Driving the most spectacular roads of India

Nestled in South Asia, India is a canvas of colors, sounds, and landscapes, and its roads serve as mesmerizing threads weaving through this intricate tapestry. Each route is not just a passage but a storyteller, chronicling tales of time, terrain, and tenacity.

The Grand Trunk Road, one of Asia's oldest and longest roads, whispers stories of empires, traders, and pilgrims from times immemorial. If you seek sheer adrenaline, brace yourself for the road from Kishtwar to Keylong, often touted as India's most harrowing road, where each turn can make even seasoned adventurers skip a heartbeat. Delve deeper into the mountains and the Spiti Valley Road awaits, a challenging path carved amidst raw, untamed beauty, giving 'off the beaten track' a whole new meaning. Then, for those who aim to quite literally reach dizzying heights, Umling La stands tall, crowned as the highest paved road on our planet, offering views that can make you feel on top of the world.

Journeying on India's roads isn't just about going from one point to another. It's about embracing its soul, understanding its contrasts, and marveling at both its ancient allure and present-day puzzle. So buckle up and embark on a drive through India, where every mile narrates a saga and every horizon beckons a new adventure.

Located in the Raigad district of the Indian state of Maharashtra, the road from Neral to Matheran is a very challenging drive. People fear to drive on this road.

Located in the Himalaya mountains in the north-eastern part of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, the Chicham Bridge is said to be the World's highest bridge from sea level at 4.037m (13,244ft). It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Tucked away in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, in India, the road from Karcham to Chitkul is one of the most exciting drives in the world.

Located in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world. It connects the National Highway (NH 49) with Rameswaram on Pamban Island.

Niti La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.086m (16,686ft) located on the border of India and China.

Marsimik La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.590m (18,339ft) above the sea level, located in northern India’s Jammu and Kashmir state. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Bum La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.508m (14,790ft) above the sea level, located on the Indo-China border. The road to the pass has disastrous conditions and only 4wd vehicles with competent drivers are allowed.

Photi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.532m (18,149ft) above the sea level, located in in south-eastern Ladakh in the eastern Jammu and Kashmir state of India. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Fotu La Top is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,108m (13,478ft) above sea level, located in the Leh district of Ladakh in India.

Mount Abu is a hill station at an elevation of 1.183m (3,881ft) above the sea level, located in the desert state of Rajasthan, in western India.

Margan Top is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.696m (12,125ft) above the sea level, located south of Anantnag district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Saach La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.420m (1,4500ft) above the sea level, located in Chamba District, Himachal Pradesh, in India.

Bara-lacha la is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.890m (16,043ft) above the sea level, located in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, in India.

Kaksang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.436m (17,834ft) above the sea level located in the Leh district of Ladakh, in India. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Kunzum La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.556m (14,947ft) above the sea level, located in the Lahaul and Spiti district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It's the highest point on the Spiti Valley Road.

Munsiyari (or Munsiari) is a high mountain town at an elevation of 2.682m (8,799ft) above the sea level, located in the hill-state of Uttarakhand, India.

Nathu La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.310m (14,140ft) above the sea level, located at the Indo-China border.

Nakee La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.769m (15,647ft) above the sea level, located in the Ladakh region of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Shingo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,048m (16,561ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, in India.

Wari La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.312m (17,427ft) above the sea level, located in northern India’s Jammu and Kashmir state. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Saser La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.411m (17,753ft) above the sea level, located in eastern Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, in India. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Dongkha La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.492m (18,018ft) above the sea level, located in the state of Sikkim, India, near the Chinese border. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Perched at an elevation of 780m (2,559ft), Loam’s Viewpoint is a beautiful lookout located in the Anamalai Hills of the Western Ghats, India.

Se La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,198m (13,772ft) above the sea level, straddling the boundary of Tawang and West Kameng districts of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Counted among the top tourist destinations in Arunachal Pradesh, it promises an experience unlike any other.

Pangsau Pass is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 1.136m (3,727ft) above the sea level, located on the crest of the Patkai Hills on the India-Burma (Myanmar) border.

The Chalakudy-Valparai Road is a very scenic drive running across the Sholayar Reserve Forest, in India. The road crosses a thick deciduous forest, tea plantations, and the famous Athirapally waterfall.

Tsomgo Lake, also known as Tsongmo Lake or Changu Lake, is a glacial lake situated at an impressive elevation of 3,753m (12,313ft) above the sea level. Nestled in East Sikkim, this lake stands as one of India's most renowned glacial lakes, captivating visitors with its seasonal color changes and deep-rooted cultural significance.

Sinthan Top is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.792m (12,440ft) above the sea level, located in Anantnag district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Gata Loops is a series of 21 hairpin turns located in the Ladakh region of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It's one of the most famous hairpinned roads in the world.

East Coast Road, often celebrated for its scenic beauty, also holds secrets that send chills down the spine of many travelers.

Komic is a high mountain village at an elevation of 4.572m (15,049ft) above the sea level, located in Lahaul and Spiti district of Northen indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

Bomdi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.608m (8,556ft) above the sea level, located in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India.

Chanshal Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,800m (12,467ft) above sea level, located in the Shimla district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. To reach the summit, you will be driving on some of the narrowest roads you have ever been on, barely wide enough for one car in certain stretches.

Sadhana Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,130m (10,269ft) above sea level. It is situated in the Tangdar in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, India, within the Shams Bari mountain range of the Himalayas.

Located on the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in India, the Manjur-Mulli Road is one of the steepest drives with hairpin corners in the country. The curvy road is a bit challenging, but the scenery is worth the ride.

Pensi Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,494m (14,744ft) above sea level located in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, in India.

Lachulung La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.059m (16,598ft) above the sea level, located in the Himalayas, on the boundary between Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir) in India.

Kyagar Tso is a very small saline water lake at an elevation of 4.705m (15,436ft) above the sea level, located in the Ladakh region of the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The road linking Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso (Spangmik) via Agham – Shyok villages is located in the Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The journey offers an exhilarating driving experience, with superb views.