[hvkumar]

I believe that NH6 this year is quite OK, at least between Keonjhar and Kharagpur (last week's update). I have no idea about Sambalpur-Keonjhar though.

NH60 from Kharagpur via Mednipur and Bishnupur to Durgapur is a disaster which you must avoid. Why would anyone want to take such a bad road when you have the superb Kon e-way via Ulberia to Howrah and then the even more superb Durgapur e-way via Bardhaman to Darjeeling More?

[Sutripta]

Originally Posted by Sutripta

As of last year, I would prefer Sambalpur - Angul - Dhenkanal - Cuttack - Kharagpur to Sambalpur NH6 Kharagpur. It is longer but faster.

Just checked. 110 Km longer.

If Sambalpur - Keonjhar is OK. you will have a small ghat section before Keonjhar. Used to love that. The other small ghat section (Bangriposi) has been 'sanitised' and no longer has the charm it used to have. The NH42 - NH5 - NH60 route has no such charms.

Regards
Sutripta

[earthian]

Hello BHPians:
I plan to visit the NE by road from Ahmedabad staring end of February. Would be glad to get some advise. the tentative route planned is as follows:
Ahmedabad- Kota- Allahabad - Varanasi - Patna - Siliguri --?? Some information about us: We are four of us travelling by a Santa Fe (4x4). I am 61, my wife, daughter (32 and a keen driver, like myself) and a friend of my daughter. Time is not an issue, and having understood that it is the journey, and not only the destination, that counts; we plan to visit places on the way to the NE.

1. What should our route be after siliguri?
2. should we include Bhutan?
3. Stay possibilities? While we don't require 5* luxury, we do like clean, good accomodation with vegetarian food.
4. Any do's and dont's?
5. Shall be afffixing new AT tyres in the Santa Fe. Any experienec with the Santa Fe? Ok for the roads there?
6. Any other sugesstions?

Thank you and look forward to receive advise

[wanderernomad]

If time is not of essence yes you should include Bhutan. If you want to just get the feel of the NE and visit only the important places, Ill suggest the following:

1. Silliguri- Phuentsholing.
2. Pling-Paro.
3. Paro-Thimpu.
4. Thimpu.
5. Thimpu-Gelephu.
6. Gelephu-Guwahati.
7. Guwahati.
8. Guwahati-Shillong-Sohra.
9. Sohra-Mawlelong-Dawki-Jowai.
10. Jowai-Shillong.
11. Shillong-Kaziranga.
12. Kaziranga-Kohima
13. Kohima
13. Kohima-Shibsagar
14. Shibsagar-Ledo-Digboi-Dibrugarh.
15. Dibrugarh-Tejpur.
16. Tejpur- Alipurduar
17. Alipurduar
18. Alipurduar-Zuluk.
19. Zuluk
20. Zuluk-Darjeling
21. Darjeling.
then out via siliguri.

Santa Fe would do just fine. Most of the places you will be able to get decent clean accommodation though finding veg food in Kohima will be an issue. Rest of the places you wont have much problem.

[earthian]

Originally Posted by wanderernomad

If time is not of essence yes you should include Bhutan. If you want to just get the feel of the NE and visit only the important places, Ill suggest the following:

1. Silliguri- Phuentsholing.
2. Pling-Paro.
3. Paro-Thimpu.
4. Thimpu.
5. Thimpu-Gelephu.
6. Gelephu-Guwahati.
7. Guwahati.
8. Guwahati-Shillong-Sohra.
9. Sohra-Mawlelong-Dawki-Jowai.
10. Jowai-Shillong.
11. Shillong-Kaziranga.
12. Kaziranga-Kohima
13. Kohima
13. Kohima-Shibsagar
14. Shibsagar-Ledo-Digboi-Dibrugarh.
15. Dibrugarh-Tejpur.
16. Tejpur- Alipurduar
17. Alipurduar
18. Alipurduar-Zuluk.
19. Zuluk
20. Zuluk-Darjeling
21. Darjeling.
then out via siliguri.

.

Thank you for your prompt reply. Nearly all the places are unknown to me, and so i plotted them on a map. However, it looks like there is no coverage for Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur. we would like to cover those places too.

[wanderernomad]

Originally Posted by earthian

Thank you for your prompt reply. Nearly all the places are unknown to me, and so i plotted them on a map. However, it looks like there is no coverage for Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur. we would like to cover those places too.

Mizoram, Manipur, Arunachal, Tripura are more of a fatigueas the routes are treacherous. You will spend more time on the road than gaining anything. The journey will truely become the destination. Moreover, Manipur is presently a no go due to ongoing tensions. If you want to taste Arunachal I can modify the route slightly so as to give you the taste of this hill state at the western and eastern ends.
Would you like me to add the highlights of each place so that maybe you can discuss with your co travellers and prioritize in case of modifiing the route to suit your tastes?

[earthian]

Originally Posted by wanderernomad

Would you like me to add the highlights of each place so that maybe you can discuss with your co travellers and prioritize in case of modifiing the route to suit your tastes?

Thank you so much for your offer. Really appreciate it. Regarding Tripura, Manipur and Nagaland. We do not want to go to areas where there are insurgencies or tension brewing. However, they are states of India and we would love to see some parts which are safe.

Once again, appreciate the time and trouble taken by you. Putting what sights to see or highlights as you put it, makes it easier for people like us who have never been there.

[BlackPearl]

Originally Posted by earthian

[*]What should our route be after siliguri?

@earthian, if you plan to go to Bhutan, your route to Phuensholing from Siliguri should be -

Siliguri-Sevoke-Malbazar-Jaigaon-Phuensholing

[wanderernomad]

1. Silliguri- Phuentsholing. ( Crocodile Park, Entry permits, Stupa)
2. Pling-Paro. (Takhtsang Gompa, Paro Chu, Chele La)
3. Paro-Thimpu. Further permits, Shopping especially Brocade, Wines.
4. Thimpu. (Taksin Park, Budhha Statue, Dzong)
5. Thimpu-Gelephu. (Dhochula enroute)
6. Gelephu-Guwahati. (Brahamaputra Cruise, Shopping)
7. Guwahati. (Kaamakhya Devi Temple)
8. Guwahati-Shillong-Sohra.(Umiyam Lake, Mawsmai caves, Nonkhailai Falls)
9. Sohra-Mawlelong-Dawki-Jowai.(Living root bridge, Umgkot River boating, Monoliths, Durga Temple)
10. Jowai-Shillong.(Police Bazaar, Shillong Peak, Wards lake, Don Bosco Museum)
11. Shillong-Kaziranga.(Jeep safari in the evening, Morning Elephant Safari)
12. Kaziranga-Kohima (Shopping at Dimapur enroute Kohima)
13. Kohima (WWII Cemetry, War Memorial, Cathedral, Kisama ethnic village)
13. Kohima-Shibsagar (Ancient capital of Ahom Kings, Talatal Ghar, Rang Ghar, Shib Dhol)
14. Shibsagar-Ledo-Digboi-Dibrugarh. (Historic Ledo Stilwell road at Ledo, Digboi Oil refinery and museum, Dibrugarh Saikhowa Park)
15. Dibrugarh-Parshuram Kund-Dibrugarh. (Arunchal eastern Point, Golden pagoda at Chokham)
16. Dibrugarh-Tejpur-Nameri (Local parks and lakes, Ecotourism Camp at Nameri)
17. Nameri-Bomdilla (Monastry at Tenga, Bomdilla)
18. Bomdilla-Alipurduar. (Duaars)
19.Alipurduar-Zuluk
20. Zuluk-Darjeeling
21. Darjeeling.

[Sutripta]

@earthian: Going by your previous posts/ threads, it seems you have an interest in WLS. And you have time on your hands.
In which case I would suggest that you do homework on the WLS in the NE, and include some of these in your itenary.

Regards
Sutripta

[earthian]

Originally Posted by Sutripta

@earthian: Going by your previous posts/ threads, it seems you have an interest in WLS. And you have time on your hands.
In which case I would suggest that you do homework on the WLS in the NE, and include some of these in your itenary.

Regards
Sutripta

You are right. I love wild life and photography along with travelling. Problem is, we recently completed a 5 WLS tour and my family is fed up to the gills with getting up early, jumping around for 6 hours a day in safari jeeps and patiently waiting till i get my so called perfect photograph.. which incidentally never happens. The perfect photograph that is.
I think i should be able to cajole them for at least one WLS. Kaziranga?

@waderernomad
Appreciate the time and effort taken by you to compile the above itinerary and the sights associated with it. Very informative and useful. Thank you.

[Sutripta]

Manas, Kaziranga, Eagle's Nest, Namdhapa.

When driving from Siliguri to Assam border, you can go off the main highway, and take the secondary roads zigzagging through whatever remains of our forests. Will add a day to your travels.

Regards
Sutripta

[earthian]

@wanderernomad, @blackPearl, @Sutripta
Based on the preliminary route given by wanderernomad, the data is as under:
NE drive details.xlsx

Issues are as under:

1. Could we do some more of AP?
2. We don't mind parking the car at some convenient city and taking a flight to Agartala or some other destination as a side trip of 2-3 days.
3. What are the halt points ?
4. There seems to be an awful lot of back tracking- possibly due to the concern of wanderernomad in suggesting good roads-which is welcome and possibly cannot be helped.
5. The last stretch between Bomdila and Siliguri needs to be broken somewhere.

We were hoping to see the scenic routes of AP- if the roads are ok that is. By ok , i mean like village roads.

I hope the excel sheet opens. Else here is a snapshot:
[ATTACH]

1475687

[/ATTACH]

[Sutripta]

^^^
Itinerary leaves me puzzled.
For onward journey, you have to get permits from Thimpu. (P'ling permit covers only Thimpu/ Paro). So first get that.
Thimpu - Gelephu in 1 day? Why? Overnight accommodation will likely be better in Sarpang, or Bongaigaon. Not sure though.
Why only till Bomdila and not Tawang?
No need to do Tezpur - Nameri - Tezpur.
And it goes on.

Actually very important is to list why, and prioritise. That only you can do.

Regards
Sutripta

[wanderernomad]

Starting from Tejpur covering Nameri you can still reach Bomdilla for the day.
The reason I have not suggested going all the way to Tawang is that Sela would be a pain plus Bumla and Madhuri lakes would be a no go during mid March.
A day each can be saved on the Shillong Sohra Jowai Shillong circuit and The Ledo Digboi Dibrugrah part. Sorry the net was down so could not check the thread earlier.
Yes it can be broken, let me redo the return leg.