Windows down, wind in your hair, your favourite songs on the music system, the chance to set your own pace and stop when something catches your fancy - who doesn’t love road trips? When you have a smooth road, gorgeous scenery and a great car like the TATA Hexa that is equally at home on rough terrain and smooth roads, the experience is all the more special. India with its mix of mountains, architecture and coast lines has some of the most diverse experiences in road trips. Here, we recommend 5 essential trips for those who love life on the road:

1) Srinagar to Leh: Connecting two of India’s most picturesque destinations, this road trip combines rocky roads with stunning vistas. Start your trip at Almond Villa in Kashmir’s summer capital where you live among almond orchards and scented lavender trees. Once you hit the road, take the NH 1D highway which passes by the Thajiwas glacier in Sonamarg and through steep mountain passes like Zoji La, Namki La and Fotu La (watch out for the trucks and sheep). The border town of Kargil is where most travelers halt for the night before continuing their journey, The Highland Mountain resort and Spa being the accommodation of choice. The next morning, Buddha statues and colourful prayer flags welcome you to the brown, alien landscape of Ladakh. The NH 1D is open from May to November and maintained by the Border Roads Organization (BRO). It is one the best ways to reach Leh because the gradual ascent on this road minimizes your chance of getting acute mountain sickness (AMS) once you reach your destination. With six Super Drive Modes designed for different terrains, the TATA Hexa is at home on the rugged mountain passes and the steep ascents and will keep you comfortable during your journey.

Duration: 2 days

2) Bengaluru to Ooty: Starting in the garden city, this trip takes you through the Nilgiri mountain range which is breathtakingly beautiful. We recommend going through the Mysore and Bandipur route which will give you a dose of architecture as well as wildlife. Mysore is a lovely city with many prominent attractions - the Mysore Palace and St Philomena’s church top the list and must not be missed. Carry on further until you reach Bandipur National Park and spend the night at The Serai for an indulgent safari experience. After an early morning drive where you can spot elephants, bisons, spotted deer, langurs or even a tiger, continue to Ooty via Masinagudi which is famous for its 36 hairpin turns that will thrill any driving enthusiast. The TATA Hexa’s electronically controlled Adaptive Wheel Drive with torque on demand is the perfect ally in negotiating these curves.

Duration: 5-6 hours

3. Ahmedabad to Kutch: Going from a bustling city to a silent desert is a transformational experience. In Ahmedabad, stay at House of MG – a heritage hotel with a bookstore, spa, swimming pool and restaurants serving scrumptious Gujarati fare. With its many by lanes and alleys, Ahmedabad (especially the old city) can be a challenge to navigate. Hence, an excellent navigation app will be essential to see you through. Once you move out of the city towards Kutch, the road is flat and often barren and is a smooth and surreal driving experience. You can stop at Dholavira to admire pre-historic ruins and then spend the night in Bhuj which has ample shopping and traditional thali restaurants. Reach Kutch before dusk to see the magical sunsets on the white salt pans. Also, plan your visit on a full moon night. The effect of the salt crystals shimmering in the moonlight along with TATA Hexa’s ambient mood lighting will make you believe you’re on another planet altogether.

Duration: 11 hours

4. Guwahati to Tawang: Guwahati is a great base to discover North East India. Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh embodies the natural beauty and Buddhist culture associated with that region. The road between the two cities winds through mountains and is rough but certainly worth the drive. You can spend the night either in Bomdila or Dirang, both of which are hill stations nestled in the Himalayas. They have various monasteries, wildlife sanctuaries and lakes you can visit. Your final stretch to Tawang is steep but you’ll be rewarded with beautiful lakes, waterfalls and snow covered vistas once you’ve arrived. The Hill Hold Control (HHC) and Hill Descent Control (HDC) of the TATA Hexa prevent you from rolling backwards or careening forwards during steep hill ascents and descents. A word of advice before you plan your journey, do remember, Indians as well as foreign nationals require an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to enter Arunachal Pradesh.

Duration: 14 hours

Jaipur to Ranthambore: Ranthambore National Park is one of India’s biggest wildlife and tiger sanctuaries. Most visitors arrive by car via the Jaipur-Kota road. The trip starts with the lush green scenery of the Aravalli mountains that changes to the golden desert, dotted with dramatic sand dunes which are perfect for some off-road driving if you’re feeling adventurous. Finally, as you reach Ranthambore, head to The Vivanta by Taj which has huge, gorgeous rooms and excellent dining experiences. Most of the road is in good condition (with the exception of a 25km pot-hole ridden stretch) but if you go via Tonk road you’ll have a smooth journey.

Duration 4-5 hours

On long drives like these, a great music and entertainment system is essential. The TATA Hexa is equipped with a 10 speaker JBL music system that distributes sound evenly across the car. What’s more, Juke-Car, an exclusive first-in-segment app, utilizes mobile hotspot to enable users to make a common playlist of songs - a handy feature on a long drive with friends who have eclectic music tastes. The car comes equipped with Navimap 3D navigation app with an offline maps feature, so you can explore that fork in the road or shortcut without getting lost. Whether you’re trekking the hills, glamping by a lake or staying at a posh hotel, the TATA Hexa with its excellent features is the perfect travel vehicle for the adventurous traveler. For more information on the TATA Hexa and to book a test drive, see here.

This article was produced by the ßScroll marketing team on behalf of TATA Hexa and not by the Scroll editorial team.