Long Drive trip

[LLL]

Our office guys are planning a long self-drive trip to the hills. Basically everyone will take their car and their families in it and hopefully come back with same set of wives & kids.

Options being considered are Manali, shimla and Srinagar.

Now, there are lots of folks who find it difficult to negotiate the steep inclines of delhi flyovers and the clover loops of dhaula kuan and AIIMS. So keeping that in mind, what would you suggest is the best place to go so that the entire group can drive to the destination....

[rkbharat]

Originally Posted by LLL

Now, there are lots of folks who find it difficult to negotiate the steep inclines of delhi flyovers and the clover loops of dhaula kuan and AIIMS. So keeping that in mind, what would you suggest is the best place to go so that the entire group can drive to the destination....

if this is the case then you do not have much option out of three.its best to drive till shimla only.

[popsha]

As rkbharat suggested the easiest of these is the drive to Shimla.

The hills start from Kalka and the road is smooth and wide enough for people who have a tough time negotiating clovers at Dhaula kuan. 2 full size buses can have a street race there.

You might try Mussorie if the consensus in not on Shimla.

[Yogesh Sarkar]

I would also recommend Shimla, initially on the Manali route there is lot of truck traffic and roads are also somewhat steep and narrow compared to Kalka-Shimla.

[hiambuj]

& How about Nainital ?

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by hiambuj

& How about Nainital ?

By far the easiest to reach amongst the hill-stations!
As also the nearby places like Bhimtal, Naukuchia Tal, Sat tal, Mukteshwar etc.

Otherwise Shimla it should be. But to find parking in the public lots could prove to be a big headache!
And is everyone OK with leaving their cars in over-flowing public parking lots?

[hiambuj]

Originally Posted by anupmathur

By far the easiest to reach amongst the hill-stations!
As also the nearby places like Bhimtal, Naukuchia Tal, Sat tal, Mukteshwar etc.

Thats why suggested this.. Maximum of the drive is in plains.. The road (NH-24 is most of it) is very good & safe to drive on.. & has most of the ingredients of a good hill station (altitude, lakes, streams nearby, market, views of snowcapped peaks, ropeway etc etc)..

Off the three suggested (Simla, Mussoorie, Nainital) I personally like Nainital most..

[Facelessman]

If you can cope with horrible roads in the plains then Nainital would be good. There is a tricky stretch after Moradabad where one side of the highway is dug up and all traffic runs in a single lane which basically means overtaking (and being overtaken) is madness. The drivers need to be good gamers (NFS) Then there are 30-40 kms before Rampur where you will see the worst portholes ever - cant risk doing over 50 kph without risking you suspension falling from under you. If you can negotiate the plains the the 30-40 km drive up to Nainital from Kathgodam is a pleasure. I easily do 40-50 kph on that stretch in my car.

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by Facelessman

If you can cope with horrible roads in the plains then Nainital would be good.
.............
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Facelessman, most of this pain can be avoided by taking the Kaladunghi route. A wee bit longer but good roads and a scenic route.

[sparsharun]

hey last time i went to nainital in may the roads were in all in perfect shape.. speed never went below 60-70.. also instead of going through rampur, take the kaladhungi route..