[wanderhermit]

IMHO Manali-Leh drive is more spectacular than Srinagar-Leh drive.

[Chevy_lover]

Kumar Ji,

Some of the best scenic drives I have experienced are;

1. Manali to Manikaran
2. Kumily to Munnar
3. Munnar to Palani
4. Goa to Karwar coast
5. Kalimpong to Darjeeling
6. Darjeeling to Gangtok
7. Gangtok to Nathu La Pass
8. Shimla to Chail to Kullu Valley
9. Munnar to Mattupetty Dam to Top Point
10. Ooty to Gudalur
11. Coonoor to Dolphin's Nose
12. Diveagar to Shrivardhan
13. Gangtok to Siliguri

And the most breathtaking drive, I have ever experienced is;

Manali to Solang Valley!

[hvkumar]

Whew, we have now quite a collection of drives, need to recompile the list.

Let me add one more (I did it yesterday):

Thodupuzha-Idukki-Thekkady
Beautiful landscapes, serene dam waters, elephants on the road, outstanding roads

[wanderhermit]

I guess we will soon have our very own:

Team BHP's Top Ten drive.

[anainar]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Whew, we have now quite a collection of drives, need to recompile the list.

Let me add one more (I did it yesterday):

Thodupuzha-Idukki-Thekkady
Beautiful landscapes, serene dam waters, elephants on the road, outstanding roads

Boss, do you live in the road unlike we mere mortals who live in a house and hit the road occasionally?

I might add another driver's delight road-- Sathyamangalam - Coimbatore. The twisties, butter smooth road. It is a driver's delight to do those corners, while the passenger's nightmare...

Nainar

[lordofgondor]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

...and let me add some of my own:

12. Narkhanda to Recong Peo, 170 kms

"ferocious Himalayan rivers" "falling off the overhanging cliffs"

+1 to that. And will add "speeding trucks at the bends"

Originally Posted by joie-de-vivre

India's best 10 drives ? and manali to leh is not included ?

Exactly what I felt. Would prefer to do Manali-Leh instead of Srinagar-Leh.

Some of the drives I like:

1. Moradabad bypass - Kaladhungi - Nainital "driving through nature's umbrella"
2. Almora - Chaukori "low traffic, snow capped peaks alongside, amazing greenery"
3. Shimla - Kharapathar - Rohru "traffic disappears, steep inclines & smoothish roads"
4. Sarahan - Jalori Jot - Aut "where is everyone, the thriller"
5. Ajmer - Jaisalmer - Khuri "smooth, wide, empty roads. let's rip"
6. Nubra Valley "smooth roads, divine terrain"

[ampere]

+1 : Gudluplet Waynad drive along the NH212

Very green through the Bandipur national park.

[hvkumar]

Am sure no one will object to:

Kundapura-Bhatkal
Rivers, Beaches, Mountain landscapes, Lush countryside

[ambivalent_98]

Pune - New Mumbai
Fantastic expressway, great views especially going through Khandala, magical in the monsoons

Pune - Belgaum
Amazing tarmac, crowded at toll plazas , but this distance of almost 300+ can be done easily in 3 hours and non-stop.

Poladpur - Mahabaleshwar
A challenge to drive up the mountain. Quite a narrow road , should not be tried in the rains or at night. Finally one feels tired of turning the wheel by the time ur in Mahabaleshwar.

[gadadhar]

Muzhappilangad beach drive - Only place in South where I have seen the vehicles can be driven through beach for around 4 kms..

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by ramkya1

One more, don't know if it's open now.
-- Munnar to Kodaikanal - 80 kms (?) we did that on a yezdi 25 year back, a drive die for, we almost did!!! This is beyond all ranking, IMO, 5 star.

===

Hey Ramky..that route is done with and pushed into history now.Its closed for traffic by the forest dept.yes defi 5star the route.the 80kms is now replaced by a round about route:(

[Majic]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Whew, we have now quite a collection of drives, need to recompile the list.

Let me add one more (I did it yesterday):

Thodupuzha-Idukki-Thekkady
Beautiful landscapes, serene dam waters, elephants on the road, outstanding roads

Sir, you were in our part of world and didnt have any information, i would have really loved to see you in person. Eitherway there is always a next time. I do acknowledge the suggestion, how about the ride to theni via thekkady, did that a long time ago will be doing that this week

[hvkumar]

Road from Thekkady/Kumili to Theni is quite a nice ride, but road is in a bad condition coming down the ghats from Kumili.

[StarVegabond]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Am sure no one will object to:

Kundapura-Bhatkal
Rivers, Beaches, Mountain landscapes, Lush countryside

Certainly not me. This is one of my childhood favourite
Maravanthe beach is the icing on the cake.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by StarVegabond

Certainly not me. This is one of my childhood favourite
Maravanthe beach is the icing on the cake.

Yes, it is a lovely road. River after river tumbling down from the Western Ghats to the sea, fisher folk rowing in the still waters. Green paddy fields all over. The Western Ghats looming in the horizon to the east. Maravanthe Beach and its sea-lagoon combo, not to forget its yellow sands. Palms lining the road at Tarasi and beyond. Some lovely sunset points, especially the one on the slope overlooking the sea near Bhatkal. Sunrise over the mountains and river from any of the bridges on the road. What a road!