Planning a Group Trip from Delhi? Why a Tempo Traveller Beats Everything Else on the Road

When 10 or more people plan to travel together from Delhi, the first response is often to either divide into multiple cabs or book a bus. However, there is a third option that is overlooked by almost all travellers, the Tempo Traveller. It is much more versatile than a bus, considerably cheaper than multiple cabs, and way more convenient than having to manage different vehicles on a 500 km stretch of highway. Here is a detailed route-wise breakdown and cost guide to assist your group in organizing the ideal trip.

Best Outstation Routes from Delhi for a Tempo Traveller

Thanks to its location, Delhi is one of the best cities in India from where a group can start its road trip. Within a radius of 600 km, there are hill stations, pilgrimage sites, wildlife sanctuaries, heritage cities, and desert landscapes which can all be reached through national highways that are in good condition. The Tempo Traveller can adequately deal with each and every one of these routes.

Delhi to Manali – 550 km, 12–14 Hrs via NH-3 (Chandigarh Route)

The Delhi-Manali route could be said to be the most widely traveled road trip in the group of states in North India, and a Tempo Traveller is the vehicle of choice both by groups of friends and family travelers. The usual route is to take NH-44 to Chandigarh and then NH-3 via Bilaspur, Mandi, Kullu to Manali. Road conditions are very good till Kullu; the last Kullu-Manali section has some moderate turns but is quite doable. A departure from Delhi overnight (around 9-10 PM) will result in you reaching Manali by late morning.

For groups of 9–16, a Tempo Traveller in Delhi on this route costs significantly less per head than booking equivalent seats on a Volvo bus, with the added advantage of stopping wherever you please.

Delhi to Shimla – 350 km, 8–9 Hrs via NH-44

Shimla is the closest and most convenient hill station for a large group wanting to get away from Delhi. The stretch of NH-44 up to Chandigarh is very good and driving there is quite fast; after Chandigarh, the mountain road to Shimla via Kalka is scenic and well-paved. Most groups opt for an early morning start, by leaving Delhi at 5, 6 AM, you can get into Shimla by lunchtime, leaving the rest of the day for Mall Road and Jakhu Temple. The Tempo Traveller can easily deal with the Kalka, Shimla section, however, drivers usually reduce the speed on the hairpin bends after Solan.

Delhi to Rishikesh & Haridwar – 250 km, 5–6 Hrs

For those who go to temples on weekends, yoga lovers, and river rafters, the Delhi, Rishikesh route is the most popular Tempo Traveller route in Uttarakhand. The drive is on NH-58 going through Meerut and Roorkee before hitting Haridwar, with Rishikesh being 25 km further along the river. The trip time of 5, 6 hours allows for a comfortable same-day arrival. Groups usually get both cities together, they do the Ganga Aarti at Haridwar in the evening and go to Rishikesh for rafting the next morning. The short distance is one of the reasons why this is a very cheap outstation Tempo Traveller trip from Delhi, a perfect choice for groups under a tight budget.

Delhi to Jaipur – 280 km via NH-48 (Golden Triangle)

The Delhi, Jaipur stretch of the Golden Triangle is one of the easiest highway drives in North India. NH-48 is a wide, well-lit expressway with several fuel stations, dhabas, and rest areas, very suitable for a large group that will need regular comfort breaks. Usually, groups arrive at Jaipur in under five hours. This route is also very popular with wedding travelers, family tourists, and corporate retreat groups. From Jaipur, the Tempo Traveller  can also head to Agra, thus closing the full Golden Triangle circuit in a 3, 4 day trip, 1 vehicle, 3 iconic cities, no hassle of coordination.

Delhi to Agra – 200 km via Yamuna Expressway

A great way to head to Agra is via the Yamuna Expressway, India's one of the few finest road stretches that are six lanes wide, have very little traffic, and allow you to keep a constant speed of 100 km/h so that you are in Agra less than 3 hours after leaving Delhi. For quick visits to Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri, a Tempo Traveller works really well. With a group, you can start very early, visit all three major and well-known monuments, have a good lunch, and be back in Delhi in the evening. For a day trip with a 12 seater, the cost per person is quite often less than that of booking individual AC cabs, especially for the groups of 8 or more.

Delhi to Nainital & Jim Corbett – Perfect Wildlife Drive

Both Nainital and Jim Corbett, combined together, are surely one of the most fascinating 3, 4 day group travel plans from Delhi. The itinerary goes via NH-9 passing through Moradabad and Ramnagar, the total distance being 300, 320 km that can be covered in 6, 7 hours. Since a Corbett National Park safari means arrival very early in the morning, a Tempo Traveller with reclining seats is the perfect one for an overnight or pre-dawn drive. 9 or 12 seater is good enough for Nainital winding lake-side roads, but the large 16+ seater may have to be driven very carefully on the last stretch to the lake. This route is of great value to wildlife lovers, school groups, and families.

Delhi to Amritsar – 450 km, Golden Temple Pilgrimage Trip

The route from Delhi to Amritsar along NH-44 is most of the time straight, flat and there are not many turns that a Tempo Traveller can cover in 7, 8 hours approx. Pilgrimage groups who are visiting Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, and Wagah Border find this route very much spiritually connected and well-traveled one. Night departure of certain groups from Delhi, resulting in arrival in Amritsar early morning is a time when there is a prayer service at the Golden Temple's sunrise which is a very spiritually touching experience. Some groups take the trip further for Anandpur Sahib or Pathankot. Do include driver allowance also while planning your budget as for this overnight format.

The bigger difference is seen on the longer routes. For Delhi, Manali, the price gap between a 12 Seater Tempo Traveller Noida and four equivalent cabs could be ₹8, 000, ₹14, 000 in the Tempo Traveller's favour. Besides, add to that the intangible value of travelling together, for example, shared music, shared snacks, and shared memories, so the Tempo Traveller does not only remain the cheaper option. We can even say it's the better one.