Road Trip!
Road trip, the very thought itself gives an exhilarating feeling to many of us. During the pandemic situation, every door to explore new destinations had shut, with the dismissal of public transport. However, it was not the end of the road, as a few daring travelers took the route which was easily accessible i.e, discovering new places riding their own vehicles. Gradually, everything subsided and hundreds of people started following the bandwagon of travelers.
Unlock India has surely opened up new arenas of traveling, and has put the light on many unexplored vacation spots. Road trip became a well-known pastime for some people after watching the famous movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.. People no longer rely fully on the buses or cabs nowadays as they have surely figured out the alternatives which are safer, better, and do not require them to follow any stipulated timelines.
Several Video Bloggers have come up with a novel idea of making the viewers of their YouTube web channels to explore unseen tourist spots. This has developed a new enthusiasm amongst the young travelers to go on a bike trip almost every weekend.
Though only a few tourist buses and cabs are running normally, social distancing, crowd control, thermal scanning, and sanitizing has strictly adhered. KSRTC has come up with an initiative to put a stamp on its passenger’s hand after the thermal screening.
Amazing Road Trips you must not give a miss.
Bangalore to Bandipur
Distance: 220kms from Bangalore.
Duration: 4-5hrs.
Traveling along the scenic Mysore road will take 4-5hrs to reach Bandipur. The route from Bangalore to Bandipur is truly enchanting as you’ll have to travel amidst the forest. If you’re lucky you might spot a fleet of deer crossing the road and a herd of elephants on the way. If you wish you can continue your journey traveling on the same road to Ooty from Mysore via Bandipur National Park. When you are traveling with friends, go in a car which has a sunroof. Bandipur is located in Gundlupet taluk of Chamarajanagar district.
Nature around is magnificent. You can even do a time-lapse to have wonderful memories of the trip. Bandipur has a good population of endangered and vulnerable species like Indian elephants, gaurs, tigers, sloth bears, muggers, Indian rock pythons, four-horned antelopes, jackals, dholes, chital, gray langurs, Indian giant squirrels, Bengal white tiger, Indian leopard, sambar, sloth bear, four-horned antelope, wild boar, and muntjac. There are many eateries on the way to Bandipur like McDonalds, Cafe Coffee Day, Shivalli, and Adigas restaurants.
Mumbai to Pune Expressway:
Distance: 94kms
Duration: 2-3hrs.
If you are in Mumbai and want to have a perfect weekend get-away, then fasten your seatbelts and head to Pune. It takes 2-3hrs in normal traffic to reach Pune from Mumbai. Lonavla and Khandala are the two most visited hill stations in Pune. Famous for their picturesque landscapes, these emerald green hill stations are famous for their vast varieties of delicious Chikkis made of different flavors like Rose, Mango, Strawberry, Dry Fruits, Chocolate, Coconut, etc… You also get delectable snacks called Bhakarwadi and Laksmi Narayan Chivda from a chain of the savory shop known as Chittalebandhu.
If you are taking your bike, the road trip will be more thrilling on the old Mumbai-Pune highway. Traveling in your own car gives a wonderful feeling as the road is perfect. If you wish you can even travel on public transport in the Mumbai-Pune expressway.
Sunny Da Dhaba and The Kinara Village Dhaba are good eating options on the Pune-Lonavala stretch. When in Pune, you can even visit Shirdi Sai Mandir and Thrayambakeshwar temples which are very much renowned.
Manali to Leh Highway:
Distance: 479kms
Duration: 2-days.
The way from Manali to Leh is very captivating. The famous song Yeh Ishq Hai from the movie Jab We Met starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor was shot in this place. Imagine traveling on a path in the midst of snow and lush green foliages, it’s truly mesmerizing. If you have Bullet or any other bikes like Yamaha R15 or Harley Davidson, you can cruise all the way enjoying the ride.
Open jeeps also add icing to the cake as you will get to experience the magnificent nature amid a sunny, rainy, or windy climate. The road is open for about five months a year mostly during summer and mid-October. The trip takes about 2 days with one stopover for taking rest for some time.
Visakhapatnam to Araku Valley:
Distance: 116kms
Duration: 3kms.
When you happen to visit Visakapatnam, never miss an opportunity to visit the green valleys called Araku Valley. Just 3kms from Visakapatnam, this beautiful valley is situated amidst the Eastern Ghats and on the shores of the Bay of Bengal.
The serenity of the beautiful hills around makes it one of the amazing road trips to be embarked on in South-India. There are interesting places like Borra caves and Tatipudi Reservoir on the way. The best time to visit the region is between October and March.
Shimla to Manali via Mandi:
Distance: 250kms
Duration: 5-6hrs.
Shimla to Manali road trip alongside the breathtaking River Beas is truly astounding. You can unwind and relax on the way as the drive is not strenuous. You can even stop-over and rollick in the icy-cool river on the way. This 250 km stretch requires a little longer duration than the usual route due to hilly terrain. But you’ll for sure will be traveling on one of the best road trips in India.
Guwahati to Tawang:
Distance: 520kms
Duration: 2-days.
If you are planning for a road trip in the North-Eastern part of India, then Guwahati to Tawang is one of the best trips you can decide upon going. The way through is challenging is spread across extremely alluring terrain. Taking a few stops in between, you can reach it easily.
Chennai to Pondicherry:
Distance: 151kms
Duration: 3hrs.
Surrounded by the sea on one side, reflections of the sun on the water, and bewitching nature around, the Chennai to Puducherry road trip is mesmerizing. A biker enjoys this stretch more than a person traveling in a car. This trip will be a delight to the photographers who can stop-over and photograph the beautiful environs in their camera.
The East-Coast road passes through Mahabalipuram, which is termed as the UNESCO World Heritage site, Kalapakam a renowned place for the nuclear facility, Iddaikazhinadu is known for the Alamarai Fort or Alambara Fort, Mudalikarkuppam to enjoy the cool boathouse/water sports facility, Marakkanam well known for large salt pans, etc…
Puri to Konark via NH203:
Distance: 36kms
Duration: Less than 1hr.
Puri to Konark highway is so picturesque the landscape is like as though straight from the postcard. You just can’t stop yourself from clicking photos of the beautiful nature around. A clump of trees on either side of the road amidst the soft misty breeze gives a fantastic feeling. You can enjoy this route if you are driving a bike or an open jeep.
Chennai to Munnar:
Distance: 585kms
Duration: 10-12hrs if you drive non-stop.
Chennai to Munnar is an ideal weekend getaway. To get rid of the scorching Chennai weather, you can travel to Munnar to unwind yourself amidst the green foliages of the tea plantation, and admire the exquisite nature around. The road trip is refreshing and wakes your inner-happiness to feel relaxed while driving in the cool breezy weather. There are three different ways in which you can opt from Chennai to Munnar. All three routes comprise amazing attractions to make your road trip more memorable.
Jaipur to Jaisalmer:
Distance: 558kms
Duration: 9 to 10hrs.
Acclaimed as the “Golden City” due to its wondrous sand dunes and forts built with golden honey-colored sandstone, Jaiselmer is embellished with clear lakes, opulent Jain temples, and ancient Havelis. Hop on the camel saddle and go on a joyous ride across the desert. The experience will be enthralling. You will be traveling on a route where roads are well maintained. Drive along with the RJ SH 19 which is the best option as far as routes are concerned. Make a refueling stop at Jodhpur, both for your car and your tummy. Authentic Rajasthani cuisine can be found anywhere along this route in India to savor your taste buds.
Shillong to Cherrapunjee:
Distance: 59kms
Duration: 2hrs.
When you’re traveling amid the drizzling rain, captivating waterfalls, gratifying caves,
villages, and enticing views of the landscapes from your car window, you will definitely not expect anything more attractive than these. On the way, there are eateries where you can stop-over to grab a grub. The trip will take you about 1-2 hours without any traffic or stops. This is a popular stretch, often covered by cars only.
Mumbai to Mt. Abu:
Generally, the bustling traffic in metropolitan cities like Mumbai is vast comparing to other cities. So, to take a breather from that, you can explore the wondrous Mt. Abu. Drive on the NH 8 from Mumbai to Mount Abu via Vadodara and Ahmedabad. It continues for over 750 Kms. If you’re in for a longer holiday, explore these two towns from Gujarat to get insights into their authentic culture and Gandhian history respectively. The road has plenty of dhabas to have a sumptuous meal!
Jaipur to Ranthambore:
Distance: 155kms
Duration: 3hrs.
Traveling on State Highway 24, you can discover the joy of Jaipur, Ranthambore, and Bassi wildlife sanctuary. Ranthambore is famous for its tiger reserve. The route taken is via NH52 and takes 3hrs to reach
Bangalore to Ooty via Mysore:
Distance: 273kms
Duration: 6-7hrs.
Nestled on the foothills of Nilgiri hills, this is one of the road trips every passionate traveler should embark on at least once in a lifetime. You will be driving amidst the green foliages and wonderful landscapes. The SH 17 is in great condition has lots of eateries en route. For a delicious dining experience, try Kamath hotel near Channapatna. However, you can even find a decent meal in McDonald’s and Cafe Coffee Day along the way. Stay-over at Mysore and enjoy the history of the ancient city.
Pamban Bridge to Rameshwaram:
Distance: 13kms
Duration: 15 to 20 minutes.
A road trip becomes more interesting when the route you are traveling is surrounded by water on all three sides. Pamban Bridge to Rameshwaram is one of the exquisite dives you can enjoy. Try journeying on your bike to experience the cool sea breeze. Even if you drive your car, stop-over immerses your feet inside the cool waters to unwind and relax.
Though there are an infinite number of destinations to explore road trips, never stop driving your own bike or car to experience the bliss of traveling.
