National Highway 5 (NH 5) in India: Routes, Length, Entry/Exit Points & Rules

source: businessinsider

India is a densely populated country, and to ensure a seamless traverse from one extreme to the other, the nation owns a total of 599 national highways. Among them, National Highway 5 holds great significance as it connects Punjab with Himachal Pradesh by passing over Haryana. 

Let us know more interesting details about this national highway!

Under this system, the combination of three old highways, which are national highway 95, national highway 21, and national highway 22, has been renumbered as National Highway 5: You will travel across multiple states following the trail of NH 5.

States Falling Under National Highway 5 (NH5)

Connecting all these old highways, the NH 5 route passes through the following states and union territory:

• Punjab
• Haryana
• Himachal Pradesh
• Chandigarh

Entry and Exit Points of National Highway 5

The entry point of the National Highway 5 is situated in a city called Firozpur, which is located in the Indian state of Punjab. It ends at Shipki La, Himachal Pradesh.

As per government guidelines, a host of vehicles are allowed on National Highway 5:

• Motor vehicles with eight seats and one driver's seat (vans, mini buses) 
• Motor vehicles with more than nine seats and one driver' seat (regular buses) 
• Commercial vehicles (trucks) 
• Motorcycles 
• Quadricycles 
• Three-wheelers

The pace limit varies as per the vehicle category while travelling on the National Highway 5 of India. In the following table, detailed information regarding this is given: 

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

Maintaining the set speed limit can reduce vehicle collisions and accidents by bridging disparities.

Some famous places to visit around the National Highway 5 of India are:

1. Firozpur

Start your journey on NH 5  to explore the core beauty of Punjab in all its glory by visiting these places:

• Hari-ke-Pattan Bird Sanctuary 
• Gandhi Garden 
• Anglo Sikh War Memorial 
• Chak Sarkar Forest

2. Ludhiana

Let the trail of this highway take you to myriad sacred shrines and historical landmarks that are worth a visit in Ludhiana: 

• Lodhi Fort 
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum 
• Rakh Bagh Park 
• Gurudwara Shri Manji Sahib 
• Phillaur Fort

3. Chandigarh

Chandigarh, another touch-down spot of  NH 5, the capital of Punjab and Haryana owns a perfect balance of urban cityscape and natural space offering:

• The Rock Garden 
• Sukhna Lake 
• Rose Garden 
• Urban Theka Market 
• Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park 
• ISKCON temple 
• Timber Trail

4. Shimla

Let a drive through NH 5 take you to a few places of Shimla, the shimmering capital of Himachal Pradesh, crowned as the ‘Queen of Hills’:

• Mall
• Christ Church 
• Kali Bari Temple 
• Green Valley 
• Lakkar Bazar

5. Shipki La

Your National Highway 5 journey will end at Shipki La that facilitates bilateral trade between three nations, India, China, and Nepal. 

• Kunzum Pass 
• Spiti Valley 
• Nako Village 
• Reckong Peo 
• Kaza Village  
• Khab Bridge 
• Tabo Village

Some important factors that you should keep in mind while travelling on National Highway 5 are as follows:

• Maintaining a proper speed is very important on NH 5 for safe and hassle-free travel.
• Highways are filled with unprecedented circumstances. To be safeguarded, ensure to maintain a 3-second-worth distance between vehicles.
• Avoid overtaking as much as possible on NH 5 as it passes through hilly terrain.
• Inform fellow motorists about your next move by providing proper signals. Be very careful at the hairpin bends on NH 5.
• Keep a toolbox within reach for emergencies whenever you are travelling via NH5. This way, you will be able to fix the damaged or broken part promptly without having to wait for the mechanic for hours.

Now that you have got detailed knowledge about National Highway 5, it will be easier for you to travel via this route. Just keep in mind the important measures while travelling as the highway journey can be long and tiring. Have a safe journey, and enjoy all the beautiful places that fall on this route.