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Hill and Ghat Driving: Rules, Gears, Monsoon and Char Dham Roads
On a narrow hill road, the vehicle going downhill stops on the left and lets the uphill vehicle pass (Driving Regulations, 2017, reg. 21). Keep left at every bend, never overtake where you can't see, sound the horn where a Compulsory Sound Horn sign is shown, and go down steep slopes in a low gear rather than riding the brakes. For the Char Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand requires you to register yourself and your vehicle before you travel, and commercial passenger vehicles also need a Green Card and a Trip Card.
- Priority
- Vehicle going uphill
- Descent
- Low gear, light braking
- Law
- Driving Regulations, 2017
- Green Card
- ₹400 (≤10 seats), ₹600
- Yatra helpline
- 1364
On this page
Who gives way on a narrow hill road?
Regulation 21 of the Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017 is clear: on mountain and steep roads that are not wide enough, the driver going downhill must stop on the left side of the road and let the vehicle going uphill pass first. A vehicle climbing a steep slope finds it much harder to stop and move off again than one coming down.
YouCheckClear
- See a vehicle coming the other way where the road is too narrow for both
- Are you the one going uphill?No: stop on the left, let it pass
- Keep moving steadily on your left; don't stop on the slope unless you have to
- Pass slowly with room to spare, then carry on in a low gear
Telangana's learner licence question bank teaches the same: on a mountain road, let the vehicle coming up pass first. The general rules at junctions and roundabouts are on traffic rules: right of way.
How should you use gears and brakes on a hill?
Going downhill
- Change to a low gear before the descent starts, and let the engine hold the speed. Telangana's test questions put it this way: on a steep hill, "select low gear and use the brakes carefully".
- Never coast in neutral and never switch the engine off to save fuel. The same question bank marks both as wrong answers.
- Brake gently and in short spells. Long, constant braking heats the brakes and makes them weaker just when you need them.
- If your brakes do fail, pump the pedal, use the parking brake gently and change down a gear (Kolkata Traffic Police); see when something goes wrong.
- Changing down before a downhill stretch is also one of the skills checked in the practical driving test.
Going uphill
- Pick a gear that keeps the engine pulling steadily before the climb gets steep, so you don't have to change gear on the hairpin.
- Keep a long gap: a loaded lorry or bus ahead may slow sharply or stop on the slope.
- To stop on an upward slope, use the clutch and footbrake, then hold the vehicle with the handbrake (Telangana question bank).
- To move off again without rolling back, hold the car on the handbrake, find the clutch's biting point, then release the handbrake. The driving test checks this hill start.
Stopping and parking on a slope
- Never stop on a sharp bend or where the view is blocked (reg. 22). Pull into a wide, level spot.
- Apply the handbrake firmly when you park (Delhi Traffic Police).
- If you break down on a bend, switch on the hazard lights and place the warning triangle before the bend, so drivers coming round it are warned (reg. 28).
How do you take bends, and when should you use the horn?
- Keep left when you approach a bend or the top of a hill, and wherever your view ahead is limited (reg. 4(4)). On a blind right-hand bend, oncoming traffic may be cutting the corner.
- Slow down before the bend, not in it, and drive at a speed at which you can stop within the distance you can see (reg. 16).
- Don't overtake on a bend, near the top of a hill, on a narrow bridge or anywhere you can't see that the road ahead is clear (reg. 14(5)).
- Horn: the regulations ban unnecessary horn use, but say you must sound it where a mandatory sign tells you to, and you may sound it when you foresee danger (reg. 23). On hill roads the blue Compulsory Sound Horn sign marks such places: vehicles "shall compulsorily sound horn" there (Howrah Rural Police sign guide). Use one short sound, not a continuous blast.
- At night, dip your headlights in good time for an oncoming vehicle (reg. 31).
Lane markings on hill roads follow the same rules as everywhere: never cross a solid centre line to overtake. See road markings and signals.
Which road signs will you see on hill roads?
These signs appear in the Uttarakhand Transport Department's list of road signs. The meanings are from the Howrah Rural Police sign guide.
| Sign | What it tells you | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Sound Horn (blue circle) | You must sound the horn at this spot | One short horn before the blind bend |
| Left or right hairpin bend | The road turns so sharply it almost reverses direction | Slow right down, low gear, keep left |
| Steep ascent / steep descent | A steep grade that may be a hazard | Choose a low gear before it starts |
| Falling rocks | Rocks are liable to fall onto the road, seasonally or all year | Don't stop under the slope; watch the road surface for stones |
| Loose gravel | Gravel may be thrown up by fast vehicles | Slow down and leave a longer gap |
| Slippery road | The surface ahead may be particularly slippery | Slow down; no sudden braking or steering |
| Priority for oncoming traffic | Oncoming vehicles go first through the narrow section | Wait until the way is clear |
All signs, with pictures, are on road signs in India.
How do you plan for the monsoon and landslides?
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) advises planning any trip to hilly areas around the forecasts of the weather department. On the road:
- Know the warning signs: falling rocks, fresh cracks in the road or slope, river water turning muddy (a sign of a landslide upstream), and unusual sounds such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together.
- If you see them, move away from the landslide path or downstream valleys quickly, and report it to the nearest Tehsil or district headquarters.
- Don't touch or walk over loose debris, and keep clear of fallen electric wires and poles.
- Don't wait or park under steep slopes or beside drainage channels in heavy rain.
- Never drive into fast-rising water. If your car stalls in it, leave the car and get to higher ground (Goa Fire and Emergency Services).
- Rain makes hill roads slippery: slow down, double your gap and use dipped headlights. More in safe driving in rain and fog.
YouCheckOfficial help
- Check the weather forecast for your route
- In Uttarakhand, check the state disaster authority's alerts and road status, or call 1070
- Heavy rain warning or road closed?Yes: wait or change your plan
- Leave early, so you are off the hill roads before dark
- Drive slowly, watch for warning signs, and stop in a safe, open place if rain gets heavy
Uttarakhand emergency numbers
- Emergency (police, fire, ambulance): 112
- State Emergency Operation Centre: 1070
- District Emergency Operation Centre: 1077
- Ambulance: 108
- Char Dham tourist helpline: 1364
The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority website links weather warnings from the India Meteorological Department, the state's own weather network and a road status page under Citizen Corner.
What changes in cold weather, ice and snow?
- Drive slower and increase your following distance (Kolkata Traffic Police).
- Take bridges, shaded stretches and turns slowly: they can stay icy after the rest of the road is clear.
- Use snow chains where they are allowed, but remember that chains or snow tyres don't make normal speeds safe.
- In fog or falling snow, drive slowly enough to stop within the distance you can see, and use fog lamps only when visibility is badly reduced, with dipped headlights (reg. 16(2), 31(5)).
- Carry warm clothes and any medicines you need: the Char Dham registration portal lists both on its travel checklist.
What do you need to drive to Char Dham?
The Uttarakhand government's Tourist Care portal handles registration for the Char Dham Yatra (Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri) and Hemkund Sahib. It says it is necessary to register yourself and your vehicles before you start your journey. Pilgrims register on that portal and get a Yatra Registration Letter; vehicles are registered on the Transport Department's Green Card portal, where the Trip Card is generated.
Private vehicle (your own car or motorcycle)
YouFeeUttarakhand portals
- Register yourself and every pilgrim on the Tourist Care portal (REGISTER/LOGIN) and note the Group ID
- Download the Yatra Registration Letter
- On the Green Card portal, register the vehicle and enter the driver's licence details and journey details
- Pay the ₹50 user charge online
- Enter the pilgrims' Group ID and select the passengers on the trip
- Generate the Trip Card and carry it with the registration letter
Commercial passenger vehicle (bus, minibus, taxi)
Operator / driverFeeTransport Department
- Keep the vehicle's papers valid: RC, insurance, fitness, PUC certificate and permit
- Apply for the Green Card: ₹400 up to 10 seats, ₹600 above 10 seats, plus ₹50 user charge
- The Transport Department, Uttarakhand issues the Green Card
- Pay the tax for the trip length: 4 Dham 10 days, 3 Dham 7 days, 2 Dham 5 days, 1 Dham 3 days
- Does the driver's licence have the hill endorsement?No: clear the online questionnaire (fee ₹100)
- Enter journey, Group ID and passengers, and generate the Trip Card
Taxi and bus passengers still register themselves on the Tourist Care portal; the operator needs their Group ID for the Trip Card. Permits and fitness are explained in commercial vehicle permits.
Pilgrim registration (official) registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in
Green Card and Trip Card (official) greencard.uk.gov.in
The registration portal also has the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app (Android and iOS), a Verify Yatra Letter page, a Weather Forecast page and a separate Health Registration link.
Where your registration is checked
The portal lists registration check points on each route:
- Yamunotri: Barkot
- Gangotri: Hina
- Kedarnath: Sonprayag
- Badrinath: Pandukeshwar
- Hemkund Sahib: Pulna / Govind Ghat
Opening dates, road closures and any traffic restrictions change from year to year and with the weather. Check them on the registration portal or with the helpline before you set out.
Char Dham road trip checklist
- Yatra Registration Letter for every pilgrim, and a valid photo ID.
- Trip Card for the vehicle (and the Green Card for a commercial vehicle).
- Driving licence, RC, insurance and PUC certificate, in DigiLocker or on paper.
- Prescribed medicines and warm clothes.
- Phone numbers saved: 112, 1364, 1070 and 108.
- Vehicle checked before the hills: brakes, tyres, lights, horn and wipers.
- A plan to finish each day's driving before dark, with spare time for road closures.
- No alcohol: the portal's checklist says avoid drinking and driving.
Frequently asked questions
Who has the right of way on a hill road?
The vehicle going uphill. Where the road is not wide enough, the driver going downhill stops on the left and lets it pass (reg. 21).
Should I go downhill in neutral to save fuel?
No. Use a low gear and brake gently. Coasting in neutral or switching the engine off takes away engine braking and overloads the brakes.
Is it compulsory to sound the horn at every bend?
Only where a Compulsory Sound Horn sign is shown, or when you foresee danger. Unnecessary or continuous horn use is not allowed (reg. 23).
Is Char Dham registration compulsory?
Yes. The Uttarakhand Tourist Care portal says you must register yourself and your vehicles before you start the journey.
Does my own car need a Green Card?
The Green Card portal lists it for commercial passenger vehicles. A private car or motorcycle is registered on the same portal, with a ₹50 user charge, to get a Trip Card.
What is the hill endorsement?
For commercial vehicles, the Green Card portal asks for a hill endorsement on the driver's licence, obtained by clearing an online questionnaire, if the driver doesn't already have it. The fee shown is ₹100.
Whom do I call if a road is blocked by a landslide?
In Uttarakhand: 112 for an emergency, the State Emergency Operation Centre on 1070, or the district centre on 1077. The tourist helpline is 1364.
What are the signs of a landslide?
Falling rocks, new cracks, muddy river water and sounds like trees cracking or boulders knocking. Move away from the slope and its path at once.
Sources
- Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017 (G.S.R. 634(E)), as reproduced in Kerala Police circular 15/2018: regs. 4(4), 14(5), 16, 21, 22, 23, 28 and 31 (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- Transport Department, Telangana – rules of the road question bank: questions 97, 109, 114, 115, 140 and 150 (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- Transport Department, Uttarakhand – road signs and Howrah Rural Police (Government of West Bengal) – traffic signs and symbols (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- Kolkata Traffic Police – driving tips: winter in hills, brake failure (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- Delhi Traffic Police – rules of safe car driving (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- National Disaster Management Authority – landslide do's and don'ts (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority: emergency operation centre numbers and alert links (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- Government of Uttarakhand – Char Dham registration and tourist care and helpline numbers (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- Transport Department, Uttarakhand – Green Card and Trip Card (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
- Goa Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services – citizen's handbook: floods, if you are in a car (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
Page history: 26 Oct 2026: first published.