‘Travelling’, such a magical word! Isn’t it? Many of us wants to explore the world and explore unknown horizon at least once in his lifetime. We do travel often, but travelling On road gives us an entirely different feeling. One who has done it knows the craziness and thrill it brings along. Here, I would be sharing 5 out of the ordinary road trips in India that you should definitely go for in your lifetime. Especially if you are someone who has a knack for adventure and bikes, road trips are for you! You can take these road trips with your partner as well as with your family. Who doesn’t like to feel the sudden burst of the adrenalin rush, right?
Delhi to Leh (via Manali) :-
One of the most mind-blowing road trips of India. Being on the road for thousands of kilometres is something every road trip lover dreams of.
There are innumerable adventures that are waiting for you. Start from Delhi and go via Chandigarh. You need to stop first at Manali. So, this is how your route map should look like-
Delhi-Chandigarh- Mandi- Kullu- Manali- Rohtang La-Kokhsar-Tandi-Keylong- Darcha-Sarchu- Pang- Upshi- Leh
The magnificence of the natural beauty of this route will captivate all your senses and leave you awestruck. You will go through a dessert valley called Spiti. The natural beauty will make you want to stay there forever. Go over to the connecting pass of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh in Kashmir which is called Baralacha La. You will be witnessing erratic weather conditions and tough roads there. But the toughest of all is Tanglang La which is also the second highest mountain pass of the world. But when you reach Tanglang La, I promise you that all you exhaustion will disappear into this area as the scenic beauty is taken you a parallel universe altogether. The beauty of the place cannot be described in words..The optimum duration of this trip is of 5 days.
Tips: Fill your tank up at Tandi. Because the next petrol pump is 365 km away. After Sarcha the altitude becomes steep and the roads become quite rough.
Dehradun to Nainital:-
Nainital, the hill station in Uttarakhand is a very popular tourist spot mainly because of the beautiful coexistence of lakes, forests and mountains.
The distance between Dehradun to Nainital by road is around 280 km. It will take 7-9 hrs to reach there by car. The journey is long but very pleasant. The preferable route is from Dehradun to Haridwar along NH 72 and Haridwar to Nainital via Najibabad-Ramnagar along NH 74. Haridwar will be the Major stop in this trip. Besides that you can take short breaks in between and visit the ‘ghats’ along the Ganges and go towards Najibabad. From Najibabad, you can start for Ramnagar which is located 60 km away from Nainital. Most of the travelers visit Corbett National Park in Ramnagar. The road from Ramnagar to Nainital is awesome and the drive is smooth. It will take around two hours to reach Nainital.
The whole trip will assure you a lifetime of experience. There will be something new to explore and see in every twist and turn. So, what are you waiting for?
Guwahati to Tawang (Via Bhalukpong-Dirang-Bomdilla):-
This is the one of the most challenging routes in country. When you drive in this region, you’ll explore the pristine and severer beauty of North-East.
The region is the goldmine for adventure lovers. The main part of this route is in Arunachal Pradesh. There are some stunning monasteries is situated in this route. The rich tribal culture, snowy sight seen will make you spell bound. The combination of rough weather and stunning natural beauty will definitely fascinate you.
Guwahati to Bhalukpong- 217 km (Approximate time- 5 hrs)
Bhalukpong to Bomdilla/Dirang – 109 kms (Approximate time- 3hrs)
Bomdilla to Dirang – 42 kms (approximately 1.5 hrs)
Dirang to Tawang – 203 kms (Approximate time – 5 hrs)
In the way you can visit Bomdilla Monastery (Many collections of old precious books and relics), Monpa village (Stunning sun rising from this 500 years old village), apple orchards, hot spring, Sela Pass (13700 ft.), Tawang Monastery, many stunning lakes etc. Explore the variety of foods (Momo) also.
Old silk route in Sikkim:-
The Silk Road or Old Silk Road passes through the east part of Sikkim. It is the ancient mountain road which is a part of the ancient trade network route used to connect Lhasa in Tibet via the Jelep La Pass to Indian.
This ancient route was discovered by traders in as early as 1st century AD. The rare co-existence of stunning natural beauty and the history of human civilization will leave a mark in your soul and make you want to come here over and over again.
Throughout the silk route, you will see a lot of ravishing places.The beauty of all these places is unmatchable and is unique in its own way. You can’t compare one with another. Some of this places include Zuluk, Four lake point, Tukla valley, Kupup Lake, Nathula Pass, Padamchen, Eagle’s Nest Bunker, Nathang Valley etc. You feel get a scent of a new story in every nook and corner of the road. Driving on the rough terrains accompanied by the moody weather will make you realize the thrill of the adventure brings along.
Ahmedabad to Kutch:-
Approximately 400 km journey from Ahmedabad from Kutch is going to be very exciting and after almost 7 hours when you will reach your destination you will just be spell bound.
The beauty of an endless barren white desert will make you speechless. Do visit the local people who have adorned the Kutch and the nearby villages like Nirona, Nakhtarana and Hodko. The people of these villages make wonderful handicrafts and have really colourful personalities.
In this memorable trip, you will get enhanced to discover the great Rann of Kutch, Precious handicrafts and a Wild Ass Sanctuary.
Siliguri to Gangtok (via Kalimpong- Darjeeling):-
You can test your riding skill in high altitude mountain region here. The steep and winding route are favorite to all travelers who love adventure and bliss of nature in every turn.
When you will see the breath-taking sceneries of Mount Kanchenjunga, your mind will be full of awe. The cultural mix of Hinduism and Buddhism will astound you. Entire journey is encased by many peaks of Himalayas. evergreen pine forests, Curvy terrains, waterfalls, narrow passes and lush tea gardens will keep you convoyed all through the trip. You will find many mind-blowing monasteries, lakes, forest.
Golden triangle (Delhi – Agra – Jaipur):-
This is the one of the amazing road trips in India. If you want to see the ancient India and its bygone history you must go on this road trip of 735 km. It will give you the prismatic view of various traditions, cultures religions etc.
The roads are the finest freeways of the country. This trip will take you to Jaipur, Agra and finally back to Delhi. You have to stay in each of these cities to explore.
Delhi to Jaipur- 270 km(Approximate time- 5 hrs)
Pink city Jaipur to Agra – 245 km (Approximate time- 6 hrs)
Agra to origin point Delhi- 205 km (Approximate time- 4 hrs)
In the last six centuries all the interesting as well as significant incidents happened in this region like politics, invasions and wars. When you visit each monument, the Taj Mahal, FatehpurSikri, Forts, and Palaces of Jaipur, you will assemble the history of India. So, start your journey and relive moments from the pages of history.
I have listed top five road trips that you should go on, in India. Whether you go by car or take your bike, I can promise you one thing, that when you’ll come back, you’ll realize that you’ve left a part of yourself there.
