Driving the Hindustan-Tibet Road: A Challenging Adventure on India's NH-22
India is a country abandoned with a lot of interesting architecture. While it offers a variety of cultures, natural beauty, and adventure, the country has a lot to offer its visitors. The Hindustan-Tibet highway, for example, is a great place to go on an adventure ride.
The Hindustan-Tibet road passes through the peak mountains of Shimla. The road is also known as NH-22. We can recognize this road as one of the deadliest roads in the world. Let's find out what it's like to travel down this road and the challenges you will face.
What is the Hindustan-Tibet road, and how long is the Hindustan-Tibet road?
The Hindustan-Tibet road is one of the national highways of India. This road connects the Indian border with the border of Tibet. However, it combines a lot of remote places in India with each other such as Himachal and Punjab.
The Hindustan-Tibet road was constructed in 1850. The route started its journey in Himachal Pradesh. We saw the road's starting point from Ambala district to Kaurik. It is 480 kilometers long. We will pass through several remote cities and hill stations if we take a long drive along the road. You will see Shivalik Range, then Shimla, and the Spiti River. The road stretches 335 kilometers from Kalka to Wangtu. Many parts of this road are closed due to the hostile natural environment. Once, the road was connected with the entrance of Tibet Rampur Bushair.
What is the historical significance of the Hindustan-Tibet road, and why was it built?
The Hindustan-Tibet road has a great significant history. This road connects culture with business. As this road passes through many places, you will experience a diversity of community alongside the road. The most exciting factor is that the Hindustan-Tibet road was built with only human touch. But the most fantastic factor is that this road can leave behind many modernized roads in terms of its stability and appearance.
You will see tunnels and high and low peaks with rocky cliffs.
Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of the British Company, passed the petition to build a road connecting India and Tibet. That is called the Hindustan-Tibet road. The Governor-General of the British Indian company wanted to discover business prospects and potentiality with Tibet. This was one of the primary reasons for building the Hindustan- Tibet road. However, there are other reasons behind the construction of this road.
In 1815, Himachal Pradesh was one of the most suitable places for trade and business. The British government showed a strong interest in this state. They passed a new trade and commerce policy for Himalayan areas. So, a large group of big and medium trades began to trade within that area. But due to the new trade policy, the chief of works of the Himalayan states was bound to allow the British trader free trade pass. This often irritates people. The traders often faced robberies, drought and famine as a reaction to this incident.
Again, the Himachal Pradesh and Himalayan states needed to have well-constructed roads. Then the streets were narrow and surrounded by forests. So, traveling was difficult in that area. This affected the trading activities of the traders and the British government.
That's why to escape from the difficulties mentioned above; the British governor-general ordered the construction of the Hindustan-Tibet road. This road paved the way for effective trade and commerce for British traders and local businessmen.
Why is the NH-22 road called death road?
The Hindustan-Tibet road is called the death road. The reason behind this name is that this road passes through the highest hill peak in India. Only heavy-loaded vehicles are allowed to drive on this road. The natural conditions of Himachal and other connecting areas, such as Tibet and Ladakh, are hostile. So, there can sometimes be an accident if you don't drive carefully.
But the most historical reason behind the death toll is that 122 men died during the road reconstruction in 1962. At that time, the Indo- China war took place. So, the then Indian government wanted to restore the road's usability.
What are some of the scenic attractions that drivers can see along the Hindustan-Tibet Road?
You will see many interesting places while traveling through the Hindustan-Tibet road. Apart from the scenic beauty and natural wonders, you can visit many tourist spots. You can see the following places.
Shimla
Shimla is the starting point of your journey on the Hindustan Tibet Road. It is the most popular hill station of India. It is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh.
You will reach Shimla on the first day of your journey and if you want to stay away from the crowd of people, you can stay in Narkanda. There are a number of hotels and cottages for tourists and visitors.
Kufri
After sightseeing Shimla on the first day You can head to Kufri. Kufri is another tourist destination that comes in between the road. While you drive from Shimla to Narkanda and go to Kufri you will find lots of hotels in a town named Fagu. This place offers an extreme peaceful scenery of natural beauty.
The Spiti River
The Spiti river is like the final destination of the Hindustan-Tibet road. Though this river was not recognized as a tourist spot before, it is very popular among travellers and tourists.
You will see these significant places when you drive on the Hindustan-Tibet road. However, the road itself is a collection of mesmerizing scenic beauty.
What are some tips for driving the Hindustan-Tibet Road safely and efficiently?
The Hindustan-Tibet road is amongst the most dangerous roads in the world. So, you must be very careful and attentive while driving on this road. Some tips for going on this road are given in the following-
- Take a heavy-duty vehicle on this road.
- If you are a new driver, don't drive on this road.
- Take enough reserve tools for your vehicle to avoid occurrences.
- Always tie your seat belt.
- Don't drive recklessly on the road.
- Take short breaks while you drive for a long time.