In my 6 years of camping in my motorhome (2012 - 2018) in India, with my wife and 4 year old daughter I found that there is no problem on the highways. Truck Dhabas were the best option with the best food. No need to do your own cooking. (Only truck dhabas, not tourist dhabas) How you you differentiate between a truck dhaba and a tourist dhaba? Well, the truck dhabas have ONLY charpayi to sit on, where as tourist dhabas will have chairs or a combination. If I ever saw a chair and table outside a dhaba, I would never stop there.
Place like delhi, bombay, madras and other large cities was a problem.
Delhi, the best place was chandni chawk, opposite Sheesh ganj gurudwara. There is a police chawki there too. Make sure you give then something, and you will not have a pproblem for 7 to 10 days parking. There are also toilets and shower areas behind the police post. The second place in delhi which is safe is nigam bodh ghat, behind kashmiri gate on ring road.
Bombay (south) is a bit of a problem, not many place there, but if you can get the spot next to taj, make a deal with the parking attendant for upto 10 days. In the north, viraar and ajnala beach were a great spot. There are many places on the highway near viraar and vasai also. You may get lucky if you can find a spot at late night near gymkhana on fashion street, but the police there will bother you if your camper is big.
Madras the only spot I found to be good was at marina beach. Paid parking. You can get good food, toilets, water, and ice there too.
Goa was not a problem anywhere.
Bodh Gaya, park right in front of the police chawki, and make sure you give them something, its the best spot (just near the main temle complex. A little north of Bodh Gaya, going to patna, you will have to cross Jahanabad, a very dangerous place, avoid driving there durin night time, and DO NOT STOP there either.
Patna, park anywhere in transport area. Near the mahatma gandhi setu. Lots of roadside parking and great food.
Bangalore was a problem, but maybe because i did not really explore the city well.
Rajasthan: DO NOT DRIVE WITH YOUR HIGH BEAMS ON. ALWAYS USE DIPPER. Trucke drivers in Rajasthan will throw stones on your windshield if you are not using dipper, or if your lights are too bright. Avoid night driving if possible. Stopping at Dhabas is safe. RTO in Jaipur (after your cross Jaipur from both sides is a big rishvatkhor (regardless of who it is). Expect to pay even if your papers are all in order. I mainly travleed on the old NH-8, which goes through Jaipur, Ajmer, Beawar, Bhim, Nathdwara, Udaipur. Did not have a problem finding parking at the dhabas. From Beawar I have gone to Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, no problem again. Lots of parking spots. Further to the Pakistan border, place called Sam, lots of resorts and road side parking. If you go any further, expect tobe stopped by the Army for questioning.
MP was not a problem anywhere. Mainly villages, and they dont mind anyone coming and stopping there. Indore, paking at the bypass on Mhow road is good. Jabalput, gwari ghat parking is free on the Narmada river.
Hyderabad, I found that Secuderabad fort was the best place to park.
South India, Kerala is not a problem anywhere. Trivandrum, park at attukal temple, free parking and water. Kovalam beach, great place, but paid parking, so I parked at the beach next to it, Hawa Beach, near the mosque, free parking, and 3 minutes walk to kovalam beach.
Kanyakumari, you have to get there at night to find a spot at the sea side parking.
Madurai, the meenakshi temple parking complex. Again great food, and lots of shopping area, safe. Paid parking
Rameshwaram, the best place was before you enter the main city, roadside parking. free and safe. Take an auto from there where ever you have to go.
Dhanushkodi, free and safe roadside parking.
Manali, across the bridge on keylong road. free
Pudducherry, near madras, is a pain to find parking, but if your go to the south end of beach road, opposite the ports directorate building, next to seagull bar and resto, you will get free parking there. I was there for 10 days. The port officer in the building was really nice and allowed us to fill water 24hrs.
Gowhatti in assam is not so friendly, but I as with any city, if you cant find parking, go to transport area. I found good parking on shillong road just 10 km before the meghalaya border. Very safe area IF you eat at a local dhaba and park there.
UP was not a problem at all, people were very friendly. In Faizabad we met a family just north of Assam highway, who allowed us to park in front of their home, but other than that I did explore a bit, and also found good parking at the liquor store with an ahata on the road side.
Haridwar, again, you will have the best spot near har ki pauri, paid parking across the bridge from the main hwy. You will have to make a deal with the parking attendant here as parking is very expensive. regular price was 100 rs per day, but i ended up with a deal of 200 rupees for 10 days.
Dharamsala (my home town), not many places, but Indrunag Temple is the best spot for parking. You can also park at the truck union near the main bus stand. (roadside). There is also good parking in sidhpur, dari, chilgari road, cantt road (a little further up from the market. Mcleodgunj is a pain, a big pain, no parking unless you are willing to pay high prices to local land owners.
Many other small places that I have not mentioned. But these were the main ones that I thought you may want to know.
Content courtesy: Gagan Walia
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