10 Of Best Road Trips To Cover Complete India On Wheels

Travelers love road trips more than any other route of traveling and why not! It comes with many natural advantages. It can be planned as per one’s convenience, in any time of the year, with as many people as one wants or solo if you wish to, the perfect kind of getaway to the most exquisite places as well as to the ones that are hidden and didn’t make it to the itinerary list of travel and tour packages.

However, if you’re a beginner or just have no clue where to begin your travel vistas, let me help you with this crisp and compact list of 10 road trips that shall fulfill your travel lust adequately. The national highway and the routes can be customized as per one’s convenience. So here we go:

1. Leh and Srinagar

This destination is seriously the mecca of travelers, and loads and loads of information, reviews are on the internet regarding this place. The journey in its entirety will demand a good 12-18 days and surmount to this. The route can be customized as Leh-Manali-Leh or Srinagar-Leh-Manali. Services and tour offers for this route are readily available. And, irrespective of the destinations you choose, riding amidst the high mountains, snowy peaks, and beautiful views make it one of a kind experience. For adventure-seeking adrenaline junkies, the circuit mentioned above is usually preferred the most, check-in with agencies that launch the trips in groups. Having like-minded people looking forward to the same kind of adventure is always adds an extra charm to the journey. While for those planning a trip with the family, booking an SUV is advisable to share the breathtaking moment and views.

Best time:- May – November.
Distance:- 2500 km
Route:- Delhi – Jammu (1N) – Srinagar (3N) – Kargil (1N) – Ladakh (3N) – Manali (2N) – Delhi

2. The Road to Bhutan

The good news for Indian travelers is that Indian passport holders do not need a visa to travel Bhutan. The starting point can be Siliguri ending at Guwahati on the other side. Some of the places to visit in Bhutan are Phajoding monastery, Tiger Nest in Paro and Haa Valley, also known as the “Hidden Land Rice Valley”.

Best Time:- October-April
Distance:- 1000km
Route:- Siliguri – Phuentsholing(1N) – Paro(2N) – Punakha(1N) – Gangtey – Thimphu(1N) – Gorumara(1N) – Siliguri

3. Western Ghats

A week is good enough to experience the beautiful greenery of the Ghats, especially in Monsoons, when the Ghats look inexplicably beautiful. The journey can begin from Mumbai or Pune. The small villages and the towns along the road the journey surrounded in a carpet of green are perfect for camping. Choose the amusement park in Della or lose yourself in the pristine woods of Mahabaleshwar.

Best Time:- June-November
Distance:- 1000km
Route:- Mumbai – Lonavala(Della)(1N) – Satara – Ratnagiri(1N)– Chiplun – Mahabaleshwar(2N) – Tamhini – Kolad(Rafting)– Khopoli(Imagica)(1N) – Mumbai

4. The Himalayan Roads

Rishikesh offers bungee jumping and river rafting while Uttarkhand has beautiful mountain chains and awe-striking hill stations to offer. One can cover the journey in 7-10 days. The roads to Kinnaur and Spiti are not very safe and remained closed for maintenance. A safer shorter alternative is to take the route from Auli to Kufri directly.

Best Time:- March to September
Distance:- 1400 km
Route:- Delhi – Rishikesh(1N) – Dehradun – Mussoorie(2N) – Chakrata – Auli(1N) – Kinnaur*(2N) – Spiti(1N) – Kufri – Shimla(2N) – Solan – Delhi

5. East Coast

The route offers a unique experience of ancient Tamil culture, the roads are traversable and well-maintained with beautiful magnificent views. The famous Pamban bridge over the sea will arouse in travelers a feeling of ecstasy reminiscing the scenes of Chennai Express. The journey sets off with the picturesque eastern coastal roads, followed by Mahabalipuram a town with a vintage backdrop and terminate at the serene and rejuvenating tea estates of Nilgiri hills in Munnar. The journey is coverable in 10-15 days.

Best Time:- November-February
Distance: – 2000 km
Route:- Chennai-Mahabalipuram (1N) – Pondicherry (2N) – Pichavaram -Rameshwaram (2N) – Kanyakumari (2N) – Munnar (2N) – Yelagiri (1N) – Chennai

6. West Coast

This route offers splendid beaches in Gokarna, Udupi, and Kovalam, forests, lakes, and ghats in Coorg, Wayanad, Backwaters of Alleppey, hill stations of Kodaikanal and Ooty and mesmerizing Mysore. A holiday of two weeks will be needed to cover the entire circuit.

Best Time:-November-February
Distance:- 2500km
Route:- Agonda– Karwar – Gokarna(1N) – Udupi(1N) – Coorg(1N) – Wayanad(1N) – Alleppey(1N) – Kovalam(1N) – Kodaikanal(1N) – Ooty(2N) – Mysore -Chikmagalur (1) – Agonda

7. Royal Rajasthan

A time period of 10-12 days will be sufficient to cover the track. Winter season is considered to be most favorable to visit Rajasthan. The circuit can begin either from Ranthambore or from Jaipur. Jaisalmer and Udaipur will make this trip most memorable along with the royal culture of Rajasthan.

Best Time:- November-February
Distance:- 2400 km
Route:- Delhi – Jaipur(2) – Pushkar – Ajmer(1) – Jodhpur(2) – Jaisalmer(1) – Mt Abu(1) – Udaipur(2) – Ranthambore(1) – Delhi

8. Sikkim’s Silk Route

This route was used for silk exchange with China and other middle and eastern countries. The snaky lanes with hairpin bends and beautiful views of Himalayan peaks comprise the highlight of this journey. A special permit will be required to travel from Gangtok to Lachung, Nathula, and Zuluk which can be obtained in Gangtok. A perfect getaway for Mountain-view lovers for 10-15 days.

Best Time: – May-November
Distance: – 800km
Route:- Siliguri – Darjeeling(2N) – Pelling(1N) – Ravangla – Gangtok(3N) – Lachung(2N) – Nathula – Zuluk(1N) – Kalimpong(1N) – Siliguri

9. Through the North East

A 10-15 days trips 2000km across all the major northeast states and scenic beauty will work as an antidote and strip off the drudgery of your monotonous life. The path from Guwahati to Tawang is challenging on account of the notorious weather and the lack of resources in the path.

Best Time:- March-October
Distance:- 2000km
Route:- Guwahati – Tawang(2N) – Kaziranga(1N) – Majuli(1N) – Kohima(2N) – Haflong(1N) – Dawki – Cherrapunji(1N) – Shillong(2) – Guwahati

10. Flower Valley

This trip includes the thrill of trekking, camping, and sight-seeing on the road trip. Naini Lake is one of the sweet spots where one may relax after the strenuous trek. Some of the road trips and circuits can turn out to be harsh and practically difficult. The circuits can be covered partially as per one’s convenience. Nevertheless, make sure to enjoy your journey and save the beautiful memories and share your travel experiences with the world.

Best Time:- May-September
Distance:- 1200 km
Route:- Delhi – Lansdowne(1) – Chopta – Valley Of Flowers(2) – Kausani(1) – Almora – Ranikhet(1) – Nainital(1) – Delhi