Most scenic drive in India

naveendhyani · 15th November 2006, 10:43

Hi all!

during my last trip to himachal pradesh i came across some of the most stunning sceneries as i drove past them. tall mountains on one side, fast flowing river on the other, blue sky on top & deep black fully metteled road to drive on. infact the car was easily cruising at 100-110 at some stretches between mandi & aut. that was the most scenic by far in my trips.

any more will be welcome to be explored in the coming trips.

hvkumar · 15th November 2006, 11:01

One of the most spectacular drives in India is the Manali-Leh road via Keylong, Sarchu and Pang, especially in the Sarchu-Pang sector where you can se evidence of the continental drift. Drive to Spiti Valley from Gramphoo to Kaza via Kunzum La is also fantastic. Nowhere in India do you get to do such high-altitude driving in the starkest of terrain, tracing sources of major rivers and experiencing bluest of skies.

pradkumar · 15th November 2006, 17:17

When you drive from Mangalore > Kundapura towards Ankola, the Honavar bay (before Kumta) where you cross a bridge and the bay is on the left is pretty scenic. So is the 2-3 kms stretch of road near the Maravanthe beach after Kundapura. I recently went on this stretch while driving from Kochi to Pune.

hvkumar · 15th November 2006, 20:53

Backwater Drives:

Paravur-Varkala in South Kerala, the road nestles along thye Asthamudi Backwaters on one side and teh Arabian Sea on the other, like at Maravanthe/Tarasi

Coastal Drives:

Bhimunipatnam-Vishakapatnam offers a specatcular drive, skirting the Rushikonda Beach

Mountain Drives:

Bhalukhpong-Bomdila, en route Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, is certainly one of the greenest of forests and valleys as you rapidly ascend to the higher altitudes of Bomdila

Desert Drive:

Jaisalmer-Barmer and Sri Ganga Nagar-Bikaner, both in Rajasthan, are great desert roads, where you can drive through a few hundred kilometres of barren land, interpersed by sand dunes and tormented by sand storms

drivemyway · 29th December 2006, 07:49

i would say drive between mysore to ooty to be most scenic one.

Surprise · 11th June 2010, 16:07

Such threads should be always re-initiated..fill in with more information...

//M · 11th June 2010, 16:17

The Sangla-Chitkul stretch is a fantastic road. Scenic, with pristine vistas and lovely tarmac makes for an amazing drive. Sangla is around 240 kms east of Shimla on NH-22 and Chitkul is a short drive from there, which takes around an hour.

Blue Thunder · 11th June 2010, 16:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar

...

Mountain Drives:

Bhalukhpong-Bomdila, en route Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, is certainly one of the greenest of forests and valleys as you rapidly ascend to the higher altitudes of Bomdila

...

I have travelled (not driven) along this stretch during the late 80s. This is one of the most scenic stretches that I have experienced in my life. Those days, we did not have even a film camera (Yashica 35mm fixed-lens AF P&S was the 'in thing' then)...but , those wonderful memories linger on in my mind. The sheer grandeur of the Himalayas...the untouched beauty of nature completely surrounding us...the cool, clean air filling one's lungs...flora and fauna of all shapes sizes and colours...all of this was something that was etched into my mind forever. Maybe, i would get around to driving along those roads sometime in my life.

lordofgondor · 11th June 2010, 17:27

The Almora-Chaukori-Munsiyari drive provides spectacular views of the tall snow covered mountains, like Nanda Devi, Trishul, Panchauli, Chaukumbha, etc., of the Himalayas. I'd a hard time keeping my eyes on the road seeing all those mighty tall peaks in front of me again and again. The only catch is that luck needs to be on your side for the weather to be clear (no clouds/haze).

neel385 · 11th June 2010, 20:41

The Shillong Cherrapunji drive comes to my mind-hills to one side and a deep gorge on the other. Though not many people have gone beyond Cherra, the drive from Cherra to Shella is even more beautiful in my mind. Little known waterfalls, thick jungles and a treacherous road make a wonderful combination.

speedsatya · 12th June 2010, 00:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by pradkumar

When you drive from Mangalore > Kundapura towards Ankola, the Honavar bay (before Kumta) where you cross a bridge and the bay is on the left is pretty scenic. So is the 2-3 kms stretch of road near the Maravanthe beach after Kundapura. I recently went on this stretch while driving from Kochi to Pune.

The entire NH 17 is a very scenic drive.
I like the Mangalore-Karwar and the Kasargod-Cannanore stretch the most .

ranjitp1 · 12th June 2010, 11:22

A drive through Malshej in Maharashtra during the monsoons is spectacular

issigonis · 12th June 2010, 11:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Backwater Drives:

Paravur-Varkala in South Kerala, the road nestles along thye Asthamudi Backwaters on one side and teh Arabian Sea on the other, like at Maravanthe/Tarasi

Coastal Drives:

Bhimunipatnam-Vishakapatnam offers a specatcular drive, skirting the Rushikonda Beach

Mountain Drives:

Bhalukhpong-Bomdila, en route Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, is certainly one of the greenest of forests and valleys as you rapidly ascend to the higher altitudes of Bomdila

Desert Drive:

Jaisalmer-Barmer and Sri Ganga Nagar-Bikaner, both in Rajasthan, are great desert roads, where you can drive through a few hundred kilometres of barren land, interpersed by sand dunes and tormented by sand storms

hvk,

1. Re. the drives that you list above, which vehicle did you drive, the Matiz or the Scorpio? I ask this because my car has a low ground clearance.

2. Any scenic routes that you would like to suggest in Maharashtra and Gujarat? Where I can take my normal car and not a jeep/SUV?

Regards

ASHISHPALLOD · 12th June 2010, 11:58

scenic routes

1] malshej ghat[ best in monsoon]
2] ghoti-bhandaradara
3] amboli ghat[ best through out the year]
4] pune-lavasa, pune-kolad via tamhini ghat[ best in monsoon]
5] pune-bhor-mahad via varandha ghat [ best in monsoon]
6] kolhapur-radhanagari-kankwali via phonda ghat[ best through out the year]
7] diveagar-shrivardhan via coastal route.[ all time best]
8] ganapatipule -ratnagiri-pawas via coastal route
9] malwan-vengurla via parule[ best in winter]
10] vengurla-redi via shiroda[ all time best]
11] dapoli-harne-anjarle via coastal route[ best in winter]
12] alibag-murud janjira via coastal route[ all time best]
13] satara-bamnoli via kaas lake[ best in sept]
14] kolhapur-vaibhavwadi via gaganbavda ghat.
15] chiplun-sangmeshwar-marleshwar[ best in winter]
16] panchgani-kates point-kshetra mahabaleshwar-mahabaleshwar[ best in winter]

These are some of the scenic routes you can do in normal car.
There are some scenic routes in thane and nasik districts.

issigonis · 12th June 2010, 12:25

Thank you Ashish,

I have to start planning immediately - maybe I'll do one every month!

In most cases monsoon will be the best time.
Have done 4a & 12 ( btw Ashish, are there two routes for Murud Janjira? I had done this through Revadanda and Roha-I think.)
Regards

15th November 2006, 10:43	#1
naveendhyani BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Melbourne Posts: 542 Thanked: 9 Times	Most scenic drive in India Hi all! during my last trip to himachal pradesh i came across some of the most stunning sceneries as i drove past them. tall mountains on one side, fast flowing river on the other, blue sky on top & deep black fully metteled road to drive on. infact the car was easily cruising at 100-110 at some stretches between mandi & aut. that was the most scenic by far in my trips. any more will be welcome to be explored in the coming trips.
	() Thanks

15th November 2006, 11:01	#2
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	One of the most spectacular drives in India is the Manali-Leh road via Keylong, Sarchu and Pang, especially in the Sarchu-Pang sector where you can se evidence of the continental drift. Drive to Spiti Valley from Gramphoo to Kaza via Kunzum La is also fantastic. Nowhere in India do you get to do such high-altitude driving in the starkest of terrain, tracing sources of major rivers and experiencing bluest of skies.
	() Thanks

15th November 2006, 17:17	#3
pradkumar BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Pune Posts: 322 Thanked: 175 Times	When you drive from Mangalore > Kundapura towards Ankola, the Honavar bay (before Kumta) where you cross a bridge and the bay is on the left is pretty scenic. So is the 2-3 kms stretch of road near the Maravanthe beach after Kundapura. I recently went on this stretch while driving from Kochi to Pune.
	() Thanks

15th November 2006, 20:53	#4
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	Backwater Drives: Paravur-Varkala in South Kerala, the road nestles along thye Asthamudi Backwaters on one side and teh Arabian Sea on the other, like at Maravanthe/Tarasi Coastal Drives: Bhimunipatnam-Vishakapatnam offers a specatcular drive, skirting the Rushikonda Beach Mountain Drives: Bhalukhpong-Bomdila, en route Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, is certainly one of the greenest of forests and valleys as you rapidly ascend to the higher altitudes of Bomdila Desert Drive: Jaisalmer-Barmer and Sri Ganga Nagar-Bikaner, both in Rajasthan, are great desert roads, where you can drive through a few hundred kilometres of barren land, interpersed by sand dunes and tormented by sand storms
	() Thanks

29th December 2006, 07:49	#5
drivemyway Newbie Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mysore Posts: 7 Thanked: 0 Times	i would say drive between mysore to ooty to be most scenic one.
	() Thanks

11th June 2010, 16:07	#6
Surprise Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 2,523 Thanked: 454 Times	Such threads should be always re-initiated..fill in with more information...
	() Thanks

11th June 2010, 16:17	#7
//M Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 6,192 Thanked: 22,888 Times	The Sangla-Chitkul stretch is a fantastic road. Scenic, with pristine vistas and lovely tarmac makes for an amazing drive. Sangla is around 240 kms east of Shimla on NH-22 and Chitkul is a short drive from there, which takes around an hour.
	() Thanks

11th June 2010, 17:27	#9
lordofgondor BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: UP 16 Posts: 936 Thanked: 159 Times	The Almora-Chaukori-Munsiyari drive provides spectacular views of the tall snow covered mountains, like Nanda Devi, Trishul, Panchauli, Chaukumbha, etc., of the Himalayas. I'd a hard time keeping my eyes on the road seeing all those mighty tall peaks in front of me again and again. The only catch is that luck needs to be on your side for the weather to be clear (no clouds/haze).
	() Thanks

11th June 2010, 20:41	#10
neel385 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Kharagpur Posts: 530 Thanked: 429 Times View My Garage	The Shillong Cherrapunji drive comes to my mind-hills to one side and a deep gorge on the other. Though not many people have gone beyond Cherra, the drive from Cherra to Shella is even more beautiful in my mind. Little known waterfalls, thick jungles and a treacherous road make a wonderful combination.
	() Thanks

12th June 2010, 11:22	#12
ranjitp1 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 3,711 Thanked: 1,923 Times	A drive through Malshej in Maharashtra during the monsoons is spectacular
	() Thanks

12th June 2010, 11:58	#14
ASHISHPALLOD Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: MH42 Posts: 2,005 Thanked: 334 Times	scenic drives in w maharashtra and konkan scenic routes 1] malshej ghat[ best in monsoon] 2] ghoti-bhandaradara 3] amboli ghat[ best through out the year] 4] pune-lavasa, pune-kolad via tamhini ghat[ best in monsoon] 5] pune-bhor-mahad via varandha ghat [ best in monsoon] 6] kolhapur-radhanagari-kankwali via phonda ghat[ best through out the year] 7] diveagar-shrivardhan via coastal route.[ all time best] 8] ganapatipule -ratnagiri-pawas via coastal route 9] malwan-vengurla via parule[ best in winter] 10] vengurla-redi via shiroda[ all time best] 11] dapoli-harne-anjarle via coastal route[ best in winter] 12] alibag-murud janjira via coastal route[ all time best] 13] satara-bamnoli via kaas lake[ best in sept] 14] kolhapur-vaibhavwadi via gaganbavda ghat. 15] chiplun-sangmeshwar-marleshwar[ best in winter] 16] panchgani-kates point-kshetra mahabaleshwar-mahabaleshwar[ best in winter] These are some of the scenic routes you can do in normal car. There are some scenic routes in thane and nasik districts. Last edited by ASHISHPALLOD : 12th June 2010 at 12:10.
	() Thanks

12th June 2010, 12:25	#15
issigonis BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bombay Posts: 956 Thanked: 95 Times	Thank you Ashish, I have to start planning immediately - maybe I'll do one every month! In most cases monsoon will be the best time. Have done 4a & 12 ( btw Ashish, are there two routes for Murud Janjira? I had done this through Revadanda and Roha-I think.) Regards Last edited by issigonis : 12th June 2010 at 12:35.
	() Thanks

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