From off-road trails to hilly serpentine roads, the state of West Bengal is full of challenging and picturesque motorcycle riding routes
India is a country known for its diversity. From different cuisines to languages and dress codes, every part of the country has something different to offer. Keeping aside the cultural varieties, every state also offers unique picturesque motorcycling routes full of challenges.
In the following paragraphs, we have listed some tourist spots in the state of West Bengal that are ideal for motorcycle tourers. The routes to reach those spots cater to the needs of every hardcore rider.
Algara to Rishop
Sitting amid dense jungle at an altitude of 5,100 feet is the small isolated village named Rishop. In West Bengal’s Kalimpong distance, the village, in a literal sense, has nothing; no medical shops, petrol pumps, grocery stores, schools or hospitals.
To reach Rishop, one needs to ride from Siliguri. Until Algara, the entire route is like any other mountainous route with hairpin bends and serpentine roads. However, the seven-kilometre stretch from Algara to Rishop is haunting. No sign of life, the route full of boulders, mud and slush, and an eerie feeling.
Kolkata to Ballavpur
If you are someone who prefers to hit the three-digit mark, visit Ballavpur; a small village around 250 kilometres away from Kolkata. To reach the village, you will have to use the National Highway 2, which is famous for fast cruising.
The entire route is full of smooth tarmac and the village of Ballavpur is known for its famous ‘Baul’ folk singers. Five kilometres away is the world-renowned university of Vishwa Bharati, founded in 1921 by Rabindranath Tagore.
Darjeeling, Mirik, Sandakphu
If you love hills, waterfalls and tea gardens, you must ride to places such as Darjeeling, Mirik, Sandakphu and a few more in northern West Bengal. The route we would like you to take starts from Kolkata and goes through historic cities like Krishnagar, Plassey (Battle of Plassey), Berhampore, Farrakka, Malda, Siliguri and Sevoke. You can chart a course on digital maps.
Dams and cottage stay
Just want a cosy ride to nowhere? Visit Mukutmanipur or Doladanga backpackers’ camp; isolated places with nothing around but a big water body controlled by massive dams and warm cottage lodgings with rural cuisines of Bengal (bhaat, macher jhol, aloo posto and kosha mangsho!)
