![]() | #121 | |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Sydney/Kolkata
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![]() | #122 |
Team-BHP Support ![]() ![]() | ![]()
I did the Siliguri-Purnea-Bhagalpur-Dumka-Massanjore-Burdwan-Kolkata route last week. It is in good shape except between Dumka and Pattabari (about 20kms). I can share the gpx file after a few days. |
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![]() | #123 |
BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Kolkata, India
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| ![]() I am planning to drive from Kolkata to North Bengal in the coming long weekend. I'll take the Dumka - Bhagalpur route as the condition of NH 34 is not good. I am driving with my kid and might end up with a late start and I don't want to drive after sundown. Please provide suggestions for night halt at Bhagalpur , Purnea and Dalkhola suitable for family and with safe parking. |
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![]() | #124 | |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Sydney/Kolkata
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![]() | #125 |
BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Kolkata, India
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| ![]() We returned safe and sound from the Kolkata - Dooars - Kolkata trip over the last weekend. I took the Dumka-Bhagalpur route for both onward and return journey. The onward journey was brisk and peaceful, but make no mistake , that was a fluke. It was the day after holi, so the roads and small towns were desolate. The return journey was more eventful and took much longer. Overall, I had similar experiences like other bhp-ians. The salient updates that the worth mentioning are as follows. 1) Dubrajpur - Siuri road is in shambles. 2) Massanjore-Dumka is almost repaired. Only a few kilometers of stonechips, where the roadwork is in progress. But there are no potholes. 3) Around 10 kms after crossing Dumka, bridges are being repaired. There are several bottom - scratching diversions. Very careful driving is recommended for cars with low ground clearance. These diversions are over before reaching Hasida. 4)During the onward journey, I took the directions from google maps while crossing bhagalpur. It took me over the flyover to cross the railway tracks. The roads were smooth and wide. But maps made me take an unofficial link to get on the highway just before the vikramshila bridge. However, the link was not steep and can be easily done by small cars. During the return journey, I missed the unofficial link, therefore had to drive in crazy crazy traffic inside Bhagalpur town, the roads were narrow and had lunar surface for a few kms. This was the worst driving experience of my life, the second being driving inside kanpur on the dusheera day and third being driving near the ghats at Benaras. 5)The IOC petrol pump just beside the tower at Dumka seems to provide cheap and good fuel. The mileage was excellent. 6)For academic interest : For those taking the NH 34 route, the link from belgharia expressway to majherhati more (in one of my previous posts) is now an official one. |
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![]() | #126 | |
BHPian ![]() | ![]() Quote:
I am asking because I wish to drive through this section at night late next month, on my way to Sikkim. | |
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![]() | #127 | |
BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Kolkata, India
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Apart from the diversions, the stretch was OK. It should not be a problem if the car you are driving is on the heavier side. Beyond Hansidiha, the surface is good, but there are occasional local markets to slow you down during the daytime. Budgeting 2 hours for the entire Dumka - Bhagalpur section should be enough. As you are driving during the night, why not try the NH 34 this time? | |
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![]() | #128 | ||||||
Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]() Quote:
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We also spoke about travelling this section at night. Anyway before any further route update, I did feel that on the opening post of this thread the so-called Bhagalpur Byepass could be covered better. So referring to points within the opening post. Quote:
![]() The right turn will come up approximately 3.2 kms from this board Alternately: there will be a largish Mosque (probably known as Hossainabad Jama Masjid) that will come up on the left about 2.1 kms from this board. After crossing this Mosque, drive for approximately 1.1 kms to reach this turn. Picture of the turn below. As I mentioned in the opening post, the landmark referred to as "half mandir" is pointed. One needs to take a turn on the right side, from which a truck (marked in pic) is emerging from. ![]() A better look at the "Half-Mandir" that will appear on the left on the Dumka-Bhagalpur road (need to take a right turn at this point) ![]() ![]() Quote:
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![]() At this junction, instead of taking right, if one takes an acute left, Hotel Rajhans International will fall on the right side a few yards from the crossing. Other food options are also available at Kacheri Chowk. Quote:
From Kacheri Chowk, after taking the right turn, drive for 1.2 kms till one reaches Tilkamanjhi Chowk. Take right again at Tilka manjhi Chowk towards Vikramshila ![]() After taking the right turn at Tilkamanjhi chowk, drive for 2.2 kms (some of it in a very bad state of surfacing) till one reaches the Barari Bus stand, the road on left takes you to Vikramshila Setu ![]() Here is an overall snapshot of the route ![]() The distances summarised ![]() Here is the googlemaps link to the route for a quick reference http://goo.gl/maps/CwZly Feel free to give me a shout, I know a person who lives on this route at Bhagalpur and can quickly get updates from him | ||||||
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![]() | #129 | |
BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Kolkata, India
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![]() | #130 | |
Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]() Quote:
![]() 1> What would be the landmark for the right turn to be taken as marked in the box in the map above. 2> You mentioned that the surface is good, but given Bhagalpur's traffic situation, how congested is this road? (The SH80 from Tilkhamanjhi, though has an initial bad surface, is not congested. After turning left at the Barari bus stand the flow is very smooth as well.) | |
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![]() | #131 |
Team-BHP Support ![]() ![]() | ![]() Hi! Folks are suggesting to stick to the main road & take the fly-over. Sometimes the other route gets stuck if a CV passes through or decides to unload cargo. Hindsight also says to stick to the main route. |
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![]() | #132 |
Senior - BHPian ![]() Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai
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| ![]() Going through the Bhagalpur town to Vikramshila is not a bad idea, roads are OK, although drive will be slow. |
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![]() | #133 | |||
BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Kolkata, India
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As I have mentioned earlier, I took this way only during the onward journey, that was the day after Holi. Therefore none of the roads in Bhagalpur were congested on that day. This surface was smooth with a white line for the divider and apparently looked less congested than other roads in the town. I took the flyover over the railway tracks and drove straight to reach Hotel Rajhans. From there it the same, less congested road till Tilkhamanjhi. Hotel RajHans is a very good option for lunch, however the food is spicy and they serve in good quantity. I took the SH80 during the return journey on a Sunday morning. The broken road was congested as well, specially with auto-rickshaws, making driving more difficult on that stretch. | |||
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![]() | #134 | |
Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]() Quote:
However one point to note about the Bhagalpur byepass is that, it goes under the railway tracks twice in quick succession. Vehicles (SUV/MUV's) with overhead luggage is less likely to make it through these underpasses. | |
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![]() | #135 |
BHPian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Bangalore
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| ![]() Hey All, been through this thread over the past two days and have gone through various updates since 2012. I have a similar quandary as Judemayne. Am travelling from Bangalore to Siliguri with planned night stops at Rajahmundry, Kharagpur and third night at Siliguri. Had thought it best to skip Calcutta as it will eat into my travel time which I would rather spend in the Sikkim and Bhutan which are the destination. So I planned Kharagpur - Bankura - Ranigunj - Suri - Dumka - Bhagalpur - Purnia and join NH 34 at Dalkhola. Planned with the suggestions on this thread and tracked on google maps. I will be traveling in a SUV with a overhead Lugguage Box (Thule) which increases the height of the vehicle substantially. is this OK ? Any suggestions on Better Hotels in Kharagpur ? Regards. Manmohan. Last edited by manmohanmaan : 7th May 2013 at 13:47. Reason: Add a query. |
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