Friends going on a road trip, on a beautiful highway passing through beautiful views of the valleys, mountains, and timberline while music playing in the background could be a great experience. Ever since “Dil Chahta” hai and “Zindgi Na Milegi Dobara”, the idea of road trips became a profound emotion among the Indian youth.
Also read – 15 best places to see near Chitrakoot Dham
A road trip is an excellent way to beat the blues and get away from our mundane daily existence. Roads are meant to be the most beautiful aspect of journeys because journeys create more memories than the destination itself as you recall the moment lived during.
If are planning to take a road trip that stays with you for years, then you should stick around as I am going to talk about some most beautiful highways for a road trip in India.
Also read- Advantage of Solo road trips
The most scenic Indian roads for memoriable road trips
1. Mumbai to Goa roadtrip
This Mumbai to Goa road trip has been the holy grail for friends since the release of Dil Chahta Hai in 2001. Despite the long distance, people choose to drive down to Goa from Mumbai because of the excellent roads and mesmerizing view. The stretch connecting Mumbai and Goa features some of India’s most gorgeous highways.
This journey can be taken in 2 ways. The first is via the six-lane Mumbai-Pune expressway, following which we must continue on NH-4 till we reach Belgaum. After that, it’s only a three-hour trip from Belgaum to Goa. Despite the fact that this route is faster, you will end up paying a lot of tolls. The second way has a truly stunning view with paddy fields, coconut and nut plantations all along the route, and it only takes 2 extra hours to get to Goa through curvy roads. You might feel motion sickness but it is worth the trip.
2. Bangalore to Ooty road trip
If you are a nature lover then this route is made for you. A journey through this highway will absolutely make you fall in love with the very idea of a road trip. This journey will take you through the Nilgiri hills of Tamil Nadu that is lined up with beautiful Eucalyptus trees. The route is lined with sharp turns and winds through the Geddai and Manjur jungles.
You will see lush green trees and mountains on both sides of the road and a journey through this will leave you in awe. This highway will take you through Mysore city where you can take a break and enjoy the sight of the old palaces of Mysore’s ancient city. This road is also great for photographers and they will get to capture some mind-blowing landscape images to add to their portfolio.
3. Chennai to Pondicherry road trip
Pondicherry and Chennai are connected by this beautiful ECR road that runs alongside the sea for 140 km should be on your go-to list of highways for fabulous road trips. This road is yet another man-made marvel that is highly inspired by the popular video game, Roadrash’s Pacific Coast game design! The local government has done a great job of keeping this highly popular road well maintained.
This road is also popular for long romantic bike rides among the youth in Chennai. It has been most loved by couples going over 120 km/h feeling the cool ocean breeze in the face. This road had given me some sound memories that would last a lifetime as I got fortunate enough to take several bike rides with my girlfriend and I loved it every time.
The Alambara Fort, Mahabalipuram (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Mudaliarkuppam, and Kalpakkam, a nuclear facility center, are among the other attractions along this road and you can take small halts on the way and enjoy a visit to these sites.
4. Shimla To Manali roadtrip
A road trip from Shimla to Manali, as cliché as it may sound, is perhaps one of the most magnificent trips one can ever drive.
There are 2 ways to reach Manali from Shimla, both of them provide a splendid view and great experience. In one way you can reach Shimla in just 7 hours with a pretty decent nature experience but if you like to experience nature in its raw way then choose the second way. This is going to take much more longer but the experience you will have will be worth all the trouble.
1- Shimla To Manali Via Mandi: This 250 km road will take around 7 hours to reach Manali. The gorgeous vistas of the surrounding valley, the sounds of the River Beas rushing alongside, the hairpin twists, and the lush greens with mountain villages tucked among them all combine to provide a one-of-a-kind experience for couples wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. You can stop for short breaks along the way to cool yourself in the river’s icy waters.
2. Shimla To Manali Via Kinnaur And Spiti: If you are looking for the longest of the long road trips on the bike to take with your lover or friend, this is your best bet. If you take stop in between towns while experiencing the local places and food, you can comfortably reach Manali in 4 days. Rampur, Nako, Kaza, and other lesser-known and hidden locations may be able to provide you with the much-needed retreat that you and your partner have always desired. The roads may be a bit bumpy, but the breathtakingly beautiful and awe-inspiring landscape more than makes up for it.
5. Manali to Leh road trip
This is a road trip that can be regarded as the pinnacle of all road trips. Every motorcyclist’s fantasy journey, Manali to Leh, is a must-do if you are an avid nature lover and a passionate biker. This road trip has been all over social media for years, especially when travel restrictions are finally lifted after 1.5 years of covid lockdown. You can see the internet full of videos and pictures of their road trip to Leh-laddhak. Newlyweds have this dream of honeymooning in Leh.
This route can easily be the finest it can be, with some of the most unique natural scenery and spectacular vistas of Nature’s wonders. While the road trip is lovely, it is also one of the most difficult. To get to Manali, you must first traverse the Rohtang pass. The weather in this area can change quickly, drastically decreasing visibility. The voyage is around 478 kilometers long, and because the altitude is above 4000 meters, it should be divided up into segments.
To adapt to the elevation, spend one day at either Keylong or Sarchu. You will take the most challenging but also the most beautiful route to Pang, with hazardous twists and turns, snow-capped mountains, and different valleys. The Moore plains, which follow Pang, are a plain length with beautiful vistas with varying hues. Several passes along the path, including Rohtang Pass and Barlachala Pass, are blocked during the winter. Leh is a mesmerizing journey that is truly is heaven on Earth.
6 Mumbai to Pune roadtrip via expressway
Traveling from Pune to Mumbai has been a journey every Mumbaikar or Punite must have embarked on at some point in life. A road trip from Pune to Mumbai by car is certainly one of the most popular ways to travel between these two cities. The route passes through the gorgeous landscape of the Western Ghats and is one of the best stretches in the state.
Mumbai – Pune Expressway is one of the smoothest roads where you can drive. You will be riding along the hilly roads, lush greenery through the valleys, passing through some popular places like Lonavala and Khandala. You ought to stop at these wonderlands to take a glimpse of nature at its best. This road trip will make you come back to this road trip again and again
7. Chennai to Moonar (kerala) roadtrip
Imagine traveling past hills that are sporting every shade of green. Imagine driving slowly on roads passing through wooded areas catching glimpses of water bodies and waterfalls. Chennai to Munnar road trip is highly popular among the road trippers from every part of India.
Munnar is a jewel from the stunning Western Ghats and offers scintillating beauty to visitors. From forests teeming with exotic flora and fauna to plantations fragrant with spices, tea, and paddy, from stunning mystic woods to villages and cities vibrant with all the colors of life.
We recommend starting as early in the morning as possible to bypass the city traffic easily and to catch the sun-kissed brilliance of suburbs leading to Villupuram. The entire route of 596 KM from Chennai to Moonar can be easily covered in between 11 to 12 hours and is perfect to be explored over a long weekend.
8. Srinagar To Zanskar roadtrip
In Ladakh’s Kargil area, the Zanskar valley is one of the most spectacular and gorgeous valleys. The valley is only 239 kilometers from Srinagar and is accessible via the Zozi La mountain. Because the valley is inaccessible in the winter due to severe snowfall and road closures, visit during the summer if you plan on taking a road journey here.
Zanskar Valley is one of the most enchanting places to visit in the Himalayas, hidden in a secluded part of Ladakh. The Zanskar mountain range separates it from Ladakh in the eastern portion of Jammu & Kashmir state. Wide-open panoramas, fresh aqua blue water streams rushing through the valley, the captivating aura of utter isolation, and gigantic glaciers that appear to be only a touch away characterize the Zanskar Valley journey.
With several curves and bends on the road, as well as snow-capped mountains in the background, this ride will undoubtedly be one to remember. If you want to do the legendary Chaddar trek, you’ll have to come here in the winter. The Zanskar riverbed is completely frozen, and the trip follows the frozen riverbed. It is one of India’s and the world’s most thrilling hikes.
9. Gangtok To Lake Tsomgo & Nathu-La Pass
Are you looking for some challenge to test your driving skills? Well, driving through the narrow Himalayan roads from Gangtok to Lake Tsomgo in Sikkim is just the kind of road trip you should consider. The trip from Guwahati to Assam is a thrilling ride across some of the most difficult terrains in the Himalayan land.
This most adventurous road trip of your life takes the best of extreme road journeys stretching for over 10 hours covering approximately 520 km. The challenging ride on this 55 km road stretch would make your journey even more enthralling. Gangtok to Lake Tsomgo in winter is a ride through the dreamy landscape that would fill you with awesomeness.
10. Delhi-Agra-Jaipur road trip
The Golden Triangle is a traditional route that connects Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur and is one of India’s most attractive highways to drive. The Yamuna Expressway and NH8 connect the three historically and culturally rich and diverse cities of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur at the vertices of a triangle. Unlike the strictly natural routes, this one is a little different and offers some unique views, including historical landmarks such as forts, temples, and palaces.
The overall journey is only 449 kilometers and can be covered in under 7 hours, but if you want to see everything the road has to offer, you should plan on spending a day or two on it. From the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and Lotus Temple in Delhi to the architectural and historical wonders of Agra, such as the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, and Jaipur.
The Hawa Mahal and the Amer Fort are two examples of old Rajputana architecture found in the Pink City. You can also visit Jaisalmer and Udaipur, which are a little off the beaten path, to get a firsthand look at the cultural and spiritual perspectives of Rajasthanis. You can rent a car in Delhi’s Karol Bagh district.
11. Jaisalmer to Longewala
There are many last roads in India, leading towards the International Borders, through the mountain passes, through the forests, through the plains, and also through the deserts. Jaisalmer to Longewala, the war front of 1971, India Pakistan war that became a graveyard to Pakistani army is a great place to have a road trip.
You get to travel through an unending Thar desert, which is a road trip for Bravehearts. If you love the war stories and want to pay tribute to soldiers who sacrificed their life for the country
Final words – Best Indian highways for amazing road trip experience
These road trips give us a reason to get out of stressful life and mundane routine patterns of normal life. Road trips are also a great way to get out of blues and depression and get some excitement in your life.
Road trips are also great for creating a good bond between friends, lovers, and even with your own self. What are you waiting for, pack the bags and hit the roads already?
I hope this article had helped you. Please share this blog with others.
