Routes, passes and coasts
Road Trips in India
Himalayan passes, desert highways, ghat roads and coastal drives: choose the route for the season, plan realistic driving days, and make the journey part of the holiday.
India by road
A road trip shows India in a way no flight can: the change from plains to foothills, the villages and dhabas between cities, and the landscapes you would otherwise skip. New expressways have brought Jaipur, Agra, Dehradun and Mysuru within easy reach of the big cities, while the high passes of Ladakh and Spiti, the ghat roads of the Western Ghats and the coastal roads of the Konkan and Coromandel remain some of the most memorable drives anywhere.
Our road-trip guides focus on the journey: route options, approximate distances and driving times, stops along the way, where to spend the night, and the seasonal closures, permits and fees to check before you go. For what to do once you arrive, each guide links to our destination and things-to-do pages.
Start here
Best road trips, planning and self-drive
Best road trips in IndiaA guide to the best road trips in India, chosen for scenery, variety and practicality: Himalayan routes such as Manali to Leh, Srinagar to Leh and the Spiti circuit, the Rajasthan circuit, the Konkan and Goa, Kerala's hills and backwaters, the Nilgiris, the East Coast Road, Meghalaya and Tawang, and Kutch, with seasons, typical days and difficulty for each, and a season-by-season table.Read the guide →
How to plan a road trip in IndiaA step-by-step guide to planning a road trip in India: choosing a route and the right season, deciding how many days, realistic daily distances on plains and mountain roads, planning fuel stops and overnight stops, permits and entry fees, choosing between self-drive and a driver, tips for first-timers, solo travellers and families, and a pre-departure checklist.Read the guide →
Self-drive trips in IndiaA practical guide to self-drive trips in India: how self-drive rentals work, documents and deposits, interstate travel and permits, FASTag and tolls, the best self-drive routes for beginners and experienced drivers, mountain and coastal self-drives, areas where local vehicles or drivers are required, and when hiring a car with a driver makes more sense.Read the guide →
Himalayan road trips
Himachal, Uttarakhand, Ladakh and Spiti
State guides and the classic Himalayan routes, with passes, overnight stops and seasons.
Road trips in Himachal PradeshA guide to road trips in Himachal Pradesh: the main routes from Delhi and Chandigarh, the Shimla and Manali corridors, the Kinnaur and Spiti circuit, the Kangra valley and Dharamshala, the Jalori Pass and Tirthan valley, Chamba and Dalhousie, and the Atal Tunnel to Lahaul, with seasons, entry fees, overnight stops and monsoon cautions.Read the guide →
Road trips in UttarakhandA guide to road trips in Uttarakhand: the new Delhi–Dehradun expressway, Rishikesh and Mussoorie, the Char Dham valleys of Garhwal, the Chopta road, Lansdowne, Kumaon's Nainital, Almora, Kausani and Munsiyari, and the Corbett foothills, with seasons, yatra traffic and monsoon cautions.Read the guide →
Delhi to Manali road tripA route guide to the Delhi to Manali road trip: the main route via Chandigarh, Kiratpur, Bilaspur, Mandi and Kullu, approximate distance and driving time, the new four-lane highway and tunnels, stops along the way, overnight options, Himachal entry toll and Manali green tax, seasons and a two- to five-day plan.Read the guide →
Delhi to Shimla road tripA route guide to the Delhi to Shimla road trip: the route via Panipat, Ambala, Chandigarh, Parwanoo and Solan, approximate distance and driving time, stops including Pinjore, Kasauli, Barog and Solan, the Kalka–Shimla toy train as an alternative, overnight options, Himachal entry toll, winter snow and a weekend plan.Read the guide →
Delhi to Rishikesh road tripA route guide to the Delhi to Rishikesh road trip: the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, inaugurated in April 2026, and the older route via Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Roorkee and Haridwar, with approximate distances and driving times, stops, Kanwar Yatra and Char Dham traffic, and short plans that combine Rishikesh with Haridwar, Mussoorie or Rajaji.Read the guide →
Manali to Leh road tripA route guide to the Manali to Leh road trip: the route through the Atal Tunnel, Keylong and Jispa, over Baralacha La, Nakee La, Lachulung La and Tanglang La via Sarchu, Pang and the More Plains, approximate distance and driving time, where to stop overnight, fuel planning, altitude and acclimatisation, the opening season, the Delhi approach and how the route fits into a Ladakh trip.Read the guide →
Srinagar to Leh road tripA route guide to the Srinagar to Leh road trip: the route via Sonamarg and the Z-Morh tunnel, over Zojila to Drass and Kargil, then via Mulbekh, Namika La, Fotu La and Lamayuru to Alchi and Leh, with approximate distance, the overnight stop in Kargil, stops along the way, acclimatisation benefits, Zojila opening and tunnel progress, the Jammu approach and advisories.Read the guide →
Spiti Valley road tripA route guide to the Spiti Valley road trip: the approaches from Delhi, Shimla and Manali, the Shimla–Kinnaur–Nako–Tabo–Kaza road, the Kaza–Kunzum–Atal Tunnel road to Manali, the full circuit and which way to drive it, a seven- to ten-day plan, Chandratal, fuel and network, what drives the cost, the best season and acclimatisation.Read the guide →
Rajasthan road trips
Fort cities and desert highways
The classic circuit from Delhi to Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Udaipur, and winter drives across the west.
Rajasthan road tripA route guide to a Rajasthan road trip: the classic circuit from Delhi via Jaipur, Pushkar, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer to Udaipur, approximate distances and drive times for each leg, route variations through Bikaner, Shekhawati, Ranakpur, Kumbhalgarh, Chittorgarh and Bundi, a seven- to twelve-day plan, desert driving considerations and the winter season.Read the guide →
Winter road trips in IndiaA guide to winter road trips in India: the Rajasthan circuit, the Rann of Kutch and Gujarat's Saurashtra coast, the Konkan and Goa, Kerala and the East Coast Road, Hampi and Badami, central India's tiger reserves, the Northeast's dry season, and cautious snow drives to Shimla and Manali, with fog, cold and festival-season tips.Read the guide →
South India road trips
Coffee hills, the Nilgiris, Kerala and the coast
Short, scenic routes from Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi, and the long drive to Goa.
South India road tripsA guide to road trips in South India: the Bengaluru–Mysuru expressway and the coffee hills of Coorg and Chikmagalur, the Nilgiris via Bandipur and Mudumalai, Kerala's hill and backwater roads, the Tamil Nadu coast along the East Coast Road, the Chettinad and temple towns, the Deccan to Hampi and Badami, and the drive to Goa, with seasons, forest night bans and ghat-road tips.Read the guide →
Kerala road tripA route guide to a Kerala road trip: the classic loop from Kochi to Munnar, Thekkady, Vagamon, Kumarakom or Alappuzha and Varkala, the northern leg to Wayanad over the Thamarassery ghat, approximate distances and drive times, NH66 works, monsoon driving, a seven- to ten-day plan and how to combine driving with a houseboat night.Read the guide →
Bengaluru to Coorg road tripA route guide to the Bengaluru to Coorg road trip: the Bengaluru–Mysuru expressway, the routes via Hunsur or Kushalnagar to Madikeri, approximate distance and driving time, stops at Srirangapatna, Bylakuppe, Dubare and the Harangi backwaters, two-wheeler rules on the expressway, the monsoon and a two- to four-day plan.Read the guide →
Bengaluru to Ooty road tripA route guide to the Bengaluru to Ooty road trip: via the Mysuru expressway, Nanjangud and Gundlupet through Bandipur and Mudumalai tiger reserves to Gudalur and Ooty, or via Masinagudi and the steep Kalhatti ghat, with approximate distance and time, the forest night-traffic ban, the Nilgiris e-pass, stops and a two- to four-day plan.Read the guide →
Kochi to Munnar road tripA route guide to the Kochi to Munnar road trip: the NH85 route via Kothamangalam, the Neriamangalam bridge, the Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls, Adimali and the spice and tea country above it, with approximate distance and time, the Thattekad detour, road-widening works, monsoon landslides, and how to continue to Thekkady.Read the guide →
Chennai to Pondicherry road tripA route guide to the Chennai to Pondicherry road trip along the East Coast Road (ECR): Covelong, DakshinaChitra, the Madras Crocodile Bank, Mahabalipuram's monuments, the backwaters at Alamparai and Marakkanam's salt pans, with approximate distance and time, the GST Road alternative, cycling and weekend traffic, and a two- to three-day plan with Auroville.Read the guide →
Bengaluru to Goa road tripA route guide to the Bengaluru to Goa road trip: NH48 via Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Davanagere and Hubballi–Dharwad, then into Goa via Belagavi and the Chorla ghat or via Ramnagar and the Anmod ghat, or down to the coast at Karwar, with approximate distance and time, detours to Hampi, Dandeli, Jog Falls and Gokarna, and seasons.Read the guide →
Northeast road trips
Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal and Sikkim
Permits, local vehicles and the slow, beautiful roads of the Northeast.
Northeast India road tripsA guide to road trips in Northeast India: Guwahati to Shillong, Sohra and Dawki in Meghalaya, Kaziranga and Majuli in Assam, Guwahati to Tawang and Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh, the Siliguri–Gangtok road and North Sikkim, and Dimapur to Kohima in Nagaland, with Inner Line Permits, local-vehicle rules, landslides and the best seasons.Read the guide →
Guwahati to Tawang road tripA route guide to the Guwahati to Tawang road trip: via Tezpur and Bhalukpong into Arunachal Pradesh, then Tenga, Bomdila, Dirang, the Sela tunnel and Sela Pass, and Jang to Tawang, with approximate distances, overnight stops at Dirang or Bomdila, the Inner Line Permit, altitude, winter snow, Bum La permits and a six- to eight-day return plan.Read the guide →
Western Ghats and coastal road trips
Ghat roads, waterfalls and coastal drives
Scenic drives through the Sahyadri and along India's coasts, and when the monsoon makes them shine.
Western Ghats road tripsA guide to road trips in the Western Ghats: the ghat roads of Maharashtra (Malshej, Tamhini, Varandha, Amboli and Mahabaleshwar), the Chorla and Anmod ghats into Goa, Karnataka's Agumbe, Charmadi and Kudremukh roads, Kerala's Thamarassery and Munnar roads, and Tamil Nadu's Valparai and Kodaikanal climbs, with monsoon driving, waterfalls, forest roads and seasons.Read the guide →
Coastal road trips in IndiaA guide to coastal road trips in India: the Konkan coast from Mumbai to Goa, the Karnataka coast from Karwar to Mangaluru, Kerala's coast along NH66, the East Coast Road from Chennai to Rameswaram, Odisha's Puri–Konark marine drive, the Saurashtra coast of Gujarat and West Bengal's Digha coast, with seasons, ferries and cyclone cautions.Read the guide →
Mumbai to Goa road tripA route guide to the Mumbai to Goa road trip: the NH66 Konkan route via Panvel, Mahad, Chiplun, Ratnagiri and Kudal, the slower coastal route with ferries past Alibaug, Murud, Dapoli, Ganpatipule, Tarkarli and Malvan, and the inland route via Pune, Satara, Kolhapur and Amboli, with approximate distances and times, NH66 widening, Ganesh festival traffic, monsoon cautions and stops.Read the guide →
Monsoon road trips in IndiaA guide to monsoon road trips in India: where the rains make driving beautiful (the Western Ghats around Mumbai and Pune, the Konkan, Coorg and Chikmagalur, Kerala and Meghalaya), where the rain shadow keeps roads dry (Ladakh, Spiti and Lahaul), where to avoid in peak monsoon (Himachal and Uttarakhand's landslide zones), and how to drive safely in the rain.Read the guide →
Weekend road trips
Road trips from India's big cities
Weekend drives and longer trips from six cities, with distances and seasons.
Road trips from DelhiA guide to road trips from Delhi, grouped by time: short drives to Agra, Mathura–Vrindavan, Neemrana and Sariska; weekend trips to Jaipur, Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Lansdowne, Kasauli and Nainital; and longer trips to Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Corbett, Spiti, Ladakh and the Rajasthan circuit, with approximate distances, expressways, fog and holiday traffic.Read the guide →
Road trips from Mumbai and PuneA guide to road trips from Mumbai and Pune: short drives to Lonavala, Matheran and Alibaug, weekend trips to Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Nashik, Igatpuri, Bhandardara and Malshej, coastal drives to Dapoli, Ganpatipule and Tarkarli, and longer trips to Kolhapur, Ajanta–Ellora and Goa, with approximate distances, the expressways, monsoon crowds and ghat safety.Read the guide →
Road trips from BengaluruA guide to road trips from Bengaluru: short drives to Nandi Hills, Mysuru and Srirangapatna, weekend trips to Coorg, Chikmagalur, Sakleshpur, Kabini, Wayanad, Ooty and Yercaud, and longer trips to Hampi, Gokarna, Goa and Pondicherry, with approximate distances, the Mysuru expressway, forest night bans, e-passes and seasons.Read the guide →
Road trips from ChennaiA guide to road trips from Chennai: short drives to Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram and Pulicat, weekend trips to Pondicherry, Yelagiri, Vellore and Tiruvannamalai, and longer trips to Tranquebar, the Chola temples of Thanjavur, Chettinad and Madurai, Kodaikanal and Ooty, with approximate distances, the East Coast Road, monsoon cautions and seasons.Read the guide →
Road trips from HyderabadA guide to road trips from Hyderabad: short drives to Ananthagiri Hills, Pochampally and Bidar, weekend trips to Warangal and Ramappa, Nagarjuna Sagar, Srisailam through the Nallamala forest, Laknavaram and Bhadrachalam, and longer drives to Hampi, Gandikota and the Belum caves, and Goa, with approximate distances, the Amrabad forest night closure and seasons.Read the guide →
Road trips from KolkataA guide to road trips from Kolkata: the Bay of Bengal beaches at Digha, Mandarmani and Tajpur, the terracotta temples of Bishnupur, Santiniketan, the Mukutmanipur reservoir and Purulia's Ajodhya Hills, the drive to the Sundarbans jetties, and longer trips to Puri and Darjeeling, with approximate distances, seasons and cyclone cautions.Read the guide →
Self-drive and bike road trips
Driving yourself, or riding
Self-drive rentals and routes are covered here; motorcycle trips are covered by our Adventure guides.
Road trip planning
Cost, packing and safety
Road trip cost in IndiaA guide to the cost of a road trip in India, built on components rather than fixed prices: how to estimate fuel from distance and mileage, national highway tolls and the FASTag annual pass, state entry taxes and green fees, accommodation, food, self-drive rental charges and deposits, driver allowances, permits, parking, and how a motorcycle trip differs, with ways to save.Read the guide →
Road trip packing listA practical road trip packing list for India: documents and FASTag, a car emergency kit, first aid and medicines, food, water and comfort items, electronics and navigation, and extra lists for mountain and high-altitude drives, monsoon trips, winter and snow, family road trips and motorcycle trips.Read the guide →
Road trip safety in IndiaA practical guide to road trip safety in India: general driving habits, seat belts and helmets, mountain and ghat roads, the monsoon and landslides, fog, night driving, wildlife corridors, altitude, emergencies, and responsible road travel, including respecting local communities, reducing waste and not driving off-road or on beaches.Read the guide →
Themed road trips
Nature, adventure, wildlife, heritage and food
Route-led trips built around a theme, plus road trips for families and couples.
Wildlife road trips in IndiaA guide to wildlife road trips in India: route circuits that link national parks and tiger reserves, including central India's Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench and Tadoba, the Nilgiri Biosphere's Bandipur, Mudumalai, Nagarhole, Kabini and Wayanad, Corbett and Rajaji in Uttarakhand, Kaziranga and Nameri in Assam, Gir and the Little Rann of Kutch, and Ranthambore and Sariska, with forest-road rules and safari booking.Read the guide →
Food road trips in IndiaA guide to food road trips in India: the Grand Trunk Road's dhabas from Murthal to Amritsar, Rajasthan's dal-baati and kachori stops, Malvani and Konkani seafood on the west coast, Mangaluru and coastal Karnataka, Kerala's toddy-shop cooking, Chettinad in Tamil Nadu, Hyderabad and the Deccan, and Bengal, with tips on eating safely on the road.Read the guide →
Family road trips in IndiaA guide to family road trips in India: routes with short driving days and plenty to do, including Delhi to Shimla, Jaipur and Kumaon, Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar, Bengaluru to Coorg and Mysuru, Chennai to Pondicherry, Kochi to Munnar and Kutch, with practical tips on pacing, motion sickness, car seats, breaks, stays and travelling with grandparents.Read the guide →
Road trips for couplesA guide to road trips for couples in India: slow coastal drives on the Konkan and the East Coast Road, hill routes to Munnar, Coorg and Kumaon, Rajasthan's Udaipur and Mount Abu, quiet valleys such as Tirthan, adventurous drives to Spiti and Ladakh, and Meghalaya, with tips on pacing, stays and honeymoon timing.Read the guide →
Road trip itineraries
Day-by-day routes
Multi-stop itineraries from our other guides, all of which work by road.
- Shimla Manali itinerary
- Uttarakhand hill stations itinerary
- Kashmir itinerary
- Rajasthan heritage itinerary
- Golden Triangle itinerary
- Kerala nature itinerary
- South India hill stations itinerary
- Western Ghats nature itinerary
- Meghalaya nature itinerary
- Darjeeling and Sikkim itinerary
Destination guides
What to see and do once you arrive.
Road trip packages
Road trips, planned around you
Every Kudozz Club trip is customized. Tell us the route you have in mind, and we plan realistic driving days, overnight stops and stays around your dates, with or without a driver.
FAQs
Road trips in India: FAQs
What are the best road trips in India?
Manali to Leh and Srinagar to Leh, the Spiti circuit, the Rajasthan circuit, Mumbai to Goa along the Konkan, Kerala's hills and backwaters, Bengaluru to Ooty, Chennai to Pondicherry and Guwahati to Tawang are among the best.
When is the best time for a road trip in India?
It depends on the region: summer (June to September) for Ladakh and Spiti, winter (November to February) for Rajasthan, Kutch and the coasts, and the monsoon for the Western Ghats.
How many days do I need for a road trip in India?
Two to three days for a weekend route from a city, five to seven for one region, and ten days or more for the high Himalaya or a Rajasthan circuit.
Is it better to self-drive or hire a car with a driver?
Self-drive suits good highways and short routes; a local driver is often wiser for high mountains, busy old cities and permit areas.
How do I estimate the cost of a road trip?
Add fuel (distance ÷ mileage × fuel price), tolls, stays, food and rental or driver charges, then state entry fees and permits, plus a 10 to 15 per cent buffer.
Plan your road trip
Tell Kudozz Club your route idea, dates and who is travelling, and we’ll turn it into a practical plan with realistic driving days, good overnight stops and the right stays.