Latest update:01 March 2026 at 08:00 IST

From the outskirts of Mumbai to the dawn of Roorkee, the Pahadi Yatra proves that some roads are meant for memories, not just miles.

A father and son take a 1,500 km road trip along India’s fastest highway. (Image source: Instagram)

A father-son road trip through India can be spiritual, nostalgic and exhilarating all at once. That’s exactly what this journey, shared on Instagram as ‘Pahadi Yatra’, captures, a non-stop journey from Mumbai to Roorkee spanning 1,500 km, completed in around 24 hours.

What makes it even more amazing is that the trip was a spur-of-the-moment decision, made just a day before, as the narrator says.

The adventure begins

The adventure began at 4 a.m., when the son picked up his father, preparing for what would become a car marathon. “Mumbai to Roorkee in one route. This was never the plan, but India’s new road network has made this 1,500 km non-stop journey possible,” says the son. The trip was a last minute decision. “We haven’t planned this for weeks. In fact, we made the decision just a day ago. I barely had time to prepare the car. But my trusty Ford Freestyle loves road trips as much as I do.”

As he exited Mumbai’s western suburbs via the NH48, he was impressed by how traffic had improved over the past eight months. The real excitement lies ahead, NE4, also known as the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway. Although many sections were not fully functional, they were opened, providing a glimpse into India’s infrastructural progress.

“The first entry is at Kharel. The entry points have been clearly marked. This section is about 200 km long and connects with NE1, Vadodara-Ahmedabad Expressway.”

Even in these early hours, the journey was a mixture of dread and anticipation. “For now, all I can say is that I feel very proud to see such a development in India,” the son adds, hinting at the engineering and landscape marvels that await us in the coming periods.

Mumbai-Ahmedabad Extension

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad section of NE4 faced some challenges. “The uneven surface takes away the fun on the NE4 stretch between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. It does not encourage cruising within the legal limits, which is a disappointment,” says the son. But the road trip soon regained its excitement. “Things will improve in the next section. The bullet train project runs parallel to it, and sometimes crosses over it. It will be great to see the high-speed train.”

Among the highlights was the new bridge over the Narmada River, which “doesn’t look like the current bridge on NH48”. Driving through Vadodara was not difficult, thanks to the elevated roads. Connectivity to Halol Road, “a very well-built highway in Gujarat”, brought back the joy of smooth driving.

To avoid industrial traffic, the car took a turn along an irrigation canal. “Driving alongside the irrigation canal, it was quiet, peaceful, absolutely serene,” he says. The journey continued towards the Gujarat-Madhya Pradesh border to join NH47, where “the Gujarat side of the highway is glamorous. It has long curves and some rises.”

Finally, passing through Meghnagar, an industrial city in the state of Madhya Pradesh, prepare for the next stage.

Timarwani to Gurugram

The final phase showcased the best of highway engineering in India. “One of the best developments in modern India is the NE4 section from Timarwani to Gurugram, an eight-lane highway that cuts through mountains, passes through windmill farms and takes you from central India to the capital in just hours,” he says. Light traffic and great roads for the first 300 km made you feel “as if this was a private highway just for you.”

A simple detour via Darra was necessary, as the N4 highway passes through the Mukundra Forest, home to two of the largest tunnels under construction in India. “These tunnels are located slightly below ground level, so that the ground above them remains flat and can be used by animals,” the son explains, highlighting the combination of modern engineering and environmental sensitivity.

After 17 hours of driving, the big stop allowed them to change into warm clothes and take a short nap. “Then we headed straight through the night towards Roorkee. The DND Expressway was deserted at night and connects to NE3 through Meerut, and connects to Highway 334, and we reached our destination at exactly 4am after 24 hours. What a fantastic trip and a great companion for the Ford.”

This was more than just a father-son road trip. It was a celebration of India’s infrastructural growth and the joy of long drives across serene and crowded landscapes. The trip combined adventure, engineering wonders and memories that will last a lifetime.

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