Road Trips from Self drive Cars Delhi NCR 

You just have to wait for two weeks when the city Delhi-NCR transforms dramatically from a dusty haze to an absolutely amazing state the first real monsoon showers will fall, there will be some clearing up the pollution, and every hill that you reach with less than 300 km from Delhi will turn that kind of green you never imagine in the monsoon less season. So if you are stuck in traffic and do not even have a slightest thought about leaving for this weekend, you will be waiting another dozen months for the similar experience.

The positive side of it all is: for none of the destinations you are required to have the complete day in order; leaving after dinner on a Friday is enough. All you need is your own car and pick one of the directions from the below to enjoy some fun in the outdoors.

Why Monsoon Road Trips Beat Every Other Season

During summer the main problem in road trips near Delhi is overheating AC and dust that gets to the driver while driving beyond Gurgaon. In winter you can be delayed owing to fog and darkness falling down at 6 PM cuts the driving time. But it is raining during monsoon and everything is different temperatures decrease by about 8-10oC, waterfalls become operational after a long rest, as well as the hills like Aravalis and lower Himalayan foothills become verdant quite unexpectedly.

As a matter of fact, the only thing a driver needs for road trips in the rainy season is a car that is well maintained with good tyres and a working wiper system all that can be verified when you are about to set off which is actually better than having to deal with it when you are already on the road.

1. Kasauli — 280 km, ~5.5 hrs from Delhi

Though Kasauli never catches the limelight of Shimla, it is still a popular monsoon destination which makes sense as there are not many foreign travelers besides the local ones which you will have, in turn, very few to compete at sunset point, or Monkey Point; besides that, you can enjoy looking at the Chandigarh plains which are partly covered in clouds as there is hardly any visibility of the terrain.

Monkey Point and Sunset Point will be available for a short walk as soon as you park the car. Moreover, a smooth driving on a highway from the side of Chandigarh is very unlikely if you try a hairpin turn with a car in the rain.

Route: Delhi → Karnal → Ambala → Chandigarh → Kasauli Best for: Couples, small groups, a genuine 2-day weekend without rushing back.

2. Neemrana — 120 km, ~2.5 hrs from Delhi

It is the weekend and you still have to go to work on Monday, but you do miss a day of the weekend being away from the hustle of town. Neemrana Fort-Palace is just one hour away from Delhi. The dry and barren Aravallis around the fort do not have much greenery most of the year but the monsoons magically make it green and it seems like one is surrounded by beautiful pictures.

The monsoon at Neemrana brings out the best of the gray skies and the stepped architecture of the fortress, just to give a reason for charging an entry fee! The place could easily be visited there-and-back in a day.

Route: Delhi → Gurgaon → Dharuhera → Neemrana (via NH48) Best for: A Saturday day-trip, no overnight stay needed.

3. Lansdowne — 260 km, ~6 hrs from Delhi

Lansdowne is far less known and crowded compared to Nainital and Mussoorie for the quite straightforward reason, it is a military cantonment of the Garhwal Rifles that does not want a lot of hotel infrastructure and the locals do not really want it. This is the reason that it is so charming to go there.

Pine woods, rolling mist through Tip N Top viewpoints, and roads so peaceful that just the drive itself is the main attraction. A head's-up about this trip; you will be passing through some tricky hill roads. So, be prepared and pace yourself and definitely do not attempt night driving if it is already pouring.

Route: Delhi → Meerut → Najibabad → Kotdwar → Lansdowne Best for: Nature lovers who want quiet over nightlife.

4. Bhimtal — 320 km, ~7 hrs from Delhi

Bhimtal is the calmer of the two Nainitales and you won't find any major crowd there like the one that gathers at Naini Lake on weekends. You might be surprised to find that even in peak of monsoons, the Bhimtal Lakes still look calm and peaceful. Surrounded by orchards and steep pine slopes that turn a deep rich green, you can really appreciate them only in the countryside away from Delhi.

It is going to be a long drive so this would be a very suitable choice if it is two-days trip instead of trying to have an over-and-out there-and-back-in-a-day experience.

Route: Delhi → Moradabad → Rampur → Haldwani → Bhimtal Best for: A relaxed long weekend, less crowded than mainstream Nainital.

5. Sariska — 200 km, ~4 hrs from Delhi

There is hardly an attraction like hill-station, although the place is really underrated during the monsoon. After the rain, the Sariska Tiger Reserve forest cover becomes thicker and greener, while the road journey through Rural Rajasthan (by Alwar, for example) offers views which are in a totally different way than the Himalayan route. You can join Neemrana as well if you have a two days free of work for exploring.

Route: Delhi → Gurgaon → Alwar → Sariska Best for: Wildlife spotting, a change from the usual hill-station formula.

Monsoon Self-Drive Checklist

A few things worth confirming before you leave — whether you're driving your own car or a rented one:

Tires: Check that treads of your tires are not too shallow, because you will not be happy about a wet and bumpy mountain road and a tire that is almost worn out.

Wiper blades & headlights: The moment you switch on your headlights or turn on your windshield wipers, everything seems okay. Do not wait for it to start raining.

Extra fuel: Top up your tank before starting to cross a hilly area since gas stations there are very few once you leave the last village.

Timing of the road: Set the plan such that you reach the area before midnight. Hill roads that are under rain after sunset are definitely not good to travel to at all.

Phone numbers:Get hold of the rental car company's 24-hour helpline number and the local highway patrol's contact details before you are out of cell phone signal range on the road.

Why Rent Instead of Driving Your Own Car