[punto_]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Roads are excellent.
Avoid the Ankleshwar-Bharuch bypass by going through the 2 towns to avoid perpetual traffic jams.

Thank you for your quick reply. I will keep that in mind.

[jesrani]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Roads are excellent.
Avoid the Ankleshwar-Bharuch bypass by going through the 2 towns to avoid perpetual traffic jams.

I am traveling this route next month on the way to Kutch. Is it still bad, i recently heard from someone that the bridge has improved now.

[suniladhiya]

As I mentioned on the Pune-Vadodara thread, I will be travelling to Vadodara in first week of Dec, and from there onwards to Nathdwara via Ahmedabad and Udaipur. I plan to do the following as shown by google maps, and would appreciate confirmation or otherwise from team members:

(a) At the end of Vadodara - Ahmedabad expressway I take the first exit and turn right on the Sardar Patel Ring Road. I have never done this before, so please advise whether this is a simple right turn or a complicated clover leaf type flyover as appears from google maps.

(b) Proceed along the Ring Road for about 17 kms upto a place called "Ranasan Circle" and take a right here to exit the Ring Road and re-join NH-8. There seems to be a Hotel Surya Palace on the left after taking this right turn. Is this right also under a flyover or a roundabout ?

(c) Proceed along NH-8 till Himatnagar and take a right for Udaipur. Again is this a simple right turn, or does one have to go under a flyover or something ? Any prominent landmarks to warn one of the approach of the turn off here ?

(d) Proceed along NH-8 till Udaipur entry point. Here google maps shows one fork going straight into Udaipur City and one fork to the right which seems to be a bypass for Udaipur. So I guess I should take this bypass which skirts the eastern edge of Udaipur. This road seems to run parallel to a road described as "Udaipur Bypass" on NH-76, which appears further to the east of this road.

(e) Proceed along the above road for about 17 kms and turn right to re-join NH-8. Carry on along NH-8 past Eklingji upto Nathdwara.

Guidance and advice on the above planned route would be highly appreciated. Also:

(a) How are the signages on this route
(b) What would be the decent places for food/ bio breaks with family on board, preferably on the left side of the road.
(c) Which are the good fuel pumps, again preferably on the left side of the road.

Thanks in anticipation

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by suniladhiya

(a) At the end of Vadodara - Ahmedabad expressway I take the first exit and turn right on the Sardar Patel Ring Road. I have never done this before, so please advise whether this is a simple right turn or a complicated clover leaf type flyover as appears from google maps.

It is not the first exit, but the 3rd & penultimate exit from the beginning of the expressway. It is exactly 20 kms after crossing the Reliance petrol pump. It is a clover leaf interchange but not "complex". The first exit at that interchange is marked fr Sarkhej/ Rajkot, and the second one is marked Himmatnagar/ Udaipur. Signboards are small, very easy to miss them, so start measuring distance travelled form the Reliance petrol pump.

(b) Proceed along the Ring Road for about 17 kms upto a place called "Ranasan Circle" and take a right here to exit the Ring Road and re-join NH-8. There seems to be a Hotel Surya Palace on the left after taking this right turn. Is this right also under a flyover or a roundabout ?

Once on the SP Ring Road, you have 2 toll gates - the first being the Ramol toll gate & then the Ranasan toll gate. Immediately after the second toll gate is the flyover under construction junction where you turn right towards Chiloda Circle/ Himmatnagar.

(c) Proceed along NH-8 till Himatnagar and take a right for Udaipur. Again is this a simple right turn, or does one have to go under a flyover or something ? Any prominent landmarks to warn one of the approach of the turn off here ?

It is a prominent junction with large signboards. Left fork goes to Ambaji, right fork goes to Udaipur. No one I know in last many years have ever lost their way here

(d) Proceed along NH-8 till Udaipur entry point. Here google maps shows one fork going straight into Udaipur City and one fork to the right which seems to be a bypass for Udaipur. So I guess I should take this bypass which skirts the eastern edge of Udaipur. This road seems to run parallel to a road described as "Udaipur Bypass" on NH-76, which appears further to the east of this road.

The road to Udaipur city forks to the left, the Udaipur bypass to the right. Clear signboards. Udaipur bypass is a 2-laned road. Nowadays, we avoid it because it is in a total mess - bad road with frequent truck traffic jams. Going through the city is preferred.

(e) Proceed along the above road for about 17 kms and turn right to re-join NH-8. Carry on along NH-8 past Eklingji upto Nathdwara.

The bypass is NH8. Continue straight on the bypass and the road coming from inside Udaipur city will rejoin it. No turns anywhere.

Guidance and advice on the above planned route would be highly appreciated. Also:

(a) How are the signages on this route
(b) What would be the decent places for food/ bio breaks with family on board, preferably on the left side of the road.
(c) Which are the good fuel pumps, again preferably on the left side of the road.

Thanks in anticipation

Well signaged.
Excellent facilities. I have listed all of them in my route plans.
Refuel in Rajasthan after crossing over at Ratanpur, there are COCOs there.

[suniladhiya]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

It is not the first exit, but the 3rd & penultimate exit from the beginning of the expressway. It is exactly 20 kms after crossing the Reliance petrol pump. It is a clover leaf interchange but not "complex". The first exit at that interchange is marked fr Sarkhej/ Rajkot, and the second one is marked Himmatnagar/ Udaipur. Signboards are small, very easy to miss them, so start measuring distance travelled form the Reliance petrol pump.

HVK Sir, thanks a ton for crystal clear directions as always. However just need a couple of clarifications:

I meant that this would be the first exit for Ahmedabad City is that right? Also, is the Reliance Pump on the left or the right as one comes from Baroda towards Ahmedabad? From your post, I guess this pump would be approx 80 kms after the start of the e-way from the Baroda side, is that right ?

Also, a short distance form the start of the "Exit 2" marked at this interchange on google map, there seems to be some kind of small flyover - does one go over this or around this. From the map, it seems the "Exit 2" road curves to the left and takes almost a full circle and brings you on SP Ring Road which then flies over the e-way towards Himatnagar and Udaipur. Do you think I have got all that right ?

Also, if I stay overnight at Express Inn at Ghodbunder, and leave next morning about 6, would the truck traffic be an issue or has the 6 laning from Ghodbunder to Surat now taken care of that.

Thanks in advance

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by suniladhiya

HVK Sir, thanks a ton for crystal clear directions as always. However just need a couple of clarifications:

I meant that this would be the first exit for Ahmedabad City is that right? Also, is the Reliance Pump on the left or the right as one comes from Baroda towards Ahmedabad? From your post, I guess this pump would be approx 80 kms after the start of the e-way from the Baroda side, is that right

The Reliance petrol pump (I am talking about only the north-bound direction) is exactly 66 kms from the entry toll gate & the exit is 20 kms further (or 86 kms from the toll gate). THis is NOT the exit for Ahmedabad. This is the exit onto SP Ring Road, the clover leaf comes immediately after you cross the 5 kms to Ahmedabad milestone.

Also, a short distance form the start of the "Exit 2" marked at this interchange on google map, there seems to be some kind of small flyover - does one go over this or around this. From the map, it seems the "Exit 2" road curves to the left and takes almost a full circle and brings you on SP Ring Road which then flies over the e-way towards Himatnagar and Udaipur. Do you think I have got all that right ?

Yes. No flyover. There is the exit toll gate.

Also, if I stay overnight at Express Inn at Ghodbunder, and leave next morning about 6, would the truck traffic be an issue or has the 6 laning from Ghodbunder to Surat now taken care of that.

Thanks in advance

Lots of truck traffic but no choke ups. 6 am is a good time to leave Ghodbunder. 6 laning does not reduce congestion.

[suniladhiya]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

The road to Udaipur city forks to the left, the Udaipur bypass to the right. Clear signboards. Udaipur bypass is a 2-laned road. Nowadays, we avoid it because it is in a total mess - bad road with frequent truck traffic jams. Going through the city is preferred.

HVK Sir, how difficult or how easy is to navigate Udaipur city traffic - anything special to watch out for - signages, landmarks, speed limits etc - your advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by suniladhiya

HVK Sir, how difficult or how easy is to navigate Udaipur city traffic - anything special to watch out for - signages, landmarks, speed limits etc - your advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Effortless.
Enter Udaipur city & it is one straight road to railway station & bus stand, after which you turn right towards the airport - and you reach the road to Chittorgarh.

Check out the map link I made for you showing the route through Udaipur city:
http://goo.gl/maps/7KkHz

A = place where the bypass starts, also where you enter city
B = the junction where you take the right fork (left goes to Lake Pichola & City Palace)
C = Udaipur railway station
D = Udaipur bus stand
E = This is where you turn right towards Airport
F = point where you intersect NH8 (and where bypass rejoins)
G = Airport, on the road to Chittorgarh

[suniladhiya]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Effortless.
Enter Udaipur city & it is one straight road to railway station & bus stand, after which you turn right towards the airport - and you reach the road to Chittorgarh.

Check out the map link I made for you showing the route through Udaipur city:
http://goo.gl/maps/7KkHz

A = place where the bypass starts, also where you enter city
B = the junction where you take the right fork (left goes to Lake Pichola & City Palace)
C = Udaipur railway station
D = Udaipur bus stand
E = This is where you turn right towards Airport
F = point where you intersect NH8 (and where bypass rejoins)
G = Airport, on the road to Chittorgarh

HVK Sir, thanks a ton for taking all the efforts for making the map link. However, I have to go North to Nathdwara rather than east towards Chittorgarh. I have tried to modify the route link given by you as follows:

http://goo.gl/maps/3H311

E = Rather than turn right here, would need to go straight
F = Go straight around the Sukhadia Circle till the next circle
G = Take a right turn at this point around the circle
H = Take a left at the RK Circle
I = Go straight at the Sukher Cross - this seems to be the point where the road re-joins the NH8 bypass
J = Go straight across the point where the road intersects the NH76 Udaipur Bypass
K = On the road to Eklingji-Nathdwara

Request you to please confirm that this should be the correct route for me to follow through Udaipur City.

Thanks in advance.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by suniladhiya

HVK Sir, thanks a ton for taking all the efforts for making the map link. However, I have to go North to Nathdwara rather than east towards Chittorgarh. I have tried to modify the route link given by you as follows:

http://goo.gl/maps/3H311

E = Rather than turn right here, would need to go straight
F = Go straight around the Sukhadia Circle till the next circle
G = Take a right turn at this point around the circle
H = Take a left at the RK Circle
I = Go straight at the Sukher Cross - this seems to be the point where the road re-joins the NH8 bypass
J = Go straight across the point where the road intersects the NH76 Udaipur Bypass
K = On the road to Eklingji-Nathdwara

Request you to please confirm that this should be the correct route for me to follow through Udaipur City.

Thanks in advance.

It may be a better idea to proceed on my route till F and turn left towards Nathdwara since that part of the bypass is good, saves you the bother of going through the rest of the city

[suniladhiya]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

It may be a better idea to proceed on my route till F and turn left towards Nathdwara since that part of the bypass is good, saves you the bother of going through the rest of the city

Thank you Sir. That settles the route for me. Will turn right onto Airport Road and take a left at Pratap Nagar Circle onto the NH8 bypass road as suggested by you.

[suniladhiya]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Well signaged.
Excellent facilities. I have listed all of them in my route plans.
Refuel in Rajasthan after crossing over at Ratanpur, there are COCOs there.

HKV Sir, can you please give the pointer/ link to access the file/s containing your route plans.

Thanks in advance

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by suniladhiya

HKV Sir, can you please give the pointer/ link to access the file/s containing your route plans.

Thanks in advance

Here is a detailed route plan to drive from Bombay to Nathdwara (but via Udaipur bypass)
Bombay Nathdwara.xls

[suniladhiya]

Returned on 9th Dec after a week long trip from Pune-Vadodara-Nathdwara-Mumbai-Pune. A million thanks to HVK Sir for suggesting Hotel Express Inn at Ghodbunder Road Junction for overnite stay, giving detailed directions for entering and exiting Udaipur City and for sharing his route logs for Mumbai-Udaipur-Nathdwara. Thanks a ton also to fellow team-bhpian Sameer (lightnin95) for doing our hotel room booking at Vadodara. Thanks also to adwaitlele of Pune for suggestions on Silver Miles, Manor.

Left from Pune on 1st Dec afternoon and took overnite halt at Express Inn. Left at 7 a.m. from Express Inn on 2nd Dec morning and reached Vadodara at 1 p.m. Smooth drive all the way except for usual detour through Ankleshwar-Golden Bridge-Bharuch.

As per the plan discussed with HVK Sir, we were to leave from Vadodara for Udaipur-Nathdwara on 3rd Dec morning along with wife's sister and her family. Plan was to take the standard Vadodara-Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar-Udaipur route. However, the brother-in-law convinced us to try a new road via Godhra. I was highly sceptical about the whole business, however gave in with good grace. And man - what a road - this was the discovery of the whole trip. Super smooth four lane tar road, beautiful dividers, negligble traffic. Route goes from Vadodara-Halol-Kalol-Godhra-Modasa-Shamlaji where it joins the NH8 coming from Himmatnagar. The distance gets reduced by about 25-30 kms, and what a driving pleasure. Recommended to all those going to Udaipur from Mumbai side. Also helps to avoid the crowded SP Ring Road around Ahmedabad and the single road for 15 kms between Ahmedabad and Chiloda. Okay, so here are the pictures of this discovery: By the way, this is the first time I am attaching pictures in a post, so feeling pretty pleased about it. Credit for camera work goes to the wifey entirely.













While returning from Nathdwara, took the traditional route as everyone wanted to have lunch at a very decent place called Khana Khazana in the Star City Multiplex just at Himmatnagar Circle. Drove on Ahmedabad-Expressway for the first time - super road but very crowded in the evening and was left wondering why its a four lane road, when the entire stretch from Vadodara to Mumbai is six laned.

On return journey from Vadodara to Pune, the highway had been closed about 10 kms before Bharuch. We were told that repairs to the (in)famous Narmada Bridge between Bharuch and Ankleshwar are in full swing. Entire traffic was diverted through various internal roads all the way to Ankleshwar Exit - this resulted in a loss of at least one hour driving time.

All in all a memorable trip and thanks again to all the fellow members who chipped in with help and advice.

[ashlyak]

Hello,

I have travelled in the route, last month. But my plan was not same as yours. But hope the below info will give you some insight.

We travelled from Udaipur - Ahamadabad - Mumabi - Pune - Bangalore, last month.

After the sight seeing at Udaipur, we started late and stayed at Ahamadabad, and next day started from Ahamadabad to Satara.

Road from Udaipur to Mumbai is good and I don't think you will have any issues.

You can simply follow the Golden Quadrilateral, and Google Map on a GPS enabled smart phone is more than sufficient. There are good number of food outlets on this way.

Some small % of road between Gurajath and Rajasthan border is not good, at Gurajath side.
Remember to keep changes for the toll booths.