BHPian travelog recently shared this with other enthusiasts: Let’s be honest. A 10,000 km road trip across 9 Indian states & 3 Union Territories through heat, hail, rain, high altitude passes, highway dhabas, and hotel/ homestays hunting at the last minute-probably sounds like either a brilliant idea or sheer madness. In our case, it was both. On June 3, 2025, my wife and I packed up our 2 month old Hyundai Alcazar DCT petrol, said a quick prayer to the travel gods (and the car gods), and hit the road from Bengaluru. The plan? Well… not to have too much of a plan. That in itself was a big change for someone like me who’s been a travel professional for over 30 years and usually treats itineraries like holy texts. Hyundai Alcazar DCT Petrol navigating some amazing roads in Ladakh This time, we went full ‘freestyle’. No pre booked hotel/ homestay bookings, no strict schedules. Just a broad idea of where we wanted to go-Lahaul Spiti, Ladakh, Kashmir-and the freedom to decide the rest one day at a time. If we liked a place, we stayed. If the weather looked shady, we tweaked the route. If the food was good… well, we usually stayed a bit longer. A few days into the trip, our son Prateek at New Delhi joined us for a leg of the journey, adding youthful energy (and Spotify DJ duties). By the time we rolled back into Bengaluru on July 20, our Alcazar had clocked 10,000 km on this trip, still running smooth, and still reminding us why long road trips are the best way to experience India- some bumpy roads, breathtaking views, et all. Before the trip, I had already driven 1,500 km and shared my initial ownership experience of the Alcazar on TeamBHPOur Alcazar at 1,200kms I had also gone into full road warrior prep mode and carried an air filter, fuel filter, engine oil, washer fluid, battery jumper-none of which, thankfully, were needed. What did come in handy, though, was the Bergmann Typhoon Digital tyre inflator and the Viofo A229 Pro dashcam, both of which I’ll review later in this log. So here begins the day by day tale of this wild, unplanned (but sort of planned), high octane fuelled adventure. Expect winding roads, dramatic landscapes, some unexpected surprises, and a whole lot of fun. Let’s go!. June 03, 04 575kms/ 9 hrs We started from Bengaluru at 6:00 am and the ride to Hyderabad was non eventful and had reached by 2:00 pm with just a half hour lunch stop en route. We stayed at a relative’s place and relaxed for the long journey ahead. Rest day for Man & Machine in Hyderabad June 05 585kms/ 9 hrs Starting early, we reached Pench Tiger Reserve by 3:00pm and the next two days we had some amazing time at ‘Mahua Resorts’. Some of pics at Mahua Resorts, Pench, Madhya Pradesh We booked the place for a night but we loved it so much that we extended the stay by another night. We also booked for an early morning Tiger Safari in the outer zone for the next day. June 06 Jungle Safari/ 4.5 hrs We were ready by 5:15 am and the gypsy came for the pickup on the dot at 5:30am. The early morning weather was pretty chilly and though we did not encounter tigers or leopards, we did see fresh pugmarks and also several deer, peacocks, a Gaur, wild boar and several birds. The resort had given a well prepared, packed breakfast for us! Due to the rainy season, the core area was closed for tourists and we entered the reserve from the buffer zone at Khawasa gate. By 9:30am we were dropped back at the resort for a sumptuous breakfast Got the car washed from a helper at the resort, ready for the drive to Khajuraho the next day. Car cleaned and ready for the next leg of the journey, Khajuraho! June 07 480kms/ 8 hrs After an early breakfast, we started for the Khajuraho via Jabalpur, a distance of 480 kms which took 8 hours and checked in at The Lalit and immediately started for our city tour. We engaged a licensed guide for the day, who first took us to the popular ‘ Badri Seth ‘ for some excellent local cuisine. We found the food tasty but the quantity was too much and we were yet to start the temple tour! Local cuisine at BADRI SETH The temples of Khajuraho are famous for their stunning Nagara style architecture and intricate carvings, including the famously erotic sculptures. Built mainly between 950 and 1050 AD by the Chandela dynasty, they’re now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a destination truly worth visiting, definitely with an expert guide. We had a light dinner at Pinch of Salt and went to bed early as we would have a long drive ahead. Group of Temples at Khajuraho June 08 650 kms/ 9 hrs I wish my wife Radhika could drive! We started early so as to reach New Delhi by late evening. The roads were mostly excellent and we stopped only for breakfast and once for lunch. We met our son Prateek at “Have More restaurant” along with his friend for dinner. The food was finger licking good! Later, we three started for Narkhanda, Prateek driving throughout the night. That was about 410 kms/ 8 hours. June 09 Local 45 kms/ 3 hrs Reaching by 7am, we checked in at Zostel, Kotgarh, had breakfast, rested a bit, and had lunch.Zostel at Kotagarh, Narkhanda Radhika & I left for a short local tour while Prateek worked on his laptop. While we skipped the Hatu Peak, we did go to Stoke farm at Thanedar which is about 10 kms away from where we stayed. Unfortunately it was closed. The Stokes farm is more than just an apple orchard – it leads in sustainable farming and supports local communities. With modern techniques, it sets new standards in apple growing and boosts Himachal Pradesh’s economy. We spent some time at the serene Tanni Jubbar Lake, had some hot snacks and tea at one of the stalls there and returned back to Zostel, Kotgarh. NOTE: National Highway 505 (NH505) is a high mountain road in Himachal Pradesh, India. It goes from a place called Gramphu, near Manali, all the way to Khab, near the border with Tibet. It follows the Spiti River and passes through a beautiful area called Spiti Valley. This road is very high up in the mountains. It goes through dry, rocky land where it doesn’t rain much. The road is narrow, bumpy, and has sharp turns, so drivers need to be very careful. In the winter, some parts of the road are closed because of snow and ice. There can also be landslides that block the road. Even though it’s a tough road, NH505 is very important. It helps people in Spiti Valley get food, supplies, and stay connected to other places. You can also see many old Buddhist monasteries along the way, which are peaceful and beautiful. Driving on NH505 is like going on an adventure through the high Himalayas! Continue reading on BHPian travelog’s road trip to Ladakh for BHPian comments, insights and more information.
