Looking For A Monsoon Road Trip? Try These 5 Scenic Western Ghats Drives

Some road trips are remembered for the destination, while others make the journey itself the main attraction.

The Western Ghats offer plenty of the latter, with winding roads passing through mist-covered mountains, rainforests, tea and coffee plantations, waterfalls and valleys.

During the monsoon, streams emerge along several routes and the surrounding hills take on a particularly lush appearance.

Here are five drives that allow travellers to enjoy the changing landscapes at a relaxed pace.

• Pollachi to Valparai

The journey from Pollachi to Valparai climbs gradually towards the Anamalai Hills, with numerous hairpin bends tracing the forest-covered slopes. The scenery changes from the plains around Pollachi to greener surroundings and tea plantations near Valparai. During the rainy season, travellers can spot waterfalls and streams along the route.

• Chorla Ghat

Chorla Ghat takes travellers through dense forests and rugged hill terrain while connecting Goa with Karnataka. Monsoon rains bring waterfalls and streams to life, while mist often settles over the surrounding hills. The route offers a quieter experience away from Goa’s popular coastal tourist areas.

• Amboli Ghat

Amboli Ghat in Maharashtra becomes especially attractive during the monsoon. The winding road cuts through the Sahyadris, with waterfalls cascading down the slopes and streams flowing beside the route. Cloud-covered hills and persistent mist add to the dramatic scenery.

• Munnar to Marayoor and Udumalpet

This route offers constantly changing scenery. Tea plantations dominate the landscape around Munnar before the road passes through forests, valleys and increasingly drier terrain towards Marayoor and Udumalpet.

• Ooty to Gudalur and Mudumalai

The drive begins among Ooty’s cool tea-growing hills before descending towards Gudalur and eventually entering the forested landscape around Mudumalai. The route combines mountain scenery with wildlife-rich surroundings, although travellers should drive carefully through the forest zone.

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