[Gansan]

^^ Thank you. He has taken the exact route and checked into hotel at Ongole by lunch time.

Rains are expected to lash North TN/South AP coasts tomorrow and Tuesday. I have told him to watch the weather reports, stay put at Ongole for a couple of days if necessary and proceed with caution.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Gansan

I have told him to watch the weather reports, stay put at Ongole for a couple of days if necessary and proceed with caution.

I think he'll have a better shot to reach Madras today than tomorrow or day-after. If its not rideable, he can retire at Nellore.

[Gansan]

^^ He left Ongole at 7 a.m. this morning, must be at or have crossed Nellore by now. He is coming through, current forecast is the rains are not expected till late night/tomorrow early morning.

He is expected to check in at his accommodation around 2 p.m.

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by narayans80

I think he'll have a better shot to reach Madras today

He has arrived and checked into his accommodation by 2 p.m. Going out to meet him in a few hours.

A 2100 km ride by a 75 year old! He took his time of course, but did it in a leisurely and stress free manner.

[Majetisantosh]

Hi,

I am planning a road trip from Chennai to Vizag during Christmas break. Unable to locate a credible Chennai Vizag thread. Can you guys help me with a few queries.
1. Trustworthy gas stations on NH5. I may need a refill after Vijayawada. But I dont mind filling up earlier if they have decent restrooms.
2. Good places for breakfast and lunch along NH5. Again decent restrooms will help.
3. Planning to take a couple of quick power naps at big gas stations? Is it safe? Travelling with family
4. Any major diversions I should know of? I am aware that Vijayawada is a pain point.
5. How is the traffic in this stretch? Especially on Saturdays?

Trip plan
1. Start at 5:30am from Chennai
2. Have breakfast around 8:30 at Gudur/Nellore
3. I'd prefer to lunch before Vijayawada followed by a siesta.
4. Fill gas after crossing Vijayawada.
5. Planning to do a break journey with overnight stay at Rajahmundry (hoping to reach by 5pm in the evening)

Car:
Renault Triber AMT
I am not a very aggressive driver. Would prefer travelling at 80-100kmph.

[hserus]

I did most of this route (actually Rajahmundry to Chennai on my way back from Maredumilli) over this weekend and it is mostly fine except for a few stretches of roadwork.

There are good petrol pumps including Reliance and Essar. There are speed cameras on the roads as well cops in boleros that are fitted with speed guns so stay at 80.

You can get a nap while parked in petrol pumps or a restaurant parking, it is fine. Done it before - just make sure your door is locked and windows not open more than a crack for ventilation.

Originally Posted by Majetisantosh

Hi,

I am planning a road trip from Chennai to Vizag during Christmas break. Unable to locate a credible Chennai Vizag thread. Can you guys help me with a few queries.
1. Trustworthy gas stations on NH5. I may need a refill after Vijayawada. But I dont mind filling up earlier if they have decent restrooms.
2. Good places for breakfast and lunch along NH5. Again decent restrooms will help.
3. Planning to take a couple of quick power naps at big gas stations? Is it safe? Travelling with family
4. Any major diversions I should know of? I am aware that Vijayawada is a pain point.
5. How is the traffic in this stretch? Especially on Saturdays?

Trip plan
1. Start at 5:30am from Chennai
2. Have breakfast around 8:30 at Gudur/Nellore
3. I'd prefer to lunch before Vijayawada followed by a siesta.
4. Fill gas after crossing Vijayawada.
5. Planning to do a break journey with overnight stay at Rajahmundry (hoping to reach by 5pm in the evening)

Car:
Renault Triber AMT
I am not a very aggressive driver. Would prefer travelling at 80-100kmph.

[Majetisantosh]

Thanks a lot sir.
One doubt, any idea where the speed guns are installed. Couldn't find one during our trip from Hyderabad to Chennai. I.e. Ongole to Chennai stretch.

Originally Posted by hserus

I did most of this route (actually Rajahmundry to Chennai on my way back from Maredumilli) over this weekend and it is mostly fine except for a few stretches of roadwork.

There are good petrol pumps including Reliance and Essar. There are speed cameras on the roads as well cops in boleros that are fitted with speed guns so stay at 80.

You can get a nap while parked in petrol pumps or a restaurant parking, it is fine. Done it before - just make sure your door is locked and windows not open more than a crack for ventilation.

[narayans80]

Drove till Suryapet on Friday and Saturday.

On the Nellore direction, only one diversion exists at Kavarapettai. Even that bridge seems to be complete, but not opened for service.

Wading through Chilakaluripet was the only annoyance in the otherwise excellent drive till Vijayawada.

Except for a 200 meter stretch at Audi Shankara college, remaining stretch of the bridge had 1.5 lanes open for traffic. This has been the best case scenario since Nivar cyclone took the bridge out.

Complemented by excellent lunch at Mangalagiri Murgan. One of the best lunch we've had in trips

Started next morning from Vijayawada and continued only till Suryapet for this route. Refueled at Paritala BPCL COCO.

One stretch had a diversion near Kodad which was manageable. Could do 100 on the remaining stretches.

[Gokrish]

Completed a round trip, Chennai - Secunderabad - Chennai during the last week. Started the trip on 24th December 2022 from Anna Arch and took the route of Tada - Nellore - Ongole - NAM - Ramoji Film City - Bowenpally. Excellent route for a peaceful drive. We, a family of four, started at 4 am and reached Bowenpally at 2.30 pm. Breakfast at "16 Cafe - designed for travelers" at Ongole right on the side of NH. The food was yummy and cheap too! I would definitely recommend this restaurant to all travelers. Since, we knew that not many options are available for lunch on NAM Road, we drove straight to the destination. Even on a Saturday, the traffic at Hyderabad was really bad. The stretch of 39 km from Ramoji film city to Bowenpally took almost 1.30 hours!

Started the return journey on 27th at 11.00 pm and reached home at 9.15 am. On return journey, took the ORR route to join NH 65 near Ramoji Film city. Traffic was heavy on NH 65 till Narketpalle. Poor visibility due to foggy condition on the Ongole-Nellore stretch and the visibility was not even 100 meters! Had to crawl at a speed of 20 kmph! Usual morning traffic on the stretch between Tada and Puzhal!

[chipsnchops]

Hi there,

I'm planning a trip from Hyderabad to Mahabalipuram next month. Normally I start my trips at around 4 am so that I can cover a lot of distance by 8 or 9 am when the traffic would be in full swing.

This time, I would be starting from Hyderabad at about 2 pm. I don't think I will be able to reach Mahabalipuram on the same night. I also will have my 13 yr old daughter with me.

Which place would be an ideal halt so that I can reach Mahabalipuram the next morning by 11 or 11.30 am?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[hserus]

Originally Posted by chipsnchops

Hi there,

I'm planning a trip from Hyderabad to Mahabalipuram next month. Normally I start my trips at around 4 am so that I can cover a lot of distance by 8 or 9 am when the traffic would be in full swing.
.

Stop at somewhere like Ongole which is just past the NAM expressway’s chennai endpoint.

Or given the distances fly to Chennai and get a cab to Mahabs? The road is not suited for family travel thanks to the NAM expressway area and most of the route having not all that many restaurants and clean toilets.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by chipsnchops

starting from Hyderabad at about 2 pm

If you are doing a near non-stop drive. Except maybe 5-10 minute loo, coffee breaks, you should make it to Nellore same night.

We took 8 hours with a dinner break and torrential rain from ORR exit to Minerva Grand . We did 4pm-midnight. You should be able to do well within the time.

[gismosin]

Recently did a round trip from Hyderabad to Pondicherry with stops in Chennai and Mahabalipuram.


Overall road condition is excellent with some minor road work happening in patches. The route I took is as below:


ORR: - as always, excellent road but did spot a goods tempo overturned. So, keep any eye out on an otherwise lovely road. If you have ADAS best, place to use it.
NH65: - the road from ORR Pedda Amberpet exit till the toll section of NH65 is average at best with some road development activity happening. Once you hit the toll road, the road itself is excellent. This road has a high volume of traffic, especially trucks and buses and we did encounter two accidents involving buses. This road has excellent highway amenities in terms of food & restrooms, make use of them before you exit this highway at Narketpally.
NH 167A/ SH 36:- Overall road is excellent. Four lanes except in some places. Wayside amenities are not the best, especially if you have your family traveling with you. However, you will never be short of basic amenities and fuel. Clean restrooms on this route remain a challenge. You have plenty of roadside dhabas though.
NH16: - Another excellent road with some excellent wayside amenities concentrated around cities/towns and miles of nothing in between. The six-lane road turns in to a four lane one halfway through but is still an excellent road to drive on.



I also recorded the drive with my dash-cam and made a concise video for other travelers which I find could be helpful, do check it out here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dg2o8bLgF4

[Vibhav-Van]

Traveling from Hyderabad to Ponndicherry next weekend. Planning a night halt at Nellore.
I heard the erstwhile N5 has reopened under a new name called 'G2B'. Is that true? Even Google is showing this new name of G2B when I search for N5. How is that place now for a lunch halt?

For a 7AM start from Hyderabad, there seem to be no other options for a lunch halt except this place.

Fuel - Does the JRO Indian Oil pump at Surareddy Palem near N5 have XP95? I'm trying to find XP95 to the maximum possible extent.

[bblost]

Originally Posted by Vibhav-Van

Traveling from Hyderabad to Ponndicherry next weekend. Planning a night halt at Nellore.
I heard the erstwhile N5 has reopened under a new name called 'G2B'. Is that true? Even Google is showing this new name of G2B when I search for N5. How is that place now for a lunch halt?

It does not really matter as the time between this Toll Gate restaurant and Nellow city is hardly 90 mins.