MTB Himalaya - 10 years of Mountain Bike race in Himalaya

HASTPA – the organizer has energized the event with fresh ideas brought about with an experience of 9 years pedaling through the most gruesome terrains of the Himalayas. An advanced route, better cycling conditions, and revamped structured management, for an all together distinct and improved cycling adventure.

Himalayas are the highest mountain ranges in the world offering a vast and distinctive terrain for mountain biking. Once you climb a peak you see a higher peak ahead. Every turn offers new views, different perspective and whole new world.

You see mountain and mountains around. The higher you go, thinner the air gets and harder you push. The downhill are super fast with lots of curves after every 5 roll of wheels. Neither one like to slow down nor one can take the chance getting out of the track to the deep gorge along side. A perfect sync between you and the road ahead makes you reach the finish line.


A unique place, different people & different culture everything around motivates you to move ahead and explore the hidden wonders inside.


Just an half hour pedaling around the city chaos, you reach a different silent world, in the deep big Himalayan valleys.

The weather remains unexpected through out the race days.A bright sunny morning can turn into a muddy and grueling day.

The race has seen some top class riders from across the world like world number 9 Luis Leao Pinto ,Ajay Pandit Chetari to name few setting up new benchmarks at the race , completing race stages in 3-4 hours every day, which used to be completely unexpected for every spectator here in India.

The race has been recognized & supported bu International Mountain Bicycling Assocation ( IMBA) and supported by Hero cycles(World's largest cycle & parts manufacturer), Discovery Channel ( a pioneer in outdoor shows), Suunto & Salomon and ,marketed by India's widely read The Times of India.

The complete race numbers for this year are -
Start Date : 26th September
End Date : 3rd October
Start/End Place : Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Total Days : 8
Riding Days : 6
Distance : 500KM
Elevation gain : Approx 2000-2500m each day
Maximum Elevation : Approx 3100m
Race Type : Cross Country, Enduro
Terrain Type : Off-road, Broken Tarmac, Gravel, Rocks, Mud, Sand, Lose Rock, Single track
Stay Type : Hotel and Tents

The highest point that the race will cover this year is Jalori Pass. It is a high mountain pass at an approx elevation of 10,800 ft (3,120m) above the sea level situated in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. The climb to jalori pass on a mountain bike is a real test of endurance and will-power .

Jalori pass climb is a 28KM/17Miles steep ascent taking you from an approx elevation of 1300m to 3100m , a total of 1800m elevation gain.

The pain is temporary but the joy and feeling of reaching the top and victory of overcoming our limits is endless.

The numbers doesn’t do justice to the scenic beauty, terrain and the continuous tones of millions of living things around in the Himalayan habitat.The contentment and achievement of reaching at the place is just out of this world.

Each day ends at an exquisite campsite in the interiors of the Himalayas, where there is a no existence of modern concrete jungle. A comfortable sleep in a tent is all that is required to stay most closest to the nature.

There are a lot of things that one can write a whole chapter to describe every second of the moment lived. Await some more interesting write up in coming days.

Now, if you have got some instinct to feel the adrenalin rush of mountain biking in Himalaya, www.mtbhimalaya.com or www.hastpa.org has all the details described on it. One can also get in touch with the organizers at mtbhimalaya@hastpa.org | +91-177-2659797

Follow the race at www.mtbhimalaya.com