16 Best Road Trip Circuits Across India
Get over ‘Best roads’ & ‘Best road trips across India’, we decided to make a detailed Road trip circuit across India. The best possible route on the maps, possibly the best season and approx. distance. While the argument for the best possible road trip is never ending, we have tried to cover as many famous and must visit tourist destinations across the nation.
1. Delhi Leh Circuit
About: Gateway to heaven:- Passing through some of the world’s highest passes, this is one road to get high on your road trip.Often termed as rider’s Mecca, Delhi Leh circuit is considered one of the best trips to test your riding skills, endurance and mental toughness. From Heat waves of Delhi & Punjab to Bone Chilling winds across the cold desert of extended Tibet plateau. This is one MUST road to visit.
Route: Delhi – Chandigarh – Manali – Darcha – Sarchu – Leh – Drass – Srinagar – Jammu – Amritsar – Delhi
Best Season: July – September
Total Distance: Approx. 3000kms
Detour: Shimla , Lahaul Spiti, Khardungla, Tso Moriri, Pangong tso, Dalhousie
2. Golden Triangle Circuit
About: India’s most famous tourist circuit:– The circuit draws maximum number of tourists than compared to any other circuit across the nation, with grandeur of Delhi, Jaipur & Agra in a single trip. No trip introduces you to Medieval History of India better than the Golden Triangle.
Route: Delhi – Neemrana – Jaipur – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra – Delhi
Total Distance: Approx. 900kms
Best Season: September – March
Detour: Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Bhangarh, Mathura , Ranthambore National Park
3. Rajputana Circuit
About: Royalty, Pride and Colours of India in a single trip:- Drive through the land of kings as you visit Palace of Bikaner, and then drive to the Golden land of Jaisalmer, take camel safari and spend a night at the desert before heading to picturesque Fort of Jodhpur, Mehrangarh. Head south to the only hill station of Rajasthan i.e. Mount Abu. Spend a night or two before leaving for the City of lakes Udaipur and take a moment to visit the magnificent fort of Chittorgarh, before finally visiting the Pink city Jaipur. The complete trip of Rajasthan is a walk down of the history books, with astounding fortresses, camel safaris & elephant rides. Noise, spice, heat and colour, what more do you need to fall in love?
Route: Delhi – Bikaner – Pokhran – Jaisalmer – Jodhpur – Mt Abu – Udaipur – Chittorgarh – Jaipur – Delhi
Total Distance: Approx. 2500kms
Best Season: November – February
Detour: Pokhran, Pali, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore National Park, Ajmer, Bhangarh,
4. The White Desert Circuit
About: Kachchh, India’s wild west:– The flat, tortoise-shaped land (kachbo means tortoise in Gujarati), is a seasonal geographical phenomena. As the monsoon proceeds, this land is filled with sea water, then by fresh water and what is left is a salt marshy barren land after it dries up and it is known as the Great Rann Of Kutch. The barren ,blindingly clear white land of Rann is nature at its harshest and most compelling. The wild west of India is full of rugged, fiery beauty. What appears to be an endless desert plain to the horizon, is in fact a seasonal island.
The dramatic settlement here, feels like Pre-Partitioned Pakistan, and tribal villagers produce some of the finest folk textiles.
Route : Ahmedabad – Muli – Mandvi – Bhuj – Great Rann Of Kutch – Bhuj – Halvad – Bajana – Dasada – Ahmedabad
Total Distance : Approx. 1100 kms
Best Season : November – March
Detour : Rajkot, Porbander, Dwarka, Palitana
5. Mumbai Goa Circuit (‘ Dil Chahta Hai’ Circuit)
About: From Bombay to Goa to Dil Chahta hai:- Mumbai to Goa road trip is every bollywood buffs’ dream drive. Get over driving on Mumbai Pune Expressway (You can cover it on way back). Begin your journey early from Mumbai and head towards unconquered fort of Janjira, taste some strawberries at Mahabaleshwar, before taking scuba dive at Tarkarli and finally spend a laid back weekend in Goa. It’s amazing to see that, between the two most happening places in the country, how the western ghats had kept its surreal, natural beauty intact. Complete your circuit taking NH4 highway via Kolhapur, Pune and Lonavala.
Route: Mumbai – Alibaug – Murud Janjira – Mahabaleshwar – Ratnagiri -Panjim – Belgaum – Kolhapur – Pune – Lonavala – Mumbai
Total Distance : Approx 1400 kms
Best Season : September – March
Detour : Harihareshwar, Dapoli, Ganpatipule, Tarkarli, Dandeli, Hubli
6. Maharashtra Cultural Circuit
About : The Road to Evolution:- Left deserted for over a millennium, choked up by creepers and trees, Ajanta caves were not discovered until 1819. Two world heritage sites, within a span of 120 kms, Ajanta Ellora are history lovers’ dream. Riding from Mumbai; visit the mythological city of Nashik where Maha Kumbh is held, this is the place from where Sita was abducted. The roads are usually two way highways, but the attachment to history makes them unforgettable.Move forward to ancient caves of Ajanta and Ellora, deroute to Lonar crater lake created by meteor. If time permits head to the cultural capital of Maharashtra, Pune and back to Mumbai via expressway.
Route : Mumbai – Nashik – Shirdi – Aurangabad – Ellora Caves – Ajanta Caves – Lonar Crater – Aurangabad- Ahmednagar – Pune – Lonavala – Mumbai
Total Distance : Approx 1200 kms
Best Season : September – March
Detour : Trimbakeshwar, Bhimashankar, Karjat, Karla Bhaja Caves
7. North Karnataka Trip
About : An extension to Mumbai Goa circuit:- The road takes you through Karnataka’s western coastline. Start with a glimpse of Mountains of Chikmagalur and move on the coast lines of Udupi and Gokarna, wildlife reserve of Dandeli, temples of Hampi, Fort of Chitradurga and Urban Lifestyle of Bangalore. Once done, this trip leaves you satiated for months.
Route : Bengaluru – Hassan – Mangalore – Udupi – Gokarna – Goa – Hubli – Hampi – Chitradurga – Bangalore
Total Distance : Approx 1600kms
Best Season : September – April
Detour: shravanabelagola, Chikmaglur , Murudeshwar, Yana Rocks, Dandeli, Jog Falls
8. Mysore Coorg Circuit
About : Glittering Royal Heritage:- A walk across the English country lanes, covered by pines, to unspoiled jungles of Wayanad, this road trip leaves you wanting for more. While Mysore is South India’s most famous tourist destination and has ample amount of monuments to spot, Wayanad is often termed to be the most beautiful part of Kerala by their own. Ooty often termed as “Queen of Hill Stations” is a mix of Indian Hustle and Bustle with Raj era colonies to stay on.
Route: Mysuru – Madikeri – Coorg – Wayanad – Ooty – Bandipur National Park – Mysore
Total Distance: Approx 600kms
Best Season: October – April
Detour: Bengaluru, Bylakuppe, Bekal, Kannur, Bangalore
9. Kerala Circuit
About : “God’s Own Country”:- The narrow curvy lanes along the backwaters is where even your vehicle falls in love with Kerala. It has Spice plantations and Tea covered hills, elegant houseboats, ayurvedic treatment and friendly elephants and approx. 600 kms of coastline covered with palms, and fishing nets. It’s hard to deny the liberal use of the tagline “God’s Own Country”.
Route: Kochi – Alappuzha – Kollam – Thiruvananthapuram – Kanyakumari – Thiruvananthapuram – Periyar – Munnar – Kochi
Total Distance: Approx 1200kms
Best Season: October – March
Detour : Bekal , Varkala, Guruvayur, Thrissur, Athirapally
10. Tamil Nadu Temple Circuit
About: Land of Temples:- No state in India has kept intact its civilisation of Dance, Poetry and religion as beautifully as Tamil Nadu has. Tamil Nadu is as dynamic as its tradition. With White religious tika, portraying their devotion to IT goers in Chennai , the ever ringing bells of Tirupati & Madurai to the peaceful ashram of Auroville and beach of Rameshwaram, this circuit takes you through a state which proudly distinct itself from rest of India.
Route: Chennai – Tirupati – Vellore – Madurai – Rameshwaram – Tiruchirapalli – Pudducherry – Chennai
Total Distance: Approx 1600 kms
Best Season: November – February
Detour: Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Sriharikota, Coimbatore, Kodaikanal, Yeracud
11. Best of Eastern Coast
About: The Eastern Coastal Belt:- While country’s western coast is travellers’ favourite, a lot along the eastern coast had been left unexplored. Possible reasons could be many, but what could you benefit from, is a drive/ride along the unexplored territories of bay of Bengal. Riding through cities of Hyderabad, Vishakhapatnam, Puri, Digha & Kolkata, one covers at least 4 different states with peculiar changes in architecture, culture and lifestyle. On way back, you can chose to visit Raipur, one of the fastest developing cities in the country or just fall back along the eastern coast.
Route: Hyderabad – Vijayawada – Vishakhapatnam – Araku Valley – Puri – Cuttak – Digha – Kolkata – Raipur – Hyderabad
Total distance: Approx. 2500kms
Best Season: November – February
Detour: Digha, Jamshedpur, Bastar
12. India’s best Tiger Circuit
About: The land of Mowgli :- Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench, Tadoba This is the closest you could get to living with the tigers. Welcome to Madhya Pradesh, the king of jungles when it comes to tiger parks. These forests are so dense, yet so attractive that Rudyard Kipling decided to portray Mowgli into them. While Kanha is the most dense among all, the probability of spotting tiger is the highest in Bandhavgarh and Pench. With upcoming luxury stays and camps surrounding the jungles, the trip becomes more fascinating.
Route: Nagpur – Tadoba National park – Kanha National Park – Pench National Park – Nagpur
Total Distance: Approx. 1000kms
Best Season: September – April
Detour : Chikaldara, Jabalpur, Satpura National Park, Khajuraho, Bandhavgarh
13. Romancing with the Mountains
About: Kanchenjunga in the backyard :- From tea plantation to Toy train, from Tibet border to Old Silk route. Exploring Sikkim gives you ample of moments to fall in love with the Himalayas. The roads are treacherous so, even a small distance takes a long time, but as said when the journey is beautiful, destination doesn’t matter. Visit Gurudongmer lake to see India’s highest lake. Pelling offers you a closer look at Kanchenjunga, and Zuluk takes you to the path through which silk travelled between Indian and China via the Old Silk Route. Plan well ahead because few places require permissions to be obtained, before visiting.
Route: New Jalpaiguri – Darjeeling – Pelling – Gangtok – Gurudongmar Lake – Zuluk – Kalimpong – New Jalpaiguri
Total Distance: Approx. 900kms
Best Season: September – April
Detour: Sandakphu, Yuksom, Yumthang, Nepal
14. Best of North East Adventure
About: Road trip for brave hearts:- When experienced Dibrugarh to Pasighat Brahmaputra crossing is one of the most memorable experience compared to any road trip across the country. The north east compared to Leh circuit remains highly deprived of tourists and has lot many uncharted locations to be discovered. Start from Guwahati and head to tribal village of Ziro, it takes around 2 days but the driving could be a real test of endurance, accompanying some memorable mountain memories. If the time permits, visit Mechuka for its exotic tribes, 400 years old Buddhist monastery and snow capped mountains by the border. Come south to Dibrugarh and then Pasighat, follow west towards Kaziranga National Park which hosts two third of world’s one horned rhinos. Spare least 2 days for the park. The road from Kaziranga to Guwahati are well maintained and could be covered quickly.
Route: Guwahati – Tezpur- Ziro – Daporijo – Kabu – Pasighat – Dibrugarh – Kaziranga National Park – Guwahati
Total Distance: Approx. 2000kms
Best Season: September – October, March – May
Detour: Shillong, Cherrapunjee, Tawang, Itanagar, Mokochung
15. The Buddha Circuit
About: Footprints of ‘Siddhartha to Buddha’:– Journey on this vibrant road trip across north and India’s two most populous states of Uttar Pradesh & Bihar. Start your trip from Bihar’s capital Patna and head towards Varanasi, the mythological city of India, spare some moment for Ganga Arti in the evening and look out for Babas and hippies involved in the enchantment of Lord Shiva. Head westward towards Allahabad where Ganga Yamuna and mystical Saraswati meets at Prayag. Road further west takes you to the Capital of UP and political hub of the nation, “Lucknow”. Have a gastronomical affair in the city of Nawabs before you say sayonara. Visit the birth place of Lord Ram at Ayodhya, heading to Kushinagar. If time spares, one can enter Nepal, covering places like Lumbini & Janakpur. By the time one is back to his/her base, irrespective to your belief, the realisation towards power of religion changes.
Route: Patna – Bodhgaya – Sarnath – Allahabad – Lucknow – Ayodhya – Kushinagar – Patna
Total Distance: Approx. 1400kms
Best Season: September – March
Detour: Varanasi, Chitrakoot, Lumbini, Kathmandu, Janakpur
16. Uttarakhand Circuit
About: Land of Gods:- land of Snow capped mountains to Low land jungle, temples & ashram, bustling cities to quiet hill station. Uttarakhand has much more to offer. Hindus term Uttarakhand as ‘Dev Bhoomi’ the dramatic terrain covered with holy mountains, rivers and lakes. With twisting roads and unlimited trekking trails, Uttrakhand captures many mountaineers’ dream destination.
Route: Delhi – Almora – Nainital – Jim Corbett National Park – Haridwar – Rishikesh – Mussoorie – Dehradun – New Delhi
Total Distance: Approx. 1500kms
Best Season: Spetember – March
Detour: Roopkund, Ranikhet, Lansdowne, Gangotri, Badrinath, Chandigarh
So why wait, grab your riding gears & saddle bag or car keys & backpack, and plan your coming weekend.
We would love to know other circuits and destinations, comment or mail us to update the list.