India, Sept. 29 -- India's train journeys may be world famous, but its road network is arguably the country's unsung backbone - efficient, easy to navigate, and opening up access to some of the most stunning scenery. Take the Srinagar-Leh Highway, a drive through which, during September, feels like a front-row seat on a rollercoaster winding through a canopy of fiery-red and golden aspens, or a short road trip from Srinagar to Gurez Valley that connects Kashmir's most striking foliage-rich landscapes.

The best part of living in or travelling across a vast country like India during the autumn months is the fact that every destination presents a unique appeal, whether it's chinar trees turning maroon up around the Himalayas, rare sightings...