Whether you cruise the Indian subcontinent on a vintage Enfield motorbike or scream through the hills in a leased 4WD, every trip is an adventure.
Just getting from point A to point B will fully immerse you in the sights, sounds, and experiences of the most colourful country on earth. Buses and trains are other popular modes of transportation, but nothing gives you more control over your schedule than a road trip. You can decide which route to take and where to stop.
The good news is that you don’t have to drive yourself because you can easily rent a car or 4WD with a driver practically anywhere in India. This allows you to focus on the beautiful landscape while your driver handles the occasionally difficult driving.
Renting a motorbike is an excellent way to see the subcontinent if you’d rather be in control of your travels—especially if you stay on the rural roads. Self-drive automobile rentals are more difficult to set up, although some daring individuals have driven their cars throughout India; some resilient tourists have even crossed the country in a converted autorickshaw!
With this guide to the greatest road trips in India, gather your spirit of adventure and get ready to go:
1. India’s Golden Triangle
The circle from Delhi to Agra and Jaipur is brief but delicious, fitting a lot of delights into a few days of travel. In Delhi, the remains of eight towns narrate the tale of India’s great Islamic rulers. This is where your trip starts. See the landmarks of the city, such as the Red Fort, the Tomb of Humayun, the Jama Masjid, and the Chandni Chowk bazaars, which haven’t altered much since the reign of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
In the Hindu epics, Krishna frolicked with milkmaids in the holy cities of Mathura and Vrindavan. These locations are easily visited with a chartered car or rental motorcycle. After these serene visits, brace yourself for a hectic and spectacular combination in Agra, where the magnificent Taj Mahal more than lives up to its reputation.
Visit Fatehpur Sikri, a red sandstone city that was created and subsequently abandoned by Akbar the Great, for additional examples of Mughal beauty. Consider taking the occasional diversion before seeing the palaces and bazaars of the Pink City, since you’ll share every fort, palace, and enigmatic observatory with throngs of people if you take the NH21 to Jaipur.
Consider taking a diversion south to Gwalior, whose stunning fort is less crowded than other destinations on this circuit, before racing west from Fatehpur Sikri to Jaipur. Take one more diversion to see tigers prowling the abandoned battlements of Ranthambhore National Park before finishing the third half of the triangle and returning to the city.
2. Manali to Ladakh across the Himalaya
While many choose to take a chartered 4WD vehicle over the mountain circuit from Manali to Ladakh and further to Kashmir, we heartily advise renting an Enfield Bullet motorcycle. This gives you the exhilarating experience of stopping by the side of the road and being by yourself in the quiet of these high-altitude deserts under the Himalayan rain shadow.
It takes two days to trek across the 3,978-meter (13,051-foot) Rohtang La from the hippy hill town of Manali to Leh, passing through a panorama right out of the Silk Road’s golden age. The cold and altitude will strike you like a sledgehammer, and there is very little foliage and much less shade. Visit Buddhist monasteries and do yoga sessions in Leh to recuperate, then return on the road for a different turn in the Himalayas in Kashmir.
The road west to Srinagar winds through historic villages, but before the minarets of Srinagar come into sight, the culture changes from Buddhism to Islam as the hillsides convert from dusty yellow to verdant. While the Kashmir valley is not always peaceful, there’s nothing quite like standing on the deck of a houseboat and watching Dal Lake gently emerge through the morning mist.
Planning advice: It’s important to be mindful of the mountain environment when driving, whether you do it yourself or have someone else do it. In Ladakh, vehicle travel is often only feasible from June to late September or early October due to snow closures in the high mountains.
3. Rajasthan’s coloured cities
Rajasthani desert driving is an amazing experience. Strong fortifications rise sharply from the surrounding terrain, and you’ll share the sandy roads with camel carts and locals, some of whom have attractive moustaches and turbans in vibrant colours. Begin in Jaipur, the “pink city,” where you will see magnificent fortresses at Amber, lively bazaars, and palaces made of pink sandstone.
Travel along NH48 to Ajmer, the hub of Muslim and Jain pilgrimages. Then, turn west to arrive at Pushkar, a well-known destination with a lake surrounded by temples and a fabled camel market held in October or November. Take a journey on the rumbling NH48 back to Udaipur, the white city that is spread out like a silk scarf along the banks of serene Lake Pichola. Aim for the snow-white palaces before veering west to the hill town of Mount Abu, which is dotted with temples.
You may easily see the lapis-colored structures that gave the Blue City its name if you veer north towards Jodhpur. After witnessing another display of military power at Mehrangarh Fort, go west across a barren landscape to the golden city of Jaisalmer, whose walls of defence seem to have been chiselled out of the desert itself. Complete the round by travelling through Bikaner, where you may escape the throngs of tourists and return to the heart of Jaipur.
Detour: In this highly frequented state, getting off the beaten path is possible if you have your transportation. Think about making a detour to Shekhawati, known for its haveli homes covered in murals, when travelling north from Jaipur.
4. Hampi and the Hoysalas
For several tourists, exploring the crumbling remnants of the Vijayanagara monarchy at Hampi is the most unforgettable experience they have when visiting India. Begin at Mysuru (formerly known as Mysore), a city known for its opulent palaces, spicy vegetarian food, and captivating marketplaces. Drive along the scenic backroads to the enthralling Sravanabelagola, home to the 17-meter (56-foot) statue of Gomateshvara, the first Tirthankara (spiritual teacher) in the Jain tradition, which is completely nude.
In Karnataka, the temples simply keep coming. Travel quickly through Hassan to Belur and Halebid, where the Hoysala Empire’s temples stand as perhaps the finest examples of Hindu temple architecture. Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka and a popular destination for cosmopolitan cuisine, shopping, and nightlife, is an hour’s drive to the east. Savour its luxuries; getting to Hosapete is a lengthy trip.
Allow at least two days to see collapsed temples and time travel across millennia in a landscape of piled granite boulders after you arrive in Hampi’s centuries-old market. Take the backroads to Badami, where cave temples dot the blood-coloured cliffs, for further examples of classic temple design.
Detour: For a change of pace, think about making a detour to Aihole, which is home to the dusty remnants of the former Chalukya empire. Finally, enjoy some well-earned rest on the beach at Gokarna, which is a combination beach retreat and pilgrim town.
5. Kolkata to Darjeeling
The masses that swarm north from Delhi frequently ignore the east of India, yet there’s an epic feeling of mission to the trek from West Bengal to the slopes of Mt. Khangchendzonga, which rises to a height of 8586 meters (28,169 feet). Arrive in congested yet sophisticated Kolkata and see its ashrams, temples, and impressive municipal structures that were taken back from the British. Before you leave for the highlands, make time to take a tour of the Sunderbans’ tiger-infested marshes.
Travelling north, you’ll pass through quaint rural communities and arrive at the fascinating university town of Shantiniketan, which has a rich tradition of poetry, dance, and theatre. From here, head north to Darjeeling, home to beautifully dated big hotels and emerald-green tea estates. Here, you’ll probably get your first close-up look at the Himalayas.
If you want to get up close and personal with the snow peaks, you may hike the Singalila Ridge hiking path or obtain permission to go into high Sikkim and go even closer to Mt. Khangchendzonga. Views from a path passing via Kalimpong, Gangtok, and Pelling would make mountaineers itchy for their ice axes. The journey from Yuksom to Goecha La passes right beside the snow, bringing the whole experience to a close.
Planning advice: To enter Sikkim, you’ll need a Restricted Areas Permit, which is simple to get in Kolkata, Siliguri, or Darjeeling, or at the Melli or Rangpo border crossing.
Conclusion
In India, you may arrange for a driver-for-hire to pick you up from a taxi or you can book through travel companies and hotels. Verify that the driver can cross state boundaries and that they speak adequate English/Hindi to comprehend where you want to travel and where you want to stop. Some cars are only authorized to operate in specific regions.
Before departing, you should decide on a price for the trip, which should cover the driver’s lodging, meals, and gasoline for longer excursions. Communicate your needs and preferences to your driver up front. For example, let them know if you want to avoid stopping at tourist attractions and places that charge commissions. For more visit www.coupons24x7.com.
FAQs:
Q1. Which place is best for a road trip in India?
Ans: Top Places in India
- Manali.
- Leh Ladakh.
- Coorg.
- Andaman.
- Lakshadweep.
- Goa.
Q2. How can I arrange a vehicle journey across all of India?
Ans: Arrange your pauses. Choose the destinations you wish to stop at along the journey. These might be towns, tourist attractions, or unusual locations. Examine the state of the roads. Verify that the roads on the route you have selected are safe to drive on and in excellent shape.
Q3. How do I plan a long car trip?
Ans: Follow these steps:
- Make a big-picture road trip plan.
- Choose your overnight stops.
- Add quick, easy stops along your routes to maximize fun in the shortest amount of time.
- Plan for fuel stops and vehicle checks.
- Be realistic about the time constraints.
- Create a road trip budget.
