While traveling across the subcontinent every stage of your journey is packed with sights and sounds and sensations that will engulf your senses and change all you thought you know about traveling. Road travel can be an extremely daunting task. Traveling on roads that are crowded with cattle, handcarts, camels, monkeys, and people requires the strength of steel and the endurance of an experienced Buddhist master. However, a road trip through India is very feasible if you select your routes and your vehicle.
The first thing to be aware of is the fact that there is no have to be a driver yourself. hiring a vehicle with drivers is simple, and in the foothills of the Himalayas, there are many options to can hire “jeeps” with drivers who are very content to drive across mountain passes using roads that are only marginally bigger than their cars.
With the hassle of navigating the crowded roads of India, many travelers choose to travel around India via bicycle or motorcycle and a self-drive adventure which will allow you to be immersed into the villages that many tourists go through. So, grab your adventurous spirit and prepare to hit the road following this guide on the best road journeys in India.
1. India’s Golden Triangle
A little and delicious, the trip between Delhi up to Agra and Jaipur offers a wealth of wonders in just a couple weeks of road. Start your journey with Delhi in India, where the ruins from eight towns tell the tale of one of the world’s most important Islamic empires. Visit the city’s top attractions such as the Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb as well as in the Jama Masjid and the bazaars of Chandni Chowk, which have not changed much during Shah Jahan’s reign.
With a vehicle of your own you can easily drive through the holy cities Mathura and Vrindavan which is in which Krishna played with milkmaids during the Hindu epics. After these serene visits, be prepared to face a mixture of challenging and stunning in Agra in India, where the stunning Taj Mahal exceeds expectations to its fame, serving to compensate for the annoyances and frauds. Discover additional Mughal beauty in close by Fatehpur Sikri, the city that was abandoned by Akbar. When you follow NH21 towards Jaipur You’ll have to share every palace, fort and mysterious observatory with the masses So take advantage of your visit by making an extra stop.
Detour: Before speeding to the west, towards Fatehpur Sikri to Jaipur, think about a trip south towards Gwalior which is a stunning fort that is more peaceful than the other places on the circuit. When you are done with the third portion of the triangle, add an extra detour in order to look for tigers roaming the abandoned battlefields in Ranthambhore National Park before returning to the chaos of urban life.
2. Manali to Ladakh across the Himalaya
It is possible to travel the mountain route beginning from Shimla through Ladakh and continue on up to Kashmir with a rental “jeep,” but we strongly recommend using a rental Enfield Bullet motorcycle for the thrilling experience of pulling over at the side of the road only and being completely isolated in these deserts of high altitude in the shadow of rain the Himalayas.
From the hill station of the past of Shimla and its front-row views of the mountains take a northerly route towards the hippie hill resort located in Manali. From there it’s a long, two-day hike through 3978m (13,051ft) Rohtang La to Leh and back, through an unspoiled landscape directly from the Silk Road. There are hardly any plants and more shade and the frigid temperatures and high altitude will strike you with the hammer of a sled. Take a break with visits to a Buddhist monastery and the yoga class in Leh and then take the road once more to experience a different perspective on the Himalayas of Kashmir.
The west-bound highway to Srinagar links with a series of Buddhist gompas(temples) however, when the hills change from a dusty yellow to a lush green The culture changes between Buddhism towards Islam when the mosques and minarets in Srinagar are visible. The Kashmir valley is often a source of trouble however, when it’s peaceful and peaceful, the view of Dal Lake appears slowly through the mist of dawn by the decks of the houseboat is absolutely breathtaking.
3. Rajasthan’s Color Cities
Desert driving through Rajasthan is something to be experienced. Massive fortresses stand out of the landscape and you’ll travel along dirt roads with camels and Rajput old-timers sporting vibrantly colored turbans and massive mustaches. Start your journey with a visit to Jaipur – the city of pink – and explore pink sandstone palaces busy bazaars and the stunning fortress of Amber.
Follow NH48 to reach the Jain and Muslim journey center in Ajmer, and go west to reach the famous Pushkar which is famous for its lake that is surrounded by temples and a famous camel fair during October and November. Return to NH48 to take the rumbling journey through Udaipur which is the city of white – wrapped like a silk sash around the tranquil lake that flows from Lake Pichola. Enjoy a scrumptious meal at the crystal-white palaces and deviate west until you reach the temple-strewn hill town located on Mount Abu and turn towards the north.
When you arrive in Jodhpur, you’ll be able to see the lapis-coloured structures that gave Jodhpur the Blue City its name – the residences of Brahmin priests from their respective Hindu caste systems. Another blast from the Rajput force from Mehrangarh Fort Then drive to the west through serious desert terrain to the city of sand-yellow Jaisalmer, whose fortified walls appear to be cut out of the desert. The loop is closed off via Bikaner which is in which you’ll be able to be able to leave the crowds before stepping back into the midst of things in Jaipur.
4. Hampi and the Hoysalas
For many travelers who visit the time-worn ruins that were once the Vijayanagar kingdom in Hampi is the most unforgettable experience of an excursion in India. Begin your journey with a visit to Mysuru (formerly Mysore), with its mesmerizing market with fiery vegetarian cuisine and legendary maharaja’s royal palace. Take the backroads north to the impressive Sravanabelagola with its bare seventeen-meter (57ft) monument to Gomateshvara, who was the very first Tirthankara (spiritual teacher) of the Jain religion.
The temples keep appearing in Karnataka. Slingshot throughout Hassan towards Belur and Halebid in which there are shrines that are part of the Hoysala Empire represents perhaps the highest point of the Hindu art of temple building. Three hours of driving east of the city will bring you to Karnataka’s capital city, Bengaluru well-known for its vibrant dining scene as well as the shopping and nightlife. It’s a long way to get there. Hosapete jumped off the point to explore the ruin of Hampi.
Plan for two days for exploring Hampi’s crumbling temples and the time-traveling across centuries. After that, you can take the back roads to get to Badami the place where the blood-colored rock formations are punctuated by the cave temples.
Detour: Tack to an excursion to Aihole which is dotted with dusty ruins dating back to the Chalukya kingdom. Finally, end at the beach for some time-spent R&R In Gokarna is a port town of pilgrims and part beach retreat.
5. Kolkata to Darjeeling
Eastern India is often overlooked by the masses who swarm north from Delhi and the rest of India, but the journey across West Bengal to the foothills of 8586m (28,169ft) Mt Khangchendzonga is an incredible sense of purpose. Start your journey in a chaotic, cultural Kolkata where you can visit temples, ashrams, and structures that were reclaimed by the British. Take a trip through the tiger-spangled swamps of the Sundarbans before heading to the hills.
The drive north will take you through little-visited rural towns, and then to the more affluent Shantiniketan the city of university students with a rich history of theatre, dance, and poetry. From here, you’ll travel north until you reach the emerald green tea plantations and charmingly old-fashioned grand hotels located in Darjeeling which is in which you’ll most likely get the first close-up views of the Himalayas.
For a closer look at the peaks of snow, book onto the Singalila Ridge hike or get further away from Mt Khangchendzonga by obtaining permits to go on a trek in Buddhist Sikkim. The trek traversing Kalimpong, Gangtok, and Pelling will provide the kind of sights that make mountaineers yearn for Ice knives. For the final straw of the trip, you can be within a few feet of the snow during the climb up to Goecha La from Yuksom.
6. Mumbai to Goa
Eastern India is often overlooked by the masses who swarm north from Delhi but the journey via West Bengal to the foothills of 8586m (28,169ft) Mt Khangchendzonga is an incredible sense of purpose. Begin in the crowded, cosmopolitan Kolkata where you can visit temples, ashrams, and structures that were reclaimed by the British. Include a visit to the tiger-stalked swamps in the Sundarbans before heading for the hills.
The trip north will take you through little-known rural towns, and then to the more affluent Shantiniketan the city of university students that has a long tradition of theatre, dance, and poetry. From there, you’ll head north until you reach the emerald green tea plantations and gorgeously old-fashioned hotels in Darjeeling, from which is where you’ll probably get the first glimpses of the Himalayas.
A short journey doesn’t mean skipping on the excitement of India. From the bustling and amazing Mumbai Pick up the highway NH66 and travel south, before heading towards the coast to visit amazing forts like Murud-Janjira, which are the result of centuries of battle. Take a stroll through the quiet beach resorts of Ganpatipule and Malvan just before heading to arrive at the bustling beachfront of Goa.
When you arrive in the northern part of Goa take a stroll through an iconic market called Anjuna and the exciting beach areas at Baga and Calangute. Then, continue toward Panaji Goa’s charming Portuguese colonial capital, and the ancient Basilicas in the old Goa and Panaji – an even much more important place than London or Lisbon during the 16th century.
The mood is changed when you head south towards relaxed Agonda, the capital of Goa’s emerging surfing scene. The mood changes when you travel inland, through green hills, dotted with spice farms to take a glimpse of the roaring Dudhsagar Falls the second-highest waterfall in India. Then, you can relax on the sand-sprinkled shores of beautiful Palolem (making an appointment to take a bird-watching walk near the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary).
7. A drive through the northeast
With a hiring “jeep” and a driver who can communicate in local languages A fascinating trip through the diverse different cultures that make up the Northeast States awaits. Start from Guwahati, the capital city that is not well-known in Assam, and follow the powerful Brahmaputra River northeast until Kazi Ranga National Park to see intimate encounters with the single-horned Indian rhinos. Then, continue toward Arunachal Pradesh and the amazing Buddhist monasteries located in Tawang Valley. (Local travel agencies can help you obtain permits).
Take a stroll through the tribes in Ziro and Daporijo, and continue on to Upper Assam, continuing east towards the intriguing Konyak Naga villages in Mon in the northern part of Nagaland. Retrace your steps back towards the plains through Kohima (ideally at the end of December in order to experience the Hornbill Festival). Hornbill Festival) Then, climb to Meghalaya. high mountain in Meghalaya which is where you can buy bows and archers as essentials for the day and then barrelling downwards starting from Shillong up to Guwahati.
Planning tip: Bring supplies with you the roads are treacherous, and creature comforts are not as plentiful however the experience is unique.
8. Around the tip of India
The bottom of India is an entirely different place in its own right. Begin your journey in the steamy southern part of India in historic Kochi city, whose historic streets tell a fascinating story of trade, seafaring, and Kerala spices. While you drive south towards Alappuzha take a break from your car for a few hours to discover the intriguing backwaters that are flooded by boats.
When you travel by Amritha Puri you can stop for hugs from a guru living in the area, before relaxing in Kerala’s gorgeous beaches in Varkala and running across Thiruvananthapuram (pause for just long enough to indulge in some smoky Kerala curries) to the southernmost point of India. From here, you’ll go towards the inland region, passing through dry and more rocky Tamil Nadu, to reach Madurai which is a place where temples are groaning due to the weight of gods and demons.
The return journey back to Kochi will pass via the Palani Hills, a side spur of the Western Ghats, where the scenery rises up towards Kodaikanal which is perhaps one of the most beautiful of India’s southern hill towns that has just the right blend of British nostalgia from the past and India energy. Enjoy a cup of coffee amid swirling plants of tea located in Munnar South India’s top tea-growing region prior to returning to the coastline.
9. Chennai to Puducherry
If you’re looking for a quick, sweet, and hot trip across the southeast coast of India take a trip of three days starting from Chennai southwards to Puducherry (Pondicherry) while taking in some different views of the way colonial India changed after the European wanderers snuck their bags. Begin with Chennai and its extensive beach, ashrams with famous names, and delicious vegetarian food, and then travel to the south along the coast that is tucked between the sea and Salt Lake.
One stop is the enthralling surf resort of Kovalam (Covelong) which is an excellent stop on the way towards Mamallapuram in which you can see a myriad of carvings and temples built by the Pallava Dynasty. Go inland to see the old Pallava capital of Kanchipuram before you return to the coast and end the tour in the charming Puducherry which was formerly Pondicherry in the area in which the Gallic atmosphere is evident and is best enjoyed in the historic hotels located in the former French Quarter. Be aware that certain spiritually inclined travelers go to the ashram of Auroville near “Pondy” and never leave!
