[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by hyd_traveller

OMG, a frequent traveller, a well read person who should be advising others, is asking here!!!

Not as frequent as you though!
This is my third trip on that highway in the past 4 years. Both my prior trips were after 3 pm, with dinner halt at Bangalore. This will be my first morning trip, hence the question for lunch break. Thanks for that suggestion, but I guess I'll have to take a U turn to reach that.

And this time I'm using a petrol car, which won't take me to Bangalore on a full tank, so I gotta refuel somewhere. A good COCO bunk is what I'm looking for.

[gajadonga]

Last weekend I traveled between Banglore and Hyderabad.

When travelling from Hyderabad after Buthpur you have restaurant named 97 it is 97kms from Hyderabad decent washrooms ample parking .
Pricing was on the higher side but food quantity and quality was good.

Traveling back from Banglore found a new restaurant 85kms from Kurnool towards Hyderabad called Pyramid looks to be decent place for stopover.

[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by gajadonga

Last weekend I traveled between Banglore and Hyderabad.

When travelling from Hyderabad after Buthpur you have restaurant named 97 it is 97kms from Hyderabad decent washrooms ample parking .
Pricing was on the higher side but food quantity and quality was good.

Traveling back from Banglore found a new restaurant 85kms from Kurnool towards Hyderabad called Pyramid looks to be decent place for stopover.

Thanks, but I'll be crossing 97 around 11 am, a bit too early for lunch. I guess i'll scout for something in or after Ananthapur.

[M35]

Originally Posted by M35

Any other options in the same area and beyond until Ananthpur? Any suggestions in Ananthapur will also help but not beyond.
Thanks

Typing this from Hyderabad. Started from Rajakkad at 7.15 am and halted at Hotel Rose Garden @ chikkaballapur. One needs to drive about 6 kms away from NH 7 towards the town. An average budget hotel with parking space in front. Food can be ordered from the next door restaurant but we wouldn't eat from there any more. Clean rooms and toilets though.

Originally Posted by gajadonga

Yelhaka in Banglore has lots of options to stay.
Better would be stay at Hosur so that can hit the highway in the morning

Was too early for a halt at Hosur. Thanks for the post. Reached Hyderabad by 2.30 pm. There is a new Hotel some 50-60 km to Hyderabad called Adarsh. Very good food and clean toilets.

[Banarsi]

Originally Posted by Banarsi

I thank all of you for the advise. Still unsure about the 6 pm departure or the 3 am one. Will be travelling on 23rd night or 24th morning and will let everyone know how it turned out.

As promised. Eventually decided on avoiding the night halt. Left Bangalore (Trinity Circle, MG Road) at 0330h on 24 Jan and reached Shamsabad Airport Parking at 0950. Distance 569Km. Total time six hours, 20 minutes. Only two breaks of 10 min each enroute. Exit from Bangalore was super quick as there was practically no city traffic at that hour. No problems of driving at night: Well marked roads, Toll booths manned. Only hassle was a few speed breakers between Devenhalli and the next 70 odd km. As it was my first time on this road, was not expecting them.

Return today, departure Hyderabad (ISB, Gachibowli) at 1100h, reached Bangalore (Trinity Circle) at 1830h. Distance 602 Km Total time 7 hours 30 minutes. Two fifteen minute halts plus one refueling halt. Traffic within Bangalore was fairly light probably on account of 26 Jan holiday.

[Krishroy]

I think, Hyderabad - Bangalore can be done any time of the day. It is a super-fantastic, safe road with required road signs, adequate dhabas and petrol pumps.

Regarding speed breaker, you need to be little careful (specially at night). While coming from Bangalore, upto Nandi Hills there are 4 speed breakers. However, with the new road construction work, the height of these speed breakers are not much. Till Devanahalli, you will find two more. Finally, couple of more you will find while approaching Ananthpur. However, you should still be alert, as new speed breaker might come up anytime

[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by Banarsi

Return today, departure Hyderabad (ISB, Gachibowli) at 1100h, reached Bangalore (Trinity Circle) at 1830h. Distance 602 Km Total time 7 hours 30 minutes. Two fifteen minute halts plus one refueling halt. Traffic within Bangalore was fairly light probably on account of 26 Jan holiday.

Looks like we criss-crossed each other. What vehicle were you driving? I was on my maroon Fiesta. I left KNarayanapuram at 1115 hours and reached home near Necklace Road station at 1800 hours, with a 30-minute halt for fuel and lunch at Reliance A1 Plaza, near Kasepalli toll booth.

[Sujair]

Originally Posted by gajadonga

Traveling back from Banglore found a new restaurant 85kms from Kurnool towards Hyderabad called Pyramid looks to be decent place for stopover.

I stopped over at the pyramid on 26th Jan for lunch . Huge parking lot & very neat restaurant . Veg biriyani 170 rs and Chicken biriyani 185 rs . Taste and quality were good . The place is largely under construction . Not sure what else is coming up there.

[vnabhi]

For the benefit of people driving to Bangalore from Hyderabad, the total toll now works out to Rs 634, including the 80 rupee toll a little after Bangalore airport. Below are details of the amount and distance from Park Hotel, Somajiguda:

1. Rs 58 at 62 kms
2. Rs 56 at 122 kms
3. Rs 90 at 209 kms (while entering Kurnool)
4. Rs 90 at 259 kms
5. Rs 85 at 318 kms
6. Rs 95 at 385 kms
7. Rs 80 at 475 kms (Bagepalle)
8. Rs 80 at 530 kms (Devanahalli)

As advised by others, caution is advised for 5 kms after toll # 3 at the entrance of Kurnool, right after the bridge. Almost every car was being flagged down. I too was asked to show my DL, RC and PUC. As I had all, I was asked to proceed. But I lost 10 minutes in the process. If I did not have them, the fine was around 500 for each.

Another XUV in front of me was fined Rs 500 for speeding at 82 kmph when the limit was 70! Thanks to earlier posts on this thread, I was just under 70, though it was pretty tough to be under the limit. The exact spot of checking was opposite Tata Motors, close to the service road that leads to a big hotel which many members used for breakfast, like Hyd_Traveller.

But I did not encounter any checking on my return journey on 26th January. Perhaps they don't work on holidays, or check only on one direction.

[Banarsi]

Originally Posted by vnabhi

Looks like we criss-crossed each other. What vehicle were you driving? I was on my maroon Fiesta. I left KNarayanapuram at 1115 hours and reached home near Necklace Road station at 1800 hours, with a 30-minute halt for fuel and lunch at Reliance A1 Plaza, near Kasepalli toll booth.

I was in a sand grey Optra Magnum.

[Krishroy]

[quote=vnabhi;3900512]
Another XUV in front of me was fined Rs 500 for speeding at 82 kmph when the limit was 70! QUOTE]

Hi vnabhi - very useful info; thanks

Also, be careful about speed limit while driving between Hebbal & Bangalore Airport. On 22nd Jan, while coming back from Bangalore, I paid Rs 300 for over-speeding. I was at 100, while the limit was 80.

[deepv]

Originally Posted by vnabhi

...
But I did not encounter any checking on my return journey on 26th January. Perhaps they don't work on holidays, or check only on one direction.

I have done two trips in last couple of months or so, and noticed traffic invariably slows down at this point while going towards Bangalore.
I thought it was mostly because of trucks' checking, luckily didn't get flagged down any time either way. Surely takes away precious 10-15 mins!

[vnabhi]

[quote=Krishroy;3900834]

Originally Posted by vnabhi

Also, be careful about speed limit while driving between Hebbal & Bangalore Airport. On 22nd Jan, while coming back from Bangalore, I paid Rs 300 for over-speeding. I was at 100, while the limit was 80.

Thanks, but I am aware of that limit, because most bhpians from Hyderabad got pulled over at that place over the past 2 years. I stuck to 75 on both my trips in the past 3 months.

Originally Posted by deepv

I have done two trips in last couple of months or so, and noticed traffic invariably slows down at this point while going towards Bangalore.
I thought it was mostly because of trucks' checking, luckily didn't get flagged down any time either way. Surely takes away precious 10-15 mins!

Did you ever notice cops stopping people on the BLR to HYD road at that spot?

[deepv]

Originally Posted by vnabhi

...

Did you ever notice cops stopping people on the BLR to HYD road at that spot?

Venu Sir .. As I mentioned I noticed trucks being stopped and waiting in queue both the times I had gone.
The first time I didn't have much of idea so was just going at decent speed, but later I had read here about the cops checking so was a little careful once city limits started.

Not quite sure whether it was the time I passed .. must be around 9:30am/10am while going both times.

[vnabhi]

BHPian Downsouth rode his KTM to BLR last week, and said the cops have moved the speed-check to some place between Kurnool and Dhone. Looks like they are on a money-making spree. I'd have been a sitting duck in that area, as it is difficult to drive below 70 kmph.

And I did notice several speed limits all along the entire stretch, which seemed ridiculously low.

It looks like AP government is looking for all avenues to make money, given their desperate situation. I've seen cops fining cars on the Vizag Anakapalli stretch last month, if they exceeded 50 kmph!