[Chico]

Hi fellow BHPians

I am planning a trip from Delhi to Kinnaur next week (24th to 31st July). Wanted to post this message to receive any updates on the road conditions for the routes to Kalpa and Chitkul. The routes I plan to follow are:

• To reach Chitkul:
  Delhi - Shimla - Kufri - Theog - Narkhanda - Rampur - Kharchaum - Sangla - Chitkul
• From Chitkul:
  Chitkul - Sangla - Kharchum - Powari - Rekong peo - Kalpa

1. Just wanted to check if any of the BHPians have been to these places recently and if so, how are the road conditions?
2. What are the chances of landslides on this route?
3. What are the risks on this route?
4. Is it doable on a Baleno?

Thanks for your help.

-Nilesh

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by Chico

[*]To reach Chitkul:
Delhi - Shimla - Kufri - Theog - Narkhanda - Rampur - Kharchaum - Sangla - Chitkul[*]From Chitkul:
Chitkul - Sangla - Kharchum - Powari - Rekong peo - Kalpa[/list]

1. Just wanted to check if any of the BHPians have been to these places recently and if so, how are the road conditions?
2. What are the chances of landslides on this route?
3. What are the risks on this route?
4. Is it doable on a Baleno?

Thanks for your help.

-Nilesh

Road is terrible currently (update from BolBolero 2-3 days ago) after Rampur. With more rains, they will break up further. Landslides - lots of repair work going on, but chances of getting stuck in any major landslide not high.

No risks on this route. Amy car will do, just be careful. And be flexible on timetables and hotel bookings.

[gkrishk]

NH47 between Trivandrum and Ernakulam-Kochi is in a horrible state after the onset of the monsoon. Except for parts between Trivandrum-Kollam and Kayamkulam-Haripad most of the road including the dual carriageway between Chertala and Aroor has lost the top layers of asphalt. This added to the usual congestion makes travel here a terrible experience.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by gkrishk

NH47 between Trivandrum and Ernakulam-Kochi is in a horrible state after the onset of the monsoon. Except for parts between Trivandrum-Kollam and Kayamkulam-Haripad most of the road including the dual carriageway between Chertala and Aroor has lost the top layers of asphalt. This added to the usual congestion makes travel here a terrible experience.

I think MC Road may be a better way to travel to Trivandrum!!

[sbraj]

Originally Posted by gkrishk

NH47 between Trivandrum and Ernakulam-Kochi is in a horrible state after the onset of the monsoon.

Thanks for this update.

Any info on the below sections?
1) Tenkasi-Kulathupuzha-Palode-TVM
2) Tenkasi-Kulathupuzha-Ayur-TVM
3) Tenkasi-Punalur-Kollam

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by sbraj

Thanks for this update.

Any info on the below sections?
1) Tenkasi-Kulathupuzha-Palode-TVM
2) Tenkasi-Kulathupuzha-Ayur-TVM
3) Tenkasi-Punalur-Kollam

Tenkasi-Punalur-Kollam, a friend went on it 10 days ago, it is good.
No news about the other two, but going by past, the road only shows some minor damage during the rains.

[shabahmad]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

From Raipur/Durg, it will be difficult to cross Kharagpur before 7 pm if the roads slow you down, but in normal circumstances you can.

Places to stay:
- Hotel Sheela Palace, Sambalpur, although you should cross Sambalpur by mid-morning
- Hotel Shreekshetra International, Keonjhar

One more place: OTDC Hotel Pantnivas keonjhar, is also an option.

Roads after raipur till Orrissa Border are OK, poth holes & top layer eroded,
In Orrissa till sambalpur roads are fine.Roads near Bargarh & Deogarh at some places are non existant with 1 ft deep potholes..muddy roads inside wildlife sanctuary.

But Driving throught Orissa from barakot to kendujhar is very scenic & beautiful..this road is open for heavy vehicles from 7AM till 7PM only, no issues after Keonjhar/jahsipur but roads are deserted & environment is quite scary at few places.
I crossed around 2.00 PM from there...roads are good with only trucks on the way & very few private vehicles.

In orrisa its very hard to find a good hotel to eat, if travelling with family travel only in day-light.

[vrprabhu]

Have to go to Mangalore from Pune via Hubli tommorrow.

Can anyone update the following section?

a. Hubli - Yellapur - Ankola

b. Ankola - Honnavar - Udupi

Thanks in advance!

[hvkumar]

TOI reports today that NH17 between Bombay and Goa is blocked due to floods in places south of Ratnagiri.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by vrprabhu

Have to go to Mangalore from Pune via Hubli tommorrow.

Can anyone update the following section?

a. Hubli - Yellapur - Ankola

b. Ankola - Honnavar - Udupi

Thanks in advance!

NH63 was in good shape a couple of weeks ago.
Someone who travelled on NH17 reported some bad sections in Kundapura-Udupi section, but rest seem to be OK, but I have no confirmation.

[vrprabhu]

Thank you, hvk sir.

I have to do some night journey (Palio's head lamps don't inspire much confidence) and hence the worry...

[hvkumar]

Check out this link on flooding in SH11:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/1994913-post57.html

Looks like the SH11 connecting Changanaserry and Alapuzha in Kerala is definitely one of the roads to avoid in the event of heavy rains in that region.

[hvkumar]

Heavy rains in South coastal Karnataka affects Udupi, Dakshin Kannad and Kodagu districts, affecting traffic on NH17 between Karwar and Mangalore, and roads to Puttur.

Udupi: Heavy Rain Causes Floods, Traffic Snarls along NH 17 near Brahmavar

[trrk]

Hi,

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Looks like the SH11 connecting Changanaserry and Alapuzha in Kerala is definitely one of the roads to avoid in the event of heavy rains in that region.

After the new roads have been completed, complete stoppage happens rarely and at the most for a day. This time so far it has not happened and the same last year too!

And the video shows the place where the maximum water comes in. This is about 12 kms from the NH47 towards Changanacherry.

In the first flooding this season the water was at least 3 inches more. Surprisingly the road has held up so far without damages in this place.

There are two huge craters about 3 kms from the junction at SH1.

[hvkumar]

Heavy rains in Uttarakhand means that NH58 from Rishikesh to Badrinath/Kedarnath is also badly affected by landslides and terrible roads. Expect dislocation. Here is a photo taken by my friend who drove to Kedarnath last week, via Deoprayag and Rudraprayag.