Plan B is a few months in Southern India at the end of the year. Backpacking trip, fly to Delhi, train down South. Now the Thorn Tree has gone what's the forum of choice for travel these days. I've seen a few people on here mention going so what did you do that was fun. May take a gravel bike with me in a hard case or did you see rentals available on your trip?
Looks like the top half of your post got cut off?
Shame about the ThornTree, I found it invaluable for various trips I took. I guess I'd look at Tripadvisor forums(?) and Reddit as a starting point; the latter won't let you start threads until you've lurked for a while, but you should be able to reply to threads and see others' relevant experiences.
In a few months there's so much you can do between Delhi and the south; first thing would be to consider whether you *actually* want to just get a train down south and potter there, or make more of a trip getting there. There's Shimla/ Dharamsala for starters; Agra, Rajasthan; Mumbai and Goa on the way down to Kerala, and so on.
My thought for taking a bike would be... don't. I saw some amazing trails in the foothills of the Himalayas, running alongside and across the tracks of the Shimla train, for example, and I know there are some good biking tour/ rental companies there. But when you're not riding, what happens to your bike then? Unless you're thinking of a bike touring trip which could be spectacular, but is definitely a different kettle of fish
Hello, I've seen Reddit which appears pretty good but alas no Thorn Tree. I've done lots in North India, Rajasthan so the train south would be just for the joy of Indian trains. I'd probably park myself up in a place for a week or so and tootle about on the bike then move on, no interest in touring this time. I've been bikepacking in Nepal before and it was amazing. If needed to I'd just stash the bike in a guest house and pick it up later. Thinking more Goa down to Kerala, day rides and exploring but not on a shonky rental.
I lived in India for 2 years. The thought of travelling from Delhi to south India by train send horrible shivers down my spine! Each to their own I guess.
