[Rahulk76]

Originally Posted by Rahulk76

I have plotted the route in google maps according to the inputs provided.

Pune - Silliguri - Pune - Google Maps

Technically its T-1day

Thanks to all especially HV Kumar.

I will be following the route mentioned above for now

T- 4 hrs..

Bye for now

Thanks
Rahul

[Rahulk76]

Update
Reached final destination today early morning.
Lost 4 hours in around malda, due to darn traffic and a MASTER diagnosis by JAY over phone for broken piston of slave cylinder of safari (2 hrs) lexicon motors Malda,(great job done in quick time).
I am somewhere near bhutan now, doing the work which I came for.

This wont have worked without HV Kumar's help. Thanks HV.

Rahul

[KALINGA]

Originally Posted by Rahulk76

reached final destination today early morning
.... a MASTER diaganosis by JAY over phone for broken piston of slave cylinder of safari (2 hrs) lexicon motors Malda,(great job done in quick time)
Rahul

Congrats Rahul. Waiting for more updates. Road...Route...Pics....
Sorry to hear about Your beast break down. How is it happen??

[hvkumar]

Maybe I can fill in some of the details, and the team-bhp at work!

Rahul's drive:
D1: Pune-Nagpur-Bhilai
D2: Bhilai-Sambalpur-Calcutta
D3: Calcutta-Malda-Sliguri-somewhere near the Bhutan border

That was some zesty driving, starting off at 5 every day and ending at 11!

Rahul had dinner at Sher-e-Punjab at Kolaghat, my friend Mahesh had his lunch there the next day.
Rahul had dinner at Golden Park at Malda, Mahesh ended up staying there!

Thanks, Rahul, for helping book the hotel room at Golden Park.

Thanks, jaysmokesleaves, for diagnosing the problem in Rahul's car, and helping him fix it at Malda in the quickest possible time (replaced slave cylinder).

KALINGA, I believe Rahul's clutch started slipping and that was a problem with the slave cylinder, which was replaced at TASC Malda with minimal loss of time.

[Rahulk76]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Maybe I can fill in some of the details, and the team-bhp at work!

Rahul's drive:
D1: Pune-Nagpur-Bhilai (Durg) (Hotel Shakun)
D2: Bhilai-Sambalpur-Calcutta (Hotel Midday)
D3: Calcutta-Malda-Siliguri-somewhere near the Bhutan border

That was some zesty driving, starting off at 5 every day and ending at 11!

Rahul had dinner at Sher-e-Punjab at Kolaghat, my friend Mahesh had his lunch there the next day.
Rahul had dinner at Golden Park at Malda, Mahesh ended up staying there!

Thanks, Rahul, for helping book the hotel room at Golden Park.

Thanks, jaysmokesleaves, for diagnosing the problem in Rahul's car, and helping him fix it at Malda in the quickest possible time (replaced slave cylinder).

KALINGA, I believe Rahul's clutch started slipping and that was a problem with the slave cylinder, which was replaced at TASC Malda with minimal loss of time.

Now contemplating going to gurumera national park, bhutan- phunsoling and gangtok - nathula (if at all) else north sikkim until Lachen, Lachung.

[Rahulk76]

Ok

I managed to do some offroading in Jalpara and then managed to get the steed to Nathula as well

Right now in Bokaro

today took

silliguri-malda-siuri- raniganj-dhanbad-bokaro Link

Thanks for all the guidance and help HVK.

Tomm go to JSR and then DAT baharagora and back to pune

[hvkumar]

That was a fabulous 750-km run today, Rahul - not easy even on superfast 4-laned roads, but you have done it in the narrow roads of NH31, NH34, NH60 and N32.

I guess safety of the roads is suspect in some parts of Bengal (Purulia, etc) and Jharkand?

[santoshr]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

That was a fabulous 750-km run today, Rahul - not easy even on superfast 4-laned roads, but you have done it in the narrow roads of NH31, NH34, NH60 and N32.

I guess safety of the roads is suspect in some parts of Bengal (Purulia, etc) and Jharkand?

I am sorry for getting back on this old thread. I am putting together this trip for 2014, and from what I read the best route is - http://goo.gl/maps/B1x7O

Basically -
D1: Pune-Nagpur-Bhilai
D2: Bhilai-Sambalpur-Calcutta
D3: Calcutta-Malda-Siliguri

Bagdogra - P'ling - Paro - Thimpu - P'ling - Bagdogra (7 days)

I had a few queries :
1. Any issues with doing this in a sedan. I have a Rapid and don't know for sure wht to expect from the roads. I can do long stretches but sure if the Rapid can handle sludge and stream's (like in Leh)

2. Any stretches in the above which should not be covered after sundown.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by santoshr

I am sorry for getting back on this old thread. I am putting together this trip for 2014, and from what I read the best route is - http://goo.gl/maps/B1x7O

Long way to go. Road conditions & routes change by the minute in India. While this route is currently an optimal route, nowadays, the Hyderabad-Vijaywada-Vizag route is also becoming faster than the Central India route.

Basically -
D1: Pune-Nagpur-Bhilai
D2: Bhilai-Sambalpur-Calcutta
D3: Calcutta-Malda-Siliguri

The Sambalpur-Calcutta route via Keonjhar is terrible, so we prefer the Angul-Choudhwar (Cuttack) to Calcutta.
Currently, we prefer the Calcutta-Dumka-Bhagalpur-Siliguri route instead of via Malda.

[quote]Bagdogra - P'ling - Paro - Thimpu - P'ling - Bagdogra (7 days)

That is fine.

I had a few queries :
1. Any issues with doing this in a sedan. I have a Rapid and don't know for sure wht to expect from the roads. I can do long stretches but sure if the Rapid can handle sludge and stream's (like in Leh)

Rapid is not a popular car in those parts, hence do not expect any service support. Road conditions are such that they are doable by any car.

2. Any stretches in the above which should not be covered after sundown.

If you go via Keonjhar, avoid Sambalpur-Kharagpur after sun down.
Avoid Siliguri-Birpara-Phuntsoling after dark since there are wildlife crossings.

[Sheel]

I would suggest not to cross Jharkhand after sun-set. The situation nowadays dictate such.

[Sommos]

Originally Posted by santoshr

I am sorry for getting back on this old thread. I am putting together this trip for 2014, and from what I read the best route is - http://goo.gl/maps/B1x7O

Basically -
D1: Pune-Nagpur-Bhilai
D2: Bhilai-Sambalpur-Calcutta
D3: Calcutta-Malda-Siliguri

As HVK has already said 2014 is still a long way to go.
Several roads on this route will change drastically with the onset of the monsoon. So hold on and discuss about the road condition later.

BTW if you need any help about stay options at Bhilai or any other information please give me a PM.

[santoshr]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Long way to go. Road conditions & routes change by the minute in India. While this route is currently an optimal route, nowadays, the Hyderabad-Vijaywada-Vizag route is also becoming faster than the Central India route.

The Sambalpur-Calcutta route via Keonjhar is terrible, so we prefer the Angul-Choudhwar (Cuttack) to Calcutta.
Currently, we prefer the Calcutta-Dumka-Bhagalpur-Siliguri route instead of via Malda.
Road conditions are such that they are doable by any car.

I agree there's long way to go and that the actual road status will drastically change, I am right now just looking to plot the best route, so that I can start planning the rest. Things like number of days and approximate night halts enroute to Bagdogra et al.

But also why goto KOL at at all ?

Pune - Bhillai or Raipur
Raipur - Durgapur
Durgapur - Bagdogra/Jalpaugudi or Jaigaon

In that case the last leg is not alot, and the only time we are crossing or touching bihar border it will be early evening i.e when going from Durgapur to Bagdogra.

Also Sambalpur-Angul-Cuttack-Calcutta would end up adding a day --

Pune - Bhillai or Raipur
Raipur - Cuttack
Cuttack - Durgapur
Durgapur - Bagdogra/Jalpaugudi or Jaigaon

And if we are starting from Durgapur, then "Dumka-Bhagalpur-Siliguri " should also be ok, because I will then cross that during the day.

[rahul4640]

Originally Posted by santoshr

And if we are starting from Durgapur, then "Dumka-Bhagalpur-Siliguri " should also be ok, because I will then cross that during the day.

No problem. I took the Dumka-Bhagalpur-Purnia route less than a month ago, while going and coming back from my visit to Gangtok and Darjeeling. As it took me almost thirteen hours to reach Siliguri from Calcutta, I guess it will take you less than ten hours (with more than adequate stops).

[Sommos]

Originally Posted by santoshr

I agree there's long way to go and that the actual road status will drastically change, I am right now just looking to plot the best route, so that I can start planning the rest. Things like number of days and approximate night halts enroute to Bagdogra et al.

But also why goto KOL at at all ?
Ans. : Because Bhilai/Raipur-Sambalpur-Kolkata-Durgapur provides the best roads in this streach.

Pune - Bhillai or Raipur
Raipur - Durgapur
Durgapur - Bagdogra/Jalpaugudi or Jaigaon

In that case the last leg is not alot, and the only time we are crossing or touching bihar border it will be early evening i.e when going from Durgapur to Bagdogra.

Also Sambalpur-Angul-Cuttack-Calcutta would end up adding a day --
Ans. : The Sambalpur-Keonjhar-Kharagpur route is in bad condition, so the diversion through Angul-Cuttack is recommended. I've done Bhilai-Kolkata-Durgapur on a day via the Angul-Cuttack route. Bhilai/Raipur to Kolkata can be easily done in a day. Again Kolkata-Siliguri via the Dumka route can be easily done in a single day.

Pune - Bhillai or Raipur
Raipur - Cuttack
Cuttack - Durgapur
Durgapur - Bagdogra/Jalpaugudi or Jaigaon

And if we are starting from Durgapur, then "Dumka-Bhagalpur-Siliguri " should also be ok, because I will then cross that during the day.

The replies to your specific querries have been given in bold, hope it helps.

[julupani]

Originally Posted by santoshr

I am sorry for getting back on this old thread. I am putting together this trip for 2014, and from what I read the best route is - http://goo.gl/maps/B1x7O

Basically -
D1: Pune-Nagpur-Bhilai
D2: Bhilai-Sambalpur-Calcutta
D3: Calcutta-Malda-Siliguri

Well, let me give an alternate route, based on my scanning of the maps and a little bit of other research.

Day1: Pune-Nasik-Indore-Dewas-Bhopal
Day2: Bhopal-Sagar-Jhansi-Sikandara-Kanpur-Lucknow
Day3: Lucknow-Gorakhpur-Muzzafarpur-Darbhanga-Purnea-Dalkola-Siliguri.

This will not only be shorter in distance than Pune-Nagpur-Kolkata-Siliguri route, but will also bring you the comfort of good 4-lane roads for a large section of the journey.