Trip to Dehradun and Rishikesh with Self-Drive Cars in Dehradun

Contribution by: Yamini Garg

We can say that college trips are the most delightful and unpredictable adventures. The essence of college trips is precisely what we cherish: the adventure, the laughter, the unparalleled sense of freedom, and the sheer thrill of stepping into the unknown. Hence, when my friends and I from Amity University Noida saw the long weekend coming up, we decided it was the perfect opportunity to take a break from their books and indulge in a delightful trip to Dehradun and Rishikesh.

This is the group that I traveled with my friends: Priyanka Rawat, Priyanshu Chaudhary, Mohit Kumar, Kamlesh Verma, and myself. I cannot express to you how long we deliberated on this! In the end, everything fell into place. Moving forward, the plan was to make it as smooth sailing as possible so we decided to rent a self-drive car, giving us the chance to explore Dehradun with complete freedom, instead of using buses or taxis. We then found Rapidx Car Rental, and it ended up being the best decision ever.

Starting the Journey: Arrival in Dehradun

We were welcomed by a Car rental company's representative, who took care of the document verification and vehicle inspection before handing over the sleek and sanitized SUV. The car placed us in a position of sheer power—no waiting and no reliance on dictated timelines. Only we and the open highways that lay ahead of us.

With the energy of five friends coupled with a fully packed itinerary, having a self-drive car was the most convenient. A car was ideal as it had an ample amount of space, it’s air-conditioning system was splendid (definitely a life-saver in the heat), and best of all, it had a powerful engine capable of giving us a smooth ride through the hills.

Dehradun’s Charm

Dehradun was at the top of our must-dos list and for the first day, we had time to explore it at our own pace. First on the list was Robber’s Cave (Guchhupani) and wow, who would’ve thought that walking barefoot through icy streams and slipping on rocks would be so refreshing. We ended up laughing way more than we walked. 

We also went to Sahastradhara which is popular for its waterfalls as well as its sulphuric springs. The numerous stops we made to admire the views were well worth it. It felt like every turn we took had postcard-worthy views.

The evenings were strictly for food and story sharing. The region boasted chill vibe restaurants like T Bistro and Woodcastle Gastropub which made the experience even more entertaining. As the sun dipped below the mountains, college memories were shared and laughs were roared making it truly an unforgettable experience.

Allow the Thril to Begin Rishikesh

We woke up the next day early in the morning for Rishikesh. The self-drive rental was an absolute life-saver. Music could be blasted at max volume, snacks from roadside vendors could be sampled, and breaks could be taken wherever dictated.

Experiencing the energy of Rishikesh was like stepping into the meditation capital of the world. But we were certainly not there to meditate; we had signaled in for some adventure too.

The Splash of White Water Rafting

While in Rishikesh, we purchased a 16 km rafting session from Shivpuri to Laxman Jhula. The difficulties along the river definitely met my expectations. Rapids, screams, splashes along with a little bit of chaos surely captured the highlights of the experience. Mohit, off attempting another of his infamous feats, took a dive into the river, and Kamlesh heroically pulled him back, placing Mohit in a ‘capture the flag’ scenario, proving again he is the one who rescued all! It still cracks me up when we look back on the trip.

In My Words: Bungee-Jumping

Undoubtedly one of the best moments of the trip is doing Bungee jumping. As expected, I was the other indicator of danger along with Mohit that sanctioned surrendering doubt and leaping off the edge( literally ). The group on the observation deck that was separate propelled us into making that big jump by cheering out our names to capture the stunning experience.

Peace by the Ganges

After that, we relaxed at Laxman Jhula, saw the Beatles Ashram, and took a staggering amount of photographs. The Ganga Aarti in the evening was one of the most peaceful and reflective moments of the entire trip. Even Priyanshu, who is always glued to his phone, was captivated by the riverside transcendental vibe.

Why Car Rental Was A Game Changer

Over the course of the trip, Car Rental was not a mere service, but rather our pillar of dependability. This is why we adored it:

1. Minimal restrictions — We could take longer routes, extend our stays, and explore offbeat paths.
2. SUV was clean and spacious — Accommodated all five of us and our luggage comfortably.
3. Attentive support — Timely responses and smooth delivery of the car as well as hassle-free pickup.
4. Friendly on the pocket — As students, expense is a concern. With our car rental company, we were offered affordable options without compromising quality.

The Return Drive & Final Goodbyes

The drive back to Dehradun marked the end of the trip. There was a shared silence — a content kind of fatigue.

Looking Back - What the Trip Meant

This was more than an average road trip during college — it was an entire experience. From the car rides with our music blasting to food breaks, river rafting and overlooking the river while we laughed together — it all played through my mind like a beautiful film. And getting a self drive car in Deharadun allowed all of this to become a reality.

Regardless of whether you’re a student, part of a couple or a family, Car Rental is the best option out there. The way one views and gets to explore the beauty of Uttarakhand changes entirely once you have the car’s steering wheel in your possession.

Looking back at the trip, I can say with absolute certainty that Rishikesh has the most fascinating view when seen from the rearview mirror of a car taken on a well planned roadtrip.

Click here to read about this unforgettable trip from my friend Priyanka’s perspective!

- Yamini Garg