If you are planning to explore Chandigarh by self-drive car, the city has one big advantage: its road network was planned around easy movement. Chandigarh's famous 7V road system separates major traffic roads, sector roads, shopping streets and pedestrian routes.
For customers hiring a self-drive car from Road Air Fly, these roads are useful for city driving as well as starting longer trips towards Shimla, Kasauli, Ambala, Panchkula and other nearby destinations.
Important: “Without any barrier” should not be understood as “without tolls.” The main roads inside Chandigarh generally do not have toll plazas, but roads connecting Chandigarh to other cities can have tolls. Toll charges can also change, so check the latest FASTag/NHAI information before a long trip.
Road type: V-2 major avenue
Best for: City driving, shopping, food and connecting different sectors
Toll inside Chandigarh: 0
Madhya Marg is one of the important roads in Chandigarh's original road plan. It is classified as a V-2 road, along with Dakshin Marg, Jan Marg, Himalaya Marg, Uttar Marg and Purv Marg.
The road is useful when you want to move across central and northern Chandigarh without repeatedly entering small internal roads.
You can find several popular food options around Sector 7, 8, 9 and 26.
Sector 7 SOCIAL, Backpackers Cafe and Barbeque Nation - Chandigarh - Sector 26 are examples of dining options around the route.
Sector 7 and Sector 8 markets are convenient stops, while Sector 26 has a large food and commercial area.
Road type: V-2 major avenue
Best for: Sector connectivity, southern Chandigarh and longer routes
Toll inside Chandigarh: 0
Dakshin Marg is another important V-2 road in Chandigarh's original road system. The Chandigarh Administration notes that Madhya Marg and Dakshin Marg connect into V-1 routes leading towards Kalka and Ambala respectively.
It gives you access to several important parts of Chandigarh while keeping you connected with the city's main road network.
For a longer drive, Dakshin Marg can also become part of your route towards Chandigarh's southern exits.
Road type: V-2
Best for: Central Chandigarh, Sector 17 and sightseeing
Toll inside Chandigarh: 0
Jan Marg is one of Chandigarh's recognised major avenues. The city's road plan places it in the V-2 category.
One of the biggest attractions around this route is Sector 17, Chandigarh's major commercial and pedestrian shopping area.
Indian Coffee House is located near Sector 17's shopping area, while Sagar Ratna is another food option on Himalaya Marg in Sector 17.
Jan Marg shows the original Chandigarh idea well: major roads around carefully planned sectors rather than random road development.
Road type: V-2
Best for: Sector 17, shopping, food and city sightseeing
Toll inside Chandigarh: 0
Himalaya Marg is officially listed among Chandigarh's important V-2 roads.
It is particularly useful for visitors who want to combine driving with shopping and food.
For a quick food break, BACK TO SOURCE - Organic Food Restaurants, Coffee & Bakery is in Sector 17A.
Road type: V-2
Best for: Eastern Chandigarh and sector-to-sector movement
Toll inside Chandigarh: 0
Purv Marg is another major avenue included in Chandigarh's V-2 road system.
The road is useful for people travelling around the eastern side of the city and connecting towards Industrial Area and nearby routes.
One of the major shopping destinations accessible from this side is Nexus Elante Mall in Industrial Area Phase I.
Road type: V-2
Best for: Northern Chandigarh and connecting major sectors
Toll inside Chandigarh: 0
Uttar Marg is also included in Chandigarh's V-2 network.
For someone driving a self-drive rental, this route can be useful when exploring northern Chandigarh before continuing towards Panchkula, Sukhna Lake or the Himalayan-side routes.
The northern side also provides a natural starting point for longer drives towards Kalka and Shimla.
Road type: Major Chandigarh arterial/path
Best for: Sukhna Lake, leisure drives and northern Chandigarh
Toll inside Chandigarh: 0
Sukhna Path is part of Chandigarh's network of major arterial paths. Chandigarh's road system includes paths such as Sukhna Path, Sarovar Path, Vidya Path and Vigyan Path.
This is a good road to include when your plan is not simply “go from A to B.”
You can combine your self-drive trip with:
It is particularly suitable for a relaxed Chandigarh day itinerary.
Road type: V-3/arterial sector road network
Best for: Sector-to-sector movement
Toll inside Chandigarh: 0
Chandigarh's road system was designed with different road levels so that fast traffic could move around sectors while local traffic could enter sectors at controlled points.
Vidya Path is useful for understanding how this system works in practice.
Instead of depending only on one large highway, you can move between Chandigarh's different sectors using its planned grid.
That means your trip can easily combine:
Drive → Food → Shopping → Sightseeing → Drive
Best for: Chandigarh–Panchkula side movement and local travel
Toll inside Chandigarh: 0
Vikas Marg is useful for drivers moving between the Chandigarh side and the wider Tricity area.
This type of road is especially useful when your Road Air Fly rental is being used for a complete day rather than just a short city journey.
For visitors staying in Chandigarh, this can become part of a larger Tricity self-drive route.
Route: Chandigarh → Panchkula → Kalka → Shimla
Best for: Mountain trips
Toll: Depends on the exact route
This is where the Chandigarh self-drive experience becomes more than city driving.
Madhya Marg and Dakshin Marg connect into V-1 roads leading towards Kalka and Ambala, according to Chandigarh's official road classification.
If you are taking the highway towards the mountains, tolls can apply.
For example, the NHAI lists Chandimandir Toll Plaza on the Zirakpur–Parwanoo stretch of NH-5. Its listed single-journey car/jeep/van rate was ₹40 under the fee schedule shown by NHAI.
So, unlike Chandigarh's internal roads, you should check the toll situation before starting a Shimla or other highway trip.
This is an interesting part of Chandigarh.
It would be inaccurate to say that every road on this list is exactly a certain number of years old because individual roads have been widened, repaired, resurfaced and modified at different times.
Instead, the better way to understand their age is through Chandigarh's original planning system.
The city was planned around Le Corbusier's 7V road system, with different roads given different jobs. The official Chandigarh Administration describes this as an integrated road system designed for efficient traffic movement.
So, in 2026, the basic road-planning idea behind Chandigarh's original major roads is roughly seven decades old.
That is one reason Chandigarh feels different from many cities where roads developed gradually without a single overall plan.
This depends completely on where you are going.
For the major city roads discussed above, you generally don't encounter a conventional highway toll plaza simply by driving from one Chandigarh sector to another.
The Chandigarh–Ambala route via NH-152 has one listed toll plaza: Dappar. NHAI identifies Dappar on the Ambala–Zirakpur stretch of NH-152.
A current route listing also shows one toll plaza on the Chandigarh–Ambala route, with Dappar listed at ₹50 for a car on the cited tariff.
The exact number depends on the route selected. The NHAI lists Chandimandir Toll Plaza on NH-5's Zirakpur–Parwanoo stretch.
Road Air Fly tip: Before taking a rental car outside Chandigarh, check the route and FASTag tolls for your exact destination rather than assuming every road has the same toll cost.
A self-drive trip becomes much better when you know where you can stop.
If you are taking a self-drive car, you can easily add shopping to your route.
Nexus Elante Mall is in Industrial Area Phase I and is one of the major mall destinations in Chandigarh.
It works well for a combined:
Self-drive + Shopping + Food + Movie plan
Sector 17 is not a traditional enclosed mall, but it is one of Chandigarh's major shopping and commercial areas. The area is connected by important roads including Jan Marg and Madhya Marg.
The interesting thing about Chandigarh is that its road system was planned as a hierarchy rather than as one type of road.
The official road plan divides movement into:
This gives a self-drive traveller plenty of choices depending on the purpose of the trip.
You can drive around the city, stop for food, visit a mall, see Sukhna Lake and then continue towards a nearby destination without needing a driver.
If you are visiting Chandigarh for a few days, a self-drive car can make it easier to plan your own schedule.
With Road Air Fly, you can choose a car according to your trip, whether you need a sedan for city travel, an SUV for a family trip, or a luxury car for a special occasion.
You can use your rental for:
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The complete practical guide to driving Chandigarh to Shimla yourself - the NH-5 route, honest timings, which car handles the climb, and where you can actually park once you arrive.
Some cities are made for checking off a list. Chandigarh is made for living in, even if only for a few days. In this blog, I explain why exploring Chandigarh with your own car — a self-drive rental — is the best way to experience the city. From the calm of Sukhna Lake and the wonder of the Rock Garden to shopping at Sector 17 and road trips to Delhi, Manali, and Dharamshala, this guide covers it all. I also share which car suits couples, families, and corporate travellers, plus driving tips and a full FAQ. If you want freedom, privacy, and the ability to stop wherever you like, this is the guide for you. Road Air Fly is a reliable rental car provider in Chandigarh ready to help you start your journey.
If you've been thinking about doing this trip but aren't sure where to start, don't worry. We've got you covered with everything from the distance and routes to the best food stops and, of course, picking the perfect rental car. Let's dive right in.
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