Driving On Indian Roads is Like Walking On A Tight Rope.
You've
got to be really careful with the wheels because of pathetic road
conditions that could test the patience of even the most seasoned
drivers.
But
you really deserve a medal if you've driven on the following Indian
roads and highways. These are literally multiple highways to hell.
1. Zoji La Pass
The blink of an eye could land a vehicle straight down from an altitude of
3,538
meters! Zoji La Pass is one of the country's most dreaded roads as it
is frightfully narrow and covered in snow sludge round the season.
You'll come across this route while making your way to Leh from Srinagar.
The pass is a major link between Ladakh and Kashmir.
2. Neral-Matheran Road
This serpentine road will send your heart to your mouth for sure!
The road, that goes up to Matheran from Neral, is as smooth as butter.
But you cannot speed up due to its narrowness.
If you don't want to drive it, there are
many share taxis that take tourists in hoards right up to Matheran.
3. National Highway 22
The name highway to hell seems more appropriate for this scary highway than the current unassuming National Highway 22.
Touted as one of India's most dangerous highways, the road here makes you cut through a mountain.
In the process, death looms over you in the form of cliffs and tunnels all around.
National
Highway 22 was also featured in the History Channel's "IRT Deadliest
Roads" TV series for its poor maintenance and hazardous condition.
4. Chang La
Drivers experience breathlessness and nausea while passing through this route.
Chang La is covered with snow throughout the year and is guarded by the army due to its proximity to the Chinese border.
It is advisable to carry extra warm clothes and a medical kit with you, as the winds and climate can be extremely harsh.
5. Leh-Manali Highway
Driving on this route is a massive pain, because the highway is always trafficked and you move at a snail's pace.
When the snow-laden road thaw with frost heaves, several trucks and four-wheelers are said to have suffered irreparable damage.
6. Munnar Road
Similar to the Neral-Matheran road, Munnar Road too has twisty turns and
high slopes.
The
sweet aroma of fresh tea leaves will waft through your drive, but you
will be disturbed by careless drivers who drive on the smooth
pass as if it were a motorbike runway!
7. Three level Zig Zag Road
Located in Sikkim, these spiral roads make for the most scenic views.
At 11,200 ft above the sea level, this road will give you the best view of the Himalayan crown.
The curvy roads will send your head into a tizzy even if you are sitting on the backseat.
You need special permits to pass through, as the road is not for the faint-hearted!
8. Khardung La Pass
Under the armys close inspection, this pass is covered with hairpin turns that will
have the most seasoned drivers fearful.
Khardung La Pass gives you an entrance to Nubra Valley and remains closed annually from October to May due to harsh conditions.
9. Kishtwar-Kailash Road
In
2013, athlete Mick Fowler and his climbing partner, Paul Ramsden,
documented their way through the most dangerous Kishtwar-Kailash road.
The
one lane path, which traverses through the newly formed J&K
district, is so dangerous that it will makeyour GPS stop working for
you.
The climb is terrible, and one hasty move could land you on your deathbed.
10. Rajmachi Road
The gravelled road situated in the Sahyadris has a hustle-bustle of
trekkers and bikers.
The way gets slippery during the monsoons, which makes
it difficult for riders to ride on it.
11. Kinnaur Road
Kinnaur road will astound you with its cliff-hanging drives and dark narrow holes.
A tiny mistake, and you will splash into the Baspa river that will take no time to swallow you.
The valley road remains closed during heavy snowfall.
If you
ever
get a chance to pass through this way, please be extra careful around
the dangerous Taranda dhank which is infamous for claiming lives.
12. Nathu La Pass
This pass is said to be the highest motorable road in the world. It is one of the
three open trading border posts between China and India and is located
54 km east of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, and 430 km from Lhasa, the
capital of Tibet.
The road here gets blocked due to massive landslides and snow
sludge, making driving a bad experience here.
13. Valparai Tirupati ghat
Its not easy to reach the most crowded temple on earth. Tirupati has a ghat which
is quite risky and prone to accidents.
You have to be extra careful while passing through the twists and turns that are abundant on the road.
14. Gata Loops
Its a series of twenty one hairpin bends that you will come across when you are driving on the Leh-Manali driveway.
The road is said to be haunted by a ghost of a tourist who was buried here.
People offer cigarettes and mineral water on the spot and then carry on with their journey.
15. Pune-Mumbai Expressway
Apart
from landslides, the Pune-Mumbai expressway has a ton of careless
drivers overtaking and zigzagging their way, which causes some serious
accidents.
There are also cases where drivers have slept behind the wheel, due to fatigue and sleep deprivation.
A
report reveals that around 14,186 accidents took place on the
expressway between January 2006 and August 2014 and 925 people died
between January
2006 and June 2013.
Further investigations revealed that 60% of accidents happened due to carelessness and human error.
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