
Highway (2014) Trail: The Delhi to Rajasthan Road Trip Scored
Destinations in this article
# Highway (2014) Trail: Delhi to Rajasthan
Imtiaz Ali's Highway traced a kidnapping route across North India — but every frame was a travel advertisement. The film was shot across Rajasthan, Himachal, and Kashmir. Here is the Rajasthan segment scored.
Delhi to Jaipur (270km)
The opening sequence. NH-48 is a modern expressway now — 4 hours, well-maintained. The film showed dusty roads. Reality in 2026 is smooth tarmac.
Jaipur to Pushkar (145km)
Through the Aravalli range. The roadside dhaba scenes. Ajmer road has genuine dhabas every 30km — Dal Baati at Rs 80, chai at Rs 20. This stretch is better than the film showed.
Pushkar to Jaisalmer (420km)
This is where the film earns its name. Desert highway through Jodhpur, past Barmer, into the Thar. The landscape shifts from scrubland to sand. Fuel up at Jodhpur — the next reliable station is 200km away.
Jaisalmer and Beyond
The desert sequences at Sam Dunes. The fort silhouette at sunset. Jaisalmer delivers exactly what the film promised — golden stone against blue sky.
Practical Intelligence
Full Highway Rajasthan circuit: 4-5 days. Delhi → Jaipur (day 1) → Pushkar (day 2) → Jodhpur (day 3) → Jaisalmer (day 4-5). Budget: ₹3,000-5,000/day. Best months: October-February.
The Window · Every Sunday
Liked this? Get one every Sunday.
Best score of the week, one honest skip, road updates. Four minutes. No spam.
More in Intelligence Guide

Tipping in India: The Real Rules Nobody Tells You
Tipping in India is expected in tourism but follows different rules than the US or Europe. Hotel porters get ₹50-100, restaurants 5-10% without service charge, and trek porters ₹300-500/day — here are the real numbers.
6 min read
What to Wear in India: By Region, Gender, and Setting
India's dress code sits between Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Cover shoulders and knees at religious sites, dress for extreme weather, and buy a dupatta — it solves everything.
10 min read
Will I Get Sick? The Honest Truth About Delhi Belly
About 60-70% of first-time India visitors get some stomach trouble. It's usually 24-48 hours, not a trip-ender. Here's the science, city-by-city food safety ratings, and the medicine kit you need.
8 min readGo with confidence.