10 Most Popular Road Trips In India to Look Forward To

India is a country where you experience every journey that you make with all your senses and this is irrespective of what transport you are using. A lot of travel enthusiasts travel by bus or train or other modes of public transport and that, of course, gives you a different kind of rush. But if you can manage road trips on your favourite two-wheeler or the four-wheeler you have been meaning to take out on a long drive, there’s nothing like it. The best part of going on road trips is that you can have the itinerary under your control, being able to decide which stops to make and which route to take.

Also, if you are not fond of driving for long journeys, you can always hire a driver or even a 4WD with a driver so that you can concentrate on your journey and the scenery around you instead of worrying about the drive.

Top Ten Popular Road Trips to Choose From

Here are 10 of the most popular road trips in India to help you start off with your road trip experience.

1.  The Mumbai-Pune Expressway

Distance - 94kms

Duration - 2/3 hours

This is an easy getaway if you are looking to make the trip from Mumbai or Pune. This road trip to Lonavala is extremely popular and the residents swear by it. The lush green scenery around and the picturesque locale is bound to take your breath away and give you a sense of calm. If you are particularly in need of a break from the humdrum life of work and if you are in the vicinity, this is a road trip you should not miss. There are also popular food joints like Kinara Village Dhaba and Sunny da Dhaba along the stretch to save you from the pangs of hunger on the trip. If you are staying in Mumbai, you can opt for the numerous 3-star hotels in Mumbai for the best experience.

2.  Manali to Leh Highway

Distance - 479kms

Duration - 2 days

Imagine experiencing the beautiful silence of the Himalayas, standing by the roadside in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, and amidst the high-altitude desert. Starting from Manali, it is a 2-day journey over the Rohtang-La to Leh, through a landscape that knows almost no vegetation and no shade, and you will feel the altitude and the cold right to your bones. There are also Buddhist monasteries in Leh that you can visit and have a calm and peaceful experience - maybe shut down the irritable noises in your brain. The road remains accessible for 5 months every year, during summer and mid-October.

3.  Visakhapatnam to Arakku Valley

Distance - 116km

Duration - 3 hours

Visakhapatnam is a place where the beauty of the Bay of Bengal and Eastern Ghats merge to create a sight that is a wonder to behold. For a great stay in this place, you can book a hotel from a popular hotel booking website and enjoy their discounts and special offers. The road trip from this beautiful city to Arakku Valley will take you through a journey of a lifetime and you will be completely mystified by the beauty that the road will unveil. The gentle elevation, curving roads, and serene hills will be everything you would want to look forward to. On the way, you can also visit popular tourist destinations like the Borra caves and the Tatipudi River.

4.  Shimla-Mandi via Manali

Distance - 250km

Duration - 5/6 hours

If we are talking about the beauty of road trips, this is one that we absolutely should not miss. This road trip, with the Beas River meandering alongside, will definitely help you relax and gather your thoughts, enjoying every bit of the journey. You can also make a stop and experience the ice-cold waters of the Beas. Any Himachal vacation will be incomplete without this road trip included in the itinerary. If you decide to stay in Manali, choose a good hotel booking website and choose from the many hotels available here to suit your budget.

5. Guwahati to Tawang

Distance - 520km

Duration - 2 days

These are two absolutely must-visit places in the north-east and as two ends of a beautiful road trip, they will together create an experience that you will find hard to forget. The journey is long and you might have to take a couple of stopovers to keep it comfortable. But we promise that the experience will involve everything starting from adventures to stunning vistas and of course, memories of a lifetime.

6. Chennai to Pondicherry

Distance - 151km

Duration - 3 hours

This road trip will be one great deal of a ride if you have a two-wheeler at your disposal as this might as well be one of the most beautiful roads in India. The sea on one side of the road, as you travel, will keep changing its color with the sun completing its course in the day. The beauty of the smooth and beautiful road and the serene sea is the perfect combination to make this journey memorable for you.

7. Gangtok to Lake Tsomgo

Distance - 56km

Duration - 2 hours

Distance-wise, the trip might look short and easy but it is far from it. The hilly terrain might make the journey somewhat difficult, but this is where the beauty of the trip lies. The route climbs from Gangtok at 5249 ft to Lake Tsomgo or Changu Lake at a whopping 12,400 ft. The cascading waterfalls and the snow-capped mountain peaks offer a breathtakingly beautiful view that you can only imagine in your dreams. Although the weather here is somewhat unpredictable, the best time to visit here is from April to September.

8. Chennai to Munnar

Distance - 585km

Duration - 10-12 hours excluding stopovers

You can choose to escape the bustling city life of Chennai and embark on this road trip to Munnar, which can ultimately turn into food for your soul. The road beautifully meanders through rolling hills, curvy rivers, and landscapes that are truly awe-inspiring. Muunar, popular for its lush green tea gardens will welcome you with its pristine lakes and soothing greenery, along with cascading waterfalls.

9. Shillong to Cherrapunji

Distance - 59km

Duration - 2 hours

As you embark on this enchanting journey through the heart of Meghalaya, the winding and beautiful roads lead to Cherrapunji. The road offers misty valleys, majestic mountains, dense forests, caves, and quaint villages. Cherrapnju, the wettest place on earth will welcome you with open arms with its bountiful of rainfalls, vibrant festivals, and rich culture.

10. Mumbai to Goa

Distance - 556kms

Duration - 12 hours excluding stopovers

This journey can be called the Father of all Indian road trips and if you are in Mumbai, Goa will definitely be one of the places to visit in Mumbai or around. Drive straight toward the sun, along the beautiful road with the anticipation of the sandy and beachy fun that awaits in Goa. It is a good idea to leave Mumbai in the morning and reach Goa just in time for the parties to begin.

There are so many more options that we could include in the list. But that list would then probably never end. So it is a good idea to start with the trips we have narrowed down based on their durations and go on to longer journeys once you are acquainted with the road trips experience.