Kanpur doesn’t always get the credit it deserves as a road trip base, but honestly, it should. Drive a few hours in almost any direction and the scenery changes before you even realise it. One minute you’re on open plains, the next you’re passing forests, wetlands, old forts, quiet rivers, or centuries-old temples. It’s all closer than you think, just waiting to be explored.
These 7 drives aren’t only about ticking off destinations. They’re about the roads in between, the unexpected views that make you slow down, and that simple, underrated feeling of just being in motion:
The Kanpur–Jhansi stretch on NH27 is one of those roads that actually makes you slow down and look around, 220 km of smooth tarmac, thinning traffic, open skies, and UP's quiet rural soul rolling by. And just when you're lost in the rhythm of it, Jhansi Fort rises on the horizon like it owns the place. Pit stop sorted? Fauji Dhaba near Bundelkhand University. Trust us on this one.
The Kanpur–Khajuraho drive is 210 km of steady cruising straight into the heart of Madhya Pradesh, and what's waiting at the end is nothing short of extraordinary. The UNESCO-listed temples, their intricate carvings, the sound and light show, the wild sprawl of Panna National Park, it's culture, history, and nature all in one shot. Hungry on the way? A One Dhaba has you covered.
This one's for those who like their drives wild and their destinations wilder. The Kanpur–Dudhwa run clocks in at 290 km through UP's lush Terai belt, sugarcane fields, wheat stretches, open skies, and then slowly, almost quietly, the jungle creeps in. By the time you're near Palia, the air smells different and the trees close in around you. First hint of something untamed. Fuel up at Bhadoria Dhaba before the forest takes over completely.
Not every drive is a smooth ride, and that's exactly the point. The Kanpur–Kalinjar Fort stretch is 192 km of raw, rugged Bundelkhand at its most dramatic. Rocky outcrops, thorny forests, climbing elevations, and then that final ascent to the fort that'll have your heart in your mouth. Standing up there, looking back at the landscape you just drove through? Absolutely breathtaking. Stop at Lucky Dhaba, eat well, and embrace the adventure. This one's different.
Some drives shift something inside you before you even arrive. The Kanpur–Chitrakoot road is that kind of journey, 150 km of gradual transformation, where the flat plains quietly give way to forested hills and the air turns still and unhurried. The closer you get, the more serene it feels. And then the Mandakini River appears, framed by hills and ghats, and it all makes sense. Eat hearty at GT Mark Dhaba. Let the road do the rest.
Three hours from Kanpur and a world away from the city's chaos. Lakh Bahosi Bird Sanctuary doesn't demand much from you, just show up, slow down, and let the wetlands work their magic. Vast lakes, endless reeds, and waves of migratory birds rolling in between November and February. No itinerary needed, no crowds to fight. Grab a meal at Deepu Singh Chauhan Dhaba on the way and arrive with nothing but time.
Few drives have an entry quite like this one. The Kanpur–Orchha road covers 230 km of steady, evolving landscape, plains giving way to Bundelkhand's rocky, scrubby terrain as you cross into Madhya Pradesh. But nothing quite prepares you for that final approach, the old bridge over the Betwa River, the late afternoon light on the water, the arched gates ahead. It literally feels like crossing into another century. Eat at Garg Dhaba. Arrive unhurried.
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