India’s road transport has evolved significantly. In the last few years, a number of high-speed expressways have come up, including the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Samruddhi Mahamarg, and the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway. Thanks to these, long-distance road trips across India are faster, safer, and smoother than ever before. However, it is important to keep in mind that highway transit as of now is fully cashless. If you are driving without a working, auto-recharged FASTag or FASTag Annual Pass, you will most certainly face severe cash surcharges or digital penalties at toll gates. If you, too, are planning on embarking on a road trip this year, unstumbled is here to guide you.
Planning A Road Trip In India: How To Pick A Route?
The key to selecting your ideal travel route is determining what sort of things you want to see and what travel style you have. The following are a few suggestions for the most popular routes.
Mountain And High-Altitude Passes
A road trip through mountains and high-altitude passes is not recommended if it’s your first time or if you or someone in your party has travel sickness. The hairpin turns and the ascent can be nauseating. If, however, you are sure about taking a trip through mountainous regions or high-altitude passes, the following are the routes you can consider:
- Manali-Leh Highway
- Shimla to Spiti Valley
- Gangtok to Nathula
Coastal And Beach Cruising
Coastal routes and beach cruises are excellent for the colder months of the country. These routes are typically not advised for summers as the sun can be quite unforgiving, even if your vehicle is air-conditioned. The following are the routes to consider for a coastal road trip:
- Mumbai to Goa (NH 66)
- Chennai to Pondicherry (East Coast Road).
Cultural And Heritage Circuits
If you have a penchant for history, the following road trip circuits will not disappoint you:
- Golden Triangle (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur)
- Rajasthan Fort Circuit (Jaipur-Jodhpur-Jaisalmer)
Lush Greenery And Coffee Trails
If you’re particularly attracted to greenery and hills but cannot weather the high-altitude passes, these are perfect for you:
- Bengaluru to Coorg (Kodagu)
- Bengaluru to Wayanad
- Kochi to Munnar
How Much Should You Drive Each Day?
Given that this is a road trip, it is obvious that you will be driving a lot. You neither want to travel too much and exhaust yourself, nor do you want to drive too slowly or too little and never end up finishing your circuit. The sweet spot of how much you should drive depends on the kind of route you’ve chosen. Here is how you should determine your per-day driving limit:
- On Expressways: If you have two expert drivers who plan on alternating driving duties, you can comfortably drive around 400 to 600 kilometers on highways per day.
- State Highways And Rural Roads: You should limit driving to 250 to 300 km per day due to traffic, cattle crossings, and single-lane stretches.
- Hilly And Mountainous Terrain: When driving on hilly terrain, you should limit it to 150 to 200 km per day. Mountain travel takes twice as long due to elevation gains and sharp bends, so it is better not to push it too much.
Also Read: Best Travel Pillows To Buy For Comfortable Flights, Road Trips & Long Journeys
How To Prep Your Vehicle For Long-Distance Travel?
It is a no-brainer that choosing a vehicle is also crucial to your journey. Here are a few things you should keep in mind when auditing your vehicle:
Tires And Tread
Inspect all four tires as well as the spare tire for cracks or wear. Make sure that there is proper air pressure in all of them. You should also consider Nitrogen if your road trip is via long expressway drives to reduce heat buildup.
Fluid Top-Ups
Make sure you properly inspect the engine oil, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid, and radiator coolant level.
Battery Health
Verify terminal connections and charge levels, especially if driving into cold climates.
Braking System
Remember to test the responsiveness of the brakes. Make sure you replace worn brake pads before mountain road trips.
Wipers And Lights
You should also remember to check headlight alignment, high/low beams, indicators, fog lights, and windshield wiper blades.
Suspension Check
Another important thing you should do is ensure that the shock absorbers handle extra luggage weight smoothly.
Emergency Tools
You should also remember to keep a hydraulic jack, wheel spanner, tow rope, puncture kit, and portable tire inflator in the trunk.
Safety Tips To Keep In Mind
Apart from all of this, the following are a few basic tips and tricks to keep in mind, especially if this is your first time.
- You should only drive between 6 AM and 6 PM. Not only will this prevent driver fatigue, but it will also aid in avoiding unlit obstacles and stationary heavy commercial vehicles.
- Keep an eye out for stray animals (cows, dogs), pedestrians crossing expressways, and wrong-side drivers, especially near village intersections.
- Keep at least a 3-second gap on expressways. This is useful for sudden braking, especially behind heavy trucks.
Also Read: 8 Best Road Trip Gadgets To Pack Before Your Next Drive
Author’s Note
Every road trip I’ve ever been on has ended up suffering because it was way too long. If you’re planning a road trip for the first time, I would highly recommend that you only plan it for three to four days, especially if the group you’re traveling with isn’t very close-knit or has different styles of travel. Make sure you take plenty of pee breaks and carry comfortable clothes.
Summing Up
Planning a road trip in India requires a little foresight and some basic knowledge of Indian highways and expressways. See to it that your FASTag is functional and has sufficient funds if you want to avoid higher toll charges and/or fines. Remember to pack smartly and make stops wherever you find good washroom facilities. If you are traveling with a large group across several cars, you should make sure that each car is within an agreed-upon radius, or at the very least, you can track each other over GPS. Road trips are an incredibly fun and memorable way to travel with your loved ones, and India offers many excellent routes for them.
