peacock-filled route and is both challenging and exhilarating. This would be my favourite section of Turahalli which has flowy trails, rock gardens, lung-busting climbs, smooth rock faces and some exciting fast sections to boot.

As a cycling company, BUMSONTHESADDLE does quite a bit at the Turahalli forest as it's our backyard and we run free mountain biking 101 sessions every Sunday to share the sport with everyone. If you're interested in riding with us, get in touch at bumsonthesaddle.com or strava.com/segments/422952

Rohan Kini, founder, BumsOnTheSaddle

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On a quest for stories

Location: The Nandi Hillock

Level: Moderate to difficult

My inspiration to cycle is my need to satisfy my weakness for stories of people, places, cultures, history and nature. Our city is a treasure trove of tales, but more than the hustle and bustle of the urban milieu, it is the countryside that satisfies my quest for stories. Heading northwards out of the city, past the airport, is a beautiful trail leading to Nandi Hills. This trail is not only frequented by endurance cyclists to prepare and practise for tours and races, but also by those who want to pedal away from the city.

The Nandi Hillock, the quaint village at the base and the surrounding villages with vineyards, carry with them stories of kingdoms and rulers, of a 1,000-year-old temple complex that boasts varying forms of architecture as it exchanged hands from various dynasties, of wars fought with rockets, of organic farmers, of third-generation potters, of a century-old railway station and of a British cemetery.

A day-trip would be enough to get to Nandi Hillock, the largest monolith in Asia, explore the area and head back to the city. You can either ride the entire distance of 65 kilometres (one-way) and back, or drive till Devanahalli and cycle for 27 kilometres.

Carry water with you, use sunscreen, and keep a scarf to protect your face from the dust while riding back. Food is available at small eateries on the way, at the base of the hills and on top.

Gurudeep Ramakrishna, co-founder, Unventured

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A heady dose of food, heritage and culture

Where: Malleshwaram

Level: Moderate

Growing up in Bengaluru, the bicycle was not only a means of transport but also a way for us children to bond, discovering hidden spaces in the city, manoeuvring through "gallis" that no other means of transport would take us through. I grew up listening to stories of Maharaja Wodeyar and his palace, Michael Lavelle and "Oorgaum House", the fancy house that he built for his daughter, Lord Sankey with his own tank, not to forget Lord Cubbon himself -- these were not just names that flew about in the air but were also names of major landmarks.

Exploring Bengaluru is thus an adventure of the Lara Croft kind, you have a story that goes with every little nook and corner.

One of my favourite trails is through Malleshwaram in north Bengaluru. You start from Sankey Tank around 7 in the morning and head to CTR for piping hot masala dosas and coffee. You could also ride up to Veena Stores, and join the queue for the fresh idlis, vada and chutney.

From there, pedal up to the Kadu Malleshwara temple in time for the aarti at 8.30 and then move on to the Malleshwaram market. Take in the sights and sounds of the market and then it's off to the dhobi ghat, where you get to see a giant manual washing machine at work. Ride back to Sankey Tank, and you would have done a 10-kilometre trail filled with heritage, culture and great food.

You can try these trails on your own or with Unventured, which conducts these rides. Details available on unventured.com.

Tejaswini Gopalaswamy, co-founder, Unventured