India is a vast country filled with beautiful and exotic travel destinations. India’s geodiversity makes it a perfect vacation spot. The beauty of the road trip gets better as you keep driving.
They say if you want to get the real experience of incredible India, explore it on road. This way you will be able to experience the real India, its culture lifestyle & people.
If travel is on your mind, what’s better than taking one of the best road trips in India and strike it off your bucket it?
5 Best road trips in India
Thousands of tourists from all over the world visit India for its spectacular beauty and breathtaking destinations. Where else would you get such a dramatic landscape & diverse food & culture?
One of the best ways to explore India is through a road trip. There is nothing more exciting than hitting the road, with a volume up and windows down and a group of like-minded friends.
Here are 5 of the Best Roads trips in India you must take before you hang your traveling boots.
1. Manali to Leh Highway
- Travel Time: 2 days
- Distance: 479 km
- National Highway: Leh Manali Highway
The stretch of road from Manali to Leh is the most popular one in India, owing to Bollywood movies shooting at this location. Hence it is the first of the 5 Best Road trips in India, we are going to discuss.
The picturesque image of the grey road against the snowy hills and the blue sky backdrop makes every road trip dream come true.
Words fail to describe the incredible beauty of Manali to Leh Highway. The road is safe to travel and remains open from summer until October.
Places to Visit on Manali to Leh Highway: These are the top places to visit around Manali to Leh Highway.
- Manali
- Rohtang La
- Jispa
- Deepak Taal
- Baralacha La
- Suraj Taal
- Shaheed Sainik Bhawan
- Gata Loops
- Nakeela
- Lachulung La
- Moore Plains
- Tso Kar
- Tanglang La
Where to stay in Leh: Leh has many options for a comfortable stay. It is recommended to book your stay beforehand to avoid any last-minute hassles.
- Suggested Tour: Leh Manali Tour Package
2. Gangtok to Nathula Pass through Lake Tsomgo
- Travel time: 1 hr.
- Distance: 55 km
If you like to visit a place that is unharmed by tourism, then the road from Gangtok to Nathula Pass will make your travel dreams come true. The northeast of India remains unexplored, while it has some of the most picturesque locations.
The beauty of this road is the terrain making it one of the best road trips in India. The Tsomgo lake falls along the way, and the entire road trip covers about 55 km.
India is blessed with exotic locations and natural beauty. The best way to explore this beautiful country is to take a few road trips. Whether you go on a solo or group drive, the experience will be Fantastic.
Places to Visit on Gangtok to Nathula Pass through Lake Tsomgo: These are the top places to visit around Gangtok to Nathula Pass through Lake Tsomgo.
- Do-Drul Chorten or Stupa
- Tsomgo Lake
- Baba Mandir
- Rumtek Monastery
- Hanuman Tok
Where to stay in Gangtok: Since it’s just an hour’s drive from Gangtok to Nathula pass, you can make your staying arrangements in Gangtok.
- Suggested Tour: Sikkim Tour Packages
3. Bangalore to Bandipur Forest
- Travel time: 5 hrs.
- Distance: 235 km
- National Highway: NH766
No road trip would ever be complete if it did not pass through a forest. One such wonderful road trip can be accomplished from Bangalore to Bandipur Forest.It had to be listed among the best road trips in India
The drive along the forest makes it one of the most wonderful road trips in India. Travel enthusiasts can stop in between and click wonderful pictures of the dense forest.
Places to Visit around Bangalore to Bandipur Forest: These are the top places to visit around Bangalore to Bandipur Forest.
- Balmuri Falls
- Chamundi Hills
- Mudumalai National Park
- Bandipur National Park
- KRS Backwaters
Where to stay in Bandipur: Enjoy the greenery and lush surroundings while staying in wildlife resorts, luxury cottages or hotels in Bandipur.
- Check out: South India Wildlife Safari Tour Package
4. Pondicherry from Chennai
- Travel time: 3 hrs.
- Distance: 160 km
- National Highway: NH32
The route from Pondicherry to Chennai along the east coast road is ideal for driving enthusiasts. The drive along the beautiful coastal road is a hot favorite among the travel enthusiast making it a Must Take & Best road trips in India.
The entire road is accompanied by beautiful sea alongside. It’s interesting to note that the road stretches up to 160 km and goes through the UNESCO heritage site of Mahabalipuram.
It takes a total of 3 hours to travel with wonderful sites like Mudaliarkuppam, Kalpakkam, and Marakkanam lining along the way.
Places to Visit on Pondicherry from Chennai: These are the top places to visit around Pondicherry from Chennai road trip.
- Kovalam/Covelong Beach
- Mahabalipuram
- DakshinaChitra Heritage Village
- Cholamandalam Arts Village
- Crocodile Park
- Mutukadu Boat House
- Alempara Fort
- Old temples around Marakanam
Where to stay in Pondicherry: There are ample options to choose from for a stay in Pondicherry.
5. Mumbai to Pune Expressway
- Travel Time: 2 hrs
- Distance: 93 km
- National Highway: Mumbai Pune Expressway
Those who live in the busy city Mumbai often look forward to traveling to Lonavala in the weekends for a refreshing break. Lonavala is an ideal hill station that is surrounded by lush green foliage, cool breeze, and tall mountains.
The Mumbai to Pune highway leads up to Lonavala. Nevertheless, the drive to Lonavala is also breathtaking with picturesque views of the hills from behind. It is undoubtedly one of the most frequented & best road Trips in India.
Also, popular eateries like The Kinara Village Dhaba and Sunny Da Dhaba make your road trip a fulfilling experience. It’s one of the favorite getaways for Mumbaikers during monsoon.
Places to Visit near Mumbai to Pune Expressway: These are the top places to visit around Mumbai to Pune Expressway
- Lonavala
- Lavasa
- Navi Mumbai
- Matheran
- Lohagad Fort
Where to stay in Pune: There is no dearth of staying options in this vibrant city.
Parting Words
To sum up, a few road trips along the length and breadth of this incredible country is a MUST. The experience & freedom of taking a road trip is unparalleled.
The unadulterated fun of being the master of your plan can’t be compared to guided or pre decided tours.
Pick up one of these 5 Best Road trips in India, make it a point to plan one soon with your friends, family, travel companions, or maybe even solo.