10 Best Places to Visit in Summer in India by Car

Indian summer is generally linked to heat and holidays, but it is also the right moment to grab your backpack and take the road. India has got some amazing places that can be visited by car, whether you are making a quick weekend getaway or a longer road trip. You have the freedom to pull over whenever you please, bring as much baggage as you have to carry and drive at a slow pace.

Below is a list of the most popular destinations to see in India in summer by car, grouped by region to enable easy planning by a person on where they are.

1. Manali, Himachal Pradesh

Best for: Hill lovers, adventure seekers Drive from Delhi: 540 km (approx. 12–14 hours)

Manali is likely the most used summer road trip vacation in North India, and rightly so. Manali is cool and refreshing when the plains are scorching. The road itself, Chandigarh, Kullu, and along the Beas River, is in itself a delight. You will go through apple orchards and pine forests and snowcaps.

Activities: Rohtang Pass (permit is needed), Old Manali, walking around the Hadimba Temple, or simply sitting near the river and having a cup of chai.

Hint: You should leave Delhi early to avoid the traffic around Chandigarh. The roads outside Kullu may become narrow and winding, so drive cautiously.

2. Coorg, Karnataka

Best: Nature, coffee plantations, peace and quiet. Bangalore to Bangalore: ~250 km (est. 5-6 hours)

Kodagu, or Coorg, is a green jewel in the Western Ghats. It remains comfortably cool even during summer, and hence, it is an ideal weekend destination for Bengaluru. The drive is scenic, the roads are in fine condition, and the drive is all around rolling hills, mist and greenery.

Sightseeing: See the Abbey Falls, the seat of Raja and the Dubare Elephant Camp, and go on a walk through a coffee/spice estate.

Hint: The monsoon comes early here and falls around the end of May or beginning of June. When you are going in summer, you had better be there before June, when the weather is clearer.

3. Munnar, Kerala

Best: Tea gardens, cool weather, scenic drives. Drive through Kochi: 130 km (c. 3.5 hours)

The Kochi to Munnar drive is one of the most beautiful in South India. You go through the green tea fields, waterfalls, and smoggy hills. Munnar remains cool all year round, although summer is the best season to visit before the onset of heavy rainy seasons.

Activities: Visit the Eravikulam National Park (where the Nilgiri tahr is found) and Top Station and walk through the tea gardens.

Note: The roads around Munnar have sharp hairpin bends. Take it slow and take an extra precaution in case you are not familiar with mountain roads.

4. Mussoorie, Uttarakhand

Best with families, couples, and first-time visitors to the hill stations. Drive: Delhi to hill stations: 290 km (6-7 hrs)

One of the nearest hill stations near Delhi is Mussoorie, and it is also a popular summer resort. The town is about 2,000 metres above sea level, and therefore, it is very cold compared to the plains. The journey along Dehradun and past the twisting tracks to Mussoorie is pleasant.

Activities: Stroll down the Mall Road, see Kempty Falls, take a walk down to Landour to have some peace and quiet, and have a glimpse of the Doon Valley.

Hint: Weekends can be quite congested during summer. Go on a Friday night or leave very early on a Saturday so as to avoid the rush.

5. Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh

Best: This is a quiet and leisurely summer getaway. Drive from Delhi to the place: ~300 km (about 6 hours)

Kasauli has been ignored in favour of Shimla or Manali, and it is precisely this that makes it special. It is tiny, relaxed and colonial in its charm. Kasauli has good roads leading to it and is small enough to be covered on foot after you get there.

What to see: Take a tour on the Monkey Point trail, visit Christ Church, and just breathe the pine-scented air.

Trick: Kasauli is a better place to be because it does not experience much of the tourist traffic that bigger hill stations receive in the summer season.

6. Lonavala, Maharashtra

Best: A weekend outing in Pune or Mumbai Drive: Mumbai - Mumbai is about 83 km (about 2 hours). Drive: Pune – Pune is about 65 km (about 1.5 hours).

People in Maharashtra go to Lonavala as their summer and monsoon getaway. The motorway to Mumbai-Pune is fast and smooth. The ghats area of Lonavala has forts, falls and vistas.

Attractions: Bhushi Dam, Rajmachi Fort, Kune Falls and the popular Tiger Leap viewpoint. You must sample the local chikki (sweet snack prepared of jaggery and peanuts).

Hint: The place becomes very vibrant when pre-monsoon rains come, and this happens in June. This is the time also when it is most beautiful.

7. Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Best for: Spiritual travellers, adventure travellers. Drive in Delhi: 240 km (around 5-6 hours) (approximately).

Rishikesh is not only a spiritual place; it is also an adventure centre. It is a good time to visit during summer when the Char Dham yatra traffic has not clogged the roads. The Ganga is also clean and fast-running here, thus perfect for rafting.

Activities: White-water rafting on the Ganga, visiting Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula, attending the Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat, and visiting the numerous yoga and meditation centres.

Tips: Do not go during the season of Char Dham in case you are looking to have a less busy journey.

8. Ooty, Tamil Nadu

Best for: Families, nature lovers, those in South India Drive from Coimbatore: 86 km (approx. 2.5 hours) Drive from Bangalore: 270 km (approx. 6 hours)

One of the oldest and most popular hill stations in South India is Ooty, or Udhagamandalam. Nilgiris are green and cool during the summer, and therefore Ooty is a relaxing spot. The climb up the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is breathtaking.

Activities: visit botanical gardens, ride on the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway (toy train), visit Doddabetta Peak and walk around Ooty Lake.

Hint: The toy train between Mettupalayam and Ooty is a UNESCO World Heritage ride. Book tickets in advance as they fill up fast in summer.

9. Lansdowne, Uttarakhand

Best: Off-beat travellers, peace seekers Drive from Delhi to Delhi: Round trip: 260 km (about 6 hours)

Lansdowne is one of the least known places in North India in case you are in need of leaving the tourist throngs behind. It is a small cantonment town located in the Garhwal hills, which is surrounded by oak and rhododendron forests. The highways are good, and the journey between Delhi and the destination is easy.

Activities: Take a stroll along the forest walks, visit the Bhulla Tal lake and pay a visit to the small Garhwali Rifles Museum.

Hint: Accommodation and food options are not very many, so prebooking and having some snacks on the road is recommended.

10. Chikmagalur, Karnataka

Best: Coffee enthusiasts, trekkers, and Bangalore to South India Drive: Bangalore to South India: 240 km (approximately 5 hours).

The first coffee was cultivated in Chikmagalur, and it has some of the most beautiful coffee estates in India. Summer is cool and green, and the road network is accessible and simple to Bengaluru.

Activities: Hike to Mullayanagiri (the tallest hill in Karnataka) and Hebbe Falls, and have a coffee estate homestay to experience something different.

Hint: Summer is a good season to go there in the summer before the rains come in. Reserve a coffee estate stay early enough in advance – they are extremely popular and are likely to get full soon.

General Advice: Planning Your Road Trip

Fix your vehicle before you drive. Always ensure that before any long journey, you check the tyres, brakes, engine oil, and coolant, particularly when you are heading to hilly routes.

Download offline maps. Certain mountain areas may have weak or no mobile signal. Google Maps and Maps. It can be downloaded for offline use.

Start early. To most hill destinations, a morning arrival would ensure you arrive earlier than the afternoon traffic, and you can spend the entire day sightseeing.

Carry essentials. Road trip necessities include water, a basic first aid kit, a car charger, snacks and some cash.

Book accommodation in advance. Most hill stations have peak season during summer. The hotels and homestays are likely to be booked very fast, particularly during the weekends.

Adhere to local traffic laws. Some mountain roads are unidirectional at specific times. Do as you are told and be easy on the horn.

Renting a Car for Your Summer Road Trip

Not all people possess a car, or even your personal car might be inappropriate on a long mountain journey. Renting a self-drive car is a viable and cheap solution in such situations. Rentrip provides self-drive car rentals in various cities in India, and therefore, you can rent a car in the vicinity and start your road trip without any inconvenience. You are given the option of picking up the car that suits your journey: either a small hatchback on the hill road or a large SUV on a family outing.

Final Thoughts

Indian summer does not imply spending the time indoors, with the air conditioner running on its full capacity. There are some really great places in the country – cool and scenic and reachable by road. A road trip to the Himalayas in the north or the Western Ghats in the south makes you have a totally different viewpoint of air travel or railway transport.

Choose a place which fits your time and money, prepare your car, and go. The journey itself: the destinations, the food along the way, the sightseeing, and the possibility to go wherever you want are some of the most pleasant recollections.

Happy driving.

The blog is published on the Rentrip site as an informative one. All this travelling time is estimated and can change according to traffic, road conditions and the route traversed. this travelling