Road trips in India are a great way to travel. On a road trip, you can see the transition from one place to another. You notice the subtle changes that take place as the land, water, and culture change slowly. A road trip allows you to travel at your own pace, pausing wherever your eyes want to take in a bit more or you crave a chai pakora, idli vada, poha jalebi or lal cha, Anuradha Goyal
Manali Road
While all road trips are fun, there are some that are so memorable that the journey itself is the destination.
Here are some of the most scenic road trips in India that I have enjoyed, as also some that are on my wish list.
Shimla to Manali via Kinaaur, Spiti and Lahual
This sparsely populated region of India and Himachal Pradesh will remain one of my favorite road trips. Start from Shimla, the capital of Himachal that is bustling with activity. Move on to the Apple country and then the Kinnaur region where the hand-woven Himachali cap is ubiquitous.
Spiti Valley (Himachal Pradesh). Drive slowly to Spiti Valley where the cold desert is stunning with its silence and breathtaking landscape. Pass through Lahaul to admire Chandratal Lake between the Kunzum and Rohtang passes. End the journey at Manali where you feel as if you are back in civilization.
July-August is the best time to make this road trip when the Kunzum Pass is open.
Konkan road trip during monsoons
Konkan and monsoons are synonymous. It rains for about six months transforming the region lush green. When you drive from Goa to Ratnagiri or its environs, all you see is the narrow strip of grey road surrounded by million shades of green. Waterfalls can appear anywhere on roadsides. The best place to be surrounded by waterfalls is Amboli Ghats. But there are other falls like Savdav Falls and Marleshwar Falls.
You can also admire the landscape and waterfalls from a train tide through Konkan.
Peak monsoon time is the best for this road trip.
Srinagar
Srinagar to Leh
Srinagar is the scenic city surrounding the beautiful Dal Lake replete with houseboats. It has an aura of romance, probably because of the numerous Hindi films shot here.
As you start driving towards Leh, you pass by scenic Pahalgam where horses take tourists for rides. If it is Amarnath Yatra time, you will see pilgrim camps at Baltal. It is enjoyable to witness helicopters taking pilgrims to the hilltop.
At Zozi La Pass the landscape changes, with greenery and colors tranforming into the barren mountains of Ladakh. Stop at the Drass War Memorial and maybe at Kargil. The moonlike landscape near Lamayuru monastery and the ancient paintings of Alchin Monastery are sights to behold.
Relax after reaching Leh. You need acclimatization.
Summers are a good time for this road trip, although I enjoyed a mini road trip around Leh in winter as well.
Tawang via Bomdilla in Arunachal
Best to start this drive from Tezpur on the Assam-Arunachal border. Or the adventure could begin at Bhalukpong in Arunachal. Visit the Orchid Sanctuary but just look out of the windows to witness wild orchids everywhere, hanging from tree trunks or peeping from bushes.
Tenga Valley is one of the most beautiful valleys covered with a thick cover of green on surrounding mountains. Look for Kiwi orchards here. Bomdila is the default halt on this drive to Arunachal Pradesh.
We couldn’t visit Tawang due to bad weather but the word is that the drive is also mesmerizingly beautiful.
Summer is a good time, though it will always be cold in the mountains.
Guwahati-Shillong road
Jodhpur to Jaisalmer
Rajasthan is the most tourist-friendly state in India. You can take many trips like the ones I have listed (elsewhere) from Jaipur. However, the one that distinctly stands in memory is a drive from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer. The arrow straight road cutting through the vast Thar desert is a driving experience. All that is visible is golden sand all around, sometimes in small dunes with dry khejri trees, and some bushes breaking the monotony.
Decked-up camels add color to the drive. The road is not crowded, so you almost feel as if you are driving to infinity, the eyes can see far and wide. Metropolitan urban visitors have probably never seen such wide vistas. Explore the city of Jaisalmer or the ghost town of Kuldhara and the Jain temples like Lodurwa.
Winter is a good time for this trip.
Chola temple trail
Tamil Nadu’s famous East Coast Road transporting visitors from Chennai to Pondicherry is a beautiful drive passing through Mahabalipuram with its many temples. Go a little further and take in the Nataraja Temple at Chidambaram.
Take a small detour towards Kumbakonam and then further to Thanjavur. Here, you can admire the Brihdeeswara Temple in Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram nearby, and Airateshwara in Darasuram.
A little further ahead you can visit Thiruchirapally or Trichy for Srirangam. This is a road that takes you on the historic temple trail of Chola kings.
Summers can get very hot, so winters are better.
Nalanda University ruins
Queen’s trail
Madhya Pradesh is one of my favorite states for road trips. There are many options including the popular Narmada Parikrama. Roads less travelled take you to cities best known for prominent queens of history. Begin your trip from Indore and drive to Mandu. Take a boat ride to admire the stunning riverfront of Maheshwar.
Mandu is best known for Queen Rani Roopmati. Her legendary stories can be heard throughout the hilltop town. Check out Roopmati’s pavilion from where she could overlook River Narmada. Good opportunity to study the brilliant water management systems of Mandu.
The road from Mandu to Maheshwar was built by the much-loved Queen Ahilya Bai Holkar, who gifted so many temples to India. Maheshwar has a very beautiful riverfront on the banks of the Narmada. Lingarchana — worship of a lakh plus Shivalingas — is still done in the palace. Shop for Maheshwari saris or take a boat ride on Narmada to admire a marvellous landscape.
Next stop is to Burhanpur, where Mumtaz Mahal of Taj Mahal fame died and was buried for some time. It is an ancient city on the banks of the even more ancient River Tapti. On your way, stop at Omkareshwar to pay respect to the Jyotirlinga where Adi Shankaracharya studied and meditated.
Patna-Nalanda-Gaya
This World Heritage site covers Nalanda, Nalanda University and Rajgir. It also takes you to Gaya, Bodhgaya, and Barabar Caves and lets you taste some Bihar delicacies like Khaja and Lai.
Vaishali is also an interesting option. However, the reason I recommend this road trip is to witness the simplicity of its countryside and the way this land used to be. The landscape without much industry, clean villages and simple people is a revelation.
Guwahati to Shillong
This is the standard route for visitors to Shillong, capital of Meghalaya. The entire route is scenic but most memorable after so many years is Umiam Lake. Surrounded by hills and mountains, this lake seems to be full of the clouds reflected in it.
Tea gardens
There are two excellent drives located in diagonally opposite ends of the country. One is around Temi Tea Estate around Gangtok in Sikkim. Famous for green rolling hills as you drive through Himalayan ranges.
Another is the drive to Munnar down south. You literally drive through the tea gardens. Most memorable is my visit to the Tata Tea Museum. Of course, the tea gardens of Assam are also lovely but they are on the plains.
Munnar
India road trips wishlist
- Kashmir to Kanyakumari is a road trip that demands endurance. I do hope to do it someday.
- Narmada Parikrama which takes about 15 days to complete is also high on the wishlist.
- Traversing the ancient trade route to Uttarpath which is now partially in India and Dakshinpath which is wholly in India.
- Roads of North Eastern states invite exploration.
Travel tips for road trips
- Duration of road trips can vary depending on the time available, interest, and depth to which you want to explore. So, I prefer not to recommend fixed itineraries.
- Always carry food but savour the local cuisine, especially of the roadside dhabas and eateries.
- Stop at vantage points to soak in views and markets to meet people and shop for interesting curios.
- Keep your car in a good condition. Local drivers are always helpful as they are equipped with local knowledge.
- Early morning drives work better than late evening ones.
(Source: www.inditales.com)
