[Cavalier]

For Ramgarh you want to take the Rampur-Haldwani-Bhimtal-Bhowali-Ramgarh route,is the normally preferred route, rather than Suar-Bazpur-Naini.

[satrab]

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions.

Just returned to Delhi from Ramgarh. Had a great trip. Left Delhi on Saturday May 12. Left Vasant Kunj at 8.15 am. Went up Aurobindo Marg and then took the Barupulla bridge. As a Mumbakar was left in awe at the roads inside Delhi.

Reached Gajraula around 10.30. Had some great parathas at a joint called Bhajan inside the BPCL petrol pump. The road was really very nice. Could drive at fairly decent speeds in the Yeti. They are relaying the Moradabad bypass, so essentially single lane roads. Speeds were still good. Finally went via the Rampur-Rudrapur-Haldwani route. Didn't face too many problems, except for a very bad patch around Bilaspur. That stretch actually made me glad that I was driving a 4 wheel drive vehicle. There was truck ahead of me and I just stayed behind it, albeit at a distance. Was worried it might fall, given the way it was swaying from side to side.

Reached Haldwani around 3 and then Bhimtal at 4. There was in immense amount of traffic all the way till Bhowali. The drive from Bhowali upto Ramgarh was magic. It started drizzling just before we reached Gagar and then for a while there was a small hailstorm. Its been about 20 years since I last saw a hailstorm and that was back when I still lived in Shillong. Reached The hotel at about 5 pm.

Stayed at Ashok Vatika, which is next to the Cliff House, a part of the Neemrana Ramgarh Bungalows. It really is a great place. Thanks trippy_monkey for the tip. Won't get into details about the stay, except to mention that the road from Talla Ramgarh to Nathuakhan is now really smooth, while that from Nathuakhan to Hartola has started showing its age a bit. Did a bit of off-roading around Hartola. The road to Mukteswar through the IVRI campus is fairly rough, but the surroundings more than make up for it.

On the way back, started from Ramgarh at 9 am. Took the same route as on the way up. Reached the paratha place at Gajraula at 2.30. Left Gajraula at 3 and hit the Delhi border at 4.35. Reached Vasant Kunj at 5.30.

Few observations. Traffic discipline in Delhi seems to have improved a lot. Was a bit scared of driving in Delhi, but was quite comfortable. The traffic lights in UP weren't great. Had a bit of problem figuring out the red signal. Ultimately settled for focusing on the green. That was much clearer.

Have mixed feelings about the road widening. Am sure it will be good, but there are far too many trees being cut down.

[rajpandey10]

Hi,

I am planning to visit Nainital in this weekend with wife and kid, can you please tell me which route i shall take and as now monsoons are going on can somebody tell me how are the condition of the roads?

Raj...

[sgiitk]

I will not risk a trip to Uttarakhand at this time. They are in a mess thanks to the rain Gods, even though the damage at present seems to be confined to Garhwal but one never knows.

[rajpandey10]

Originally Posted by sgiitk

I will not risk a trip to Uttarakhand at this time. They are in a mess thanks to the rain Gods, even though the damage at present seems to be confined to Garhwal but one never knows.

I heard about the news about landslides etc. in Garhwal.. I am not sure Nainital route will be in good condition. Confused .
Okey if things seems to be risky then do you have any suggestion for other places to visit near delhi. except (jaipur, agra shimla)

[sgiitk]

Originally Posted by rajpandey10

I heard about the news about landslides etc. in Garhwal.. I am not sure Nainital route will be in good condition. Confused .
Okey if things seems to be risky then do you have any suggestion for other places to visit near delhi. except (jaipur, agra shimla)

You may be able to approach Kumaon hills as the route is different - via Haldwani as against via Hardwar-Dehradun. However, I will not risk it. How about the foothills - say Ramnagar, or another option will be Bharatpur!

[sameerg001]

Originally Posted by rajpandey10

Hi,

I am planning to visit Nainital in this weekend with wife and kid, can you please tell me which route i shall take and as now monsoons are going on can somebody tell me how are the condition of the roads?

Raj...

I didn't heard any news of landslide in nainital area, You can surely do Nainital easily.

Take Delhi-Moradabad-Rampur-Rudrapur-Haldwani-Kathgodam-Nainital route. Try leaving your house around 4 in the morning and you'll be at nainital by 11 including break in between.

Roads are good, 4 laned till Moradabad, After which It single 2 laned road, But the surface is good. You'll get some good potholes for around 5 km area, just before rudrapur. Apart from that, roads are in pretty good condition.

You can stop for a midway break at gajraula, There is bikaner/dominoes/Mc.D, Or if you want some dhaba stuff, There is Monga Dhaba at gajraula on left hand side while going from delhi, They serve yummy Aloo parantha's.

The garwhal area is affected mainly with landslide, Naintal is easily do able.

Let me know, If you need any more help

Cheers,
Sameer

[rajpandey10]

Originally Posted by sameerg001

I didn't heard any news of landslide in nainital area, You can surely do Nainital easily.

Take Delhi-Moradabad-Rampur-Rudrapur-Haldwani-Kathgodam-Nainital route. Try leaving your house around 4 in the morning and you'll be at nainital by 11 including break in between.

Thanks, your post boosted my morale, actaully i was worried about the landslides and in these monsoon season mostly road are washed away, and i planning with Zen Estilo and i was just make sure that i didnt deal with bad roads much... while reading forums i came across another route too.

Delhi - Moradabad - Tanda - Chaupura - Bazpur - Kaladhungi - Nainital

Can you please shed some light on this route and which one is best to go on this monsoon season.

Roads are good, 4 laned till Moradabad, After which It single 2 laned road, But the surface is good. You'll get some good potholes for around 5 km area, just before rudrapur. Apart from that, roads are in pretty good condition.

You can stop for a midway break at gajraula, There is bikaner/dominoes/Mc.D, Or if you want some dhaba stuff, There is Monga Dhaba at gajraula on left hand side while going from delhi, They serve yummy Aloo parantha's.

Nice piece of info.. thanks.

[sameerg001]

Originally Posted by rajpandey10

Thanks, your post boosted my morale, actaully i was worried about the landslides and in these monsoon season mostly road are washed away, and i planning with Zen Estilo and i was just make sure that i didnt deal with bad roads much... while reading forums i came across another route too.

Delhi - Moradabad - Tanda - Chaupura - Bazpur - Kaladhungi - Nainital

Can you please shed some light on this route and which one is best to go on this monsoon season.

In this monsoon season, I won't take this route. Last year, I went on this route just after monsoon and there was no road but potholes, I just can't go above 1st gear and occasionally 2nd for few meters. This lasted for over 30 kms and even after that you just can't go over 50-60.

I'll suggest you to take Delhi-Moradabad-Rampur-Rudrapur-Haldwani-Kathgodam. On this route, You can do speeds of 100-120 easily till Moradabad. Road from Hapur to Moradabad is just awesome, I went there last month and did 120 for most of the time till moradabad.

From Moradabad toll, You will get on Single 2 laned road, where you can do 70-80 for most of time, You'll encounter few small town in between which will slow down your average speed, But I will suggest you to take this route over Tanda-Kaladhungi route.

The kaladhungi route offers great scenery but the condition of roads, specially in rain, IMO won't be good to enjoy your drive.

If your car have CNG, Then you can get CNG just after crossing gajraula. However, CNG retails there for 58/- for 1 KG.

Cheers
Sameer

[rajpandey10]

Originally Posted by sameerg001

From Moradabad toll, You will get on Single 2 laned road, where you can do 70-80 for most of time, You'll encounter few small town in between which will slow down your average speed, But I will suggest you to take this route over Tanda-Kaladhungi route.

The kaladhungi route offers great scenery but the condition of roads, specially in rain, IMO won't be good to enjoy your drive.

If your car have CNG, Then you can get CNG just after crossing gajraula. However, CNG retails there for 58/- for 1 KG.

Cheers
Sameer

Thanks, i'll consider the route suggested by you, BTW i dont have pertol car which dosent have CNG.

[issigonis]

>>>

Calling all bhpians who will have done New Delhi - Ranikhet (or Nainital) in the coming weeks to brief me about road conditions on the following route options from Moradabad northwards:

1. Moradabad bypass - Rampur (bypass) - Suar* - Bazpur - Kaladhungi- Haldwani bypass - Kathgodam

(* I am excluding the Moradabad - Tanda - Darhiyal - Bazpur stretch in favour of Moradabad bypass - Rampur (bypass)- Suar since the former is said to be in an atrocious state)

2. Moradabad bypass - Rampur - Bilaspur - Rudrapur - Haldwani bypass - Kathgodam

and

3. Moradabad bypass - Thakurdwar - Kashipur - Ramnagar - Kaladhungi- Haldwani bypass - Kathgodam

I plan to do a Bombay- Uttarakhand drive again in end Sept-early Oct this year.

Regards
issigonis

[rajpandey10]

Originally Posted by sameerg001

In this monsoon season, I won't take this route.
=======
If your car have CNG, Then you can get CNG just after crossing gajraula. However, CNG retails there for 58/- for 1 KG.

Cheers
Sameer

I went to Nainital by the route suggested by you, till Moradabad route was fantastic and after that it was 2 lane road and the road was okey... but between the bilaspur around for 10-20 kms road has some real good pot holes but those are manageable if driven carefully... and from Kathgodam to Nainital roads are fantastic.. i loved to drive those mountains with butter smooth road..

My ride to Nainital was adventurous because after Gajraula it rain gods were angry on me and i driving in heavy rain for around 2 hours.. But it was wonderful.. i enjoyed all the green scenery, cool waves and these days mountains are awesome to watch..

[issigonis]

Originally Posted by satrab

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions.

Had some great parathas at a joint called Bhajan inside the BPCL petrol pump.

>>>
satrab,

Is the BPCL a COCO? With an Apna Ghar attached?

Regards
issigonis

[satrab]

Originally Posted by issigonis

>>>
satrab,

Is the BPCL a COCO? With an Apna Ghar attached?

Regards
issigonis

Hi issigonis, yes that's indeed a BPCL COCO. Don't remember if there's an Apna Ghar attached though.

Regards,

Satrab

[issigonis]

Originally Posted by issigonis

>>>

Calling all bhpians who will have done New Delhi - Ranikhet (or Nainital) in the coming weeks to brief me about road conditions on the following route options from Moradabad northwards:

1. Moradabad bypass - Rampur (bypass) - Suar* - Bazpur - Kaladhungi- Haldwani bypass - Kathgodam

(* I am excluding the Moradabad - Tanda - Darhiyal - Bazpur stretch in favour of Moradabad bypass - Rampur (bypass)- Suar since the former is said to be in an atrocious state)

2. Moradabad bypass - Rampur - Bilaspur - Rudrapur - Haldwani bypass - Kathgodam

and

3. Moradabad bypass - Thakurdwar - Kashipur - Ramnagar - Kaladhungi- Haldwani bypass - Kathgodam

I plan to do a Bombay- Uttarakhand drive again in end Sept-early Oct this year.

Regards
issigonis

Any inputs fellow drivers?
My day is drawing ever nearer- plan to start on 30th September.