Road trips in India are a great way to travel. On a road trip, you can see the transition from one place to another. You notice the subtle changes that take place as the land, water, and culture change slowly. A road trip allows you to travel at your own pace, pausing wherever your eyes want to take in a bit more or you crave a chai pakora, idli vada, poha jalebi or lal cha, Anuradha Goyal While all road trips are fun, there are some that are so memorable that the journey itself is the destination. Here are some of the most scenic road trips in India that I have enjoyed, as also some that are on my wish list. Shimla to Manali via Kinaaur, Spiti and Lahual This sparsely populated region of India and Himachal Pradesh will remain one of my favorite road trips. Start from Shimla, the capital of Himachal that is bustling with activity. Move on to the Apple country and then the Kinnaur region where the hand-woven Himachali cap is ubiquitous. Spiti Valley (Himachal Pradesh). Drive slowly to Spiti Valley where the cold desert is stunning with its silence and breathtaking landscape. Pass through Lahaul to admire Chandratal Lake between the Kunzum and Rohtang passes. End the journey at Manali where you feel as if you are back in civilization. July-August is the best time to make this road trip when the Kunzum Pass is open. Konkan road trip during monsoons Konkan and monsoons are synonymous. It rains for about six months transforming the region lush green. When you drive from Goa to Ratnagiri or its environs, all you see is the narrow strip of grey road surrounded by million shades of green. Waterfalls can appear anywhere on roadsides. The best place to be surrounded by waterfalls is Amboli Ghats. But there are other falls like Savdav Falls and Marleshwar Falls. You can also admire the landscape and waterfalls from a train tide through Konkan. Peak monsoon time is the best for this road trip. Srinagar to Leh Srinagar is the scenic city surrounding the beautiful Dal Lake replete with houseboats. It has an aura of romance, probably because of the numerous Hindi films shot here. As you start driving towards Leh, you pass by scenic Pahalgam where horses take tourists for rides. If it is Amarnath Yatra time, you will see pilgrim camps at Baltal. It is enjoyable to witness helicopters taking pilgrims to the hilltop. At Zozi La Pass the landscape changes, with greenery and colors tranforming into the barren mountains of Ladakh. Stop at the Drass War Memorial and maybe at Kargil. The moonlike landscape near Lamayuru monastery and the ancient paintings of Alchin Monastery are sights to behold. Relax after reaching Leh. You need acclimatization. Summers are a good time for this road trip, although I enjoyed a mini road trip around Leh in winter as well. Tawang via Bomdilla in Arunachal Best to start this drive from Tezpur on the…
