What are the most spectacular roads in 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.

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.

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.

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.

NH 183A is a curvy mountain road located in the state of Kerala, south India. This track can get very slippery after rain making it challenging to get through.

Roghi is a high mountain village at an elevation of 2.754m (9,035ft) above the sea level, located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, Northern India, in the Indian Himalaya. Drive with care as this is a mountain road with dangerous drop offs. The road to the town is considered to be one of the most dangerous roads in the world & definitely not for people who have vertigo.

Malling Nala is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.875m (12,713ft) above the sea level, located in Himachal Pradesh, in India. The pass is punctuated with landslides, gushing water and complete chaos. People suffering vertigo are not recommended to look outside… views can be unnerving and acrid.

Located in the state of Kerala in southwestern India, Muzhappilangad Beach is the only Drive-In Beach of Asia.

Pir Ki Gali Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.485m (11,433ft) above the sea level, located in Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Gurudongmar Lake is a high mountain glacial lake at an elevation of 5.154m (16,909ft) above the sea level, located in North Sikkim, India, near the Chinese border. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Mughal Road is a very scenic and challenging journey in the heart of the Pir Panjal Range, in  Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Banihal Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.157m (7,076ft) above the sea level, located in Ramban district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.  Do not travel this road in severe weather conditions. Avalanches, heavy snowfalls and landslides can occur anytime, being extremely dangerous due to frequent patches of ice.

Sangetsar Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.708m (12,165ft) above the sea level located  in the Tawang district, in the northwestern part of Arunachal Pradesh in India. It’s one of the remotest high altitude lakes in India.

The Dalhousie-Khajjiar road is a very exciting journey situated in the northwestern part of the Himachal, in the northern region of India.

Located on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, in India, the Atal Tunnel (nicknamed as Rohtang Tunnel) is the world longest tunnel at an altitude above 3,000m.

Located  in West Godavari district of the Indian state Andhra Pradesh, the Kolleru Wood Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Gangotri is a small town situated on the foot of Himalayas in the northern part of the state of Uttarakhand, India, at an elevation of 3.415m (11,204ft) above the sea level. The road to the town runs along vertical cliffs with no guardrails.

Tso Kar is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.530m (14,860ft) above the sea level, located in the southern part of Ladakh in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Depsang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.376m (17,637ft) above the sea level, located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Varandha Ghat Valley View is a natural scenic lookout at an elevation of 545m (1,788ft) above the sea level, located  in the state of Maharashtra, India.

Kaobal Gali is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.167m (13,671ft) above the sea level, located in the Kargil District of Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Cradled in the Nar-Narayan mountain ranges, Badrinath is one of the most important religious places in India. Located in the town of Badrinath in Uttarakhand, India, the temple sits at an elevation of 3.133m (10,279ft) above the sea level.

Tso Lhamo Lake is a high mountain glacial lake at an elevation of 5.330m (17,490ft) above the sea level, located in North Sikkim, India, near the Chinese border. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Sirsir La ("the pass of yesterday"), is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.804m (15,761ft) above the sea level, located in the Ladakh region in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in Northern India.

Rajmachi road is a gravel dirt track located in the rugged mountains of Sahyadri in India. This steep road climbs up to the forts of Rajmachi: Shrivardhan fort and Manaranjan Fort.

Kiu La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.711m (18,736ft) above the sea level, located on the China-India border. It’s one of the world's highest motorable roads.

Located in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, the Shansha Bridge is in very poor condition. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, the Jyotirmath-Malari road is an asphalted high mountain road located within the Nanda Devi National Park.

Imis La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.290m (17,355ft) above the sea level, located between Ladakh (India) and Tibet (China). It is one among the major passes over the main Himalayan Range. 

Daulat Beg Oldi is a military base at an elevation of 5.067m (16,624ft) above the sea level, located in northern India’s Jammu and Kashmir state. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Lamayuru Monastery is a high mountain monastery at an elevation of 3.510m (11,515ft) above the sea level, located in Kargil District, Western Ladakh, India.

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