National Highway 54 (NH 54) in India: Routes, Length, Entry/Exit Points & Rules

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National Highway 54 forms the backbone of the country's transportation system, connecting various regions. This allows easier transportation of goods and services, leading to an increase in the growth of trade and commerce.

Also, it allows tourists to travel to various destinations in a much shorter time. Here is a comprehensive guide on NH 54 that can help travellers journey through this highway.

When travelling through National Highway 54, you will cross many states. Furthermore, there are several entry and exit points of NH54 through which you can travel to every nook and corner of the states through which it passes. Here are complete details about NH 54 route map.

States Falling Under National Highway 54 (NH 54)

You can take National Highway 54 to travel to various Indian states. These states under NH54 include:

• Punjab
• Haryana
• Rajasthan

Entry and Exit Points of National Highway 54

The highway starts from Pathankot, a city in Punjab and ends at Kenchiya Hanumangarh, a district in Rajasthan near National Highway 62.

The vehicles that are allowed on National Highway 54 include:

• Cars and Motorcycles
• Buses and Trucks 
• Vehicles carrying a maximum of 8 passengers
• Three-wheeled vehicles

When travelling via National Highway 54, it becomes a must for drivers to abide by the speed limits strictly. These include:

• Cars: 100 kmph
• Buses: 80 kmph
• Motor vehicles carrying a maximum of 8 passengers: 100 kmph
• Motor vehicles carrying more than 9 passengers: 90 kmph
• Vehicles carrying goods: 80 kmph
• Motorcycles: 80 kmph
• Three-wheeled vehicle: 50 kmph
• Quadricycle: 60 kmph

Some of the famous places around National Highway 54 that you can come across when travelling includes:

1. Pathankot

There are several places to visit near Pathankot that offers an amazing experience to tourists. These are:

• Qila Mubarak
• St John in the Wilderness Church
• Nek Chand’s Rock Garden of Chandigarh
• Open Hand Monument

2. McLeod Ganj

Often called ‘Little Lhasa’, McLeod Ganj is one of the perfect places for adventure lovers. You can visit the following places while travelling via NH54:

• Bhagsunath Temple & Waterfall
• Namgyal Monastery
• Kareri Lake

3. Shimla

This is one of the most popular hill stations around Pathankot, which numerous tourists visit yearly. Some attractive tourists spots here include:

• Jakhoo Hill and Temple
• Mall Road, Christ Church

4. Jammu

While passing through Jammu, you can explore the following attractions here:

• Bhimgarh Fort
• Amar Mahal Palace

5. Rajasthan

Rajasthan is one of the most popular tourist destinations known for its historical hill forts and palaces. Some of the popular tourist destinations in Rajasthan include:

• Jantar Mantar
• Jaisalmer Fort
• Jaisalmer War Museum
• Kothari's Patwa-Ki-Haveli

Below are some crucial things you should consider when travelling via NH 54.

• Follow the map carefully and stay alert while passing through hilly regions or roads of NH54 with sharp turns.
• Ensure you strictly adhere to the speed limit on the national highway 54 especially during monsoon months.
• Changing lanes on NH54 can be challenging as different vehicles travel at varying speeds.
• Plan your trip to avoid driving on highways at night since it becomes challenging to visualise your surroundings.

NH 54 runs through various states, most of which are hilly regions with sharp turns; therefore, driving on it requires extra caution and preparation. So, here are some safety tips for different types of vehicles:

• For Cars: Start braking early when approaching a turn and do not overtake on curves or blind spots. It's better to keep your headlights on in low visibility conditions. Get Roadside Assistance cover available with your car insurance policy for breakdowns in remote areas and Personal Accident Cover to cover medical expenses for injuries due to accidents.

• For Bikes: Always wear a helmet, gloves, and protective clothing, and keep your body weight balanced, especially on turns by making smooth and gradual turns. It's better to have a comprehensive bike insurance policy with Personal Accident Cover for overall protection of riders and pillion in unfortunate events.

• For Commercial Vehicles: For heavy goods-carrying vehicles, it's important to ensure the load is withing the allowed limits and is evenly distributed. Conduct regular checks on brakes, tyres, and engine, and if possible, have Consumable add-on under commercial vehicle insurance to cover the cost for your vehicle's bits and pieces, like the nuts and bolts, screws, engine oil, and grease in case of an accident. Also, ensure drivers are trained for hilly terrain driving.