Hi!
Back from Calcutta. Thanks to BHPians who did guide me. Got detailed route info from BlackPearl and was in constant touch with him as well as 1100D, PapaBravo & Sutripta.
I took exactly the same route while going and coming back. When coming from Calcutta, I took a right turn at NH-2 [landmark being Renaissance township to your left] and then took a left again for NH 2B. Maps do show that you have to take a U-turn, but you do not have to. You have to take a left at the first junction you will come across. A left turn for NH-2B. You come across many non descript places on the route till you reach Bolpur/Shantiniketan. I did both [to & fro] drives at night. Traffic was less with cops being present.
Are there two underpasses at Bhedia? Both times, I took the outside one [I assume] as I saw trucks too taking it. Yeti didn't have any issue with respect to GC clearing it. While going it was filled with water.
While going from Siuri/Bolpur towards Burdawan, you have to watch out for Burdawan bypass. I didn't & thank God, it was a Sunday night at around 10, else I would have to suffer.
Bolpur to Siuri was nothing special, not many eateries too along the way. Took a left turn for Massanjore/Pattabari section. Came to Dumka. From Dumka, I went straight to Dhaka More at Banka via Hansdiha. You may search for Dhaka More on GMaps.
This is Dhaka More. My car is coming from Hansdiha side and will take a left for Banka. Straight goes to Bhagalpur over bad roads. Bhagalpur is ~40 kilometers from here. You add ~15 kilometers more but roads are better.
Now, to be honest, from Bounsi till Dhaka More, roads aren't in great shape. They were very bad a
month earlier Ditches have been filled and is doable in a crossover. Caution to be exercised in a hatchback/sedan.
Bhagalpur to Dumka via Deoghar is some 190 kilometers. But via Hansdiha, Dhaka More, distance reduces by a whooping 50+ kilometers. If I had to do this again, I will pick the same route and not to do the circus of Deoghar route.
Ok, after entering via Dhaka More, you will have to negotiate [majorly] bad roads for ~12 kilometers. After that, you will come across a sand mining plot where lots of trucks are parked and a bridge[main road] goes to your right. Apologies for no picture as I was driving & couldn't stop. This is the coordinate [24.892168, 86.938919] Once you cross this bridge, you will face ~2 kilometers of congested traffic till a small bridge again. Post that its a straight & smooth run till Amarpur.
25.038727, 86.903120 at this point, you might get confused, but you got to take a right here. You may ask for Bhagalpur. Left will lengthen your distance to Bhagalpur by at least 10/15 kilometers over unknown roads.
Lets go to Bhagalpur & its bypass
Once you reach Bhagalpur main road and at the junction where straight road from Dumka joins [earlier taken road] you have to go straight. Yes, do not take a left/right turn. [25.237249, 86.974585]
25.236785, 86.981302 Here you have to go straight. Its a roundabout and your straight is a bit towards right. Around 2 kilometers from there, you come across this
If you see this, it means, you are on right track. Its a pretty straight road. You have to make a left turn at one point. This is after crossing an IOCL outlet to your right and an HPCL pump [this being the marker of your left turn. You do not have to cross this]
Alternatively, if confused, simply ask for Setu.
Road after Vikramshila Setu is relaid, so if work doesn't finish, expect jams.
On sunday, I left Purnia at 1PM and reached Dhulagori toll [stayed at Motel Sonar Bangla] at 11:30PM.
While going back, I left the same place at around 19:15 and reached resort Mark & Meadows, Bolpur at 23:35. Had put up for the night.
Left the resort at a leisurely 10AM and after multiple stops and a relaxed drive, reached home [Purnia] at ~18:00.
Four lane is required, yes. But if you are in a peaceful state of mind and a car which can keep you comfortable over these roads, then no worries. I missed my 4WD Scorpio till I hit NH-2, post which Yeti did a game over [as well as on Messanjore route]