Without a single doubt, India isn’t the country where you often see the most dangerous roads, but still, there are quite a few that deserve a mention, you know? Like, you might have heard of the Khardung La Pass, or the Zoji La Pass in Ladakh, right? Yes, those are the most dangerous roads in the country, and every single year, a lot of accidents happen on just these two roads. But did you know that the list of these dangerous roads goes on and on? Yes, that’s precisely why we’re here with a list of the top 10 most dangerous roads in India, so, let’s just get to the list right away, shall we?
1. Khardung La Pass, Ladakh
Have you ever dreamt of driving the world’s highest motorable road? Well, this is where your dream comes true: Khardung La Pass, the place that welcomes adventure with altitude sickness, you know? Like this one, moving straight into Nubra Valley and Siachen Glacier, and sitting at a height of 5,359 meters above sea level, before anything else, it’s not for the fainthearted. The icy terrain, kinda razor-thin roads, and low oxygen will put anyone on edge, particularly during the open season from May to October. Think you could ever be brave enough to conquer such a route?
2. Zoji La Pass, Ladakh-Kashmir Border
Alright, for this next one, just visualize yourself sweeping near a way where icy winds shrill all around you while you cling to a mountain-snow-covered narrow road. It is indeed Zoji La Pass. Located 3,528 meters from ground level, this lifeline between Ladakh and Kashmir can equally be beautiful and terrifying. Landslips? Check. Slushy roads? Check. Heart-stopping views? Also!! So, for those who’re at heart very adventurous and want to see the true beauty of Ladakh, then you must give this road a try, though, be cautious when you do.
3. Leh-Manali Highway, Ladakh-Himachal Pradesh
Leh-Manali Highway is often seen as a bucket list road for many because of the high-thrill experience it gives to whoever passes through it. Though, for many out there, it is just a weekend drive, but not very safe though, and why do we say that? Well, 458 kilometers on this side of the mountain ranges all surprise the melting snow, ice streams gushing unnervingly across the path, and rickety, wobbling bridges, bringing your heart right up to speed, you know? By the way, did we mention the total absence of guardrails? It is as dangerous as it is beautiful!
4. Rohtang Pass, Himachal Pradesh
For those who still don’t know, well, the Rohtang itself literally means a pile of corpses. The name itself doesn’t send a chill up your spine and if it doesn’t, the drive does. Like, just so you know, the high and mighty 3,980 m high pass is notorious for frequent landslides, unpredictable snowstorms, and traffic jams operating on a horizontal plane. For a bit of technical details here, it connects with the Kullu Valley to the distant valleys of Lahaul and Spiti, so it is more of a lifeline for local people than anything else.
5. NH 22 (Hindustan-Tibet Road), Himachal Pradesh
This would be one road that clinches the category “most terrifying”, but why though? Just so you know, this highway winds its way around sheer cliffs through blind corners, where one wrong turn sends the car plunging into the Satluj River below. The most notorious section is the one called Taranda Dhank, which during monsoon is 8 times blocked due to landslides, can you even imagine that?
6. Kinnaur Road, Himachal Pradesh
Sure enough, like, the Kinnaur Road makes even the most seasoned drivers sweat. Hewn into the cliffs of Kinnaur district, it rises and falls on one side into deep gorges, and on the other rises sheer walls of rock. The Taranda Dhank stretch? Sufficiently said, don’t even think about multitasking while traveling here. Yet with sceneries as dramatic as these, and the Baspa River flowing beneath, this road is as mesmerizing as it is dangerous, we can say THAT for sure.
7. Nathu La Pass, Sikkim
Nathu La Pass greets the snow and thin air at every meter, making every inch out here a challenge, you know? Like, its altitude of 4,310 meters makes this a high road joining India to Tibet, one of the few trade routes between these two countries, and that’s the best bit about it. The only catch is landslides, icy patches, and zero roadside amenities, probably, that is why every mile becomes a white-knuckle drive.
8. Kolli Hill Road, Tamil Nadu
Alright, just tell us, how do you feel about putting up with 70 hairpin bends within just 46 km? That’s what you’re going to get on the Kolli Hill Road. This serpentine way is a car driver test with steep inclines and sharp curves, all of which require intense focus. And when the clouds roll in, or monsoon rains fall, well, good luck with just that! But go ahead, that dreamy view of the Kolli Hills and the nearby Agaya Gangai waterfall will take away the breath even as you drive.
9. Kishtwar Kailash Road, Jammu
Alright, we’d be straight here, this one ain’t dubbed the “Killer Road” for no reason. Kishtwar Kailash Road is not much more than a dirt track scraped along vertical cliffs without guardrails and just enough room for one vehicle at a time. The stakes are the same: a wrong move and you plunge hundreds of feet into the Chandrabhaga River. So yes, life is at stake, at every corner!
10. Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Maharashtra
What a modern six-lane highway is doing on this list? It would really shock you. Well, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway may look like a regular highway, but actually, this is the biggest place where accidents happen because of high speed, reckless driving, and slippery conditions during monsoons, you know? With over 400 fatalities reported in its first decade, it sure is one of the most dangerous roads out there.
Conclusion
Sure enough, there are so many other dangerous roads, but if there was a scale on which you can measure the amount of danger, well, these 10 roads would always top the chart, there are no two ways about it. So there you have, we hope you found this post a bit interesting, fun, and eye-opening, we’ll see you in the next one.
