You have visited India for family occasions, festive holidays, romantic vacations, and pilgrimages. Why not give a twist to your travel taste, with road trips in India during the next visit? The road trips in India tick all the boxes – adventure, photography, nature and beauty – to rank at the top on your personal travel index. The geography of the country is crisscrossed by routes, short and long, for road trips in the coastal areas, mountainous regions, hilly terrains and the desert zone. IndianEagle handpicks the following road trips for your travel plan in 2014. Each of these is a rollercoaster ride of fun and joy.
Mumbai to Goa Road Trip
The road trip from Mumbai to Goa is a favorite of bikers on weekends. This getaway to the beaches of Goa has been riding the waves of popularity since the Bollywood movie Dil Chahta Hai, a story about three friends, became a hit with the youth of India. The route down the NH 17 through Maharashtra’s hinterland is very smooth and fit for vehicles – cars as well as bikes. The Karnala Bird Sanctuary, the Sindhudurg of Shivaji’s times, the Mahabaleshwar Hill Station, and the scenic Vashisti River and Kolhapur are the traps of attraction on the road trip from Mumbai to Goa.
Bangalore to Goa Road Trip
A road trip along the Bangalore-Goa route is full of thrills and spills. It is a craze with the Gen Y. The drive from Bangalore to Goa is as pleasant as swing, in any season of the year, because of the scenic natural artifices hanging over both sides of the route. The route is divided into two – one via Belgaum, and the other via Shimoga. The Belgaum route is preferred to the Shimoga route which may be disrupted due to landslides at any time. The famous Jog Falls, some forts and Murdeshwara on the Bangalore to Goa route bring the itinerary alive.
Manali to Leh Road Trip
If adventure is your cup of tea, get going for the Manali-Leh road trip in the Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh. The Manali-Leh route is a precarious yet beautiful one. Snowfall keeps the route blocked round the year except the month of June when the snow is cleared. Driving along this route in the Himalayas is thrilling and challenging at the same time. August-September is the ideal time for bikers to hit the road from Manali to Leh. Somewhere rough while somewhere smooth, the route passes by beautiful Buddhist monasteries and through mountains.
Dehradun to Nainital Road Trip
The road trip from Dehradun to Nainital in Uttarakhand is one of the getaways with feast for the eyes on the way. The route through hills makes the drive a rollercoaster ride for bikers. It is landscaped with hills and rocks for most of the distance. Those in quest of adventure for adrenalin rush will cherish this road trip as an evergreen memory. The natural beauty of Kumaon Hills is irresistible bait on the way. Including shrines and wildlife parks, there are many things to see and do on the 355-km long route from Dehradun to Nainital.
Chennai to Kanyakumari Road Trip
The Coromandel Coast of India from Chennai to Kanyakumari is dotted with heritage sites, pristine beaches and spectacular waterfalls. The Chennai-Kanyakumari road trip is so full of joy that it can outshine your travel memories in any other part of India. Pondicherry is a must stop on the route. Steeped in tranquility and lavished with natural beauty, it is a seaside town of the Portuguese era. Kanyakumari is just an eight-hour drive from here. This road trip promises a sporty experience.
Jaipur to Ranthambore Road Trip
Among the road trips in Rajasthan, the Jaipur-Ranthambore is a most adventurous one. The route from Jaipur to Ranthambore passes through the major tourist destinations – Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. The glamor of palaces, the wonder of desert and the variety of wildlife on the way endear the road trip to riders. Both architecture and nature exist side by side on the Jaipur-Ranthambore route. It provides riders with many opportunities to photograph the beauty of Rajasthan that manifests itself in architecture, desert and wildlife.
Shillong to Cherrapunjee Road Trip
Rajasthan offers road trips through rough and rigid terrains. Road trips in the Himalayan region are made through corridors of hills. The Shillong-Cherrapunjee road trip is a drive in the greenery. The route from Shillong to Cherrapunjee is dominated by lush green landscape on both sides. It makes the drive a breath of fresh air for the mind and the soul. The slippery road makes driving a risky affair in the rainy season. The road is smooth and safe in other times of the year.
Mumbai to Lonavala Road Trip
Looking for a change in the monotonous way of daily life? Do ride a bike from Mumbai to Lonavala. The Mumbai-Lonavala road trip is too short to make whenever you wish. Besides, it offers a refreshing break from the traffic of Mumbai to the tranquility of Lonavala, one of the hill stations at a short drive from Pune too. Lonavala falls on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Catching glimpses of green landscapes hang over the route.
The first step towards making these road trips is booking a flight to India. IndianEagle.com is offering a good range of cheap flight deals for your travel plans in 2014.
Reblogged this on Jayanth Sugavasi.
Thanks for sharing important information, it can help to plan holiday trip via road
I have been to Ranthambore several times by road. It is always a wonderful experience to witness wildlife creatures live before our eyes.
India is really a beautiful place. It has so beautiful and colorful culture and enriched with lots of beautiful places.
Thanks for this post. Lovely information. I am planning a road trip myself on the 25th May 2014 with a 200 cc motorcycle but don’t like to go Solo..
Anyway, Solo or with other like-minded folks I am going on the 25th but will most likely won’t take the NH17, rather will go via Ratnagiri and through the ghats.. Want to soak in some fresh air and capture some beautiful scenery along the way.