These are the 5 most dangerous roads in Asia, would you dare to drive?

For some adventure seekers, the journey goes on, however bad or unaccommodating roads are. Some riders and drivers like to brave the storm of bad roads and extreme weather conditions for the sake of living it up and reaching their summit. You might have ridden on bad roads before, where you thought that your mettle has be tested, and your legacy as a rider has been written. But wait till you know about these roads, all nested in the largest continent of fascination and character, Asia.

Guoliang Tunnel Road, China

One of the most beautiful roads in China, the Guoliang Tunnel Road was carved from the Taihang Mountains of China. The Guoliang Tunnel came into existence after the villagers living in Guoliang took the initiative to connect themselves from the rest of the world, the local villagers took the task of carving the Guoliang Tunnel by hands and many lost their lives during the construction.

Image Source

The Guoliang Tunnel is 1.2 kms long and tests the mettle of every driver. While driving on this road, precision and focus are your ally and vagueness your enemy. The road is one of the steepest roads in the world, with almost 30 windows offering frightening sights of the gullies down the mountains. Honking and stopping of vehicles is the most common thing here, drivers have to make their presence felt to other drivers so they do not crash on one of those blind turns, apart from cars, there are tourists walking on the roads to see the beauty of the tunnel.

Chang LA, India

India is one of those countries where scenery is found in abundance. If you love to travel on the road, you are likely to pack your bags real soon because India has many gems to explore. There are many roads in India which attracts drivers and riders from all over the world, one of them is Chang LA Pass which falls between Pangong Lake and Leh.

Image Source

The Chang LA pass is one of the highest motorable roads in India and the second highest motorable road in the world. Driving on this road can be a grueling challenge for even the most experienced drivers and riders. The treacherous roads are just the beginning, what adds to the challenge is the lack of oxygen which causes shortening of breath. The view of the snow-capped mountains which you will see is mesmerizing, it attracts a lot of riders. On the road, you will meet many of the male and female bike riders in India, crossing the pass on Royal Enfield Bullets, which remains the favorite motorcycles amongst Indians when it comes to crossing such treacherous paths.

The weather on the Chang LA pass is extremely cold and the roads are closed when the area witnesses heavy snowfall. People who have been to The Chang LA pass by motorcycle or car tell that you have to be very careful while riding and not try to be a hero because the road is slippery at times, there are water streams which you will have to cross and the weather can make you feel dizzy and sleepy.

Halsema Highway, Philippines

Helmsa Highway in Philippines, which was once called the deadliest highway in the world world connects Baguio city of Northern Luzon to Bontoc and is also known as “Mountain Trail”. The Highway is 150 km long with all types of curves and corners a driver can think of. It passes through remote villages and is the only link between Baguio and Bontoc.

Image Source

Drivers love to travel on the 130 km stretch between Baguio and Bontac because of the scenic beauty the Halsema Highway has to offer, the roads are narrow and you will have to cooperate with the driver going ahead of you if you want to overtake, reckless overtaking stand no chance on this highway, it can be fatal. Apart from that, landslides are also common in the region which makes it one of the most dangerous roads in Philippines to drive on.

In some parts of the Halsema Highway, there is no side protection which scares drivers while they drive pass one of the highest points of the country. The roads become slippery when it rains and the drivers have to make sure they are not overspeeding. There are ample of hairpin bends carved on the mountain which makes it an exciting place to drive but it is advised to be extra cautious while driving on Halsema Highway.

Zoji La, India

The Zoji La Pass is located in Jammu Kashmir, India and falls between Srinagar and Leh. At an elevation of 3,588 meters, this pass experiences chilly weather and snowfall throughout the year. Zoji La is one of the important passes in India lying in the western part of the Himalayas. Zoji La is one of the toughest roads to drive in India because of the extreme weather and bad road conditions as seen in the above picture.

Image Source

The roads are covered with snow most of the time and before and after any storm, the roads are closed so that the snow can be cleared for vehicles to continue commuting, Shortening of breath is also common here due to the lack of oxygen, many travellers experience nausea and dizziness due to the cold weather and insufficient oxygen, It is advised to take a medical kit while you are travelling on this road.

Some sections of the roads are so narrow that only one vehicle can pass at a time, keeping in mind that there is no side fencing on the road to save the vehicle in case it slips off the road. Trucks, cars, bikes all wait in a queue to cross such sections of the road. The Zoji La pass is an important link between Kashmir Valley and Ladakh therefore this route is also used for trading, so don’t be surprised to see along fleet of truck ahead of you traversing on these narrow and dangerous roads,

Daha Ata Wanguwa, Sri-Lanka

Daha Ata wanguwa, also known as 18 bend roads is located in Sri Lanka links Mahiyanganaya to Kandy and is one of the roads in Sri Lanka where drivers go to experience the thrill of driving and test their skills as a driver. This road is feared by many people because of the challenging twists and bends which can frighten even the most experienced drivers.

Image Source

The 14 km stretch treats you to every type of corner there is, if you are a driver who has not ridden extensively, we suggest you not to drive on Daha Ata wanguwa because this type of road, with all the technical bends and corners require a Zen master at the art of driving. Drivers from all over Sri Lanka come to this road to see what their worth is.

Apart from the challenging roads, the Daha Ata wanguwa offers great view of the Mahiyanganaya Valley which is covered with dense trees and the climate there is refreshing making it a perfect setting for drivers to take the view while driving, but don’t get lost in the scenery, you are likely to approach a blind corner when you don’t even expect it.