Scenic Drives

ashwinnaagar · Mar 30th, 2009, 00:57

Drive along the mulshi dam backwaters(near pune) is simply amazing.

Also the srinagar- sonamarg drive and tangmarg -gulmarg drive are among the best.

Papaji · Mar 30th, 2009, 12:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dilliwala

Nobody said how long the drive had to be, so here are my favs, short and long. My criteria is not just scenery, but also roads which test a driver's skills. In no particular order:

1. Ramnagar-Ranikhet-Almora
2. Kasar Devi to Binsar
3. Almora to Jageshwar
4. Almora-Bhawali-Nainital/Jeolikot-Kathgodam
5. Nayagaon-Kaladhungi-Nainital (the back road)
6. Nainital-Pangot-Vinayak (one day I hope to carry on to Kunjakharak and look down onto Betalghat - I hear the view's fantastic)
7. Bhawali-Malla Ramgarh-Mukteshwar
8. Ghansali to Ghuttu - along the Bhilangana(UA)
9. Tipri(above Tehri Dam)-Jakhnidhar-Anjanisain-Devprayag
10. Devprayag-Chaka-(HIGH above the Bhagirathi valley!)-Gaja-Khari(near Chamba,UA)
11. Tiuni-Mori-Taluka (UA)
12. Naugaon-Purola-Mori (UA)
13. Yamuna Pul-Barkot-Jankichatti (then walk to Yamunotri)
14. Barkot-Dharasu-Uttarkashi
15. Uttarkashi to Gangotri
16. Aindi-Banchaura-Barethi(near Dharasu,UA) - quiet country road, crossing from the Yamuna to Bhagirathi valley, and the rhododendrons in March/April, oooh!
17. Uttarkashi to Chaurangi Khal (then walk 3 km to Nachiketa Tal)
18. Ghansali-Chirbatiya Khal(only 2170m, but what a view on a clear day!)-Tilwara(UA)
19. Rudraprayag to Gauri Kund
20. Rudraprayag to Rishikesh
21. Joshimath to Vishnuprayag
22. Mussoorie-Yamuna Pul-Lakhwar-Chakrata
23. Dehradun to Mussoorie (at least 6 times a year, and still enjoyable each time!)
24. Kotdwara-Dugadda-Gumkhal-Pauri, and the Dugadda-Lansdowne-Gumkhal circular is good too.
25. Pauri-Adwani-Vyasghat, sangam of the Nayar and the Ganga.
26. Devprayag-Siralakhal(high above the Ganga!)-Pauri
27. Dugadda-Rathuadhab-Mohan, or the Corbett back road.
28. Manali to Rohtang La
29. Manali-Mandi-Swarghat, despite the traffic
30. Dharmsala-Ranital-Hamirpur-Ghagas (great road, and talk about rolling countryside)
31. Renuka/Dadahu-Khairi-Rajgarh(HP), along the Giri (includes a 22-km dirt stretch!)
32. Shimla-Mashobra-Tattapani-Rohanda-Chail Chauk
33. Shimla-Narkanda-Rampur-Jyori-Sarahan
34. Parwanu to Shimla is enjoyable, despite the traffic
35. Sangla to Chhitkul (much better than Karchham to Sangla, the hairiest drive I've ever done!)
36. Rikang Pio-Puh-Khab Bridge, to see the Spiti/Satluj sangam - fantastic!

Can u tell from the list that I'm partial towards the hills?

Haven't driven myself down South, but the Goa North-South coastal road, and Kochi to Tiruvanantapuram along the coast were also fantastic.

..of these I've done 24..with 12 remaining..I'd like to do them rest soon

..also I'd like to add to this list if somebody hasn't already, the following..:

1. Bainakhad-Ani-Khanag-Jalori-Shoja-Banjar-Aut (HP)
2. Maulekhal-Jhimar-Dotiyal-ManilaDevi-Sakara (UK)

Dilliwala · Apr 8th, 2009, 21:45

Where is Sakara, Papaji? Is it on Manila-Jainal road, or a side-road?

Papaji · Apr 8th, 2009, 23:16

I saw Sakara on the Google Earth Uttaranchal Road database.. using a .kmz file, the link to which Almoraboy (from Indiamike) had given in some thread some time back... what I meant to recommend was the Manila Devi road running along the Manila ridge at an average altitude of 1900mts amsl.. it's a very picturesque drive till some kms beyond Manila Devi temple, moving towards Bhikiyasain, in the course of which the road loses some altitude and is no longer as picturesque..

..the name Sakara even I was hearing for the first time... I lost my N&W Uttaranchal map during this biking trip and that is why I was looking up google earth..but I must say that it's really very good... one can know what altitudes a place is on by just mousing over it...was wondering if a similar thing (I mean a road .kmz file) has been compiled by some one for Himachal Pradesh.. If there is something and you know of it please let me know. Thanks.

Dilliwala · Apr 9th, 2009, 05:40

Yes, I saw your post in the other thread, thereafter downloaded the file (link by AndreasW - no, don't know of anything for HP). There are a few mistakes in that file, and also some roads not marked. The resolution is not great either, imposs to see the roads I'm looking for after zooming in.

I just checked again now and see where Sakara is. It must be very small or just off the road, I don't remember it. I saw a village called Sadar Bazar, maybe it's the same or nearby.
So did you turn back, or head towards Jainal/Bhikiyasain?

Another thread that might interest you

Manila & chilianaula (Ranikhet) - Info required

Papaji · Apr 11th, 2009, 02:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dilliwala

I saw a village called Sadar Bazar, maybe it's the same or nearby.

Sadar Bazar has a few shops, some houses - but nothing on the main road except for a few tea-shacks and a small temple (attaching some pics).

Sadar Bazar is about 3 kms before the talla Manila Devi temple if one is driving from Dotiyal towards Jainal. Sakara should be some kms beyond the Manila Devi temple as is shown on Google Earth.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dilliwala

So did you turn back, or head towards Jainal/Bhikiyasain?

The first time I went to Manila I had taken a bus from Ranikhet and the route was via Bhikiyasain and Jainal.

Second and third time I went via Ramnagar>Marchula>Maulekhal>Do tiyal..

Yes I have driven once and walked a couple of times up and down that stretch. Last September when I went one whole afternoon I spent walking and walking and walking. It was a very beautiful day after the rains and the place was smelling lovely..

skd · Jun 19th, 2009, 11:08

Dilliwala, this road is your favourite drive. So, can you or any IMer tell me about its road condition currently? I wanna go to Ranikhet by this road just for scenic drive. Quick reply pls as I am going in the last weekend of June.

Mar 30th, 2009, 00:57	#31
ashwinnaagar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: pune Posts: 599	Drive along the mulshi dam backwaters(near pune) is simply amazing. Also the srinagar- sonamarg drive and tangmarg -gulmarg drive are among the best. Last edited by SitaParityaga : Mar 30th, 2009 at 03:56.

Apr 8th, 2009, 21:45	#33
Dilliwala Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: 28N 077E / दिल्ली Posts: 4,798	Where is Sakara, Papaji? Is it on Manila-Jainal road, or a side-road? Last edited by Dilliwala : Apr 9th, 2009 at 05:13.

Jun 19th, 2009, 11:08	#37
skd in search of humour Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Noida (Delhi-NCR), India Posts: 135	Ram Nagar - Ranikhet Road condition? Dilliwala, this road is your favourite drive. So, can you or any IMer tell me about its road condition currently? I wanna go to Ranikhet by this road just for scenic drive. Quick reply pls as I am going in the last weekend of June.

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Apr 8th, 2009, 23:16	#34
Papaji Showing up again.. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 135	I saw Sakara on the Google Earth Uttaranchal Road database.. using a .kmz file, the link to which Almoraboy (from Indiamike) had given in some thread some time back... what I meant to recommend was the Manila Devi road running along the Manila ridge at an average altitude of 1900mts amsl.. it's a very picturesque drive till some kms beyond Manila Devi temple, moving towards Bhikiyasain, in the course of which the road loses some altitude and is no longer as picturesque.. ..the name Sakara even I was hearing for the first time... I lost my N&W Uttaranchal map during this biking trip and that is why I was looking up google earth..but I must say that it's really very good... one can know what altitudes a place is on by just mousing over it...was wondering if a similar thing (I mean a road .kmz file) has been compiled by some one for Himachal Pradesh.. If there is something and you know of it please let me know. Thanks.

Apr 9th, 2009, 05:40	#35
Dilliwala Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: 28N 077E / दिल्ली Posts: 4,798	Yes, I saw your post in the other thread, thereafter downloaded the file (link by AndreasW - no, don't know of anything for HP). There are a few mistakes in that file, and also some roads not marked. The resolution is not great either, imposs to see the roads I'm looking for after zooming in. I just checked again now and see where Sakara is. It must be very small or just off the road, I don't remember it. I saw a village called Sadar Bazar, maybe it's the same or nearby. So did you turn back, or head towards Jainal/Bhikiyasain? Another thread that might interest you Manila & chilianaula (Ranikhet) - Info required