Route library · Weekend · Mountains
Delhi to Binsar
Binsar is a small wildlife sanctuary on a forested ridge above Almora, topping out near 2,400 m. There is almost nothing to do here except walk in the oak and rhododendron, watch for leopard and barking deer sign, and stand at the Zero Point clearing for a roughly 300 kilometre view of the Kumaon and Garhwal Himalaya. That emptiness is the point.
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At a glance
- Round trip
- About 800–880 km
- Riding time
- 9–10 hours each way — a long day, best split at Almora or Nainital
- Nights
- One is possible; two is comfortable
- Start point
- Delhi (via Rampur, Kathgodam and Almora)
- Highest point
- About 2,400 m at Zero Point inside the sanctuary
- Difficulty
- Moderate. Good roads the whole way, one short rough forest stretch inside the gate, distance is the main challenge.
- Surface
- Sealed and reasonable to good throughout; the 11 km from the Ayarpani gate to the rest house is a narrow, patchy forest road
- Best season
- March to June and September to November. Winter is cold and can bring light snow to the ridge; the monsoon brings cloud that hides the view.
The ride
Delhi → Rampur → Kathgodam → Almora, then a short run to the Ayarpani gate of the sanctuary, about 11 km before the rest house. You pay the entry and vehicle fee at the gate and ride the last narrow forest road in.
Inside, walk to Zero Point (about 2 km each way from the KMVN) for the panorama — Chaukhamba, Trishul, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot and the Panchachuli group in one line — and take the shorter trails around Binsar Mahadev and the old Zero Estate bungalow. On the way in or out, the Kasar Devi ridge and Almora's old bazaar are worth an hour.
Day by day
Delhi to Almora or Binsar
Delhi → Rampur → Kathgodam → Almora (9–10 hours). If you reach Almora with good light, ride the last hour to the Binsar gate and stay inside; otherwise sleep in Almora.
Binsar — walk the sanctuary
Enter at the gate, ride to the rest house, and walk to Zero Point for the panorama, ideally at first light or late afternoon. Short forest trails fill the rest of the day.
Binsar to Delhi
Ride out through Almora and the long highway home. Start early to clear the plains before the afternoon heat.
Fuel & services
- Fuel is easy the whole way to Almora — Rampur, Rudrapur, Haldwani, Kathgodam and Almora all have pumps.
- There is no fuel inside the sanctuary and none on the ridge. Fill up in Almora before the gate; it is roughly 40–50 km in and out plus the trails.
- Accommodation inside is limited to the KMVN rest house and a handful of forest lodges and resorts — book well ahead. The gate closes in the evening and no entry is allowed after dark. Carry cash; there is no market inside.
Road & conditions
Almost the entire route is sealed and in fair-to-good condition. The plains leg to Kathgodam is busy and slow; the hill road through Bhowali and Almora is winding but well surfaced. The only rough part is the 11 km forest track from the Ayarpani gate to the rest house — narrow, patchy and slow, but easy in daylight. Watch for wildlife on the road inside the sanctuary, especially at dawn and dusk.
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
- The nearest well-equipped hospital is the valley/district town, one to two hours off; signal is patchy above the bazaar; carry the group lead's number and an emergency card.
Best time to ride
Mid-September to November is the clearest, with sharp post-monsoon views. March to June is green and mild with rhododendron colour. Winter is cold and can dust the ridge with snow. The monsoon usually loses the view behind cloud and brings leeches to the trails.
What to add to your kit
Beyond the standard ride kit: a warm layer for the ridge evenings, walking shoes for the Zero Point trail, a torch (no street lighting inside), cash, and binoculars if you have them. Nothing technical needed.
Ride this with a group
We run Binsar as an easy two-night Kumaon weekend — the long day split at Almora, the sanctuary rules briefed, and a viewpoint clean-up inside the gate.