Road to Kalinjar Turns Riders into Ambassadors for Bundelkhand*

Lucknow/Banda, Aug 3: A two day motorcycle expedition through Bundelkhand has done more than introduce riders to Kalinjar Fort. It has turned many first time visitors into advocates for one of Uttar Pradesh's most overlooked tourism regions. The inaugural edition of 'The Riding Chapters: Visit My State', organised by Uttar Pradesh Tourism, concluded on Monday after nearly 65 riders completed a 330 km journey from Lucknow to Kalinjar Fort, passing through Kanpur, Bindki and Banda before an overnight stay at Chitrakoot. Along the way, participants experienced Bundelkhand's rural hospitality at Gulmohar Eco Spot, explored Kalinjar Fort and interacted with local communities, giving them a first hand introduction to destinations that rarely feature on conventional travel itineraries. Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh, who flagged off the expedition, said the initiative reflects the department's effort to encourage travellers to look beyond Uttar Pradesh's established destinations. "Our objective is to create new travel experiences around destinations that have immense historical and tourism value but remain relatively unexplored. Adventure tourism can become an effective medium to bring these hidden treasures into the mainstream," he said. For many participants, the expedition altered their perception of Bundelkhand as a travel destination. Akhil Mishra, one of the riders, said the journey demonstrated how well planned motorcycle expeditions can inspire travellers to rediscover their own state. "The ride was exceptionally organised, with meticulous planning and strong emphasis on rider safety. More importantly, it introduced many of us to places we had never considered visiting earlier. It was an experience that I would readily recommend to fellow riders," he said. Harsh Vardhan Gupta said the journey stood out because it offered much more than a visit to a monument. "From the rural hospitality at Gulmohar Eco Spot to the heritage of Kalinjar Fort and the traditional welcome at Chitrakoot, every stop reflected a different facet of Bundelkhand. It showed that the region has everything needed for memorable weekend road trips," he said. For Vimlesh Mishra of the Lucknow Harley Davidson Group, the expedition reinforced the appeal of heritage destinations that remain outside mainstream tourism. "The route, the landscapes and Kalinjar Fort together made this one of the most memorable rides I have undertaken. It is a destination that deserves far greater visibility among riders and travellers alike," he said. Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Culture and Religious Affairs Amrit Abhijat said curated road expeditions offer an opportunity to promote destinations through experience rather than publicity alone. "When travellers spend time in local communities, experience regional cuisine and explore heritage sites first hand, they become the strongest ambassadors for a destination. That is the approach behind initiatives like The Riding Chapters," he said. Following the successful conclusion of the Kalinjar expedition, Uttar Pradesh Tourism will organise the next edition of The Riding Chapters later this month, taking riders to Devdari Waterfalls, Rajdari Waterfalls and Chunar Fort, as it continues to build themed road journeys around the state's emerging tourism destinations.