Think bucket list driving destinations, and you probably picture yourself driving up the Stelvio Pass, cruising down California’s Pacific Coast Highway, or going banzai on the Touge routes around Tokyo. But we don’t usually appreciate the incredible journeys we can make right here in India the same way. Part of the reason is that they come with their own challenges – inconsistent road quality, unpredictable fuel stops, and the hesitation of taking a low-slung supercar far from the safety net of the city. For Zain Rais and The Supercar Route, that hesitation is exactly the problem they’re trying to solve.
Zain has spent years driving some of the world’s greatest roads – from South Africa’s Garden Route to California’s Highway 101, and across Europe through Germany’s Black Forest and beyond. "After doing all of that," he says, "I realised we have roads in India that are just as special, but we don’t explore them the same way."
That idea turned into The Supercar Route – a series of curated drives designed to get owners out of their garages and onto India’s best roads. The approach is simple but thorough – detailed recce, tightly planned routes, and a full support system that travels with the convoy. Mechanics, a flatbed, and even a fuel tanker, in this case, along with coordination with local authorities, ensure that what would otherwise feel daunting becomes entirely doable.
After drives through Kaas Plateau, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the latest chapter took the convoy to the deserts of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. "Everyone does the usual Rajasthan triangle," Rais explains. "Jaisalmer is usually just a one-night stop. But when I did my recce, I realised there’s so much more here – and the roads are something else entirely." This is why Jaisalmer was chosen as the base this time, with four days to explore the city and the regions surrounding it.
Fourteen cars made the journey this time – a convoy dominated by Porsche 911s and Boxsters, joined by a BMW M4, Jaguar F-Type and even a brand-new Lamborghini Revuelto that was barely ten days old. That’s one way to run in a car.
Day one began with a loop out of Jaisalmer towards Mohangarh Fort, followed by a visit to the Army War Museum recently opened by the Battle Axe Division of the Indian Army. By day two, the convoy headed towards Tanot Mata Temple and the Indo-Pak border near Longewala – site of the pivotal 1971 Battle of Longewala. The roads opened up into long, uninterrupted stretches cutting through vast desert terrain. "Driving the picturesque, long, open, sand-kissed tarmac roads, from historic Jaisalmer to victorious Longewala, with a superb group of car enthusiasts, was an absolutely thrilling, bucket list-worthy experience," said Porsche 911 owner Vinod Mehta.
A stop for a curated lunch at the abandoned Ghotaru Fort added a sense of theatre, while the dinner gave participants the opportunity to dine with Maharaj Vikram Singh Bhati and Rani Meghna Singh Bhati of the royal family at Nachana Haveli. On the third day, the group headed towards Barmer to explore its roads. "Away from traffic and urban chaos, the car finally breathes the way it’s meant to," said Alok Khandelwal, driving his Porsche 911. "Every stretch of tarmac becomes an invitation to explore the car in a completely different way."
The final day featured a sunrise run to Khabha Fort, followed by a visit to a local school, giving kids a chance to see cars that rarely make it this far out. The day ended with a double-barrel shooting and a dune-bashing experience – a reminder that these journeys are as much about immersion as they are about driving.
For many participants, the shift in perspective was the biggest takeaway. As Shreyas Pethe and his daughter Jahnvi put it, "We now have a deeper appreciation for how luxury can coexist with culture." It’s also as much about the people as it is about the cars. "Driving my 911 around Jaisalmer, with my daughter Fianna, was honestly one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had with it," said Kaushal Kapadia. "The quality of the roads really allowed me to experience its potential, and the surroundings made it unlike anything I’ve done before."
Of course, the challenges of driving in India don’t disappear. But what The Supercar Route does is acknowledge them and plan around them. And in doing so, it makes a larger point. "It reminded me that India offers some of the most diverse and underrated driving routes in the world," said Khandelwal. The next time you’re charting out your bucket list driving destination, it might be worth looking a little closer to home.
