Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board has launched a two-year partnership with a private motorbike company to promote moto tourism, beginning with a 1,520-km expedition through Bhopal, Pachmarhi, Pench, Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Panna. The nine-day ride was flagged off from Bhopal on Thursday and will continue until October 10.
The expedition brings together 22 riders from India and abroad, including 55-year-old French motorcyclist Fabienne Christine Janine Dupuis. The route is designed to combine motorcycle travel with wildlife safaris, forested landscapes, heritage sites and cultural experiences across the state.
Wildlife tourism is a central component of the itinerary. Riders will undertake guided morning core-zone jeep safaris in the Pench, Kanha and Bandhavgarh tiger reserves. The launch coincided with the opening of Madhya Pradesh’s tiger reserves after their monsoon break.
The route also includes visits involving traditional pottery and local craftsmanship, along with interactions with Baiga tribal communities to showcase their art, traditions and heritage. Organisers said these experiences are intended to create exchanges between travellers and local communities and highlight tourism’s potential to support indigenous livelihoods.
Dupuis said she was excited to explore Madhya Pradesh’s natural landscapes and wildlife destinations up close on a two-wheeler. The participation of riders from outside India is part of the tourism board’s effort to position the state as a destination for longer, experience-led travel rather than short visits centred on individual attractions.
Ilayaraja T, secretary of Tourism and managing director of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, described the state as a “unique canvas for motorcycle tourism”, citing its tiger reserves, Pachmarhi hills, historic sites and tribal villages. He said motorcycle tourism allowed travellers to experience the state’s diversity at a more immersive pace, with the journey itself forming part of the destination experience.
Under the memorandum of understanding covering 2026 to 2028, the tourism board plans to co-curate additional formats including heritage rides, off-road trail experiences and scenic motorcycle routes connecting established destinations with lesser-explored areas. The partnership is also expected to emphasise responsible riding and sustainable travel, including respect for local communities, cultural heritage and natural ecosystems.
The initiative places new demands on how tourism routes through forest and rural regions are organised. The current expedition combines public-road travel with regulated wildlife safaris, making coordination between tourism operators, forest authorities, local communities and visitors an important part of the programme. The supplied announcement does not provide details on visitor caps, route-level infrastructure upgrades or the operating protocols for future off-road experiences.
The inaugural ride will conclude in Bhopal during the seventh Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart 2026. The October 7–10 event is expected to bring delegates from 34 countries, and the participating riders will be felicitated alongside tourism industry stakeholders. The travel mart will also be used to showcase the state’s planned motorcycle tourism offerings.