Travelling Thru Parts Of India By Car

Has anyone on this forumn ever travelled by car from delhi to rajasthan to mumbai and goa by car with stops on the way .looking for people who would be interested in doing that in and around dec this year.

Yes. It's a long, long, long way.

I THINK IT IS THE BEST WAY TO SEE INDIA AND I THINK IT IS NOT A BAD IDEA, RAJSHTAN WILL TAKE 2TO 3 WEEKS MINIMUM AND GUJRATH AND MUMBAI WILLTAKE ONE WEEK MINIMUM AND THEN TO GOA 1-2 WEEK

yea i do agree with u , thou am nt planning to do Gujarat, basically rajasthan, mumbai, goa(by new years).

I should be just getting there around that time. Do you plan on buying or renting a car? What's the chance of getting a van?

I plan to take my car for all the way , dnt want to rent , and gttng a van like the ones u get in the US is not possible as far as i know.

Ok, I was thinking you were going to rent or buy. I'll let you know when I'm close to being in Delhi.

One good thing about India it;s easy to buy medications...buy plenty of valium to take your nerves will appreciate it...still its the best way to see the places the train windows dont allow you to get a good view...Good luck

We hired a car [with driver]in Dec to explore Rajasthan,departed from Agra,then to Rathambhore Nat Park,Pushkar,Jodhphur,Bikaner then to Delhi.A great way to see the real India as you can stop at random.One thing is to make sure you have a couple of spare tyres and a good set to start with ,I remember we had about 3 flat tyres and the repair jobs were pretty slow,but hey that's India.Have a great time,the weather in Dec/Jan is perfect compared to now.We have just returned from a month in the north[Kashmir,Amritsar,Delhi]etc and it was bloody hot to be polite,but still a great time was had by all,kindest cheers,Carol Wilson.

Been there, traveled it by motorcyle in 1994.

I do own a car in India now. I switch off between walking, riding my motorcycle (2004 Yamaha Enticer) and my car (1979 Mercedes 240D).

Driving in India isn't jarring if you have the right car. Indians have no sense of how to make a car so don't buy an Indian one. There cars would be fine in Japan, but to tackle Indian roads there is nothing like a Benz.

And, the model I have has the same engine as an India vehicle (they bought the old Mercedes production line and rights) so parts are simple to come by and super cheap. The only higher expense is if there is body damage.

You are partially right about the van thing. 99.5% of the vans on Indian roads are Maruti Omni vans, which are tiny economy cars made to look like a van. I physically can't even drive one, as the steering wheel and my legs can't peacefully co-exist in that small space. I am 6'1.

Yet, India has tons of imported cars in the big cities, so you can find your van. They have both American and Japanese models available. One of my favorites is the Mitsubishi model that looks like a mini-van yet has a rhino guard on front, is four wheel drive, and has a raised chassis with aggressive off-roading tires. It's fun! Like soccer mom has gone wild.

For imported cars check out local newspapers and national car magazines. If you see an ad for a place with lots of foreign cars, just ring them and ask them what they have on the lot. Bombay and Delhi are best. Bangalore isn't bad. If you want a classic car, especially old British ones, they are easily found (I can put you in touch with a classic dealer). I've considered picking up a mid-80s Benz convertible myself for touring. Why not?

As the Indian rule (singular) of the road is that the bigger car prevails, I love driving my car and seeing traffic part for me, rather than my cycle that seems to attract other vehicles and people like a magnet.

Cars are delightful in India- especially in cities. The beauty of rolling up the window to avoid the fumes... can't get that option on any motorcycle.
And how nice it is to have your luggage locked (and hidden in the trunk). Let's you travel without looking like you are traveling, unlike the way motorcyclist advertise their goods.

Excellent response living in India. It took me back to driving in India with my 2 wheeler being a "magnet"..

The cost of petrol in india usually makes this cost prohibitive..

You might think petrol is expensive, but have you considered the options?

Diesel is about 12-14 Rs less per liter and will take you just as far. Diesel is going for around 32Rs/liter. An efficient diesel with would make your cost for a 100km journey around 200Rs-250Rs. The bus would've cost 50 Rs person, more or less.

So, one person pays 4 times as much, but two people just pay twice as much, and three people pay just a tad more. A decent VIP bus could be the same cost as two people using the car. Expensive?

And, it seems like everyone down here is converting their petrol cars to LPG. They say it is the cheapest option. Many used cars on the market are already retrofitted. If you'd like to do it yourself it'll cost around 12,000Rs. (This is not an option for diesels however).

Cost per kilometer in most cars for three people should be as good as one on an Enfield.

hi

i'm planning a similar trip in my maruti zen and hopefully be doing it around dec/jan.

The route I'm planning is Delhi-Udaipur-Ahmedabad-Mumbai-Goa-Bangalore-Chennai - Pondicherry- Bit of Orissa - Raipur - Jhansi - Gwalior - Agra - Delhi.

I'm most probably doing it alone and I know its gonna be a bit expensive but its one of the things i have to do before I die.

Any suggestions on the route would be welcome, esp on the way back up after pondicherry. I have a month to do this.

take the fastest, straightest road, because you won't have time for anything else.

your itinerary is ridiculously ambitious, in my eyes. one way from delhi to tamil nadu would make for a beautiful, FULL month. are you "into" driving? or just ambitious with your destinations?

going to udaipur yet missing out on jaislamer, jodhpur, mt abu, kutch, etc?

going to tamil nadu and missing out on madurai? on ooty or kodicanal?

just a bit of orrisa? just drive through that beautiful state and take it in from the window?

i would recommend quality over quantity, unless travel is just a tick it off of your list thing for you.

also, if you knew of someone heading south i'd suggest you sent them down with your car and you drive it back up (fly down or take the train).

you say you've got to do it before you die, yet you were born in '78. relax, take it easy. no need to rush.