5 Incredible Self-drive Road Trips to Take in India

Hitting the open road is a fine experience in itself. You not only get the freedom to stop at any scenic location of your choice, but also get to explore its uniqueness in a holistic way. However, given the diverse range of terrains in the country, it is natural that some routes will be significantly more interesting from the self-drive perspective. Whether you are travelling alone or with family or friends, here are a few of the popular routes and attractions in India that you should consider:

South India

Chennai to Pondicherry:  With a distance of 156 km between Chennai and Pondicherry, the East Coast Road (ECR) is a very popular route. Drive along the coast of the Bay of Bengal and you will be mesmerised by the picturesque natural beauty throughout. On the way, you will find scenic beaches such as Thiruvanmiyur Beach, ECR Beach and Kovalam Beach. You can stop by at any one of them and enjoy the laidback ambience before hitting the road again. There is no dearth of vivid attractions, too, on this route. The Cholamandalam Artists’ Village and the cultural museum of Dakshina Chitra are among the many. The temple town of Mahabalipuram, located 60 km from Chennai, is certainly worth a visit. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the temples and monuments here date back to the 7^th century and were built by the Pallava Dynasty. Soak in the architectural beauty of these magnificent wonders and if photography interests you, then you are in luck! You can click some great Insta-worthy pictures across this route!

What to eat: Try the delectable seafood dishes at the Sea Shore Garden Beach Restaurant in Othaivadi Street in the Fisherman Colony in Mahabalipuram.

Goa

Pune to Goa: The Asian Highway 47 remains a safe route if you are driving from Pune to Goa. You would be driving through the charming hill station of Khandala, the town of Satara and several stops along the way but a visit to Kolhapur is worth your while. Nestled in the eastern part of the Sahyadri mountain ranges, this town is noted for the Mahalaxmi Temple built during the 9^th century. The Neo-Gothic architecture of the Town Hall Museum is a great attraction, specially, if you are a history buff. The bronze idol of the Greek god, Poseidon is one of the best attractions in this museum.

What to eat: The Pandhra Rassa is a traditional non-vegetarian dish that can be found at the Hotel Parakh in No.266, Patoli Ward, Near SM Ghatage Automobiles. The Kolhapuri Misal is a spicy vegetarian dish and you can head to the Phadtare Misal Centre in Shivaji Udyam Nagar.

Maharashtra

Mumbai to Lonavala Khandala: Lonavala and Khandala are quite well-connected to Mumbai. With a distance of 83 km along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, you can drive through the Bhatan tunnel, the longest one on the six lane concrete highway. Enjoy the smooth road with lush greenery on both sides and an amazing view of the Sahyadri mountain ranges. Before you reach the hill stations, a visit to Khopoli can be included in your self-drive itinerary. The Imagica Theme Park is one of the top attractions here, especially if you are on a road trip with your kids. The indoor roller coasters are a delight here.

What to eat: At the Imagica Theme Park, you can enjoy international multi-cuisine food and also find a variety of vegetarian cuisines.

Uttarakhand

Delhi to Nainital: The National Highway 9 connects Delhi and Nainital, covering about 300 km. Roughly, your journey would take about 6–7 hours. You will drive past the Ganga Snan Ghat, the Dandi Swami Ashram and find eateries such as the Brajpal Dhaba and KFC in Gajraula, among several others. Before reaching the City of Lakes, enjoy a brief stopover at Haldwani. Located in Uttarakhand, the splendid weather in this quaint city will instantly uplift your spirits. If you head just a few kilometres away from the city, you could enjoy the exquisite scenery of the picturesque Gaula Barrage over the Gaula River. Explore this hidden gem and have a picnic in the surrounding greenery with your loved ones.

What to Eat: Try the local delicacies such as churkhani and dubhke in Haldwani.

Rajasthan                                                               

Delhi to Jaipur: The NH 48 remains the shortest route from Delhi to Jaipur and it will take you around 5 hours. In this comfortable self-drive journey, enjoy the lip-smacking delicacies of Fauji Dhaba or Rao Hotel near Gurugram. As you head further, stop for a visit at Neemrana in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. The Neemrana Fort Palace is a heritage hotel that you can visit for a look around this charming place. Also, enjoy a visit to the nearby step well (Baori) that is also a historical site.

What to Eat: Enjoy traditional Rajasthani cuisine at the Neemrana Fort.

Whenever you are heading out on a self-drive holiday to the best destinations across India, take the opportunity to visit these amazing places along the highways. These, and many more self-drive routes within India, are now available on MakeMyTrip’s website as packages. With these self-drive itineraries from MakeMyTrip, enjoy visiting the most important historical and scenic attractions to remember for a lifetime.

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