Team-BHP > Travelogues > Route / Travel Queries


Reply
  Search this Thread
19,042 views
Old 3rd November 2009, 02:32   #16
Team-BHP Support
 
Zappo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 5,917
Thanked: 2,651 Times

I always take the Khammam route. You come out on the GQ at Rajahmundry. 2 months back when I came via that route though I found a few potholes too many due to all that late rains. But still that route remains my favorite. Do not even think of taking the vijaywada route. Its pathetic in terms of traffic density and also adds to the distance.

By the way, 3 am is pretty early! I always leave at 5 am from Hyd and still reach Vizag latest by 3 pm. Some spirited driving has also seen me into Vizag by 2 pm at times.

P.S.: I have always stayed at Hotel Senora. Its by the beach and at 1500 rupees double bed rooms (huge AC'd rooms) is pretty good VFM I thought. However the last I went there the place was undergoing major renovation, mainly from outside.

Last edited by Zappo : 16th November 2009 at 15:49.
Zappo is offline  
Old 3rd November 2009, 02:48   #17
BHPian
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 89
Thanked: 8 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by LonelyPlanet View Post
Rushikonda is full for Dec end vacation time - are there any other places that are recommended that are beach side and in 1500-2000 rs bracker range
Also check with :
  1. Legend Hotels & Resorts, Phone No : 0891 - 6642599. Mobile : 9246772369.
  2. Sea View Guest House, Phone No : 0891 - 2713844, 2713222, 6640609, 6641012.
  3. Sai Priya Resorts, Phone No : 0891 - 2790333, 2790585.
  4. Bheemili Beach Resorts, Mobile No : 9985143434, 9885702525.
  5. Jaabily Beach Inn, Phone No : 0891 - 2706026, Mobile : 9848359977
  6. Senora Beach Resorts, Phone No : 891 - 2797046, 2723666, 2526963.
In all the above I stayed in Sai Priya Resorts & Sea View Guest House ( 4 years Back ) and they are good.
vikram.vns is offline  
Old 3rd November 2009, 19:25   #18
BHPian
 
neel385's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Kharagpur
Posts: 530
Thanked: 429 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by pulsar56 View Post
EDIT: Neel, are you in Bidar? We all can meet up when a Drive happens next time!
Yup I am in Bidar and it will be great to meet up. Do let me know about about any drive!!
neel385 is offline  
Old 24th November 2009, 17:58   #19
BHPian
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Jam-luru
Posts: 321
Thanked: 124 Times

Please advise if the following iterarny is do-able
Day 1) Drive from Hyd to Vizag reach by 3 pm and spend time at RK beach
Day 2) Drive to Araku, Borra Caves & Tyda
Day 3) Spend time at Rishikonda, Kailashgiri, Submarine museum
Day 4) Drive back to Hyd

Are there any other items of interest @ Vizag. Is the schedule too cramped ?

Can someone recommend good petrol bunks in Vizag (or on the way).
LonelyPlanet is offline  
Old 24th November 2009, 20:32   #20
Senior - BHPian
 
akroy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posts: 2,423
Thanked: 85 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by LonelyPlanet View Post
Please advise if the following iterarny is do-able
Day 1) Drive from Hyd to Vizag reach by 3 pm and spend time at RK beach
Day 2) Drive to Araku, Borra Caves & Tyda
Day 3) Spend time at Rishikonda, Kailashgiri, Submarine museum
Day 4) Drive back to Hyd

Are there any other items of interest @ Vizag. Is the schedule too cramped ?

Can someone recommend good petrol bunks in Vizag (or on the way).
Very much doable and easy. Make sure you start at around 5AM. Pls go via the Suryapet route and not via Vijaywada.
Now that Reliance pumps are closed, pls stop at COCO outlets to fill petrol.

THere was a Blr - Vizag travelogue sometime back posted in TBHP. Pls chk that as well.

Abhi
akroy is offline  
Old 25th November 2009, 12:06   #21
Senior - BHPian
 
vnabhi's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: DC -> DC
Posts: 5,958
Thanked: 2,387 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by LonelyPlanet View Post
Please advise if the following iterarny is do-able
Day 1) Drive from Hyd to Vizag reach by 3 pm and spend time at RK beach
Day 2) Drive to Araku, Borra Caves & Tyda
Day 3) Spend time at Rishikonda, Kailashgiri, Submarine museum
Day 4) Drive back to Hyd

Are there any other items of interest @ Vizag. Is the schedule too cramped ?

Can someone recommend good petrol bunks in Vizag (or on the way).
Yes, the itenerary looks fine. But reaching at 3 pm seems to be tough, unless you start from Hyd at 3 am, which is an unearthly hour. For all practical purposes, if you start at 5 am, you can reach Vizag at 5 pm---you might encounter some traffic and many traffic signals on the 25 km stretch from Steel Plant gate (Kurmanna Palem) to the beach.

For day 3, you can drive leisurely on the 30 kms scenic coastal road to Bhimili---it is the same road that takes you to Kailashgiri and Rishikonda. You can also visit Thotlakonda on that road, which is around 4 to 5 kms beyond Rishikonda , just off the Bhimili road.

If you like visiting temples, then you can visit Simhachalam temple that is 10 kms off the Araku road. You may even visit Annavarm temple on your return journey to Hyd---it is around 120 kms from Vizag on NH5, and only 2 kms off the GQ to Rajamundry.
vnabhi is offline  
Old 14th December 2009, 10:42   #22
BHPian
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Jam-luru
Posts: 321
Thanked: 124 Times

Given the political situation in the state - is it safe to drive down during the Christmas break to Vizag ?
LonelyPlanet is offline  
Old 14th December 2009, 11:08   #23
BHPian
 
Ardy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 614
Thanked: 87 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by LonelyPlanet
Given the political situation in the state - is it safe to drive down during the Christmas break to Vizag ?
I am in the same dilema, but I think it should be fine. I was reading on one of the threads about another BHPian who drove from Vizag through Hyderabad last week.

I am leaving for Vizag with friends and family on 24th and returning back to Hyderabad on 28th evening.

Hope to see you somewhere enroute or in Vizag.

Cheers.
Ardy is offline  
Old 21st March 2010, 16:23   #24
BHPian
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 25
Thanked: 0 Times

Dear Bhpians,

I'm planning to drive down from Vizag to Hyderabad along a friend of mine on a four wheeler. Any updates on either of Hyd-Khamam-Ashwaraopet-Rajahmundry or Hyd-Kodad-Vijayawada-Eluru route would be helpful.
scorpydave is offline  
Old 22nd March 2010, 10:30   #25
BHPian
 
romyeo4u's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Hyderabad - Now Bangalore
Posts: 299
Thanked: 13 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by scorpydave View Post
Dear Bhpians,

I'm planning to drive down from Vizag to Hyderabad along a friend of mine on a four wheeler. Any updates on either of Hyd-Khamam-Ashwaraopet-Rajahmundry or Hyd-Kodad-Vijayawada-Eluru route would be helpful.

I think Hyd-Khammam - route has more villages and speed breakers. the other is NH5 - superb till Vijayawada.
romyeo4u is offline  
Old 22nd March 2010, 16:26   #26
Senior - BHPian
 
Ravveendrra's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 1,391
Thanked: 446 Times

Coming back from the NE we used another route - continue on NH5 (GQ) till Guntur, then turn towards Pidugralla and proceed to Macherla. Go to Nagarjunasagar dam and come to Hyd. It is longer than the other two but makes for tension free driving. The only bad patch of road is between Macherla and Pidugralla. The Aswaraopet, Khammam route might be better.

The NH9 between Hyd-Vja is avoidable unless you time your departure accurately. Now that 4 laning has started on it, expect diversions etc. in the months to come. GMR (the contractors for the upgradation) expect that work will be over in 2012.

Cheers,
Ravveendrra is offline  
Old 22nd March 2010, 21:07   #27
BHPian
 
bhuvan_prasad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 324
Thanked: 1,803 Times
Hyd - Vizag

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ravveendrra View Post
Coming back from the NE we used another route - continue on NH5 (GQ) till Guntur, then turn towards Pidugralla and proceed to Macherla. Go to Nagarjunasagar dam and come to Hyd. It is longer than the other two but makes for tension free driving. The only bad patch of road is between Macherla and Pidugralla. The Aswaraopet, Khammam route might be better.

The NH9 between Hyd-Vja is avoidable unless you time your departure accurately. Now that 4 laning has started on it, expect diversions etc. in the months to come. GMR (the contractors for the upgradation) expect that work will be over in 2012.

Cheers,
Am planning to do Hyd-Vizag on this 28th. We plan to start at 6AM in hyd, can we reach VIzag by 6PM ? Also, dad is keen that I take the VJA route as its an NH, and restaurants, pumps etc. are plenty. Is the khammam route much better than this? I've driven Hyd- VJA before, but have no idea about khammam. Thanks in advance.
bhuvan_prasad is offline  
Old 22nd March 2010, 23:28   #28
Senior - BHPian
 
Ravveendrra's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 1,391
Thanked: 446 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by bhuvan_prasad View Post
Am planning to do Hyd-Vizag on this 28th. We plan to start at 6AM in hyd, can we reach VIzag by 6PM ? Also, dad is keen that I take the VJA route as its an NH, and restaurants, pumps etc. are plenty. Is the khammam route much better than this? I've driven Hyd- VJA before, but have no idea about khammam. Thanks in advance.
The problem with the Hyd - Vja road is not so much the road itself as the thick traffic. This is why timing your departure is imp. Cross Ramoji Film City by 6.00 a.m. and you should be fine on that road. By crossing Ramoji at 6.00 you avoid most of the oncoming night buses and will be ahead of most of the morning buses. Lorries too tend to leave Vanastalipuram around 6.00 and most of the lorries coming in from Vijayawada would have reached or pulled off the road for breakfast etc.

The distance to VTZ via Vja is about 660 KM and driving time is estimated to be 10 hrs. But, one can easily take an hour off this time since you will be on the GQ longer. The GQ just outside Vijayawada (till Hanuman Junction) is really crowded and will slow you down but, it is a breeze after that - all the way to VTZ (Rajahmundry being a notable exception) also watch out for traffic on Tuni bypass.

The distance via Khammam is about 600 km and the driving time is estimated at 9 hrs. This time might stretch a little since some stretches are reported to have bad surface. The funny thing about the Khammam route is that we will be on the worst section of NH 9 between HYD - VJA, i.e. till Suryapet. The Vijayawada road gets better and wider after Suryapet.

Personally, I always choose a better road over a shorter route. That is why the AP to AP team chose to go past Vijayawada, on to Guntur and via Pidugralla, Macherla and Nagarjuna Sagar on our return, though the route is about 40 km longer. We have no regrets about that choice as the drive was relaxed and tension free thanks to the lack of traffic.

Taking a moving average of 70 kmph you will reach VTZ in 10 hrs, add two hours for lunch, breakfast and maybe one tea break and you should be able to do it in 12 hrs. One trick to make good time is to carry enough water, juice, fruit, dry fruits and dry snacks in the car and eat/drink on the move. Breaks really add to the total journey time, a short bio-break adds about 15 minutes to the journey time a tea break adds about 20 mins, a meal break adds about 45 minutes. I suggest you take your first break in or after Vijayawada.

Cheers and have a good trip.
Ravveendrra is offline  
Old 23rd March 2010, 00:00   #29
BHPian
 
bhuvan_prasad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 324
Thanked: 1,803 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ravveendrra View Post
The problem with the Hyd - Vja road is not so much the road itself as the thick traffic. This is why timing your departure is imp. Cross Ramoji Film City by 6.00 a.m. and you should be fine on that road. By crossing Ramoji at 6.00 you avoid most of the oncoming night buses and will be ahead of most of the morning buses. Lorries too tend to leave Vanastalipuram around 6.00 and most of the lorries coming in from Vijayawada would have reached or pulled off the road for breakfast etc.

The distance to VTZ via Vja is about 660 KM and driving time is estimated to be 10 hrs. But, one can easily take an hour off this time since you will be on the GQ longer. The GQ just outside Vijayawada (till Hanuman Junction) is really crowded and will slow you down but, it is a breeze after that - all the way to VTZ (Rajahmundry being a notable exception) also watch out for traffic on Tuni bypass.

The distance via Khammam is about 600 km and the driving time is estimated at 9 hrs. This time might stretch a little since some stretches are reported to have bad surface. The funny thing about the Khammam route is that we will be on the worst section of NH 9 between HYD - VJA, i.e. till Suryapet. The Vijayawada road gets better and wider after Suryapet.

Personally, I always choose a better road over a shorter route. That is why the AP to AP team chose to go past Vijayawada, on to Guntur and via Pidugralla, Macherla and Nagarjuna Sagar on our return, though the route is about 40 km longer. We have no regrets about that choice as the drive was relaxed and tension free thanks to the lack of traffic.

Taking a moving average of 70 kmph you will reach VTZ in 10 hrs, add two hours for lunch, breakfast and maybe one tea break and you should be able to do it in 12 hrs. One trick to make good time is to carry enough water, juice, fruit, dry fruits and dry snacks in the car and eat/drink on the move. Breaks really add to the total journey time, a short bio-break adds about 15 minutes to the journey time a tea break adds about 20 mins, a meal break adds about 45 minutes. I suggest you take your first break in or after Vijayawada.

Cheers and have a good trip.
wow, that was a really comprehensive reply, and very helpful. thanks a lot. Will follow your advise and pass Ramoji by 6. I also prefer a better longer road to a shorter bumpy one. Also, the car is new, so would rather take the longer road. Will post the proper travelogue and lots of pics, after the whole road trip is done.
bhuvan_prasad is offline  
Old 23rd March 2010, 00:17   #30
BHPian
 
TrueDreamer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 276
Thanked: 16 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by bhuvan_prasad View Post
Will post the proper travelogue and lots of pics, after the whole road trip is done.
Will be waiting for this one and do include if you see GMR started some work on NH9 by then if you chose Hyd - BZA route.
TrueDreamer is offline  
Reply

Most Viewed
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Team-BHP.com
Proudly powered by E2E Networks