National Highway 17 (NH 17) in India: Routes, Length, Entry/Exit Points & Rules

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National Highway 17, commonly referred to as NH 17, is the 7th largest highway in India. This highway passes through dense green forests, rivers, ghats, coconut trees and paddy fields of West Bengal and Assam. Tourists can enjoy the best local cuisine available.

In this article, we will learn about the route of NH 17, its length, famous places to visit and more.

While travelling through National Highway 17, you will cross several cities in two states. In addition, you will also come to know the entry and exit points of NH 17 and its length.

National Highway 17 passes through the states of:

• West Bengal and 
• Assam 

The highway is maintained well by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

National Highway 17 starts from the NH 10 junction at Sevoke, Darjeeling district, and terminates at NH 27 junction near Guwahati in Assam.

The different types of vehicles that State Road Transport Corporation allows between the roads in National Highway 17 include:

• M1 category vehicles (vehicles with a capacity of a maximum of eight seats)
• M2 and M3 vehicles (vehicles comprising nine or more seats along with the driver's seat)
• N category vehicles (vehicles used for goods carriage)
• Quadricycles
• Three-wheeled vehicles
• Motorcycles

 The speed limits set for different vehicles are:

• Motorcycles: 80 km per hour
• Quadricycle: 60 km per hour
• Three-wheeled vehicles: 50 km per hour
• Passenger vehicles with not more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat: 100 km per hour
• Passenger vehicles have nine or more seats in addition to the driver’s seat: 90 km per hour.
• Motor vehicles used to carry goods: 80 km per hour

National Highway 17 connects West Bengal and Assam. Some of the famous places to visit around the routes of national highway seventeen include the following:

1. Sevok

Some of the most notable places to visit here while travelling via NH17 include:

• Teesta Picnic Spot
• Sevoke Bridge

2. Mongpong

 Mongpong has some tourist spots that you can explore, such as:

• Chalsa Hill
• Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary
• Tiger Hill

3. Cooch Behar

Coochbehar is a popular tourist destination in West Bengal. Some of the top attractions in Coochbehar you can witness include:

• Cooch Behar Raj Palace
• Baneshwar Shiva Temple

4. Boko

Boko is a well-known town situated in Assam in the Kamrup district.  Make sure to visit:

• Soloka Dore Waterfall
• Chandubi Waterfalls
• Hindal Mandir

5. Guwahati

Let this highway make your journey a memorable one with the following heart-throbbing landmarks that are worth a visit:

• Kamakhya Temple
• Umananda Temple
• Guwahati Zoo
• Umananda Island

Some of the major factors which travellers should consider while travelling along the National Highway 17 are:

• Remember to provide signals before turning or making a halt, especially in mountainous regions.
• Avoid driving at night on hilly terrains of National Highway 17. Also, avoid using high beam when you come close to another vehicle to avoid accidents. 
• While travelling through National Highway 17, try not to drive at a stretch and take breaks when necessary. 
• Learn about the weather whenever you are driving across this highway. Sometimes roads might be closed due to heavy rainfall or landslides.
• Avoid speeding in hairpin bends and while taking turns on a hilly route.

So, if you want to experience a memorable road trip, plan a road trip through NH 17. You will be enthralled by its beauty on the way. Travelling on highways might be risky, but taking some precautions will make your journey safe.