[honeybee]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

Jhansi-Gwalior section is very bad. Avoid, if possible.

If I do plan to visit Bhopal, how are the roads from Indore till Bhopal?

And what are the alternatives from there? Turn back from Bhopal or any alternate route?

Also, how is the traffic?

[Turbanator]

The best route identified by Google Maps seems to be via Nashik all the way to Indore. Just before Indore, the road turns left towards Ratlam, Mandsaur onto Kishangarh, then to Jaipur and from there to Gurgaon.

Yes, this should be preferred route, via Bhopal it will be longer perhaps and surely road conditions are not good between Gwalior & beyond.

Should I plan for an early morning start, reach and halt somewhere in MP, and then reach Delhi / Gurgaon the next day or plan for two nights' stay en route and target reaching Gurgaon/Delhi in broad daylight?

you can start in morning and stop somewhere close to Chittorgarh & start next day for Gurgaon/ Delhi. Try to reach Gurgaon by 9 Pm after which truck traffic will be very high

how are the roads from Indore till Bhopal?

Indore - Bhopal is fast 4 lane highway, you can stop in the midway at MP Tourism hotel/resort. If you must visit Bhopal, then you can continue via Jhansi- Gwalior, I don't see any reasons for going back to Indore.

Originally Posted by honeybee

If I do plan to visit Bhopal, how are the roads from Indore till Bhopal?

Superb 4/6 lane toll road between Bhopal and Indore via Dewas. I drove on this stretch in March 2016. The details are here.

what are the alternatives from there? Turn back from Bhopal or any alternate route?

There are two other routes Bhopal>Vidisha>Shivpuri>Gwalior or Bhopal>Biaora>Guna>Shivpuri>Gwalior, which can be considered. But, I have not driven on those routes. Please enquire with the long-distance truck drivers near Bhopal and select the better route out of these two based on their recommendations.

[honeybee]

Would the recent rains have played havoc?

I won't be driving on this route often, so I may make a detour to Bhopal to meet someone. If I decide to carry on from there via Zhansi and Gwalior, how bad are the roads? Non existent? Pockmarked? Potholed? Slushy?

Originally Posted by honeybee

Would the recent rains have played havoc?

Yes, MP and RJ bore the brunt of the recent monsoon. However, many roads withstood the furious rains. During my recent ride from Jaipur to Nagpur, I wanted to try Kota>Jhalawar>Bhopal. When I enquired with a long-distance trucker at Kota, he advised me against riding on Kota>Jhalawar stretch as it was damaged due to rains. So, I rode via Kota>Shivpuri>Jhansi>Chhindwara>Nagpur, which was excellent 4-lane NH free from any damages, except within Kota town. Enquiries with the long-distance truck drivers will help you decide the better route.

If I decide to carry on from there via Zhansi and Gwalior, how bad are the roads? Non existent? Pockmarked? Potholed? Slushy?

I rode Jhansi>Gwalior on 8 Sep 2016. Out of the four lanes, only two lanes were completed and open for traffic. So, one has to zig-zag through the umpteen deviations from one carriage way to the other on the pathetic potholed/cratered road. Add to that the evening peak hour traffic, cattle on the road, it is a total mess one would like to avoid. Thankfully, I did not return on that stretch again!

[honeybee]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

I rode Jhansi>Gwalior on 8 Sep 2016. Out of the four lanes, only two lanes were completed and open for traffic. So, one has to zig-zag through the umpteen deviations from one carriage way to the other on the pathetic potholed/cratered road. Add to that the evening peak hour traffic, cattle on the road, it is a total mess one would like to avoid. Thankfully, I did not return on that stretch again!

Leave out the cattle and add two wheelers and it's like the NH4!

Good tip about truckers. Will remember that.

[juggernaut1981]

Hi,

I did MP by road in June 2016. I took the following routes:

LEG 1: Delhi-Gurgaon-Jaipur-Kishangarh-Bhilwara-Chittorgarh-Neemuch-Mandsaur-Ujjain-Indore...

I did cover this 900 kms in one day! I started at 5:30am from Dwarka (Delhi) and reached Indore (MG road) by 8:30pm.

I was driving alone to Indore. Roads were fantastic, only the Rajasthan toll booths were a headache as they were grossly mismanaged. I was initially apprehensive about MP road conditions, but they were in superlative condition. It was such a pleasant drive.

While coming back from Indore to Delhi, I took a somewhat different route:

LEG 2: Indore – Bhopal – vidisha – Sanchi stupas – Sagar – Bada Malhera – Chhatarpur – Khajuraho – Panna.

I took a 2 night’s halt at Khajuraho and apart from witnessing the beautiful temples, I also did Panna tiger reserve safari.
Road from Indore to Bada Malhera was excellent with 4 lane highways – however lack of road signge was a big problem. We had to continuously check google maps or ask the long distance truckers. After Bada Malhera, the moment we entered Bundelkhand region, it deteriorated extremely. Chattarpur to Khajuraho was good, but quite narrow. Khajuraho to Panna was extremely bad.
After two days in Khajuraho, we did the next leg:

LEG 3: Khajuraho – Chattarpur – Jhansi – Shivpuri

Till Jhansi it was Ok, crossing Jhansi was a nightmare. Jhansi to Shivpuri was a dream like 100km straight 4 lane highway… and probably the best views. We took a night’s halt at Shivpuri.
Our next leg was straight to Delhi

LEG 4: Shivpuri – Gwalior – Morena – Agra – Greater Noida – Delhi

Nightmarish roads till Gwalior…no roads at all… diversions every 500 mts, no signage… heavy traffic… once we approached Gwalior, it became worse and crossing Gwalior was again a big headache. Somehow did it and then managed till Agra… crossing Agra to take Yamuna expressway took 1.5 hrs…once we were on Yamuna expressway, it was a breeze. We drove steadily at 90kmph and that was a wise decision. We saw one santro crossing us with high speed and then after about 40 kms ahead, we crossed them, with their tyre burst.

All in all, drove about 2400 odd kms in this whole trip!

[arishi1]

Any updates on the road conditions between Bhopal and Delhi.

[columbus]

Originally Posted by arishi1

Any updates on the road conditions between Bhopal and Delhi.

Bhopal-Vidisha-Bina-Malthone-Jhansi-Gwalior-Agra-Delhi

The above is the shortest and the best route.

[Turbanator]

Anyone who has travelled on this route recently?

Planning a trip from Gurgaon to Bhopal, beyond Gwalior depending on the road conditions, need to take a call.

[Mr.mitsuvolk]

Originally Posted by Turbanator

Anyone who has travelled on this route recently?

Planning a trip from Gurgaon to Bhopal, beyond Gwalior depending on the road conditions, need to take a call.

Jhansi to Bhopal is perfect, infact instead of taking the Bina - Vidisha - Sanchi route, you can now come via Sironj - Berasia route, it is shorter and the road has been freshly laid.

Gwalior - Jhansi is not in good shape, patch work has been done on potholes and there are numerous diversions.


If you really come down, then do let me know, the Bhopali enthusiasts would love to host you here.

[Turbanator]

Originally Posted by Mr.mitsuvolk

Jhansi to Bhopal is perfect, infact instead of taking the Bina - Vidisha - Sanchi route, you can now come via Sironj - Berasia route, it is shorter and the road has been freshly laid.

Gwalior - Jhansi is not in good shape, patch work has been done on potholes and there are numerous diversions.
If you really come down, then do let me know, the Bhopali enthusiasts would love to host you here.

Thanks for the information and invitation

So, should I take this route

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Guru...23.2599333!3e0

or the one suggested by google?


https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Guru...1524974400!3e0

[Mr.mitsuvolk]

Originally Posted by Turbanator

Thanks for the information and invitation

So, should I take this route

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Guru...23.2599333!3e0

or the one suggested by google?


https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Guru...1524974400!3e0

I am sorry, I have probably confused you. When I said you can take the Sironj - Berasiya - Bhopal route, I meant that you come all the way till Bina by the route mentioned earlier i.e. Gwalior - Jhansi - Malthone - Bina and then instead of Bina - Vidisha - Bhopal, you can take Bina - Sironj - Berasiya - Bhopal. The latter is shorter and is a newly built road. I hope I am clear to you now.

Since I am not familiar with the other route that Google is suggesting you, I would refrain from commenting on it.

[rkhare]

Actually both the routes are OK with some rough patches.
The route Google suggest is shorter, but 4 laning is in progress between Gwalior and Guna. Rest is awesome.
The route suggested by Vishal is longer and has some rough patches between Gwalior and Jhansi, rest is excellent. Total time would be almost same using both routes.

[Turbanator]

Reached Bhopal a while ago and will update the conditions before I forget

started around 6 30 last evening from Gurgaon, took the KMP way and then onto the old highway to Agra, Eastern peripheral road is almost ready and they should open any day, thereafter one can travel to AE way instead of the old highway. I am not sure if this route is already open but due to the night, I did not try. Old Agra highway is better than before but there are 3-4 major bottlenecks- Toll booths & diversions at Kosi and Hodel.

There is a new Tolled Agra Bypass, which is clearly marked about 30 km before Agra, one needs to take a left to get onto the bridge that takes to the other side, straight goes to Agra. One of best sections on the highway. Joins the Agra- Bombay highway which is 4 laned, regular traffic but too much of rush at Tolls. Gwalior bypass is not complete yet, as it was getting late and the route being unfamiliar, I stayed in the night in the Gwalior city at a new Raddison property.

This morning started around 10 30 from Gwalior and reached Bhopal by 4 with no stops, total Toll paid from Gwalior to Bhopal -Rs 50

The route I took was

Gwalior - Shivpuri- Guna - Sironj- Bhopal.

Gwalior- Shivpuri - is 90 % - 4 laned now, some ghat section before Shivpuri and also bypass of Gwalior and Shivpuri are pending. Similarly, the road to Guna is 4 laned and there is no toll on both of the highways yet, which are otherwise excellent.

Before Guna, google suggested to go via Sironj instead of the regular Guna bypass and thereafter to Biaora, I took the road to Sironj which is a 2 laned Toll Road. About 8 Km before Sironj, there is a bypass for Berasia- Bhopal which is a 2 laned road but via some ghat sections.
I am not aware if this was a correct decision or should I have taken the Guna bypass and come via Biaora but it was a great route for the daytime. No truck traffic but this route is definitely not for the night time.

Thanks to Mr. Mitsuvolk and rKhare for their inputs.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Guru...23.2599333!3e0