K2K ON MY BICYCLE
Kashmir to Kanyakumari
MY EXPERIENCE CYCLING SOLO FROM KASHMIR TO KANYAKUMARI.
Hi, I'm Arjun Mark, and I successfully finished cycling solo from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, also known as K2K. The sole reason to create this blog is to share with anyone who is planning a K2K and want an overall insight to the route, itinerary, stays, challenges, equipment, safety, what to expect, and a day by day breakdown to help plan their route.
I am not a pro cyclist, but my love for adventure and the outdoors made me take on this challenge purely for fun, of-course after months of meticulous planning and some training beforehand.
I am going to keep this blog very short, informative and discuss only what’s essential.
My itinerary was personalised for me. However, you can adjust it to suit your own endurance, preference, purpose, schedule, budget and lifestyle.
Everything I’ve shared here is based solely on my personal views and experience and they aren’t really recommendations.
I had a vehicle follow me at a 20min proximity for any en-route emergencies or assistance.
Distance covered - 3,600 Kms
No. of days - 27 cycling days + rest days
Bicycle: Trek 520
So…Here we go!
Day 1
SRINAGAR TO BANIHAL
JKTDC, Tourist Bungalow Banihal - Hotel Highway Udhampur, Udhampur - 90km
This is quite an easy ride. Excellent roads with average traffic. There are army and fleets of army trucks all along the way. Thrilling to see them all along.
You will come across an 8km long tunnel where cyclists aren’t allowed. So you might have to hitchhike on the truck, take an alternate route, or carry it on your own support vehicle if you have one. Don’t sneak into the tunnel even if you had the chance as it could be dangerous.
JKTDC is a fairly decent place to halt. Very basic, but enough.
Day 2
BANIHAL TO UDAMPUR
22-dec JKTDC, Tourist Bungalow Banihal - Hotel Highway Udhampur, Udhampur - 90km
The initial 25km is an absolute breeze with a lot of downhill. Post this stretch its mostly climbing, more harder climbing with downhills on and off.
Will will come across a couple of short tunnels that you can ride thru easily. However, there is a 9km tunnel in this route as well. This is a narrow tunnel and advise not to ride thru this tunnel has its potential dangers on a bicycle. Better to hitchhike your bicycle or take an alternate route if you find one.
Post this tunnel the ride is quite easy with a little bit of uphill but mostly downhill and enjoyable until the end of the ride.
Day 3
UDAMPUR TO PATHANKOT
23-dec Hotel Highway Udhampur, Udhampur - Kay Kay Resort, NH 44, Surajpur Jikkla, Himachal Pradesh , Pathankot - 142km
The first half is a very pleasurable ride thru the wilderness and downhill twisties. You can reach incredibly high speeds here, making it an exhilarating experience! Take advantage of the scenic ride and take a lot of pictures because this will be the last leg of the ghats.
The second half is thru the highway. You can do good speed.
Day 4
PATHANKOT TO PHAGWARA
27-dec - Kay Kay Resort, NH 44, Surajpur Jikkla, Himachal Pradesh , Pathankot - The Imperial Poonam Hotel, Phagwara - 124km
Durning December, you will ride thru mist throughout the day. It’s very enjoyable and absolute straight roads. The entire route is thru the highway. Easy and enjoyable. Enjoy the loud Jhatt punjabi music in hundred’s of tractors all along the way if you happen to be riding around this time of year!
Day 5
PHAGWARA TO AMBALA
28-dec - The Imperial Poonam Hotel, Phagwara - Hotel Golden Orchid, Kalka chownk, New Vita Enclave Rd, Ambala - 146km
If you start early before sunrise during winter months, the fog is intense. You can barely see beyond 10 meters(not exaggerating), but thats makes it very pleasurable to ride. Its entirety flat roads on the highway but come by a lot traffic after a couple of hours of riding.
The good part is that from Phagwara, a service lane starts and you can take advantage of this lane most of the travel route. It was well maintained. This road will be a pleasent contrast to the earlier days to that of the traffic on the main highway.
To be honest, its just monotonous pedalling all the way after a couple o hours of riding in the fog.
Day 6
AMBALA TO PANIPAT
29-dec - Hotel Golden Orchid, Kalka chownk, New Vita Enclave Rd, Ambala - HOTEL HIVE PANIPAT, Opp. Pillar No.41, Grand Trunk Rd, Panipat - 117km
I liked to start early, as I loved riding in the fog end of the year. Great weather to ride. Straight roads, and lots of traffic! But again, you can stick to the service lanes 80% of the time as it’s well maintained. Play some music on your headphones to replace the traffic sounds and you’ll reach in a breeze!
PANIPAT TO DELHI/ NOIDA
30-dec - HOTEL HIVE PANIPAT, Opp. Pillar No.41, Grand Trunk Rd, Panipat - Radisson Blu Hotel, Noida - 148km
It was a pleasure to ride. Lot of fog, great weather and well maintained service lane all along the way for a super safe ride.
Once you enter Delhi, the traffic and the pollution on the road gets horrible. Wear a face make if you have to.
Day 7
Day X
XXXXXXXXXXX
XX-dX X X X. X X X X X ikkla, Himachal Pradesh , Pathankot - The Imperial Poonam Hotel, Phagwara - X X X X X. X X
XXXXXX X X X X X. X X X X X e thru mist throughout the day. It’s very enjoyable and absolute straight roads. The entire route is thru the highway. Easy and enjoyable. Enjoy the loud Jhatt punjabi music in hundred’s of tractors all along the way if you happen to be riding around this time of year!
Day X
XXXXXXXXXXX
XX-dX X X X. X X X X X ikkla, Himachal Pradesh , Pathankot - The Imperial Poonam Hotel, Phagwara - X X X X X. X X
XXXXXX X X X X X. X X X X X e thru mist throughout the day. It’s very enjoyable and absolute straight roads. The entire route is thru the highway. Easy and enjoyable. Enjoy the loud Jhatt punjabi music in hundred’s of tractors all along the way if you happen to be riding around this time of year!
Day X
XXXXXXXXXXX
XX-dX X X X. X X X X X ikkla, Himachal Pradesh , Pathankot - The Imperial Poonam Hotel, Phagwara - X X X X X. X X
XXXXXX X X X X X. X X X X X e thru mist throughout the day. It’s very enjoyable and absolute straight roads. The entire route is thru the highway. Easy and enjoyable. Enjoy the loud Jhatt punjabi music in hundred’s of tractors all along the way if you happen to be riding around this time of year!
Day X
XXXXXXXXXXX
XX-dX X X X. X X X X X ikkla, Himachal Pradesh , Pathankot - The Imperial Poonam Hotel, Phagwara - X X X X X. X X
XXXXXX X X X X X. X X X X X e thru mist throughout the day. It’s very enjoyable and absolute straight roads. The entire route is thru the highway. Easy and enjoyable. Enjoy the loud Jhatt punjabi music in hundred’s of tractors all along the way if you happen to be riding around this time of year!
Day X
XXXXXXXXXXX
XX-dX X X X. X X X X X ikkla, Himachal Pradesh , Pathankot - The Imperial Poonam Hotel, Phagwara - X X X X X. X X
XXXXXX X X X X X. X X X X X e thru mist throughout the day. It’s very enjoyable and absolute straight roads. The entire route is thru the highway. Easy and enjoyable. Enjoy the loud Jhatt punjabi music in hundred’s of tractors all along the way if you happen to be riding around this time of year!
Day X
XXXXXXXXXXX
XX-dX X X X. X X X X X ikkla, Himachal Pradesh , Pathankot - The Imperial Poonam Hotel, Phagwara - X X X X X. X X
XXXXXX X X X X X. X X X X X e thru mist throughout the day. It’s very enjoyable and absolute straight roads. The entire route is thru the highway. Easy and enjoyable. Enjoy the loud Jhatt punjabi music in hundred’s of tractors all along the way if you happen to be riding around this time of year!
Day X
XXXXXXXXXXX
XX-dX X X X. X X X X X ikkla, Himachal Pradesh , Pathankot - The Imperial Poonam Hotel, Phagwara - X X X X X. X X
XXXXXX X X X X X. X X X X X e thru mist throughout the day. It’s very enjoyable and absolute straight roads. The entire route is thru the highway. Easy and enjoyable. Enjoy the loud Jhatt punjabi music in hundred’s of tractors all along the way if you happen to be riding around this time of year!
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