Working from home, watching dozens of movies on the weekends and reminiscing the unplanned road trips has been a routine for most of us for over a year. All of this has reminded us of the real value of tourism and we can’t wait to get back to the travel on mode.

What’s better is that conditions in the country are getting better in terms of coronavirus especially around World Tourism Day, which is on September 27. If like most people you also want to mark this occasion by travelling after a long halt, here is a list of five Indian routes you must travel: 

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1) Mumbai-Pune expressway: Ninety-four kilometers of bliss is what the Mumbai-Pune Expressway is. Escape the heat and pollution of the two cities and take a 2 to hour road trip with a brief halt at Lonavala. The six-lane highway is surrounded by massive hills covered in green. Approximately at mid-point, get into a Lonavala store to enjoy the famous ‘chikki’. 

2) Manali to Leh: If scenic beauty was the only criteria, the 479 kilometer stretch between Manali and Leh would be the only route mentioned five times in this list. Kareena Kapoor dancing to ‘Yeh Ishq Hai’ from ‘Jab We Met’ is just a glimpse of the exquisiteness of the area. The road is open for about 5 months a year and the journey takes two days to complete. 

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3) Mumbai to Goa: Drive along the Konkan, towards the sun with the smell of the Arabian sea making you feel lighter and fresher. The Mumbai-Goa road trip- 556 kilometers – takes 12 hours of continuous driving to complete. You pass through the Maharashtrian towns of Ratnagiri and Chiplun, where everywhere you see, you can find fish and coconut trees. Several food joints keep the route lively. 

4) Visakhapatnam to Araku Valley: Curly roads in between hills and a certain elevation will make the Vishakapatnam-Araku Valley trip a memorable one. The Bay of Bengal and the majestic Eastern Ghats meet here, making the route a visual treat for the traveller. The route is 116 kilometers and will take approximately three hours to cover.