[kingshukt]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

JH - Jharkand, from around Barhi to Ranchi.
Don't worry about the NH2-Expressway issues. Simply keep driving on the expressway till you reach the 2 flyover junctions - first one going via the Old Hoogly bridge, the second via the newer Vidya sagar Setu (if you want to go towards South Kolkata).
Please stick to the expressway, it is a wonderful drive, the old NH2 is a narrow road, avoidable.

Thanks HVK Sir, I spoke to SBhaduri also.
I was basically confused between Expressway and NH2. I assumed that Expressway = NH2, hence the confusion.

Hence to summarise:
1. Pune - Indore - No problems,
2. Varanai - Kolkata should be OK through Expressway.

My areas of concern are:

1. Indore Kahuraho (~ 690 Km - thro ShivPuri). Since NH3 is busy and is not exactly a expressway, I may have to halt overnight at Jhansi (no travelling after 5/5:30PM) and then go ahead to Khajuraho the next day (stay there for the balance of the day and the next day and then start for Varanasi on day 3 (counting from day of reaching Khajuraho)
OR
Go thro Dewas - Bhopal - Sagar... to Khajuraho (the distance is shorter) This was as suggested by Mercedised. BUT the road quality is unknown - mainly state highways.

2. Khajurao to Varansi.:
There are 2 roads
a. 1st via Panna, Rewa
OR
b. 2nd via Chittrakoot , Jasra etc

Here the difference in distances are not much BUT the 1st one is an established route and the other thro MP's gallis.

Any suggestions / recommendations ?

[hvkumar]

1. Indore Kahuraho (~ 690 Km - thro ShivPuri). Since NH3 is busy and is not exactly a expressway, I may have to halt overnight at Jhansi (no travelling after 5/5:30PM) and then go ahead to Khajuraho the next day (stay there for the balance of the day and the next day and then start for Varanasi on day 3 (counting from day of reaching Khajuraho)
OR
Go thro Dewas - Bhopal - Sagar... to Khajuraho (the distance is shorter) This was as suggested by Mercedised. BUT the road quality is unknown - mainly state highways.

2. Khajurao to Varansi.:
There are 2 roads
a. 1st via Panna, Rewa
OR
b. 2nd via Chittrakoot , Jasra etc

Bhopal-Kajuraho route is in bad shape, please avoid, and stick to the Jhansi-Kajuraho route

Kajuraho-Varansi route via Panna and Rewa is in good condition, don't take the Chitrakoot route.

The best highway roads are not necessarily the shortest.

[kingshukt]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Bhopal-Kajuraho route is in bad shape, please avoid, and stick to the Jhansi-Kajuraho route

Kajuraho-Varansi route via Panna and Rewa is in good condition, don't take the Chitrakoot route.

The best highway roads are not necessarily the shortest.

Thanks, HVK Sir. You are the best.

That settles it for the timebeing. Now I will be feeding all in to the GPS.

Now to start hunting for hotels.
1. Indore - Mercedised has suggested a couple. They should do the moment.
2. Khajuraho - Internet is full of them. MPTDC should be best bet.
3. Jhansi - (In case I stop there) - ?
4. Varanasi - I was suggested to look for a hotel on the By-Pass. It is better to keep the car there and hire a taxi for sightseeing. Any suggestions ?

[hvkumar]

Khajuraho - Internet is full of them. MPTDC should be best bet.

I think there are 3 MPTDC hotels in Kajuraho. Looked good. Apart from them, there are several small budget hotels closer to the Western group temples, you can try negotiating them down on rates.

3. Jhansi - (In case I stop there) - ?

Hotel Sita - you will find it on NH76 itself as you come from Shivpuri, after entering town, just before bus stand.

4. Varanasi - I was suggested to look for a hotel on the By-Pass. It is better to keep the car there and hire a taxi for sightseeing. Any suggestions ?

I don't think there is any hotel on the bypass

[adc]

Originally Posted by kingshukt

@ADC: Should we start looking forward to a Nagpur travellogue ? If you are travelling by car what is your planned route ?

I leave for Nagpur side on 21st of May night, and travelling by Safari. Route: Calcutta-Sambalpur [via cuttack] - Raipur -Nagpur - Amravati.

As per the talk with Shantanu, you are coming around 14 or 15th [?]. Surely we will have a meet in between 14th and 21st.

[kingshukt]

@ ADC: You are brave.
I had initially considered this route and then based on various inputs discarded this route mainly due to:
1. High Security risk (security foremost - unlike you, I have'nt travelled long distances often - and across states)
and secondly.
2. No good places enroute - which are worth visiting.

Sure - we will meet - I should be in Kolkata - latest by 15th.

[adc]

Originally Posted by kingshukt

@ ADC: You are brave.
I had initially considered this route and then based on various inputs discarded this route mainly due to:
1. High Security risk (security foremost - unlike you, I have'nt travelled long distances often - and across states)
and secondly.
2. No good places enroute - which are worth visiting.

Sure - we will meet - I should be in Kolkata - latest by 15th.

Kingshukt, there is nothing bravery in it. And I think about my family too [everyone does] - wife and child travelling alone.

Overnight journeys are my personal liking for the transport section of a travel for some inherent reasons.

I am going through Sambalpur via Cuttack and this increases distances by another 150+ km than the straight NH6 journey going via Lodhashuli. I had done this journey at night last year when going to Sunabeda forests and again I am not going to repeat as it goes through some very lonely stretches, no truckers, plus there is now huge Naxalite problems.

So without knowing one can do many things and then still laugh if able to tell a tale. I remember one travelogue by a bhpian who went though Sukna and all to to Rourkela without taking national highways. If had known and done that journey still, it would have been foolhardy.

As for me, if you analyse, Calcutta - sambalpur via NH6-Nh60-Nh42 is a night bus route journey, no issues. I went via this route, overnight, last month, and no problem and when I am around Sambalpur it is already morning, so the Sambalpur to Nagpur stretch via Raipur is done at daylight hours only.

Hi,

I just plotted your route.
It is a total of ~ 1500 km.

I have a few queries (if you do not mind)
1. What are your stops / overnight halts ?
2. Do you plan to drive in the night ?
3. What preparation did you plan to do for the vehicle (Safari) before the trip
4. Why this route ? Question is considering the security risk.
5. Do you face problems when you enter another state - from Police etc ?

Thanks, it is like around that kms.

1. Dont know, havent planned. I will be heading towards Melghat, so surely in between somewhere but as close to Amravati as possible.

2. Overnight from Calcutta with morning day break at Sambalpur and then daylight journey towards Nagpur.


3. Just get the prelim checks, nuts bolts, battery voltage and clamps, and other than that modern engine dont know what you can touch or do. And most important keep that Tata emergency number - they do provide backup at odd hours.

4. Uncertainity is always there on a road trip, but one has to diminish the chances as much possible. So taking the via Cuttak route to Sambalpur instead of going via Lodhashuli and Ushakoti. Did that journey once without knowing - would not do that again by that route overnight.

5. Nothing till now, with a family on board it is actually more safer. HVK gets harrassed more when he is alone driving and with a Scorpio. As for police, they are the most varied lot. Had to shell out 1k for UP police as I was driving with tinted glass, got lost in Allahabad and was in some posh locality driving up one way the wrong way. The policeman helped me[!] find the correct road, escorted me towards the NH2 road, and then asked 1000 Rs as favour! He had a point, he had done much more than was expected of him!

At Assam, coming back from Arunachal empty roads and I am worried, hear that there is a 1000-hour strike going on by the Bodos. Police escorted me and some lorries out of a troublesome 50 km stretch and they were most gracious.

State to State, i havent face problems till now. But the good experience lasts till the first bad experience. So dont think so much, it is time to roll. Thinking like these things surely will leave you apprehensive always.


Enough of gyan, come over and meet. Will give you more, if you still need. [oh! thats a rhyme!]


Best of luck for the journey, again dont worry, it is going to be all good!

[pramods]

@ADC, let me know once your plan is finalized, I used to take the mentioned route for Nawada, Nagpur-Sambalpur -Rourkela - Ranchi-Nawada, but now the Varanasi route is better, I have done this route in Night but only till Rourkela, no night driving beyound rourkela, last time when I returned the route for not in good shape. Anyway let me know when you are near by there are so much to look for in around Nagpur/Wardha/Amaravati, but a word of caution May/June is worst to do anything in around Nagpur because of temperature, I hope you have taken this into your consideration, the heat is dry heat and you see nobody on road after 11AM till 5 PM.

-Pramod

[LongDrive lover]

Originally Posted by adc

Kingshukt, there is nothing bravery in it. And I think about my family too [everyone does] - wife and child travelling alone. Overnight journeys are my personal liking for the transport section of a travel for some inherent reasons. So without knowing one can do many things and then still laugh if able to tell a tale.
3. Just get the prelim checks, nuts bolts, battery voltage and clamps, and other than that modern engine dont know what you can touch or do. And most important keep that Tata emergency number - they do provide backup at odd hours.
4. Uncertainity is always there on a road trip, but one has to diminish the chances as much possible. So taking the via Cuttak route to Sambalpur instead of going via Lodhashuli and Ushakoti. Did that journey once without knowing - would not do that again by that route overnight.
5. Nothing till now, with a family on board it is actually more safer. HVK gets harrassed more when he is alone driving and with a Scorpio. As for police, they are the most varied lot.
So dont think so much, it is time to roll. Thinking like these things surely will leave you apprehensive always.
Best of luck for the journey, again dont worry, it is going to be all good!

Well said dada. Its all about striking a balance between being too apprehensive (which spoils the fun of travel/drive) and being too casual/overlooking basic facts/ gyan awailable (it is being foolhardy).

[adc]

Originally Posted by pramods

@ADC, let me know once your plan is finalized, I used to take the mentioned route for Nawada, Nagpur-Sambalpur -Rourkela - Ranchi-Nawada, but now the Varanasi route is better, I have done this route in Night but only till Rourkela, no night driving beyound rourkela, last time when I returned the route for not in good shape. Anyway let me know when you are near by there are so much to look for in around Nagpur/Wardha/Amaravati, but a word of caution May/June is worst to do anything in around Nagpur because of temperature, I hope you have taken this into your consideration, the heat is dry heat and you see nobody on road after 11AM till 5 PM.

-Pramod

OT: Hello Pramod, I would have contacted for more guidance you by next week as I have seen you covering the tracks and trails around Nagpur and as you said there are so much places around Nagpur and you have driven too.

I always wanted to cover the forests around Nagpur and almost planned it out last year, but definitely look forward to visiting these places during son's summer holidays. The plan is for Melghat [3 days], Tadoba [4] and Nagzira [2]. I will definitely PM/let you know as soon as the trip and dates are finalized.

[pramods]

@ADC, I think the Melghat 3 day is ok, as can also look at Chikaldahra hills, instead of 4 days at Tadoba, and 2 days at Nagzira, you can have 2 days at Pench, and 2 days at Tadoba, while just 1 day at Nagzira and next day at Navegaon.

There are so much options to look at for wildlife lover here
1>Khekernala Dam, Khapa Forest [60 Kms form Nagpur a good MSTDC resort]
2>Bor Dam and Sanctury[70 kms from Nagpur, a good MSTDC resort]
3> Pench [100 kms from Nagpur, lots of resort including Taj]
4> Nagzira[ 130 kms from Nagpur, not sure about resort, but PDW guest house is there]
5> Navegoan [150 kms from Nagpur, PWD guest house]
6> Melaghat,Chikaldahra [180 kms from Nagpur, few good resort and MSTDC resort too]
7>Tadoba [160kms from Nagpur, few resorts]

All are know to have tiger ;-), the biggest jungle here in Pench, Melaghat ,Tadoba,Navegoan, Nagzira, Bor, Khapa

-Pramod

[kingshukt]

Originally Posted by pramods

but a word of caution May/June is worst to do anything in around Nagpur because of temperature, I hope you have taken this into your consideration, the heat is dry heat and you see nobody on road after 11AM till 5 PM.

@ ADC: Pramods has a point as regards the heat in Nagpur. One of the reason that I am not considering this route.
"Loo" (I hope the spelling is correct - and is not what you think) winds play a havoc in the day time and you would "probably" not have experienced such phenomenon earlier. Children are the most easily affected.
I have heard of ACs conking out with the overload and that is why those huge desert coolers rule the roost there.

[adc]

Originally Posted by pramods

@ADC, I think the Melghat 3 day is ok, as can also look at Chikaldahra hills, instead of 4 days at Tadoba, and 2 days at Nagzira, you can have 2 days at Pench, and 2 days at Tadoba, while just 1 day at Nagzira and next day at Navegaon.

There are so much options to look at for wildlife lover here
1>Khekernala Dam, Khapa Forest [60 Kms form Nagpur a good MSTDC resort]
2>Bor Dam and Sanctury[70 kms from Nagpur, a good MSTDC resort]
3> Pench [100 kms from Nagpur, lots of resort including Taj]
4> Nagzira[ 130 kms from Nagpur, not sure about resort, but PDW guest house is there]
5> Navegoan [150 kms from Nagpur, PWD guest house]
6> Melaghat,Chikaldahra [180 kms from Nagpur, few good resort and MSTDC resort too]
7>Tadoba [160kms from Nagpur, few resorts]

All are know to have tiger ;-), the biggest jungle here in Pench, Melaghat ,Tadoba,Navegoan, Nagzira, Bor, Khapa

-Pramod

Thanks much Pramod for those input and as said will have a detailed talk with you later next week around.

We are on a super tight budget as the EMIs are on their home run and with some other circumstances, we are looking out at the mostly PWD and FRHs and of course another very important reason is due to the past wonderful experiences, we absolutely favour the FRHs deep inside, of course knowing and having experienced the absolute limited facilities there.

I have talked with Dr Ghosh once and based on that looking at the FRHs at Melghat, Tadoba and Nagzira. Lets see, will start deciding on the dates and places from next week around.

AS for Pench, I am concentrating on the Forests of Vidarbha as the theme, so would leave out Pench. Plus Pench is super costly, may be later with Kanha and Badhavgarh for forests of MP.

I will definitely be taking much guidance from you in the days to come. Planning to cover Nawegaon and Bor too. Khekernala seems to be on the north of Nagpur side and may be missed. My tour date will be from 21st May for a period of may be 10-12 days.

Originally Posted by kingshukt

@ ADC: Pramods has a point as regards the heat in Nagpur. One of the reason that I am not considering this route.
"Loo" (I hope the spelling is correct - and is not what you think) winds play a havoc in the day time and you would "probably" not have experienced such phenomenon earlier. Children are the most easily affected.
I have heard of ACs conking out with the overload and that is why those huge desert coolers rule the roost there.

Yes, lets see had experienced the summer months of Aurangabad long back. Much precaution has to be taken by all of us.

Pramod, what would be night temperatures be like?

[pramods]

@ADC, great you have already talked with Dr. Ghosh, he knows most of the these jungle and locality, he stays there for longer duration, I just go in the morning and come back by night. The night temp during summer are also very hot , you may be facing 30/35 Deg Celsius, I hope these information will help you get prepared , people visit and enjoy provided they are prepared for this kind of weather.
Hope to meet you in Nagpur.

-Pramod

[adc]

Originally Posted by pramods

@ADC, great you have already talked with Dr. Ghosh, he knows most of the these jungle and locality, he stays there for longer duration, I just go in the morning and come back by night. The night temp during summer are also very hot , you may be facing 30/35 Deg Celsius, I hope these information will help you get prepared , people visit and enjoy provided they are prepared for this kind of weather.
Hope to meet you in Nagpur.

-Pramod

Pramod, thanks much, surely will meet somewhere - either in Nagpur or nearby. Will PM you with all the queries and thoughts once I have done some home work. Thanks again!