Best Road Trips In India

10 Best Road Trips In India After COVID Lockdown.

The year 2020 hasn’t turned out the way people expected. In fact, it was accompanied by the most unforeseen times ever with the world tussling with the novel Coronavirus.

Yes, the situation is grim and there’s not a lot left for us to do while we sit at home during the lockdown but pray and hope that this too shall pass.

Roadtrip To Goa

From Mumbai to Goa or Bangalore to Goa it is equidistant. If you love reel road travel than you will love the real one more. I do not blame Bollywood for this Goa Love of mine, this place has that warmth and Dil Chahta Hai vibes like forever. It keeps calling!!

It is preferred that you take Bangalore-Hobli-Goa route, for smoother roads, less crowd and lesser toll booths. This road is a much safer option as it is almost contactless. One of the most picturesque trails from Bangalore, the Hubli-Anmod Ghat route is your best bet if your destination is Goa.
From Mumbai take Pune- Kolhapur route to enjoy Magnificent views of the Western Ghats and excellent road conditions will enhance your road trip experience.

Time: 10-12 hours both the routes

Distance: Bangalore-Hubli Route -584km, Mumbai-Kolhapur Route -590 km

Roadtrip to Rishikesh

Rishikesh is a small peaceful town known as the destination for meditation and yoga. Considered as the gateway to the mighty Himalayas, and located on the banks of the river Ganga, it is an ideal destination for adventure sports like river rafting, trekking, rock climbing, etc. The preferred route is New Delhi - Meerut - Muzaffarnagar - Roorkee - Haridwar - Rishikesh via NH 334 is 235km long route. On this route, the road takes you through some of the prominent places like Meerut and Muzaffarnagar. The roads till Meerut are in pretty good shape which enables you to cover the distance within no time. But from Muzaffarnagar, the road is just the right kind of challenge for a thrill seeker!

Time: 5 to 6 hours

Distance: 235 km

To Know More on -Things to do in Rishikesh

Roadtrip To Jaisalmer

From Jaipur to Jaisalmer, from Pink City to Golden City, From Jaipur-Ajmer-Jodhpur-Jaisalmer. You may add Pushkar to this route if you are planning for a week-long trip. Rajasthan is one place that undoubtedly has made me love India more.

The land of Kings, embellished with beautiful mountains, rich heritage, mesmerising forts, pristine lakes and breathtaking palaces, it really is a royal state. This road trip from Jaipur to Jaisalmer is a majestic getaway. Jaisalmer, which is located at a distance of 558 km from the famous Pink City. This is one of the best road trips that you shouldn’t miss! The road trip from Jaipur to Jaisalmer is a gorgeous one as you drive past sand dunes, camel caravans, temples, forts, palaces..phew, the list goes on!

Time: 9-11 hours

Distance: 558km

Things you need to tag along on a Road Trip

Roadtrip To Nainital

A drive Among the Clouds! The hill station of Nainital in Uttarakhand, nestled between Himalayan Peaks and the Naini Lake, is a popular tourist destination because of the picture-perfect combination of lakes and mountains. The hill town built by Britishers, Nainital is celebrated as the Lake District of India and rightly so. It is home to 60 lakes which makes it the perfect summer destination and attracts a lot of tourists. The preferred route by car from Dehradun is along NH 72 to Haridwar then along NH 74 to Najibabad-Ramnagar-Nainital. Haridwar is the first major stop from Dehradun, where one can take a short break from the journey and visit the holy town and go to the ghats along the river Ganga or continue the journey and travel towards Najibabad in Uttar Pradesh. Alternately, one could travel via Kashipur on NH 74, skipping Ramnagar and shortening the journey from Dehradun to the hill station of Nainital.

Time: 6-7hours

Distance: 291km (Ramnagar Route) Approx 275 km (Kashipur Route)

Roadtrip To Pondicherry

Keep your camera ready because you are in for some scenic moments on this drive. Built along the Bay of Bengal ECR-east coast road will give you a view of the water, its reflections, and the sun.

It is among the best road trips in India as it’s one where the journey will fetch you more memories and greater experience than the destination itself. A perfect condition road for driving from Chennai and a perfect road for a soothing experience. ECR, ECR and ECR the only route I suggest!

Time: 3-4 hours

Distance: 160 Km

Roadtrip To Coorg

Coorg, or Kodagu, also known as the Scotland of India, is a breathtaking hill station located in Karnataka. Coorg is famous for its scenic hills, streams, and greenery. Hospitable locals, lush coffee plantations, cultural treasures, offroading experiences and gorgeous waterfalls, are a few reasons why Coorg is one of the most charming places to visit in India.

Starting at Bangalore, the route traces Ramnagara, Mandya, and Kusshalnagar before you reach Coorg. From Concrete Jungles to Pristine hills. The roads on this route are pretty decent, except for a few patches here and there.

Time: 5-6 hours

Distance: 275km

Roadtrip To Pelling

Pelling is a very beautiful and quaint place. The monasteries, waterfalls, gardens and mountains create a site to visit for sure. Lofty mountains with picturesque landscapes on all sides, giving you the feeling as if you’re riding through Heaven. The curvy paths from Darjeeling, narrow roads, several shaded pine forests, and the pristine waterfalls combine to offer the experience that this destination has to offer. It is a road trip that you can never forget though it could be a fun bumpy ride..

Time: 2-3 hours

Distance: 73km (Darjeeling to Pelling)

Roadtrip To Araku Valley

One of the best places for road trip in India is certainly between Visakhapatnam to Araku Valley. This road is all about embracing the stash of natural bounty that one can witness on the way. From the alluring beauty of the several shades of green, the stunning hills, to the majestic mountains that can be seen on both sides of the road as you pass through it, this road trip is definitely one of its kind. The numerous exciting moments and the amazing spots to visit in between makes it a must-try for all.

Time: 3-4 hours

Distance: 114kms

Roadtrip To Kashid

From Pune To Kashid or Mumbai To Kashid. Kashid is a beach town on the shores of the Arabian Sea in the North Konkan region and The road to Kashid is scenic. There's a coastal route and a hill route that await you on your road trip. Proximity to two metros makes it a popular beach getaway of Maharashtra and is quite crowded during weekends. Preferred route from Pune - Mumbai Expressway - Lonavala - Khopoli - Pen - Alibaug - Kashid. From Mumbai one will pass Mankhurd, Panvel traces Alibaug before reaching Kashid.

Time: 3-4 Hours

Distance: From Pune 170km, From Mumbai 125km

Roadtrip To Daman

An amazing journey from Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s largest city to its popular Union Territory. Being the part of Portuguese India for several centuries, Daman reflects its culture and heritage through the presence of forts and ancient buildings that were made during the rule of the Portuguese. Well connected to Ahmedabad and other cities; hence, Daman is easily accessible by road. The preferred route is Ahmedabad - Vadodara - Surat - Daman.

Time: 6-7 hours

Distance: 365 km

In the current scenario, a road trip for short routes is anyway better than taking a train or flight (social distancing and taking all necessary anti-COVID precautions being the norm). Excited already? Well, you do have to wait for the lockdown to be over. So until you can go on a trip, take cues from this blog on How To Travel In This New Normal COVID-World .