Mountain biking is an adventurous and exhilarating sport that involves riding a bicycle on off-road trails, often over rough and uneven terrain. Mountain biking can challenge your physical and mental skills, as well as your sense of exploration and adventure. Mountain biking can also offer you a unique way to experience the natural beauty and diversity of India, as you ride through mountains, forests, valleys, and villages.

However, you cannot just pick up your mountain bike and start without any preparation or planning. One of the most important aspects of mountain biking is trail selection. Choosing the right trail for your skill level, interest, and safety can make a huge difference in your enjoyment and satisfaction of mountain biking.

Choosing the wrong trail can result in frustration, boredom, injury, or even danger. In this blog post, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide to mountain bike trails in India, covering the following topics:

a. Famous mountain bike trails in India

b. Local mountain bike trails

c. Trail difficulty levels

d. Trail features

e. Trail maintenance and trail building

By the end of this blog post, you will have a better understanding of the various aspects of mountain bike trails in India, and how to select and respect the trails that suit your needs and preferences. Let’s get started!

India is a vast and diverse country that offers a plethora of options for mountain bikers of all levels and tastes. Whether you are looking for high-altitude challenges, scenic views, cultural encounters, or technical features, you can find a trail that matches your expectations and goals. Here are some of the famous mountain bike trails in India that you can explore and experience:

Manali to Spiti Valley: This is one of the most popular and challenging mountain bike trails in India, as it takes you through the Himalayan ranges, crossing several high passes, such as Rohtang Pass, Kunzum Pass, and Baralacha Pass. The trail is suitable for advanced and experienced bikers, as it requires a high level of fitness, endurance, and technical skills.

Bomdila to Tawang: This is another famous and challenging mountain bike trail in India, as it takes you through the Arunachal Pradesh region, which is also known as the land of the rising sun. The trail is suitable for intermediate and advanced bikers, as it involves climbing several steep and winding roads, such as the Sela Pass, which is one of the highest motorable passes in the world.

Siliguri to Darjeeling: This is a famous and scenic mountain bike trail in India, as it takes you through the tea gardens and hill stations of West Bengal. The trail is suitable for beginner and intermediate bikers, as it involves moderate climbs and descents, and smooth and paved roads.

Shillong to Cherrapunji: This is a famous and unique mountain bike trail in India, as it takes you through the wettest place on earth, Cherrapunji, which is also known as Sohra. The trail is suitable for beginner and intermediate bikers, as it involves mostly downhill and flat terrain, and gravel and dirt roads.



While the famous mountain bike trails in India can offer you a thrilling and adventurous experience, they are not always easy to access, plan, or afford. Moreover, they are not suitable for regular practice or training, as they require a lot of time, energy, and resources. 

Therefore, it is important to discover and explore the local mountain bike trails in your area, which can offer you a convenient and fun way to enjoy mountain biking on a regular basis. Local mountain bike trails are the trails that are located near your home, town, or city, and that can be easily reached by bike, car, or public transport. 

Local mountain bike trails can vary in length, difficulty, and scenery, depending on the terrain and landscape of your area. Local mountain bike trails can offer you many benefits, such as: 

Importance of local trails for regular practice:

Local mountain bike trails can help you improve your mountain biking skills and fitness, as you can practice and train on them frequently and consistently. Local mountain bike trails can also help you prepare for the famous mountain bike trails in India, as you can familiarize yourself with the different trail features and difficulty levels, and build your confidence and endurance.

Tips on finding and selecting the best local trails:

Finding and selecting the best local mountain bike trails can be a challenging and rewarding task, as you can discover new and exciting places to ride and explore. 

Here are some tips on how to find and select the best local mountain bike trails:

Use online resources: One of the easiest and most effective ways to find local mountain bike trails is to use online resources, such as websites, apps, blogs, forums, and social media, that provide information, reviews, ratings, maps, and photos of the trails in your area.

Explore your surroundings: Another way to find local mountain bike trails is to explore your surroundings, and look for potential places to ride and enjoy.

Mountain biking is a fun and exciting sport that can challenge riders of all skill levels. However, not all trails are suitable for every rider. That’s why it’s important to understand the different difficulty levels of mountain bike trails and how to select a trail that matches your abilities and preferences.

The most common system for rating the difficulty of mountain bike trails is the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Trail Difficulty Rating System. This system uses a three-step system of green, blue, and black to indicate the level of difficulty of a trail. Within each level, there are sub-levels of easy, more difficult, very difficult, and extremely difficult, which are marked by symbols such as circles, squares, diamonds, and double diamonds.

Before you hit the trails, it’s important to assess your skill level and choose a trail that matches it. Riding a trail that is too easy or too hard can be boring, frustrating, or dangerous. Here are some tips on how to select a trail based on your skill level: 

Check the trail rating and description: Most trails have signs or maps that indicate their difficulty rating and provide a brief description of their features, length, elevation, and conditions. 

Start with easier trails and progress gradually: If you are new to mountain biking or unfamiliar with a trail system, it’s a good idea to start with easier trails and work your way up to harder ones. 

Know your limits and respect them: Don’t ride a trail that is beyond your skill level or comfort zone, especially if you are alone or in a remote area.

Mountain bike trails can have various features that add fun and excitement to the ride. Some of the most common features are drops, jumps, and berms.

a. Drops: A drop is a feature where the trail suddenly drops down from a higher level to a lower level, creating a gap or a step.

b. Jumps: A jump is a feature where the trail launches the rider into the air, creating a gap or a transition.

c. Berms: A berm is a feature where the trail curves sharply, creating a banked or raised edge on the outside of the curve.



Drops: To handle drops safely, you need to have good speed control, body position, and timing. Here are some tips and techniques for handling drops:

1. Approach the drop with enough speed to clear the gap, but not too fast to lose control.

2. As you approach the edge of the drop, shift your body weight back and push your bike forward.

Jumps: To handle jumps safely, you need to have good speed control, body position, and timing. Here are some tips and techniques for handling jumps:

1. Approach the jump with enough speed to clear the gap, but not too fast to lose control.

2. As you approach the lip of the jump, shift your body weight slightly forward and pull your bike up.

Berms: To handle berms safely, you need to have good speed control, body position, and line choice. Here are some tips and techniques for handling berms:

1. Approach the berm with enough speed to carry you through the curve, but not too fast to lose traction or overshoot the exit.

2. As you enter the berm, shift your body weight slightly to the outside and lean your bike to the inside.



Mountain bike trails are not only a source of fun and adventure, but also a valuable asset for the environment and the community. That’s why it’s important to maintain and build trails in a responsible and sustainable way. 

Trail maintenance and building are not only a duty, but also an art that requires knowledge, skills, and creativity. Importance of trail maintenance for safety and sustainability Trail maintenance is the process of keeping the trails in good condition and preventing or repairing any damage or deterioration caused by natural or human factors.

Safety: Trail maintenance ensures that the trails are safe and enjoyable for all users. It reduces the risks of injuries, accidents, or conflicts caused by hazards, obstacles, or poor visibility.

Sustainability: Trail maintenance protects the trails and the surrounding environment from erosion, degradation, or pollution.

Quality: Trail maintenance enhances the quality and diversity of the trail experience.

In conclusion, mountain biking is an exciting and rewarding sport that offers a unique way to explore the natural beauty and diversity of India. However, choosing the right trail for your skill level, interest, and safety can make a huge difference in your enjoyment and satisfaction. By understanding the different difficulty levels, features, and maintenance requirements of mountain bike trails, you can select and respect the trails that suit your needs and preferences. Whether you are a seasoned rider or a beginner, India has a wide range of mountain bike trails that can offer you an unforgettable adventure and experience.