Scenic Road Trips in India That Will Kick Start Your Vacation Before Reaching the Destination

For those who find joy in travelling offbeat, India has an abundance of roads and destinations that make for an enthralling road-trip. Be it an expedition to Leh-Ladakh or the arid deserts of Rajasthan, you will always find a myriad list of road-trips in the country.

If you want to lose yourself in the varying landscape India has to offer, here are a few of the best road trips you can take:

1. Manali to Leh 

From the land of snow-fed meadows to the rooftop of the world

Breathtaking scenery, historical trade routes and views of snow-clad peaks are some of the highlights of this trip. Traversing through winding roadways and into mountain passes, you will be amazed at the ecosystem that thrives here.

Manali to Leh route map:

Manali – Rohtang Jot - Gramphu - Kokhsar - Tandi - Keylong - Jispa - Darcha – Zingzingbar - Baralacha La - Bharatpur - Sarchu (state border) - Gata Loops - Nakee La - Lachulung La - Pang - More Plains - Tanglang La - Gya - Upshi - Karu - Leh

Best time to visit:

June to September is the best time to travel through this route. If travelling by road, a person will take at least two days with adequate stops for rest.

Places to visit during the trip:

Manali, Rohtang Pass, Keylong, Zingzing Bar and Sarchu.

2. Bangalore to Munnar 

From filter coffee to tea gardens.

You'll be mesmerised by the expansive tea plantations on the Bangalore-Munnar route. Not to forget, the route has various food joints at regular intervals that will force you to stop by and pamper your taste buds.

Bangalore to Munnar route map:

Bangalore - Mysore - Bandipur - Masinagudi - Ooty - Coonoor - Coimbatore - Pollachi - Udumalaippetai - Amaravatinagar - Munnar.

Best time to visit:

The season between October and March (post-monsoon) is considered best for this road trip.

Places to visit during the trip:

Mysore, Bandipur, Masinagudi, Ooty, Coonoor and Coimbatore.

3. Guwahati to Tawang 

From Hinduism to Buddhism.

Buddhist culture, snow clad mountains, Indian Army camps and the yak cheese are just some of the things that await you on this mystical trail.

Guwahati to Tawang route map:

Guwahati – Bomdilla – Tawang

Best time to visit:

Summer months between March and October, especially March, is a good time to visit as Tawang is a riot of colours during this season. It is advisable to avoid this route during winters.

Places to visit during the trip:

Kaziranga, Tezpur, Sela Pass.

4. Mumbai to Goa 

From the city of dreams to the party capital of India.

If you love driving, then there is nothing more pleasurable than driving from Mumbai to Goa through the Western ghats. The landscape turns from skyscrapers to 50 shades of green within a few hundred kilometres. The Ghats are a visual delight–carpets of lush green dotted with numerous rivers, streams, reservoirs and waterfalls.

Mumbai to Goa route map:

Mumbai - Pune - Satara - Kolhapur - Sankeshwar - Sawantwadi - Goa

Best time to visit:

The best time to visit Goa is between late October and early April. If you want, you can avoid the peak season, i.e mid-December to mid-January.

Places to visit during the trip:

Pune, Lonavala, Kolhapur

5. New Delhi to Rann of Kutch 

From the heart of India to the heart of Gujarat

A route where the horizon never ends and the eyes never soak enough! The drive will take you through three states – Delhi, Rajasthan and Gujarat. It's an extraordinary experience that cannot be summed up in words. It's a journey through fertile lands, barren stretches, arid mountains, dry air, colourful attire, huge head gears and abundant smiles.

New Delhi to Kutch route map:

New Delhi - Neemrana - Ajmer - Pali - Mount Abu - Bhuj - Great Rann of Kutch.

Best time to visit:

The best time to visit is October to March and preferably plan the trip such that you are in the Great Rann of Kutch around the full moon.

Places to visit during the trip:

Ajmer Sharif, Mount Abu, Wild Ass Sanctuary - Dhrangadhra, Bhuj- Prag Mahal, Aaina Mahal, beach at Mandvi Palace.

Hopefully, these road trips have given you a few more ideas to add to your bucket list. What's the best route you've ever driven on? Comment and let me know.

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