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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Polongka La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,844m (15,892ft) above the sea level, located in the southern part of Ladakh in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Located in the Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir, India, Korzok is the highest town in the country, at an elevation of 4.570m (15,000ft) above the sea level. It’s one of the highest towns accessible by car on Earth.

Jauljibi-Madkote Road is a very scary cliff road located in the Indo-Nepal border. The road is in dreadful condition and requires strong nerves to negotiate it. If your GPS ever thinks it's a good idea to drive on this road, it may be time to get a new one.

Kongka La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.192m (17,034ft) above the sea level, located on the disputed region of Aksai Chin in the Chinese-Indian Line of Control.

Kondaveedu Fort is an ancient hill fortress at an elevation of 292m (958ft) above the sea level, located in Guntur district, in the Coastal Andhra region of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Namshang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.960m (16,273ft) above the sea level, located in Ladakh region of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Kungzhag La is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.780m (18,963ft) above the sea level, located on the Indian (Sikkim) and Chinese (Tibet) border. It’s one of the World's highest motorable roads.

Rangdum Monastery is an imposing 18th century Buddhist monastery, at an elevation of 4.031m (13,225ft) above the sea level, located in the head of the Suru Valley, in Ladakh, a region of India in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Kaldang-Kildang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.095m (13,435ft) above the sea level, located in the Ladakh region of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Demchok-Dêmqog is a high mountain border at an elevation of 4.219m (13,841ft) above the sea level, located on the Line of Actual Control between Jammu and Kashmir (India) and Tibet Autonomous Region (China).

Umba La, also known as Umbala Top, is a high mountain pass standing at an elevation of 4.496m (14,750ft) above sea level. It is situated in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, nestled within the Suru Valley near the Line of Control (LoC), which delineates the Indian- and Pakistani-controlled territories of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Jalebi bends is a series of 23 hairpin bends located in the Leh district of Ladakh, India. It’s an epic enthralling road.

Sapi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.397m (14,425ft) above the sea level, located in Ladakh, a region of India in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Jot Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.440m (8,005ft) above the sea level, located in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

Natha Top is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.677m (8,782ft) above the sea level, located in Udhampur district in Jammu and Kashmir, India.