Image gallery: Hyundai Tucson Great India Drive

Team OD Updated: May 12, 2017, 02:53 PM IST

The second season of the Hyundai Great India Drive in the new Tucson was a wonderful experience for us. We discovered a part of our country that's like a treasure trove, waiting to be explored. The sights were spectacular beyond words, and the people were some of the warmest we've met. These images were captured during the first leg of our journey around the seven states, or the seven sisters as they are popularly known - Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

The gorgeous Umiam Lake stretches out as far as the eye can see. Located just before the climb up to Shillong begins, this place is surely a must visit

Shillong truly is the Scotland of the East

This winding ribbon of concrete in Meghalaya is a delight for corner carvers

The Tucon's surefooted handling makes it an absolute joy to chuck around a corner The Tucson's sure-footed handling makes it an absolute joy to chuck around a corner

The Hyundai Tucson's design is absolutely stunning and it always manages to make heads turn The Hyundai's design is absolutely stunning and it always manages to make heads turn

The locals are very friendly and some of the warmest people we've met

To get to the bridge we had to walk over 2,000 steps, up and down a steep mountain slope Phew! To get to the living root bridge, we had to walk over 2,000 steps, up and down a steep mountain slope. Phew!

This is the longest 'living root bridge' in this region. The process of forming the bridges begins by planting the Indian rubber tree at both ends of the stream. The trees then grow for 100 years after which they sprout aerial roots. The villagers then tie a metal string and bark of the betel nut tree to help guide the roots the other end. These roots grow for about 30-35 years, and it's only then the bridge is strong enough to walk on. This particular bridge here is over 175 years old

Our contest winner Binil Varghese checks out the longest 'living root bridge'

The Double Decker Bridge was pretty strong and the best bit about these bridges is that they only grow stronger with each passing year The double-decker bridge was pretty strong, and the best bit about these bridges is that they only grow stronger with each passing year

The Shilllong Chamber Choir practice at this very spot in their sprawling residence at Whispering Pines in Shillong, Meghalaya The Shillong Chamber Choir practise at this very spot in their sprawling residence at Whispering Pines in Shillong, Meghalaya

We were treated to special performance by the awesome Shillong Chamber Choir

Cherrapunjee is home to numerous waterfalls

The roads in Meghalaya are fast and flowing, making it a paradise for people who love to drive

A landslide in the Narpuh Reserve Forest results in a jam that stretched for kilometres. Note the green colour of the river flowing alongside

The Tucson snake sits way past the Reiek Heritage Village in Mizoram, about 30km from the capital, Aizawl. The village has traditional Mizo-style houses that look quite pretty

On our way to the Reiek Heritage Village in Mizoram

The jaw-dropping stone carvings in Unakoti, Tripura, are simply beyond belief

Bumping into member of the Mizoram Motorsports Association or MIMSA was one of the highliights of the trip. As you can imagine, conversations about cars, bikes and racing went on, well into the night. One of the guys was very excited to see the Tucson in flesh for the first time ever Bumping into members of the Mizoram Motorsports Association (MIMSA) was one of the highlights of the trip. As you can imagine, conversations about cars, bikes and racing went on, well into the night. One of the guys was very excited to see the Tucson in flesh for the first time