Best Places for a Romantic Road Trip in North India

Sep 21

6 min read

The best romantic road trips are about the stretch between destinations: a road that hugs a river gorge, a roadside stall you stop at because the light is right, a pass where you both go quiet. North India has some of the best of these in the country, and most of them start within a day's drive of Delhi.

Below are seven routes, from a five-day Kumaon loop to a ten-day Himalayan crossing. Each comes with honest drive times, the stretches that need care, and the season that suits it.

Seven romantic road trips from Delhi at a glance

Route	Distance from Delhi (approx.)	Days	Best season	Best for
Kumaon circuit (Corbett, Ranikhet, Kausani, Almora)	280 km to first stop	5–6	Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov	Slow travel, Himalayan views
Dharamshala, Palampur and Bir	480 km	4–5	Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov	Cafés, culture, paragliding
Rishikesh to Chopta	450 km	4–5	Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov	Meadows, short treks
Kinnaur (Sangla, Kalpa, Chitkul)	570 km to Sangla	7–8	Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct	Remote valleys
Kashmir circuit	790 km to Srinagar	6–7	Apr–Oct	Lakes, meadows, houseboats
Manali to Leh	1,000 km	9–10	Jun–mid-Sep	High-altitude adventure
Jaipur, Pushkar and Udaipur	660–730 km	6–7	Oct–Mar	Palaces and lakes in winter

Distances and days are approximate and vary with route and stops.

Shorter road trips (4 to 6 days)

Kumaon circuit: Corbett, Ranikhet, Kausani and Almora

This is the best romantic road trip for couples who don't want to spend the whole holiday in a vehicle. The route runs Delhi to Jim Corbett, then Ranikhet, Kausani and Almora. From Almora you can loop back through Nainital, or return directly.

Each leg is short, roughly 2 to 3 hours. Kausani is the highlight: on a clear morning the Trishul, Nanda Devi and Panchachuli peaks line up along the horizon. Binsar, above Almora, has a forest sanctuary with similar views, and the Jageshwar temple cluster is a quiet half-day detour.

Stay in heritage cottages or homestays rather than in the towns themselves. Go in October or November when the peaks are sharpest, and avoid the monsoon, when cloud hides the very views you came for.

Dharamshala, Palampur and Bir

Delhi to Dharamshala is about 480 km and 9 to 10 hours. Base yourselves in McLeod Ganj for the Tibetan cafés and monasteries, then move down to Palampur for tea gardens and the artists' village of Andretta. Bir is the last leg, a paragliding hub and one of the quieter places in the Kangra valley.

Dharamshala gets some of the heaviest monsoon rain in Himachal, so skip July and August. Paragliding at Bir is seasonal and is also unreliable in the rains.

Rishikesh to Chopta

The drive follows the Ganga upstream through Devprayag, where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi meet, then Rudraprayag and Ukhimath before climbing to Chopta. Rishikesh to Chopta is roughly 8 hours of mountain road.

Chopta is a high meadow, often called the mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand. From there it's a short trek of about 3.5 km to Tungnath, then a little further to Chandrashila. You can't drive to either, so plan to walk or hire a pony. Rhododendrons bloom in spring, and in winter the area is snowbound and the Tungnath temple closes.

Stays at Chopta are basic and limited, and mobile network is patchy, so book ahead. Avoid night driving on this route. The Rishikesh to Rudraprayag stretch is also crowded during Char Dham season, so start early.

Longer road trips (a week or more)

Kinnaur: Sangla, Kalpa and Chitkul

For couples who want to get properly away from crowds, this is the one. The route goes Delhi to Shimla, then along the Hindustan-Tibet Road (NH5) through Narkanda and Rampur to Sarahan, then up the Baspa Valley to Sangla and on to Chitkul, the last village on the old Indo-Tibet road. Kalpa, above Reckong Peo, has a famous sunrise view of Kinner Kailash.

Shimla to Sangla alone is a full day. The road is narrow, cut into cliff faces, and prone to landslides. Avoid it from July to mid-September, and keep buffer days in your plan even in season. Apple orchards are at their best in autumn.

Kashmir circuit: Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg

Base yourselves in Srinagar for the first night on Dal Lake, then do Pahalgam (about 3 hours), Gulmarg (about 2 hours) and Sonamarg (about 2.5 hours) as separate day trips or overnight stays. The Gulmarg gondola, Betaab Valley and the meadows around Sonamarg are the highlights.

Delhi to Srinagar is 790 km, and the Jammu to Srinagar highway can close after heavy rain or snow, so many couples fly in and hire a car locally. If you drive, keep a spare day. Roads around Pahalgam and Sonamarg are heavy with pilgrim traffic during the Amarnath Yatra in July and August. Check current travel advisories before you book anything non-refundable.

Manali to Leh

The Manali to Leh highway is about 470 km, and most people take two days. The Delhi to Manali leg adds roughly 12 to 14 hours before that. It crosses Baralacha La (around 4,890 m) and Tanglang La (over 5,300 m), and passes the barren, colourful plateau of More Plains.

Altitude is the real risk. Spend a night in Manali first, then break the journey at Jispa (around 3,200 m) rather than Sarchu (over 4,000 m), and give yourselves two full days in Leh before going to Pangong or Nubra. One way to soften the climb is to enter Ladakh via Srinagar and Zoji La and leave via Manali, or the reverse.

The highway is usually open from around June to mid-September, depending on snow. For routes and vehicle options see our Delhi to Leh Ladakh page. One practical tip: prepaid SIM cards from other states generally don't work in Jammu and Kashmir or Ladakh, so carry a postpaid connection.

The winter option: Jaipur, Pushkar and Udaipur

When the high passes close, Rajasthan is at its best. Delhi to Jaipur is about 270 km. From there go to Pushkar for the lake and its evening ghats, then Kumbhalgarh for the fort walls, and finish in Udaipur with a boat ride on Lake Pichola. The whole loop from Delhi runs to roughly 660 to 730 km each way, and the roads are good enough that driving days stay comfortable.

November to February is the sweet spot. Summer heat makes this route much less pleasant.

Read to know about: What are the Features and Specifications of Force Urbania Van?

Planning a couples' road trip well

Cap the driving. On mountain days, aim for six hours or less. Hill roads slow down after the afternoon, and tired driving is where most trouble starts.
Stay two nights, not one. Moving every day turns a honeymoon into a logistics exercise. Pick two or three bases and make day trips from them.
Leave a buffer day. Landslides, road repairs and weather delays are routine on these routes, not exceptional.
Check the season, not just the dates. Mid-September to November is the underrated window, with clear air, moderate prices and settled roads. March to June suits most routes, and December to February is best kept for Rajasthan or the lower hills.

Car with driver or self-drive?

Self-drive works on the plains. On mountain roads a chauffeur-driven car means you can both look out of the window, and a driver who knows the route knows which curves need the horn and where overtaking is survivable.

For two people an Innova Crysta is a comfortable choice on hill roads. If family or friends are joining, a tempo traveller seats 9 to 26 and costs less than running two or three cars. You can find route options on our outstation packages page. State taxes and tolls are charged separately on interstate trips.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best romantic road trip in North India?

For most couples, the Kumaon circuit, for its short drives and Himalayan views, or Kashmir, for scenery. If you want something quiet and remote, Kinnaur is worth the extra days.

What is the best time for a road trip in North India?

Mid-September to November has the clearest skies and steadiest roads. March to June suits most hill routes, and Ladakh needs June to mid-September.

How many days do we need for a romantic road trip from Delhi?

Four to five days for a short route like Dharamshala or Chopta, five to six for the Kumaon circuit, and seven to ten for Kinnaur, Kashmir or Ladakh.

Can we do a road trip in North India in winter?

Yes, but choose the route with care. Rajasthan is at its best in winter, and Kumaon and Corbett are pleasant. Higher passes and Kinnaur can close, so check conditions before you leave.

Is it safe to drive on mountain roads?

It is if you avoid the monsoon and night driving, and use an experienced driver. Roads in Kinnaur, Garhwal and Ladakh in particular reward local knowledge.

Should we book a car with a driver or drive ourselves?

A driver is worth it on mountain routes, particularly for couples who want to enjoy the scenery rather than watch the road.

Planning your route? We've run North India routes since 1999. Get a quote or call +91-9013373931.