It is widely believed that the best way to truly experience any place is by traversing through its roads. India, with its massive geographical landscape, and well-connected highways of international standards, presents travellers with the opportunity of exploring the country through a new and different lens. In recent years, driving across the Indian countryside and road trips have become quite the rage creating new travel opportunities and destinations.

One such destination, that offers locales which are unexplored and provides a view of the old world seamlessly amalgamating with the modern is, Tamil Nadu. Although Tamil Nadu is more than just its culture, heritage, and usual tourist spots. Being well connected by its highways presenting scenic drives, Tamil Nadu has recently become quite the rage for its road trips. Taking the audience on one such road trip, Zee Zest, with its fingers on the pulse of the Indian viewer, is all set to launch NEXA Journeys presents Highway Dreams.

NEXA Journeys presents Highway Dreams will be hosted by renowned food traveller, show host and singer, Rakesh Raghunathan. An avid traveller himself, with a passion to research, document and discover heirloom recipes, with quintessential dining destinations native to the region, Rakesh will be seen exploring the region, while interacting with millennials and Gen-Z, as he drives through some known and some unknown highways.

Commencing this explorative journey from Chennai, Rakesh drives over to the “Manchester of South India” – Coimbatore, exploring the GeeDee Car Museum with a vintage car enthusiast along the way. The drive in Coimbatore also witnesses him zipping through on the racetrack. Moving on to his next adventure, driving through the Nilgiris, we enter the “Queen of Hill Stations” – Ooty, where the host takes us on an immersive and cerebral rejuvenation at MindEscapes^®, before heading out to explore one of the largest moving telescopes - The Ooty Radio Telescope, riding an electrical cycle and ending the day with dinner at Canterbury Bar, a British style vintage hotspot.

A rare known fact that the region of Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu is counted among the leading growers of avocados in India. As we drive through the serene landscape of Dindigul district to the “Princess of Hill Stations” – Kodaikanal, the host takes us on an enchanting walk, discovering a hidden avocado farm.  Stumbling onto tribal life and inspired by Tribal women entrepreneurs, who have a successful Honey brand, Rakesh engages the audience with a live cooking demonstration at a farm in Kodaikanal.

As the show progresses, it journeys into the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, on an adventurous tour with a forest ranger before taking the audience to experience life in a tribal village. Driving towards the region of Karaikudi, which gets its nomenclature from palatial villas, the host stops over to give you a glimpse into the antiques at the Muneeswaran Kovil street. The season concludes on an audacious note with viewers joining in a high-octane journey into Rameshwaram, situated in the Gulf of Mannar at the tip of the Indian Peninsula. Surrounded by turquoise blue water, the adventure culminates in the coastal waters with a session of snorkeling and kitesurfing.

The show premieres on 30th October, 8 PM on Zee Zest and Zee Zest HD. Tune in every Sunday for an unforgettable journey of this enchanting and evolving Indian State of Tamil Nadu.