Plenty has been written, read and heard about the expansive tea plantations of Munnar. The drive from Bangalore is amazing with a steady road for the most part. The highway (NH7 and NH-47) is known for its open stretches and iconic views and the state roads on this road have coconut trees on either side of the road. Endless windmills on either sides of roads stretch for many kilometers, fascinatingly running together with you. Witness zillions of breathtaking waterfalls one after other which are bound to keep you glued throughout the journey. The undulating forest landscape looks beautiful with trees, small trickling streams and wooden bridges add an extra charm to the drive. Be ready to not be stunned if a baby elephant pops up on the road.
EN T Cooking classes with Nimi Sunil kumar, the reputable author of authentic Kerala cooking books based in Old Munnar. (Phone : 094473 30773)
A
BANGALORE HOSUR
e
SALEM
r
PERUNDURAI
- Septe mb July
LI
DURATION: 4 Days
DISTANCE: 475km
M
B
ATING MO ER
BANGALORE to MUNNAR
DHARAPURAM UDMALPET
MARAYOOR
The tea museum with collection of old bits and pieces from the colonial era including photographs from 1905
B
CANT MIS S
V
WP IE OINT
Lockhart Gap a misty valley tucked away on the way to Thekkady from Munnar. It is pretty beyond words illuminated in the orange glow of a sunset.
MUNNAR
From Top Station, at the height of 1880 ASL, panoramic view of the Western Ghats and the valley of Theni
Known as the "abode of the clouds", Meghalaya surprises you with its splendid secrets. The drive from Shillong to Cherrapunji is a short one but the frequent thunderstorms can slow you down. On your way, via Sohra some stunning pit stops will make the ride even longer. Riding along the SH5, the busy roads of Shillong soon give way to neverending farms on both sides. While the picturesque landscapes, dotted with Khasi hills and valleys, and unparalleled scenic beauty give you company on your way, the warm smiles of Khasi people welcome you to Cherrapunji. If you are one who likes to chase the thick monsoon clouds and the sound of raindrops on your window makes you happy, this drive is just for you.
DURATION: 2 Days
EN
T The magniďŹ cent scenery and its surrounding silence will refresh your soul as you listen to slow roar of a cascade of intense height.
A
October - Ja nu
SHILLONG
y ar
B CHERRAPUNJI
The wettest place on earth is Mawsynram (about 16 km from Cherrapunji)
C
LI
DISTANCE: 55km
M
B
ATING MO ER
to SHILLONG CHERRAPUNJI
WH
ERE TO STAY
?
Walk over the double decker living root bridges.
A local Khasi homestay
A
M NT
IS S
BES T
TING MO A R
ENT M
ME TO GO TI
Full moon at the Great Rann of Kutch
M GE
HIDDEN
Siyot Caves
AHMEDABAD RANN OF KUTCH DI ST AN CE : 76 7k m
erOctob . c Mar h
Dholavira
Ahmedabad
A M UST E
Mandvi
No highway hotels here. Eat with a local some bajrana rotla and spiced chilly chutney
GO WILD
W
ST
AY
Wild Ass Sanctuary at Little Rann
HERE TO
Stay in a mud house or Bhunga as it is locally called.
RELIVING HISTORY
Dholavira, city of Harappan Indus Civilisation that existed 5000 years ago
to
DU RA TIO N: 4 Da ys
Kutch
Bhuj
T
LIB E
A drive to the majestic Rann of Kutch is the ultimate break from the monotony of daily life. Stretching across India and Pakistan with pristine white sand below your feet and an endless sky above. The place has inspired many books and many romances. A moonlit night on the Kutch can perhaps unlock answers to existential questions in case you are seeking any. Soon after the sunset, the colour of the sand and the sky look exactly the same, merging into a seamless whole, as if there is no horizon! A cradle of craftsmanship, Kutch is known for its exquisite variety of weaving, patchwork, block-printing, bandhani, tie-and-dye, rogan-art and other stunning ethnic styles of embroidery, pottery, wood-carving, metal-crafts and shell-work. The land of white desert is waiting, hit the road to unravel its mysteries.
CAN’T MISS
Night Camel Safari
Do you want to lose yourself in one of the most beautiful, enchanting, calm and soultouching places in India? Then head out to Hanle in Changthang region of Ladakh. Hanle (pronounced Aanle,) located near the Line of Control, is a secluded place. You won't be able to resist singing your heart out as your drive with River Indus lapping at your wheels most of the way! While everyone makes headway to Leh, it's time to push some boundaries and venture out into new territories.
DISTANCE: 275km
DURATION: 3 Days
EN
LI
LEH HANLE
M
B
ATING MO ER
to
T No mobile signals in Hanle village! Get off the grid and live in the moment. (Just in case you are desperate there is one satellite public phone installed at a house in Khaldo village near Hanle‌)
A
LEH
y to Septem Ma b
KARU
er
UPSHI CHUMATHANG
MAHE NYOMA
B HANLE
One of the world's highest astronomical observatories is located at Hanle.
O
AY? ST
WHERE
T
SPOT IT !
The 17th-century Hanle monastery, also known as Analy Gompa. DO REMEMBER
You need inner line permits to visit Hanle
Padma Sonam's homestay
Don't do the obvious, do the different. Free yourself from the boring Delhi to Jaipur trip. With stunning forts, temples and scenery, the road trip that should deďŹ nitely be on your list is to Dausa, Rajasthan. Dausa is also known as Dev Nagari, abode of the Gods! Offering rich culture and traditions, the unique local avour of the region is very well preserved even today. Hela-Khayal, which is a form of folk art, is a unique style of singing prevalent in this region. Hela singers through their songs demonstrate the enduring spirit and enthusiasm of people living in this region. Drive via NH48 from Delhi. Famous for its temples and rich heritage and history, this place is ideal for an offbeat getaway.
AZING AM A
HIT RC EC T U R
Chand Boari, one of the oldest and largest step wells in India.
to
DELHI DAUSA DURATION: 2-3 Days
DISTANCE: 285 km
A DELHI BHIWADI BEHROR
E KHELANA
SHAHPURA
MANOHARPUR
B Sikandra situated at 25 km on NH-11 towards Agra. Internationally famous for sandstone carvings
DAUSA
WH ER E STAY? TO
A liberating way to celebrate the festival of Holi! In Dausa young men throw water collected from 4 local ponds on each other from a pot made of leather.
Umaid Lake Palace Fort Madhogarh
About 250 km from Bengaluru lies Coorg, the Scotland of India, with its misty waterfalls and coffee trails. Serene, quiet and tucked away from all the hustle bustle, this trip offers solitude in tranquility like none other. The driving conditions are mixed, but by and large it is a smooth ride, one so spectacular in emotion that nothing else matters really. Driving through Coorg in winter is breathtaking as you mostly arrive in time for the plucking of coffee berries! And that absolutely divine, aromatic, organic ďŹ lter coffee available along the way will have you stopping for more breaks than one.rive. Be ready to not be stunned if a baby elephant pops up on the road.
COORG
DISTANCE: 253km
DURATION: 3- 4 Days
EN T Driving through unexpected torrents of rainfalls, on winding roads cutting across mist enveloped hills layered with dense coffee plantations.
A
BANGALORE
h
vember - M ar
c
KENGARI
SRIRANGAPATANAM HUNSURBYEPASS
No
KUSHAINAGAR
B
COORG
Dubare Elephant Camp. The largest training elephant facilities in the country.
CANT MIS S
W
LI
to
M
B
ATING MO ER
BANGALORE
S RE TO TAY? E H
The Kodavas, the ethnic warrior people of Coorg.
Casa Coorg Homestay
Ziro is a quaint old town in Arunachal Pradesh, India. It's home to the Apatani tribe and is famous for its pine hills and rolling rice fields. The drive to Ziro is an exciting one with beautiful views of the mountains throughout combined with scenic landscapes and pure fresh air, this place is definitely every peace seeker's paradise. Every angle is above perfect and every view is spectacular; no wonder the best of cameras fail to do justice to the hues of Ziro!
DURATION: 4-5 Days
DISTANCE: 464km
EN
LI
ATING MO ER
M
B
GUWAHATI to ZIRO
T A
GUWAHATI
NAGAON
r ea
TEZPUR
GOHPUR
ro Th
ughout th ey
Talley Valley trek. Located 32 km away from Ziro the breathtaking trekking route meanders through the bamboo, orchids, ferns, and rhododendron forests.
B ZIRO The 25 ft high and 22 ft wide Shiva Lingam at Kardo Hills.
O
AY? ST
WHERE
T
CAN’T MIS S!
Have a fascinating stay with the Apatani tribe. The people of Ziro have, in recent years, started opening their homes The ridge Kile Pakho is situated 7 km away from old Ziro. Climb on the ridge and you could have Ziro plateau's spectacular views on one side and snow clad Himalayan ranges on the other side.
to guests
The vibrant Ziro Music Festival, one of the best outdoor festivals in the country, in one of the world's most picturesque locations.
The sight of the snow capped Dhauladhar ranges covered with thickly rich forests and spinning in a car on the tip of a mountain as you go driving out and around Dalhousie can be an absolutely thrilling experience. Built over ďŹ ve hills, the roads of Dalhousie are famous for being shaped as the numeral 8. Driving towards Chamba, a small ancient town which stands on the right bank of the river Ravi, is ďŹ lled with surprising turns, often opening to horizons of meadows and hidden along the thickly covered pin forest routes. This is the ultimate break you need, peppered with fresh alpine air and inspiration from the simple lives of heart warming mountain people.
DISTANCE: 56km
DURATION: 2-3 Days
EN T Mesmerizing scenery with
A DALHOUSIE
the river winding its way in the Dhauladhar ranges amidst dense pine forests.
April and Oc to
KALATOP WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
r be
Khajjar Lake will stun you with its views. A big lake enveloped by a thick deodar forest.
B
CHAMBA
CANT MIS S
op at
Climb the 378 steps of Chamba's famous Chamunda Devi temple to reach to the top from where the entire town , including the dam, look like a tiny speck of nothingness.
ERE TO STOP
National P ar k.
WH
Ka l
LI
via Kalatop National Park
M
B
ATING MO ER
DALHOUSIE to CHAMBA
Eyeball wildlife and stay a night to experience night in a jungle at the Kalatop guest house. You will never want to return to a city.
Get the best of Kerala in a single road trip! Starting from Kochi and ending in Kovalam, the 230-km-long stretch is one of the most fabulous one, boasting some of the star attractions along the way. Cruising along the Vizhinjam road and the NH47 bypass, the route has something for both nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. From backwaters, rivers, and sea to wildlife sanctuaries and fishing villages sprinkled along the way, the trip is sure to be packed with surprises. If a liberating drive is what you are looking for, look no more.
KOVALAM DURATION: 3-4 Days
5
T Situated at the foothills of the Western Ghats, the Neyyar Dam is a scenic picnic spot. Located near Thiruvananthapuram, the dam also has a wildlife sanctuary.
URS BY RO A HO
EN
D
A
KOCHI
VARKALA
cember to F
eb r
ALAPPUZHA
ry ua
De
LI
KOCHI
DISTANCE: 230km
AB O U T
M
B
ATING MO ER
to
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
The paradise of South! Get a dose of sun, sea and sand on palm fringed beaches of Kovalam!
B
KOVALAM
ight Sto Overn p GO WILD !
A fishing village, 6 km away from the Kovalam Beach, with pristine white sand beaches that stretch on and on!
Alleppey
Varkala
Thiruvananthapuram Must go to the elephant rehabilitation centre at Kottur to ride, wash, or cuddle elephants!
Horsley hills are a range of mountains on the Eastern Ghats in Chittoor district which offer a cool climate for tourists to hang out for a weekend in South India. What will make your spirit soar as you burn the road is that the road conditions are excellent with canopies of trees growing alongside and beautiful hills at regular intervals. You can also spot some waterfalls en-route.
DURATION: 3- 4 Days
EN T Driving through Incredible Jungle Book legend of a little girl named Mallamma who was raised by elephants! Relive the story of a true free soul at the Yenugu Mallamma temple built after her.
B
HORSLEY HILL
ay
to
M
CHITTOOR
RANIPET
November
LI
DISTANCE: 253km
M
B
ATING MO ER
CHENNAI HORSLEY HILLS to
WALAJAH
A
World's largest banyan tree, Guinness record holder,Thimmamma Marrimanu, located 75 km from Horsley hills.
CANT MIS S
INDIAN BUY
Tirupati (128 km) beautiful temple and picturesque beauty. Believed to be the richest temple in the world
Silks in Madannapalle
CHENNAI
ATING MO
DURATION: 4 Days
DISTANCE: 280 km
M - MARAVA N
E TH
ER IB
MANGALORE to KARWAR
T EN
L
As your car winds its way along the coast, the road giving glimpses of the sea through palm-fringed vistas on one side while the lush, green Western Ghats are a constant presence on the other… pure bliss. Nothing sets the city-weary soul free as much as a journey of blissful exploration along the Arabian Sea. Probably one of the state's best kept secrets, it has to be said that though the road from Mangalore to Karwar is not perfect, India's own Route 66, is pretty spectacular. There's stunning scenery, heritage, temples, forts and museums, adventure and incredible food along the way. While Mangalore and perhaps Udupi are well known, the rest of the route is bound to be a discovery. There's no telling what scenic and deserted beach or lovely island a little unpaved path might lead to. And, those stunning, surreal sunsets along the way that can completely make one forget the selfies and the cellphones and compel you to live the moment.
B
KARWAR
GOKARNA
HONNAVAR
VIA NH66
UDUPI tch the stre Where is y a w h of hig by flanked Sea bian the Ara nd the ea one sid r on ika rive rn a p u So r. e the oth
A
MANGALORE
Temple Town rnight Sto Ove p
Udupi, Gokarna Honnavar, Karwar