Mountain biking expedition in Sikkim

Gangtok, Mar 26 (ANI): Around 50 cyclists, including foreigners, took part in the 2nd Kanchenjunga International mountain biking expedition, which began in Sikkim recently.

The mountain biking expedition, which concludes on March 30, is organized by the State Tourism Department in association with Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation Limited.

There were participants from United States, Europe, Nepal and Canada. The rally also saw the teams from Army and Air Force edging past each other on rugged yet beautiful surroundings. There were four women participants also.

The riders are supposed to cover 495-kilometer in ten days.

Kazi Sherpa, an official from Department of Tourism, Sikkim said that international participation would boost the adventure tourism in Sikkim.

"The number of participants this year are almost double if you compare them with the last years participation. Last year there were twenty-two participants and this year there are fifty participants," said Sherpa.

Tim, a participant from United States said that he took part in the expedition because he wanted to explore more of India.

"I heard it's a beautiful. I have never been to this area of the world before and I always wanted to explore more of India that is the reason why I'm here. Here the people are very nice, everyone is very friendly and there are a lot of hills," said Tim.

The excited participants said that the hills of Sikkim provide the much-needed challenge and add to the adrenaline rush.

Sikkim is the first state to organize this kind of mountain biking expedition. By Tashi Pradhan (ANI)