Simply Unbelievable Road Trips In India

As a teenager I was inspired by the many episodes of Roadies on MTV which were a big hit during the mid 2000s. Watching those episodes triggered my passion for road trips. So if you have a good vehicle, either a two-wheeler or a four-wheeler and passion for the roads, then here are some of the best “Road-Trips” India has to offer.

1. Manali to Leh Highway:-
One just cannot describe the mesmerising beauty of a road trip from Manali to Leh! What fun it would be to zoom along a superb stretches of challenging roads covered with snow, in an open jeep or a Bullet! Also along the way you can see many temples, making the trip a spiritual journey too.

Trip Details: It is approximately 479 km from Manali to Leh, with an average elevation of more than 4,000 m (13,000 feet). The road is motorable for about 4 months in a year between May/June and mid-October. The journey spans a period of 2 adventurous days with one stopover to get recharged and acclimatized. But adequate planning is required to travel on Manali–Leh Highway as for more than 350 kms there is no civilization – which means no eateries, petrol bunks or hotels.

2. Shimla to Manali via Mandi:-
Shimla to Manali is one of the popular tourist routes in Himachal Pradesh. It offers an amazing ride alongside the river Beas with magnificent views of snow-covered peaks and waterfalls in the distance. Enroute you can even make a small halt and experience the thrills of rafting down the Beas. This is the most rewarding part of the trip as it gives you an authentic feel of the place.

Trip Details: This road ride spans over a 250 km stretch and is a bit longer due to the uphill climb on the mountains. This road remains open throughout the year. Snowfall does not affect this road in winter.

3.Chennai to Pondicherry along the East Coast Road:-
The East Coast Road in Chennai or ECR as it is popularly known, is by far the most beautiful and well-managed costal roads of the country. There are not many turns or curves and this makes the drive more enjoyable. The Bay of Bengal on one side makes it a perfect road trip and one can halt at any point and just take a walk on the shore, which qualifies it to be the most interesting “ride by the bay” sort of an adventure.
If you start early in the afternoon and you can witness the sun as it moves from its eastern plane to its western horizon. All this calls for an amazing visual treat and the mood of the rider gets a bit philosophical. Carrying a camera to capture some of these moments would be a good idea!

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Trip Details: This costal stretch of 160 km, from Chennai to Pondicherry can take upto 3 hours. Enroute it makes a tangent at Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and worth a stop, and then heads on to Covelong with the only surfing school in India, Kalpakkam, the nuclear facility, Alamparai Fort aka Alambara Fort, and Mudaliarkuppam which is a water-sport facility with rowing, cruising, speed boating, water-scooting and kayaking facilities.

4. Gangtok to Lake Tsomgo and Nathu-La Pass:-
A large part of thje Northeast remains untouched by tourists, even though it happens to have the most beautiful mountain ranges in this part of the country. The ride from Gangtok to Nathula Pass is one of the best stretches in this area. The hilly topography can make it a bit of a challenge, which is the best part of such road trips, as some amount of twists and turns is what makes them exiting! Moreover the entire scenery along the route is stupendous and makes you feel very close to Nature.

Trip Details: Nathu La Pass is around 56 km from Gangtok and takes about 3 hours to reach. It is at an altitude of 14,500 ft. On the way you pass the beautiful Tsongmo Lake or Changu Lake, which is a glacial lake, surrounded by steep mountains which are covered with snow during winter. The roads are maintained by the BRO who are always clearing landslides or repairing the roads. The army camp at Nathula Pass is a thrilling and humbling experience to see the border posts and the flag flying. Also you feel a sense of deep appreciation for the army and the soldiers who not only face the enemy but also have to brave the weather and the terrain every single day to keep us all safe. Visit the Army café. And on your way back, the Baba Mandir, which is quite famous.

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5. Delhi to Agra via Mathura on Yamuna Expressway:-
Riding along the Yamuna expressway is like landing a plane on a runway which makes it the best road in the country at present. It also makes a great journey to the city that hosts one of the most iconic monuments on earth, the Taj Mahal. One word of advice though, since there are no dhabas along this road, you can opt to take the old highway (via Palwal) which amounts to compromising on the quality of the ride since the roads are not too great on the old highway.

Trip Details: The six-lane Expressway not only cuts down the distance between Delhi and Agra from the earlier 210 km to 165 km but also reduces the travelling time to two hours. After seeing the Taj Mahal, visit the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

Road Trip Checklist