What are the most spectacular roads in India?

Located in the southern part of Asia, India covers a total area of 3,287,263 square kilometres (1,269,219 sq mi). With a very diverse landscape, comprising snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas, plains and a coastline stretching over 7,500 kilometers, the country offers never-ending driving experiences and 200 of the most spectacular roads in the world. One of the most challenging drives is the road to Umling La. At 5.882m (19,300ft) above sea level it is the highest paved road on Earth offering views that can make you feel on top of the world. If you like challenging mountain roads situated at high elevations, remember to check out our list of the highest roads in India.

The country shares borders with Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Some of the borders are on high mountain passes, so the country features some of the highest roads in the world. Another driving challenges are the road from Kishtwar to Keylong, said to be India's most terrifying road, or the isolated road to Jalori Pass, a mountain pass at 3,134m (10,282ft) above sea level. The country experiences a wide range of climates, from tropical to alpine, and monsoon rains influencing much of the country.

Located in the northwestern part of Himachal, in India, driving the challenging road from Dalhousie to Khajjiar is no easy task.

NH 183A is a curvy mountain road located in the state of Kerala, in South India. It can become very slippery after rain, making it challenging to navigate.

Located in the Kannur district of Kerala, in India, Muzhappilangad Beach is the only drive-in beach in Asia. With 4 km of firm sand and shallow water, it attracts cars and motorcyclists from everywhere. Just be sure to avoid getting salt water on your vehicle.

Gurudongmar Lake is a high mountain glacial lake at an elevation of 5,154 m (16,909 ft) above sea level, located in the Indian state of Sikkim. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

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.

Sangetsar Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3,708m (12,165ft) above sea level, located in the Tawang district in the northwestern part of Arunachal Pradesh, in India. It’s one of the world’s famous hairpin roads.

Varandha Ghat is a mountain pass at an elevation of 545m (1,788ft) above sea level, located in the state of Maharashtra, in India.

Gangotri is a small town located in the northern part of Uttarakhand, India, at an elevation of 3,415m (11,204ft) above sea level. The road to the town runs along vertical cliffs without guardrails.

Sirsir La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,804m (15,761ft) above sea level, located in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Depsang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,376 m (17,637 ft) above sea level, located in the Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Kaobal Gali is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,167m (13,671 ft) above sea level, located in the northern part of India.

Tso Kar is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4,530m (14,860ft) above sea level, located in the southern part of Ladakh in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Tso Lhamo Lake is a high mountain glacial lake at an elevation of 5,330m (17,490ft) above sea level, located in North Sikkim, India. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Located in Uttarakhand, India, Badrinath is a mountain temple at an elevation of 3,133m (10,279ft) above sea level.

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.

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

Rajmachi is a mountain town at an elevation of 660m (2,165ft) above sea level, located in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

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.

Daulat Beg Oldi is a military base at an elevation of 5,067m (16,624ft) above sea level, located in the Jammu and Kashmir state of India. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

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

The paved high mountain road from Jyotirmath to Malari road is located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, within the Nanda Devi National Park.

Imis La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,290m (17,355ft) above sea level, situated on the border of India and China. It is one of the major passes over the main Himalayan Range and ranks among the highest roads in the country.

Located in the Ladakh region of the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, Korzok is one of the highest towns in the country, at an elevation of 4,570m (15,000ft) above sea level.

Lamayuru Monastery is a high mountain monastery at an elevation of 3,510m (11,515ft) above sea level, located in the Leh district of Ladakh, India.

Jot Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,440m (8,005ft) above sea level, located in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

Kongka La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,192m (17,034ft) above sea level, located in the disputed region of Aksai Chin along the Chinese-Indian Line of Control. This remote and rugged area lies at the intersection of Ladakh (administered by India) and Xinjiang (administered by China), making it a flashpoint in one of the most sensitive border disputes in Asia. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

NH 109K is the name of a paved road located in the state of Uttarakhand, in India. If your GPS ever thinks it's a good idea to drive on this road, it may be time to get a new one.

Jalebi Bends, also known as Jalebi Road or the Old route to Fotu La, is a series of 23 hairpin bends located in the Leh district of Ladakh, India.

Namshang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,960m (16,273ft) above sea level, located in the Ladakh region of the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Padri Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.037m (9,963ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of  Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, in northern India.

Tso Moriri is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.522m (14,836ft) above the sea level, located in the Ladakh region of the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Ane La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.370m (17,618ft) above the sea level, located on the China-India border. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

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