This Is The Most Beautiful Road In India, And It's Called The 'Road To Heaven'

India is home to some of the world’s most scenic landscapes, from the towering Himalayas to the lush Western Ghats. But if there’s one road that sets itself apart in beauty and serenity, it’s the stretch aptly nicknamed the “Road to Heaven.” The 32-kilometre stretch through the Rann of Kutch is no ordinary road. It's a sensory experience. On both sides, you have the endless expanse of Rann of Kutch, contrasted with the blue of the water touching the asphalt. And you’re in the middle, looking at cowherds in the distance, trudging along their daily route.

Road To Heaven: From Khavda To DholaviraTill a few years ago, the distance from Bhuj, the capital of Kutch, to Dholavira, was around 240 km. To reduce this, in 2019, a road connecting Khavda to Dholavira was commissioned, cutting across the Rann. This stretch of 30kms was started in 2024, right in time for the G20 Summit. While the road hasn’t been completed yet, a one-way lane takes travellers from Khavda to Dholavira, the largest relic of Harappan Civilisation in India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site which offers tourists an insight into this once flourishing city.The road is part of a 278 km-long national highway from Ghaduli to Santalpur, with a stretch passing through the White Desert. Here, you’ll see the sky reflected in the waters; if you have a drone, there is probably no better place in India to use it. The Rann was once a shallow part of the Arabian Sea, until a geological shift closed off the connection with the sea. Today, during monsoon, the Rann gets filled up with water, creating a white salty land; the rest of the year, it is an endless expanse of salt desert. The road cuts through this landscape, with water on both sides of the single-lane highway. As of right now, you can park your car/bike, get off the gravel and dip your feet in the water.

While the ecological impact of the road’s construction in such a pristine landscape is questionable, there are no doubts that it’ll encourage more travellers to head to Dholavira. Dholavira is an ancient Harappan city located within the Rann of Kutch. This well-preserved archaeological site offers a glimpse into the lives of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The city's layout, with its fortified walls, granary, and residential areas, provides valuable insights into the urban planning and social structure of this ancient culture. With Dholavira, Gujarat aims to promote Archaeological Tourism.