Route library · Short · City-edge
Aravalli Backroads: Mangar, Damdama & Dhauj
A half-day loop through the quiet side of the NCR Aravallis. Most riders in Delhi have never turned off for Mangar Bani or Dhauj — which is exactly why it is worth doing. Gentle roads, a sacred forest, a lake and some quiet crags, and you are home before lunch.
Send to WhatsApp Download GPX Plan this trip Notes verified September 2026 · something changed?
At a glance
- Round trip
- About 120–140 km
- Time on the road
- 3–4 hours riding, plus stops
- Start point
- The south-west edge of the NCR (Gwal Pahari / Faridabad Road side)
- Highest point
- Around 400 m — low Aravalli ridges
- Difficulty
- Easy. Fine for a new rider and a first group ride.
- Surface
- Mostly good tarmac; the Mangar and Dhauj approach lanes are narrow and patchy
- Best season
- October to March, and early mornings all year. Avoid May–June afternoons.
The ride
The Aravalli hills are the oldest range in India and the green lung that keeps Delhi's air and water table from collapsing. The stretch of Aravalli between the NCR and Faridabad is criss-crossed with small roads that see almost no traffic once you leave the highway — dry-scrub hills, old mining scars slowly healing, and the occasional peacock crossing in front of you.
This loop strings together three of the best bits: Mangar Bani, a community-protected sacred grove that is the last patch of natural forest left in the National Capital Region; Damdama Lake, a reservoir under the ridge; and the Dhauj area, a cluster of small Aravalli lakes and rock faces that climbers use.
The loop
- Head out on the ridge road towards Gwal Pahari and Faridabad and turn off for Mangar. Ride slowly past the edge of Mangar Bani — do not ride into the grove, and do not litter; local people protect this forest.
- Carry on through Bandhwari towards Damdama Lake. Stop for tea. It gets busy on Sunday afternoons, so go early.
- From Damdama, take the small roads towards Dhauj — Aravalli lakes and rock faces. Ride gently; the lanes are narrow and used by livestock.
- Loop back via Pali and Kot to Faridabad, or back the way you came.
Fuel & services
- Fuel is easy across the NCR, Sohna and Faridabad — fill up before you turn off the highway.
- No reliable petrol pump inside the Aravalli lanes (Mangar, Bandhwari, Dhauj). Start with a full tank.
- Tea and snacks at Damdama Lake and the larger villages. Carry water; there is little shade.
Road & conditions
The main roads are good. The lanes into Mangar and Dhauj are single-track, patchy, and sometimes broken by mining trucks — ride at a relaxed pace and expect gravel on corners. Leopards do move through the Mangar–Dhauj belt at dawn and dusk; ride steadily and do not stop alone in remote spots.
Bike, fuel & getting help
- Suggested bike
- Fine on a well-maintained 150–200cc commuter.
- Fuel gap
- One long stretch without a pump — fill up before it and top off where you can.
- Spare fuel
- Carry 3–5 litres of spare fuel.
- Emergency & logistics
- District hospitals within an hour or so; full mobile coverage; mechanics in every town. A short, low-stakes ride.
Best time to ride
October to March is ideal — cool, clear, and the scrub is at its greenest just after the monsoon. From April the heat builds fast; by May and June you should be off the road by 10 a.m. Mornings are pleasant almost all year.
What to add to your kit
Beyond the standard ride kit: extra water, sunscreen, and a cloth or buff for dust. A gentle ride close to home.
Stories from this route: The morning I almost didn't ride · Nine bags, and a cold wind off the water · As quietly as twelve bikes can go
Ride this with a group
We run this as a beginner-friendly meetup loop — briefed, with a lead and a sweep, and a clean-up at the lake. A good first ride with ROAR.