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Top 10 Scariest Roads in India: Drive Past Your Fears!

“Two roads diverged in the woods-
I took the one less travelled.
And that has made all the difference.”

In his poem The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost emphasises the wonders revealed after traversing the paths less taken by all. But would you dare to travel along the scariest roads in India, even when they lead you to paradise-like locations? If yes, these top deadliest roads in India are a must-include in your bucket list!

You’ll have your heart in your mouth throughout the way, even if you’re the best driver, as you’ll have to beat deep turns and twists, high mountain edges, harsh climate, and low-hanging cliffs to drive along roads responsible for the most deaths.

Put on your seat belts! It’s time to drive headfirst along the top 10 scariest roads in India that are a driver’s nightmare.

Khardungla Pass: Leh

Vehicles driving on the Khardungla Pass road.
Image credit: Shutterstock/Mazur Travel

While driving between the Indus River Valley and Shyok River Valley, you’ll have to face the highest motorable path in the world and one of the top 10 dangerous road in India, the Khardungla Pass in the Leh district of Ladakh. Elevated at a heart-stopping height of 5,602 meters (17,982 feet) above the sea, it can even cause discomfort in breathing for passengers with asthma and other breathing problems.

You’ll be greeted by sharp turns, sudden harsh climatic conditions, slippery roads, and uneven surfaces, adding to the scary height of the Pass. At the top of Khardungla, 18,380 feet high, you can access an Army medical post during an emergency. The Pass is an hour’s drive from the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, and you can get here by taking cheap Delhi to Leh flights. Passengers afraid of heights can opt for all-inclusive Leh tour packages and explore equally picturesque locations without driving through the Pass and book the best hotels in Leh for a stay.

Rohtang Pass: Himachal Pradesh

Aerial view of the Rohtang Pass
Image credit: Shutterstock/tanvi mahajan

Out of the top 10 dangerous roads in the world, Rohtang Pass has received the most tourists as it features in the Bollywood films Highway and Jab We Met! Despite its natural beauty, it is still one of the scariest roads in India and is nicknamed the Ground of Corpses, which connects Manali to Leh and Lahaul-Spiti. At a height of 3,979 meters and 479 km long, some parts of the Pass have mountains on both sides, making it susceptible to landslides in the harsh winter.

The roads are also frequently accessed by heavy goods trucks, so you might have to squeeze by at the edge if unlucky. If traversing this route, you should stop at Manali and explore the Vashist hot springs, try adventure sports like skiing in the winter with exciting Manali tour packages and stay at the best hotels in Manali. You can also avoid this route by hopping cheap Mumbai to Leh flights during the harsh winter months!

Also read: 11 Best Places to Visit in Manali

Kishtwar Kailash Highway: Jammu

Kailash Kishtwar Highway bend.
Image credit: India Travel Forum

Imagine driving for 1,000 miles at the edge of a drop of 600 meters on a narrow and winding road with no railing for 150 meters. This is exactly the scene at Kishtwar Kailash Highway, one of the scariest roads in India connecting the Pangi Valley in the Pir Panjal range and Zanskar Range, which you can explore with affordable Jammu and Kashmir tour packages.

That’s not all the danger; Kishtwar Kailash Highway has an extremely low-hanging cliff through which only a Tata Sumo car can fit through! You can barely see any of the roads in front, as cliffs obstruct the view, making it easy to fall off the range into the river Chandrabhaga below. Instead of braving these cliffs, you can book the lowest air tickets from Mumbai to Jammu and book hotels online for Jammu. The Kishtwar Kailash Highway falls on the BBC Science Focus Magazine list as the first of the top 10 dangerous road in world!

Killar to Kishtwar Route: Himachal Pradesh

Killar Kishtwar Highway
Image credit: Shutterstock/mr.ben.gaisser

The twin of Kishtwar Kailash Highway is the Killar to Kishwar Route, with dangerously low-hanging cliffs, no guard rails, sudden twists and turns, and a narrow driving space. It’s the only route in the Pangi Valley and is used by only the bravest, even during the daytime. At nighttime, it’s better to stop and stay at budget and luxury hotels in Pangi.

You can also get Mumbai to Shimla flight bookings and explore attractions with exciting Shimla tour packages before you book rental car services to drive to Pangi in the daytime via the Killar to Kishtwar Route.

Also read: Top 10 Places to Visit in Himachal Pradesh.

Chang La Pass: Ladakh

Chang La Pass view
Image credit: Shutterstock/Wuttipong Potawin

The Chang La Pass falls third on the list of tall motorable roads in the world, elevated at a chilling 5,360 meters (17,688 feet) height! It connects the district of Leh with Chang La and Pangong Lake, which is covered in snow at all times of the year, bringing it to the top five of the scariest roads in India!

This route is not recommended for visitors with breathing problems, as the continuous cold weather and height of the Pass can cause many breathing issues.

Zoji La Pass: Ladakh

Zoji La Pass views from a bus.
Image credit: Shutterstock/Sandra Morante

Located 9 km away from the beautiful location of Sonamarg, the Zoji La Pass is one of the scariest roads in India, attracting the most landslides in the world! The Pass is the connecting route between Srinagar and Leh. Before you drive through the most slippery road, always victim to snowfall and muddy pools during the rainy season, explore the beautiful art and nature on cheap Srinagar tour packages.

Don’t forget to book hotels online for Srinagar to nap and freshen up after you get off your cheap Delhi to Srinagar flights to boost your energy to take on this challenging Pass!

Also read: Coming Soon: A 13-hour Adventure from New Delhi to Srinagar Vande Bharat!

Nathula Pass: Sikkim

The curved roads of Nathula Pass
Image credit: Shutterstock/Mayank Makhija

If you don’t book cheap flights to Beijing and want to take a road trip from India instead, you must drive through one of the scariest roads in India, the Nathula Pass from Sikkim! Connecting India to China, the Nathula Pass along the Tibetan border has slippery, curvy roads that are prone to monsoon landslides and slippery sludge during snowy winters.

It is one of the most scenic routes to drive along, but you’ll need to show a valid China Visa and other documents, so apply for Indian passport online. You can also book the best hotels in Sikkim on a budget to take a break along the way to explore with all-inclusive Sikkim tour packages and avoid driving along the Nathula Pass at nighttime.

Also read: All About China Transit Visa for Indians.

NH 22 Kinnaur Road: Himachal Pradesh

Curves of NH 22
Image credit: Quirky Wanderer

At the top of the list of the most dangerous hill road in India is the National Highway 22 Kinnaur Road, specifically carved out of a rock to connect Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh! The road provides the most spectacular views of the hills, rivers, tunnels, and much more, but is extremely dangerous because of its endless twists and turns.

That’s not all; the narrow road has not been maintained for years and has no railings throughout. The hairpin turn is the most dangerous portion of the road, making it one of the scariest roads in India, and a fall could get you straight into the Baspa River from over 3,000 meters above sea level. Before adventuring along the scariest roads of India, explore sector 17 markets in Chandigarh and the beautiful gardens with comprehensive Chandigarh tour packages!

Sela Pass: Arunachal Pradesh

Descent road from Sela Pass
Image credit: Shutterstock/Haolun Hangsing

Most people choose roadways to admire the scenic driving views, but for the Sela Pass, it is recommended to ignore them and look forward at all times. The road is 4,170 meters above the sea, but that is not what makes it one of the scariest roads in India. It’s mainly so dangerous because of the slippery snow that accumulates on the road throughout the year, and the road has curves that make navigation challenging.

The Sela pass connects Tawang to Guwahati in Assam, and passengers afraid of driving here can book cheap flights from Mumbai to Guwahati for peace of mind. You should also stop at Tawang and explore the monasteries, waterfalls, and war memorials with exciting Arunachal Pradesh tour packages.

Click here to book hotels online for Guwahati, Assam.

Leh Manali Highway

Gata loops on Leh to Manali Highway
Image credit: Shutterstock/Puneet Roy

Last but not least among the scariest roads in India is the Leh Manali Highway, a 458 km long stretch of road accessible from April to October. This road is only recommended for skilled drivers, as even though it is a two-lane road, there are spaces where no divider is present.

The Leh Manali highway requires drivers to drive through fast-flowing streams and has many bridges that get narrow at some points, making it the most feared of India’s top 10 most dangerous roads. The vehicles on this road must also deal with the chance of landslides, long hours of traffic, and incredibly narrow lanes.

There are many more scary roads, including the Neral-Matheran Road, Jammu Srinagar Highway, Mumbai Pune Expressway, and the Munnar Road. You can also get online visa services for 180+ countries to explore the dangerous roads abroad. Have you accessed any of these roadways? What was your experience? Let us know more about it in the comments!

FAQs- Scariest Roads in India

Which is the scariest road in India?
The Killar Kishtwar road in Jammu and Kashmir is considered to be the scariest road in India because of the narrow passageway, absence of railings, cliff edges, and numerous twists and turns.

What is the No 1 dangerous road?
The Leh-Manali highway is the No.1 dangerous road in India.

What is the scariest road to drive on?
Khardungla Pass, the twin of the Killar Kishtwar road, is the scariest road to drive on in India.

Which is the toughest ghat in India?
Tamil Nadu’s Kolli Hills is the toughest ghat to drive through because of the endless number of hairpin bends.

Where is the deadliest road?
Khardungla Pass is the deadliest road in India.

Where is Death Road in India?
A few death roads in India are found in Jammu and Kashmir, in the Ladakh area, and in Himachal Pradesh.

Which ghat is oldest in India?
Varanasi’s Manikarnika Ghat is the oldest in India, estimated to be around since the 5th century.

Which is the steepest ghat in India?
Thal Ghat is the steepest in India, located on the Mumbai-Nashik route.

What type of road is most dangerous?
Roads constructed at the edge of mountains, especially with hairpin bends, are the most dangerous roads in India.

Which road is best in India?
The Ahmedabad to Vadodara highway is considered the best because of regular maintenance and offers the most beautiful views.

What is the biggest danger on the road?
Going above the speed limit, drinking and driving, and not paying attention while driving are some of the biggest dangers on the road.

What is the most famous road?
The National Highway 66 that connects Panvel in Maharashtra to Tamil Nadu is the most famous road in India.

What is the hardest road to drive in the world?
Bolivia’s North Yungas Road is the hardest road to drive in the world.

Which road is known as Death Road in India?
The Killar to Kishtwar road is called India’s Death Road.

Which is the cleanest road of India?
MG Marg in Sikkim is the cleanest road in India.

Which is the longest road in India?
National Highway 44 is the longest road in India, connecting Srinagar to the tip of Jammu and Kashmir.

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