[Sutripta]

^^^
Interesting. Must check it out. The ramp is an unofficial one?
Best way to check it out would be on a bike. Except that bikes are not (officially) allowed on Belghoria Expressway.

Are the connecting roads OK for driving a large (SUV) vehicle?

Regards
Sutripta

[black_panther]

Originally Posted by Sutripta

^^^
Interesting. Must check it out. The ramp is an unofficial one?
Best way to check it out would be on a bike. Except that bikes are not (officially) allowed on Belghoria Expressway.

Are the connecting roads OK for driving a large (SUV) vehicle?

The ramp is an unofficial one.
The road beside the playground is a wide one.
The place where you get down from Belgharia expressway has a bit narrow roads. But, I have crossed that section a couple of times with my Aveo without any problem.
I havn't tried to get down the ramp with my M800, but it is possible.

The ramp is on the Jessore road bound way, therefore this one is beneficial when someone is coming from Kalyani.

This way one can avoid the choas created by the roadside markets on the Jessore Road - Majerhati More road.

[rahul4640]

Just yesterday evening I went to Naihati using this Kalyani Expressway, It has been repaired satisfactorily. Even the earlier broken stretch of about 2 KM has been repaired. Although the road surface may not be very smooth at few places, the potholes are gone. But I found that the cyclists riding their bikes at night without any reflectors at the back of their cycles little disturbing, specially when the trucks and even the cars coming from the opposite direction with multiple headlamps at high beam may blind you momentarily.

[Sutripta]

^^^
Did you check out the connection to Belghoria Expressway, as given by b_p?

Regards
Sutripta

[rahul4640]

Sorry to dig up an old thread but a friend of mine I just met today has told me that he has returned from north Bengal just a couple of days earlier. And in spite of driving a small hatchback car (Tata Indica Vista), he did not have much of a problem with NH-34, except for occasional traffic jams. I was also informed that except between Berhampur and Maldah, where the road is relatively broken and has occasional potholes, rest of the road is in good shape.

[noidea]

Sorry to dig up an old thread as well, but I traveled to Malda last week end and found NH 34 to be in bad shape.
I drove to Moregram through panagarh, siuri, nalhat route and once on NH34 I found it to be really bad, potholed and with a lot of diversions.

I guess the perception of BAD road differs from person to person.

Cheers

[maheshramaling]

Need some advice on a trip to Bhutan (plan to start Feb 1st Week)

Will following plan work;

Day 1: Bangalore to Vizag - 1000+ KM's
Day 2: Vizag to Kolkata - 800+ kms
Day 3: Kolkata to Siliguri - 580+ kms
Day 4: Siliguri to Thimpu - 300 kms
Day 5: Buffer
Day 6, 7, 8: In Bhutan
Day 9,10,11,12: Return to Bangalore via same route (or any other route?)
Day 13, 14: Buffer
Total: 14 days.

Let me know if you have alternative & better route?

[black_panther]

Originally Posted by maheshramaling

Need some advice on a trip to Bhutan (plan to start Feb 1st Week)

Will following plan work;

Day 1: Bangalore to Vizag - 1000+ KM's
Day 2: Vizag to Kolkata - 800+ kms
Day 3: Kolkata to Siliguri - 580+ kms
Day 4: Siliguri to Thimpu - 300 kms
Day 5: Buffer
Day 6, 7, 8: In Bhutan
Day 9,10,11,12: Return to Bangalore via same route (or any other route?)
Day 13, 14: Buffer
Total: 14 days.

Let me know if you have alternative & better route?

I hope you are taking the dumka bhagalpur route to siliguri.
Siliguri- Thimpu in a day would be difficult considering the time you need to spend to get the permits.

[Sutripta]

Originally Posted by black_panther

Siliguri- Thimpu in a day would be difficult considering the time you need to spend to get the permits.

+1.
Plan for night halt at Phuntsoling. Make certain that the next day is a working day.

Regards
Sutripta

[maheshramaling]

Originally Posted by black_panther

I hope you are taking the dumka bhagalpur route to siliguri.
Siliguri- Thimpu in a day would be difficult considering the time you need to spend to get the permits.

Originally Posted by Sutripta

+1.
Plan for night halt at Phuntsoling. Make certain that the next day is a working day.

Regards
Sutripta

Thanks!

Dumka - Bagalpur: is that a better/ faster road to reach siliguri than Farakka & English Bazar (route map: http://goo.gl/maps/IDXdW)?

If permit takes time - do you think is there any other place I could stay closer to Phuntsoling at the end of Day 3?

[Sutripta]

Originally Posted by maheshramaling

Dumka - Bagalpur: is that a better/ faster road to reach siliguri than Farakka & English Bazar (route map: http://goo.gl/maps/IDXdW)?

Absolutely.

If permit takes time - do you think is there any other place I could stay closer to Phuntsoling at the end of Day 3?

Calcutta - Siliguri is going to take a lot out of you. After Siliguri I can think of only two places to stay:- Chalsa (Sinclairs, expensive for a night halt, too close to Siliguri), and Madarihat.

Would suggest night halt at Siliguri, and if you feel upto it, a before dawn start for Phuntsoling. Else a leisurely drive through Doars, with planned night halt at Phuntsoling.

Regards
Sutripta

[rahul4640]

Originally Posted by Sutripta

Would suggest night halt at Siliguri, and if you feel upto it, a before dawn start for Phuntsoling. Else a leisurely drive through Doars, with planned night halt at Phuntsoling.

Dear Sutriptada,
In case I procure my entry permits right here in Calcutta, I shall only need a vehicle permit from the RSTA office at Phuntsholling. In such a case, may I skip staying the previous night at Phuntsholling? I like to start from Siliguri at 5 O'clock in the morning sharp, as I am told that Bhutan border at Jaygaon may be reached very comfortably in less than five hours. May I receive my vehicle permits at Phuntsholling and continue to reach Thimpu on the same day? Or is it advisable to spend the previous night there, to make sure that I reach this RSTA office as soon as it opens?

And what route shall I choose to reach Jaygaon? Shall I take the Sevok-Malbazar-Gorumara forest (Nagrakata) route? Or shall I take the route via Jalpaiguri, Maynaguri and Dhupguri?
Warm regards,
Rahul

[Sutripta]

Originally Posted by rahul4640

I like to start from Siliguri at 5 O'clock in the morning sharp, as I am told that Bhutan border at Jaygaon may be reached very comfortably in less than five hours.

Perfectly OK. Fog is the unknown quantity.

Shall I take the Sevok-Malbazar-Gorumara forest (Nagrakata) route? Or shall I take the route via Jalpaiguri, Maynaguri and Dhupguri?

Don't even think of the Jalpaiguri option as of now.

Regards
Sutripta

[wanderernomad]

Come through the Sevok-Gorumara route. Plan for Lunch at P/shling and get your permits. If you are used to hill driving Pshling-Thimpu should take about 4 hours. If not I would rather stay back at Pshling and start early the next day. That way while enroute to Thimpu you can cover Paro as well and reach Thimpu later in the evening. The Road from Chukha till Watsa is narrow with sharp turns.

[rahul4640]

Originally Posted by wanderernomad

Come through the Sevok-Gorumara route. Plan for Lunch at P/shling and get your permits.

Any idea what time does the RSTA office open up in the morning, Sir? And what may be the usual time taken for this car document to be ready?

Originally Posted by wanderernomad

If you are used to hill driving Pshling-Thimpu should take about 4 hours. If not I would rather stay back at Pshling and start early the next day.

Thanks for the suggestion but I think I have more than adequate experience in hill drivings. I shall like to go to Thimpu on that very day, skipping Paro, which I shall visit few days later.