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| Image Source: delhionline.in |
There is nothing like exploring the place on your own, no second thought about it and a road trip is the best way to discover a place and be one of its own. With brilliant infrastructure and easily available car rental services, if driving is your passion then, you are in for a treat as these 11 exotic destinations let you drive against your Indian driving license. All you need is a GPS or a map, money for fuel, driving license and zeal to explore!
Australia
(Drives on the left)
With varied landscape, Australia ready to surprise
you at every nook and corner. One of the most famous drives is the Great Ocean
Road which starts from Melbourne. New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia
and Canberra allow you to drive with an Indian Driving License where as in the
Northern Territory grants permission with a caveat – a permit that allows you
to drive for only three months. In
Australia, you can only drive the vehicles that are allowed on your license.
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| Image Source: Wikipedia |
Great
Britain (Drives on the left)
The awesome British countryside can be best explored
while you drive. Great Britain – (England, Scotland and Wales) allows you to drive
on Indian license upto a period of one year but only certain class of vehicles are
permitted. Do visit the Isle of Man where there are no set speed limits.
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| Image Source: driving.co.in |
USA
(Drives on the right)
The United States of America boasts of some most
amazing driving routes in the world. Just land in the country, rent a car and hit
the road - No agenda required!! Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica (across
the width of the nation), Highway 12, Utah and Pacific Coast Highway through
California are few routes that should be in your checklist. You can drive
against Indian driving license for a year but it should be in English language.
If not, then you need to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) with translation
and I-94
form which shows the date of arrival in the country.
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| Image Source: thody.net |
Germany
(Drives on the right)
Indians can drive in Germany for a period of 6
months on their valid Indian driving license. Though not a must, but it is advisable
to carry German translated version of your license (that can be obtained from
the embassy there) and an International Driving Permit (IDP). The stretches of Autobahns
have no speed limit & the German Castle Road has about 70 castles and
postcards worthy views, making the route of approx 400kms drive through Bavaria
one of the most sought after routes.
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| Image Source: Wikipedia |
France
(Drives on the right)
France allows self drive on a valid Indian driving license
for a period of one year provided you also carry the French translated version
of the license, obtainable from the embassy. France is known for its diverse
scenic locales that range from French Alps to mountain roads of Corsica with
sea on one side & challenging hills on the other side and mesmerizing wineries
especially the drive from Santé nay to Dijon for some vintage wine.
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| Image Source: france2wheels |
Switzerland
(Drives on the right)
Bollywood Director Yash Chopra made Switzerland a
dream country for many Indians and what is more amazing than driving through
the snow capped Alps overlooking the turquoise lakes in a Bollywood movie DDLJ
(Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge) style! So miss your train and get behind the
wheels for a memorable drive. St.Gotthard Pass joins north and south of the
country and should be in the list of routes taken when in Switzerland along
with St.Bernard Pass that is 56kms long. A valid Indian Driving license is
required in English language for a drive in this captivating country for a
year.
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| Image Source: nytimes |
New
Zealand (Drives on the left)
The picturesque New Zealand is blessed with charismatic
natural beauty which can be best explored by road. The following conditions are
must when you want to drive with an Indian driving license.
A) Indian
Driving License is valid upto a year
B) You
need to be atleast 21 years of age to rent a car
C) If
license is not in English, you need to have an official translation of your
license by the New Zealand Transport Agency or one of the approved translator
D) You
can drive only a type of vehicle according to your licence
Drive on Thames to Coromandel Road, Te Anau to
Milford Sound and Christchurch to Marlborough Wine country is a magical
experience.
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| Image Source: newzealand.com |
South
Africa (Drives on the left)
Dramatic cliffs, unique flora and fauna and
beautiful wineries defines the beauty of South Africa which allows you to drive
against an Indian driving license provided it is entirely in English and has
your photograph and signature on it. Few car rental companies may ask for
International Driving Permit, hence it is advisable to carry it with you. Zip
down the famous Garden route or drive down the scenic route of Cape Town to
Grabouw via Villiersdorp or from Camp’s Bay to Chapman’s Peak, Cape Town which
are very sought after routes.
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| Image Source: southafrica.net |
Norway
(Drives on the right)
The land of midnight sun, Norway, allows you to
drive against your valid Indian driving license and let you explore the amazing
fjords for three months provided your license is in English. Take a drive from
Oslo to Bergen to experience the most unforgettable drive which will take you through
splendid villages, waterfall and fjords.
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| Image Source: cyclingtips |
Mauritius
(Drives on the left)
Make sure you carry your Indian driving license (which
is in English) when you travel to the gorgeous volcanic island of Mauritius to
be able to drive across the country for upto 4 weeks. Drive along the pristine beaches
or the mountain side for a wonderful road trip that you will cherish for years
to come. You can only drive certain class of cars according to your home
license and carry International Driving Permit for a hassle free car rental
process. The drive from Pamplemousses to Pieter is an absolute delight.
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| Image Source: skyscrapercity |
Canada
(Drives on the right)
Not only Canada is a lovely host but is also home to
some of the most beautiful snow covered landscapes in the world. An Indian
driving licence is valid for 60 days and it should be in English. The top three
drives on the Canadian surface are: Bow Valley Parkway, Kicking Horse Trail and
Viking Trail. So put on your shades, load the music, charge the camera and be
ready for the experience of a lifetime.
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| Image Source: Wikipedia |
Few tips to remember while planning a
road trip abroad.
1. Obtain a valid visa for the country to wish to
travel to.
2. Carry
your original driving license and passport.
3. Always
carry an IDP (International Drive Permit) even if it is not mandatory, to avoid
any hassles while car renting or driving. It is valid for one year and can be
obtained from your local RTO on submitting required documents.
4. Carry
extra copies of your documents along with originals.
5. Research
in advance about car rental providers and their requirements to get the best
rate.
6. Try
to rent a car that is GPS enabled or have GPS on your phone.
7. Like
India, some countries drive on the left side while others on the right, it
takes a little time to adjust.
8. Select
a car as per your comfort – manual gear or automatic. Mostly all the cars
abroad have automatic gears.
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