Has the coronavirus pandemic disrupted your plan to take that long trip? Is the ongoing lockdown making you crave going off-road? Fret not. If you can’t go to the highway, Rocky, Mayur, Prashant, and Abhinandan — the team behind shows like Highway On My Plate, Vital Stats of India, Jai Hind, and Rocky and Mayur's Food Xpress — will bring the highway to you!

So, here goes the newest offering from Newslaundry: Highway On My Podcast. The creators of the much loved TV travel show revisit their travels across India, sharing stories, anecdotes, trivia, and — for when the roads are open and inviting again — recommendations on food, culture, people, and much more.

In this episode of Highway On My Podcast, Rocky, Mayur, Abhinandan and Prashant drive off to Abhinandan’s home state of Uttarakhand.

Abhinandan starts off by expressing his disappointment at how Dehradun has become cluttered with traffic and urbanisation. The team then visits the Indian Military Academy, one of the most efficiently functioning institutions in the country. They describe how a sense of “nation first” is instilled in young cadets here — and how nobody lays out a party like the army does! Rocky also explains why first-year cadets can’t ride bicycles to commute from one place to another.

The team leaves the academy behind to visit places that hold nostalgic value for Abhinandan and Rocky. First up, they remember a Bhaang Ki Chutney they sampled in Dehradun, where weed is abundant. Abhinandan takes listeners to his alma mater, the Doon School, before the team heads to Ellora’s bakery in Dehradun to have lemon tarts and lemon custard. Hopping on to another food favourite, the group goes to Kumar’s, next to the Ghanta Ghar, where Mayur remembers the unconventional Lauki ke Laddoo.

Driving towards Mussoorie, the team halts at Rose Restaurant on Rajpur Road where a gentleman serves delicious Pakodas. In Mussoorie, they debate what makes the Lovely Omelette Centre famous across India. The discussion spans ghosts, and softies, hot chocolate and Kalimpong Lollipops at the Chic Chocolate cafe. Heading to the neighbouring area of Landour, Prashant brings up the Devdar Woods restaurant, one of his favourite places in the region, with its coziness, scrumptious wood-fired pizzas, and fantastic coffee.

Moving on to Haridwar, the team looks out for Mathura Walon Ki Pracheen Dukaan, a place famous for its pumpkin preparations. They attend the evening aarti at Haridwar, with its mystical atmosphere on the banks of the river as the sun sets. They then head to Kathgodam, the last train station in this region, where they visit Lee’s restaurant. They also discuss boating in Nainital, the Patal Bhuvaneshwar caves, and sift through Rocky’s list of secret places across Uttarakhand.

All this and more, only on Highway On My Podcast.

For more trivia and behind the scenes moments from Rocky and Mayur’s travels across India, sign up for the HOMP newsletter.

You can also find the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Castbox | Pocket Casts | TuneIn | Stitcher | SoundCloud | Hubhopper | Overcast | JioSaavn | Podcast Addict | Headfone