Secret Revealed!: Budget-friendly road trips in India

Dreamy, scenic and mesmerising are the perfect words to describe the beautiful hill station of Lonavala. Witness waterfalls, rivulets and rain-drenched valleys which makes Lonavala a dream destination during the monsoon season. Take the road from Mumbai to Lonavala via Mumbai-Pune expressway, which is a six-lane concrete, high-speed, access controlled tolled highway.

On the way, you can detour to Lohagad Fort – stop by at the ancient fort to take stunning pictures of its ruined remains and the landscape around. Try some trekking which is fairly easy too. There are no entry fees to the fort and is open all week between 9 AM to 6 PM

While driving, don’t forget to stop by the roadside stalls selling roasted corn. Enjoy the monsoon drizzle while munching on corn surrounded by the smell of burning coal in the middle of the western ghat.

No journey is ever complete without some good food and comfortable stay. Some tested and cosy hotels that you can try are OBETEL GRANDE RESORT or RHYTHM LONAVALA AN ALL SUITE RESORT which also helps you earn miles by InterMiles.

Don’t forget to buy chikki from a local store which ranges from ₹100 to ₹500 depending on the flavour you select. And if you are looking for hotel stays at the place of your choice, visit our hotels platform

Mussoorie, Queen of the Hills, is located some 290 km north of New Delhi and will take around 7 hours. You can halt at Dehradun and check out Robber's Cave, a place known for its unique natural phenomenon ‘the disappearing stream’. Mussoorie is a scenic 34 kilometres from Dehradun which takes around 1 hour on average.

A couple of easily missable detours from the main route will take you to one of Uttarakhand's best-kept secret which is Bhatta Falls. It’s a sparsely crowded picnic spot with beautiful photo opportunities of splendid picturesque surroundings and pristine water.

Grab a bite at First Gear Cafe (14.3 km from Dehradun) perched on a cliff on Mussoorie Road, this cafe offers the best view on its stretch and great food which won’t drill a hole in your pocket. Cost for two is only ₹700 approx.

You can get a comfortable stay at STERLING MUSSOORIE or FORTUNE RESORT GRACE and have a relaxing experience on a pine-covered hill slope with an enchanting view of the Doon valley.

A budget road trip from Bangalore to Ooty promises a unique and lively experience that will leave you in awe. This 300 km road trip passes through quite a few must-see attractions and is dotted with many eateries en route.

First, head to the historic city of Mysore. Visit the royal Mysore Palace, St. Philomena's Church and try not to miss the spectacular musical fountain at Brindavan gardens. Leaving Mysore takes you on a drive through the dense, calming and soul-refreshing forests of Bandipur.

Be greeted with untapped beauty filled with acres of tea plantations, majestic waterfalls and clear lakes as you reach your destination Ooty, the Queen of the Hills.

OOTY FERN HILL A STERLING HOLIDAYS RESORT and SINCLAIRS RETREAT OOTY provide a comfortable stay and an enchanting view of the idyllic Nilgiris. Once rested, go shopping for homemade chocolates and wooden artefacts.

A must try in Ooty is Filter coffee offered by Ooty Coffee House where a glass of coffee will cost you only ₹25.

Also Read: Unique destinations around India for memorable road trips with friends

A budget road trip from Ahmedabad to Udaipur has is own unique charm. The journey is around 260 km which will take around 5 and a half hours. Roads between Ahmedabad & Udaipur are excellent 6-8 lanes wide national highway making the drive smooth and comfortable.

As you drive on towards Rajasthan, you will notice a rapidly changing landscape, with some exotic views, greenery & temples.

Some of the best places to stay in the lake city are UDAI KOTHI or SHIV NIWAS PALACE BY HRH GROUP OF HOTELS famous for their tranquillity and magnificent experience and you can earn InterMiles too.

Udaipur is known for its delightful varieties of street delicacies, but with a twist of the mind-blowing spices of Rajasthan that together make up the best street food in Udaipur. Must-try items are Daal Baati, Mirchi Badas, Kachoris and Dabelis. Eating street food is inadvertently budget-friendly.

The distance between Kochi and Munnar is approximately 130 km and it will take you approximately 4 hours by road. The road from Kochi to Munnar is extremely scenic, and we recommend having your cameras handy for this trip. There are numerous captivating streets in Munnar, particularly the Adimali-Neriamangalam Forest Road.

There are many budget hotels to stay in. We recommend RIVULET RESORT or EAGLE MOUNTAIN MUNNAR where you can earn InterMiles point as well.

Make sure you check out the Mattupetty Dam and Kundala Lake. The tea bequests spread over Kundala are a genuine gala to the eyes. The best time for the most fantastic view will be amid the sunrise when the mists are moving and the sky is getting clearer to respect the first beams of the Sun.

Head to the Tea Tales Café to satisfy both tea or coffee cravings and the bill won’t hurt your budget. In Munnar, the best thing to buy is tea, coffee, and spices. Being famous for its exquisite taste and aroma.

Keep track of your budget

When travelling on a shoestring budget, it is really helpful to keep track of your spendings and many apps can help you to do so.

Travelling during off-season is budget-friendly and you will also avoid the tourist crowd.

Eat and travel locally. Probably the easiest budget travel tip we can give you is to eat locally. Food is a vital part of travelling, and it is one of the areas where you can save a lot of money.

And if you are looking for reasonable hotel stays at the place of your choice, visit our hotels platform

Happy memories await.

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