When my photog buddy Dan Milner contacted me about this project, a rad adventure through West Bengal’s forest trails, train rides and unlimited cups of tea, I tied my shoe laces and got on the flight to Bagdogra in north India.
On this journey I joined some of the finest in the sport – World champ BMX and MTB racer – Steffi Marth from Germany, incredible action sports photographer – Dan Milner, documentary filmmaker buddy from Kerala – Varun Nair, ace filmmaker Thomas Hessmann from Germany and master of ceremonies, Mountain Bike Kerala bossman and big bro – Michael McLean.
Our journey begins. Starting from New Jalpaiguri at 80 meters, the train, build in 1879, takes us -rumbling and honking to Kurseong at about 2,000 meters.
The first trails lead us across never-ending tea plantations on the slopes of Darjeeling.
The old steam locomotives set the pace for an entire region. We park the bikes and are astonished from the beauty of this country.
After the open tea fields, Steffi and Vinay have to fight their way through dense bamboo forests.
We experience how mountain biking becomes a global language. Our new friends proudly show us their trails in West Bengal.
We get closer to our goal and cross the Nepalese border for the first time at 3,000 meters on the way to the Himalayas.
At over 3,600 meters we have reached our goal. In front of the amazing backdrop of the highest mountain range in the world, we are grateful for this experience and head home, charged with many emotions, encounters and impressions.
vinaymenon.com 