What car or bike do you need to enter the Rally of Himalayas?

Three classes, three very different vehicles

If you want to enter the Rally of Himalayas, the vehicle you choose depends entirely on which of its three classes you pick. The 2026 edition, presented by J&K Bank with JK Tyre as title sponsor, ran from 26 to 30 September and split its field into Xtreme for four wheelers built for speed, Moto for two wheelers, and TSD, also called Adventure by some reports, for four wheelers that compete on navigation and timing rather than outright pace. Autocar India reported that the Xtreme class drew 29 entries, Moto drew 80 riders, and TSD drew 20 crews, for nearly 130 competitors in all.

The rally flagged off from Manali and ran through Kaza, Jispa and Kunzum La before crossing into the Zanskar valley for the first time, a region the rally had never visited before, ending at Padum with stages above 16,500 feet, according to both Evo India and Autocar India.

What each class actually asks of a vehicle

Autocar India's report names the cars that made up the field. Maruti Gypsys were the backbone of the Xtreme class, joined by a Toyota Hilux, an early Suzuki Grand Vitara, an early Renault Duster, a Volkswagen Polo and even a Honda Brio further down the order. On two wheels, the Moto class ran on Kawasaki KLX enduros, Royal Enfield Himalayans, KTM 390 Enduros and Hero Xpulses, machines built for rock and loose gravel rather than tarmac.

That spread tells you what entering this rally actually demands. The Xtreme class is built around a car that can survive five days of punishing off-road stages at pace, which is why competitors still favour an old, light Gypsy over a brand new SUV carrying extra weight and electronics. The TSD class, by contrast, can be run in a largely stock car because the contest is won on timing and route reading, not speed over rough ground, so a Duster or even a Brio can finish if the crew reads the route notes well.

The trade-off for an Indian rider or driver

For anyone weighing whether to attempt this rally, the real choice is between three different skills and three different budgets. Xtreme needs a prepared off-road car and the money to keep it running through five days of rough stages. Moto needs an enduro capable motorcycle and real off-road riding experience at altitude. TSD needs navigation skill more than horsepower, which makes it the more accessible entry point for a road going car and a crew willing to learn pace notes rather than build a rally car from scratch.

Neither Autocar India nor Evo India, nor the organisers' own press release carried by The Wire, lists an entry fee or a vehicle eligibility document on the public record. Anyone planning an attempt should go directly to the organising club for current figures rather than assume a cost.

The format itself has history behind it. Wikipedia's entry on the Raid de Himalaya, the rally's earlier name, records that it was first run in 1999 and was placed on the FIA and FIM's international off-road calendar in 2001, one of only 12 events worldwide to get that recognition at the time. That is why a finish here, in any of the three classes, still counts as a credential among cross country specialists in India.

Sources

• Rajiv Yadav wins 2026 Rally of Himalayas
• 2026 Rally of Himalayas concludes
• JK Tyre Rally of Himalayas 2026 Concludes with a Display of Grit, Speed and Himalayan Endurance
• Raid De Himalaya