Biking has captured the hearts of women as much as men, and these ten inspiring Indian women bikers exemplify this every day. From defence personnel to actors, these women hail from diverse backgrounds but share a common love for motorcycles.
As women continue to break barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields, gender roles are evolving, challenging societal norms and expectations. Biking, once seen as a male domain, is now being embraced by many Indian women, defying stereotypes.
These trailblazers are making remarkable strides in the biking world, riding powerful motorcycles and racing at top speeds. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the stories of Indian women bikers whose passion for riding will ignite your own pursuits, regardless of societal constraints.
Top women bikers in India and their inspiring stories
Gul Panag – Actor
The former Miss India holds many titles — producer, actor, aviator and biker. She is one of the few female Bollywood celebrities who are passionate about riding. Her biking journey started at 17, and Panag has been unstoppable ever since. Taking her love for biking to the next level, she even incorporated it into her wedding! Panag’s traditional doli was replaced by a Royal Enfield Bullet, with her seated in the sidecar and her husband at the wheel.
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Gul Panag shared the story behind her unique two-wheeled doli: “I’m often asked about the doli or ‘getaway vehicle ‘. The initial plan was to go on a bike. Since I was wearing my mother’s lehenga, I was afraid of getting it stuck in the wheel. So the husband found a fabricator in Nangal who made sidecars and ordered one. It arrived the night before the wedding. Husband, his brother @rusty_clicks and @sherbirpanag were up all night attaching it to the bike (it’s quite a task). We then got all our friends and family to ride Royal Enfield bikes as part of the procession that included women riders (@Simrit kaur34 @simranpotnis and my Bhoa, their mother, then 65 years old) along with the doli. This ride was definitely the highlight!”
Follow Gul Panag on Instagram.
Jyoti Mehta – Airforce officer
For Group Captain Jyoti Mehta, motorcycling is “not all about speed and stunts”. “It has taught me patience, acceptance and equanimity,” Mehta, an officer in the Indian Air Force, started riding as a teenager.
Riding pushed Mehta down unfamiliar roads and empowered her to handle various challenges, fostering self-reliance. However, in her early days, she faced a setback during the National Thunderbolt Motorcycle Rally when her bike broke down, forcing her to push it through nearly five to six kilometres of rocky terrain. “But this incident instilled in me the confidence that I had the strength, skills and ability to face whatever challenges lay ahead in the future,” Mehta shared with Travel + Leisure India and South Asia (T+L).
She was also a part of the Woman Riders World Rally (WRWR) in 2019, where a baton was carried across six continents to unite women riders globally. Mehta and fellow women riders received the baton at the Wagah Border and brought it to the Nepal border to pass it on.
The camaraderie and bonds she formed with fellow riders on such adventures are what she values most. Regardless of their backgrounds, the shared passion for riding unites women and fosters a sense of sisterhood.
Jesslina Nayyar – Model and actor
Nayyar brought her passion for riding to her career, she told T+L, “Acting and modelling as a profession involves a lot of travelling, and so does biking; I just combine the two!” Whether it is an audition or a shoot, she makes it a point to use her bike to reach the location.
Her passion for riding started at 18. “I always wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle. Riding gives the freedom to go where you wish to,” she mentioned. Before she got her own bike, she would borrow her friend’s motorcycle and ride it for hours from Noida to Gurgaon with her friends as a pillion.
During her modelling career, she had the chance to combine work with her passion for riding when she starred in a campaign for Royal Enfield. With over eight years of experience, Nayyar ensures she dedicates time to her passion by setting aside a few days exclusively for riding, she revealed.
Follow Jesslina Nayyar on Instagram.
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Priya Puri – Golf instructor
Puri harboured a childhood dream of riding a bike but lacked role models in her circle. As a golf coach and owner of a golf academy, she encountered people from diverse backgrounds during her lessons.
During golf sessions, Puri’s friend Dev Amritesh often shared his biking adventures, igniting her desire to ride. After expressing her longing for the same experience multiple times, Amritesh encouraged her to pursue it, leading her to ask, “How?” Like many aspiring bikers, Puri grappled with this question until her friend introduced her to a riding school. After just four sessions, she was prepared to chase her dream.
Despite her relatively short riding tenure, Puri embarked on a daring journey to Ladakh, exploring the Zanskar Valley on her bike. “It was exhilarating to navigate new terrain in Zanskar and challenge myself to hone new riding skills,” she recounted.
To accommodate her biking passion, Puri works continuously for 6-8 weeks before taking a break for a biking expedition. While it’s not always feasible, she finds a way to manage her schedule to pursue her passion.
Follow Priya Puri on Instagram.
Anita Krishnan – Tour captain
Krishnan has turned her passion for riding into a thriving career as a part-time model and full-time rider. As a Women’s Expedition Tour Captain at Two Wheeled Expeditions, she guides bike enthusiasts on two-wheeled adventures across India, leading more than 15 tours nationwide. Additionally, she serves as the president of the India division of the Women’s International Motorcycling Association.
Although Krishnan learned to ride during college, she didn’t pursue it until later in life, inspired by another woman rider. She rediscovered her love for biking after finding her first biking event through Facebook.
With over eight years of experience, Krishnan embarked on her most challenging journey riding through the Himalayas in sub-zero temperatures, navigating snow and black ice at minus ten degrees Celsius, she told T+L.
Follow Anita Krishnan on Instagram.
Dr Neharika Yadav – Dental surgeon
A dental surgeon by profession and a passionate superbike racer, Dr Neharika Yadav leads a remarkable double life. Running a dental clinic in Gurgaon during the week, she transforms into a Ducati Factory Racer at the Buddh International Circuit over the weekends.
With a staggering 212,000 followers on Instagram, Dr Yadav has emerged as an online role model, inspiring countless individuals with her unique journey. Despite facing adversity, including a car accident in 2005 that left her with only 50% movement in her right hand, she persisted in pursuing her passion for biking.
Racing at speeds of up to 275 kilometres per hour, Dr Yadav aims to encourage more women to participate in the predominantly male-dominated sport, aspiring to expand the presence of female riders on the racing grid.
Follow Neharika Yadav on Instagram.
Aishwarya Pissay – Off-road motorcycle racer
Aishwarya Pissay, the first Indian motorsports athlete to clinch a world title, boasts an impressive track record as an 11-time National Road Racing and Rally Champion. Despite being a prominent figure in the male-dominated world of motorsports, Pissay initially struggled to find female role models in the field, forcing her to carve her own path.
Her journey into racing began unexpectedly after a setback in her academic pursuits. Faced with disappointment after failing her board examination at the age of 17, Pissay sought solace in motorcycle rides with friends, discovering a newfound sense of freedom and exhilaration on the bike.
Transitioning from circuit road racing to off-road racing marked a significant moment in Pissay’s career. However, her racing journey was not without challenges. A serious crash during a race resulted in a ruptured pancreas, leading to a month-long recovery period and her withdrawal from the remainder of the season. Instead of viewing it as a setback, Pissay utilised the time to strategise for the next racing season. Her resilience paid off when she won the FIM Baja World Cup, women’s category, held in Hungary the following year.
Follow Aishwarya Pissay on Instagram.
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Priyanka Kochchar – Content creator
Before transitioning into a full-time bike blogger with her platform ‘Bike With Girl’, Priyanka Kochhar pursued a career as an editorial model and anchor producer. Despite not growing up with a background in biking, Kochhar developed a deep passion for it during a period of career uncertainty. Coming from a conservative family, she faced much criticism for her newfound interest.
Kochhar embarked on her biking journey by immersing herself in YouTube tutorials to learn about bikes and their mechanics. After gaining some knowledge, she began borrowing bikes from friends and documenting her experiences on Instagram. With a staggering following of over 1.2 million on Instagram and 390,000 on YouTube, Kochhar has received widespread attention for her unique approach, aiming to ride a new bike every day.
Follow Priyanka Kochhar on Instagram.
Roshni Misbah – Business owner
In 2017, while pursuing her post-graduation in Arab-Islam Culture at the Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi, Roshni Misbah invited a lot of attention as a college student riding her bike to and from campus while wearing a headscarf. Dubbed the ‘hijabi biker’, Misbah faced criticism from society but remained undeterred.
Coming from a family of Islamic scholars, Misbah defied societal norms to pursue her passion for riding. Her determination to challenge conventions while staying true to her beliefs got her widespread media coverage, turning her into a sensation. However, Misbah refuses to be defined solely by the ‘hijabi biker’ label and aims to inspire women to pursue their dreams despite cultural barriers.
Today, Misbah runs her own business specialising in superbikes, serving as a role model for women hesitant to pursue their aspirations due to cultural or societal constraints.
Follow Roshni Misbah on Instagram.
Pooja Rajput – Naval officer
When not serving in the Indian Navy, Commander Pooja Rajput can be found traversing the coasts of India on her motorcycle. With over 20 years of riding experience, Rajput considers long-distance riding as an “unwinding process”. It allows her to disconnect from the world and reconnect with herself, providing clarity and enhancing her focus on her work, she told T+L.
Rajput’s passion for riding ignited at a young age when societal norms discouraged women from biking. Despite the challenges, her fascination with motorcycles led her to secretly swap her moped for her cousin’s bike to experience the thrill of riding.
To gauge the safety of women riders and inspire them to ride without fear, Rajput embarked on a solo journey from Goa to Mangalore, Muzhappilangad, Ooty, Coonoor, Calicut, Moodabidri, Karwar, and back to Goa, covering over 2000 kilometres. Despite encountering obstacles such as broken roads and limited connectivity, the journey strengthened her resolve. Rajput encourages aspiring female bikers to “follow your heart…everything else will fall into place”.
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Other popular Indian bikers breaking barriers and inspiring fellow women
Anam Hashim– Stunt biker
Hashim has a passion for riding all kinds of two-wheelers! In 2015, she became one of the first few women to ride along Khardung La, one of the highest motorable roads in the world, on a TVS Scooty. This achievement was featured in the India Book of Records.
Her accomplishments didn’t stop there. The very next year, Hashim became the youngest female stunt biker in India, and in 2017, she became the only Indian stunt athlete to have won an international stunt competition.
She continues to share her love for riding through social media and aspires to become a role model for women who dare to dream of stunt riding, which is still not established as a sport in India.
Follow Anam Hashim Instagram.
Dr Sarika Mehta – Psychologist
A psychologist by profession and biker-cum-mountaineer by passion, Dr Sarika Mehta is another trailblazer in the biking world, sharing her love for riding and inspiring numerous women. She is the founder of the female biker group Biking Queens, an organisation dedicated to breaking gender stereotypes through biking.
Mehta has shattered stereotypes herself, being one of the few Indian women bikers to have covered 21,000 km across 21 countries spanning three continents – Asia, Europe and Africa. She embarked on a journey from India to London, completing it in 89 days to champion women’s pride and encourage fellow bikers to challenge societal norms. Her efforts have been lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and recognised by the United Nations Women’s Organization (UN Women), as well as the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Follow Sarika Mehta on Instagram.
Roshni Sharma – Test automation engineer
Roshni Sharma is an Indian woman who has taken her love for biking from India to foreign lands! She was the first female biker to ride from Kanyakumari to Leh, breaking barriers and achieving the seemingly impossible. Her cross-country journey is just one of the milestones in her journey. After conquering Indian roads, she expanded her horizons by riding across Europe, covering destinations like Amsterdam, Malta and beyond.
Follow Roshni Sharma on Instagram.
(Feature image credit: Pra Chid/Shutterstock)
Related: 10 Womens’ Travel Groups To Help You Plan Your Next Trip
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– What are the best locations for women’s biker trips?
Any location accessible by road is ideal for women bikers.
– How to become a biker?
Simply learn how to ride a bike, and you’ll be ready to embrace biking.
– Who are the best women bikers in India?
The individuals listed in the story above are among the top women bikers in India.
Written By
Priyaja Bakshi
Priyaja took her love for reading to the next level by majoring in English and minoring in Journalism at Lady Shri Ram College For Women (DU). She is extremely curious about the world and wishes to visit all the countries once in her life. She identifies as a foodie and loves to spend her free time exploring different cuisine and curating new dishes. ..Read More
