[rkg]

Originally Posted by rajatmakar

Thanks. I will be driving with my family. I am the sole driver.

In Tirupati, Hotel Bliss is the standard place we stay. This time, our stay will be for 5-6 hours only incase we halt at Tirupati on Day-1. The lowest category room in Hotel Bliss will work out ~ RS 2500/- .
I am looking at cheaper alternatives with clean room/toilet and secure parking. Any ideas?

Also in Bhubaneswar, I plan to stay ina hotel on NH-5. from google, I found some options like Hotel Bari International & Saraswat Retreat. Any idea or feedback about these hotels?

regards,
Rajat

Better would be Kolar-palamaner route.
To take chinatamani route you have to go up to Hoskote( assuming you are going through KR Puram)
Once you leave KRPuram it is 4 lane till Mulbagal- short stretch of 20 KM till AP border is being 4 laned. Afterwards it is very good road till Naidupet & NH 5. From then onwards is 4 laned almost all the way to Howrah, except 100 Km stretch between Balasore-Kahragpur. Where only one lane is functiona but you pay for 4 lane roads. You have to zig zag between the lanes in this stretch( this was the condition as on April 2014)

Tirupati has lot of hotels. If you are leaving by 5 PM, one can easily reach tirupati by 9-10PM. You can check some around bus stand. You can even check Srivari sanndhi on kapila theertham road. It is maintained by Arya Vaisya sangham. If rooms are there they do give to others also. You can get an AC room with clean toilets at much cheaper rate. For one night stay that is more than enough

[rahul4640]

Originally Posted by rajatmakar

I will be travelling from Bangalore to Kolkata during Christmas time. The tentative plan is as follows :-
Day-1 1700 hrs start : Bangalore to Tirupati, Stay at Hotel Bliss, will pre-book
Day-2 0500 hrs start : Tirupati to Bhubaneswar, Hotel yet to finalise
Day-3 0600 hrs start : Bhubaneswar to Kolkata

Though I have never made a B'lore to Calcutta drive myself, my apologies to say that IMHO the 2nd day drive from Tirupati to Bhubaneswar is worth at least a good twenty hours journey. Much tiresome for a solo driver. Please plan accordingly to continue with your trip timings for the rest of your trip on the third day. Bhubaneswar to Calcutta may be covered in eight to nine hours.

Difference of opinion is solicited.

[rajatmakar]

Originally Posted by D4D

I would recommend you to check other TLs. I think this plan maybe tight. Consider driving it in 4 days.
....

3 days should be ok in my opinion. On Day-2, I am planning to keep the destination flexible. A fixed target will not allow us to enjoy the road trip.

Originally Posted by rkg

Better would be Kolar-palamaner route.
....

Tirupati has lot of hotels. ....

Thanks. I will consider both your suggestions. I was just wary of the volvo traffic in the 2 laned section. But I feel if I reach Tirupati by 9, I may be able to avoid it.

Originally Posted by rahul4640

...my apologies to say that IMHO the 2nd day drive from Tirupati to Bhubaneswar is worth at least a good twenty hours journey. Much tiresome for a solo driver. ...

Agree Sir. I will keep it flexible. There is an itch to reach Puri on Day-2 as then I will be able to catch up with some of my folks there.

I am now thinking of following option too :-
Day-1 1700 hrs start : Bangalore to Nellore, 7 hours drive
Day-2 0500 hrs start : Nellore to Puri, 15 hours drive, catch up with folks
Day-3 1100 hrs start : Bhubaneswar to Kolkata

[rajatmakar]

Sorry for the back to back post but the 30 minute window passed.

To reach Puri, I am planning to take the New Jagannath Sadak which connects NH5 to NH203.

Any idea about the current conditions of this road?

TIA,
Rajat

[himadrimondal]

Great narration, extremely detailed point to point description of the places one has to touch on this trip. Loved the way you mentioned restaurants, one of the most important aspects for family travel.

[JoseVijay]

Originally Posted by JoseVijay

Since you have the option to drive overnight on Day 1, I would suggest you to push upto Nellore. It is just 2 to 3 hours from Tirupathi. From Nellore you can take the GQ without any fuss.

Originally Posted by rajatmakar

Day-1 1700 hrs start : Bangalore to Nellore, 7 hours drive
Day-2 0500 hrs start : Nellore to Puri, 15 hours drive, catch up with folks
Day-3 1100 hrs start : Bhubaneswar to Kolkata

This looks perfect. But Nellore to Puri on day 2 will be more than a 15 hour drive, I bet. Budget at least 17 to 18 hours as you have your family travelling with you.

[rahul4640]

Originally Posted by rajatmakar

To reach Puri, I am planning to take the New Jagannath Sadak which connects NH5 to NH203. Any idea about the current conditions of this road?

I am not sure which road are you talking about. But if you are talking about the new road which helps us drive to Puri from Calcutta, it originates east of Rasulgarh Chowk. If you are coming from Vizag side, it may cause you to drive little extra, though the road is in nice shape. You may consider taking Khurda-Pipli road, if you are coming from Andhra Pradesh side. Few years ago this route was not in very good shape but should possibly be OK now.

[Saurabh M]

My 2 cents here.

Bangalore to Kolkata is doable in 2 days, without much stress. I did it in Aug 2013.

Day 1 : Left Bangalore at 4am, reached Vizag at 9:30pm. Was caught up in highway blockades for 2 hrs due to the Telengana agitation
Day 2 : Left Vizag at 6:30am, reached Kolkata at 8:30pm.

Was fortunate at Icchapuram with no traffic jams. WB-OR border was the usual story.

I was driving solo (well almost). Had my 7yr old daughter with me only (she is my perfect travel companion). I was driving a Figo diesel and never crossed 120kph. If you do not have the constraint of leaving in the evening from Bangalore, this is perfectly doable in 2 days.

[ssjr0498]

Originally Posted by Saurabh M

My 2 cents here.

Bangalore to Kolkata is doable in 2 days, without much stress. I did it in Aug 2013.

Day 1 : Left Bangalore at 4am, reached Vizag at 9:30pm. Was caught up in highway blockades for 2 hrs due to the Telengana agitation
Day 2 : Left Vizag at 6:30am, reached Kolkata at 8:30pm.

Was fortunate at Icchapuram with no traffic jams. WB-OR border was the usual story.

I was driving solo (well almost). Had my 7yr old daughter with me only (she is my perfect travel companion). I was driving a Figo diesel and never crossed 120kph. If you do not have the constraint of leaving in the evening from Bangalore, this is perfectly doable in 2 days.

I would agree with Saurabh 100%. I have done Bangalore to Kolkata a minimum of 10 times all of them in 2 days! The last trip was made last month itself!

Like Saurabh pointed out here..

Day 1- Leave Bangalore at 5am- Reach Vizag at about 6:30-7pm. I generally stay at the APTDC resort on Rushikonda beach. Its really nice as it is just off the highway, so you can make a quick entry and getaway!

Day 2- Leave Vizag at 5:30-6am - reach Kolkata by 7:30-8pm

At no point have I ever felt the need to push the car beyond the 100-120kph mark. Roads are brilliant barring the Mulbagal bypass and some small patches in Orissa!

Perfectly doable in 2 days with your family!

[maheshramaling]

Originally Posted by rajatmakar

3 days should be ok in my opinion.

I am now thinking of following option too :-
Day-1 1700 hrs start : Bangalore to Nellore, 7 hours drive
Day-2 0500 hrs start : Nellore to Puri, 15 hours drive, catch up with folks
Day-3 1100 hrs start : Bhubaneswar to Kolkata

Originally Posted by Saurabh M

Bangalore to Kolkata is doable in 2 days, without much stress. I did it in Aug 2013.

Originally Posted by ssjr0498

I would agree with Saurabh 100%. I have done Bangalore to Kolkata a minimum of 10 times all of them in 2 days! The last trip was made last month itself!

Yes - it's perfectly doable in two days and I have done in this Feb.

Day 1: Bangalore to Vizag: Left 4:30 am and reached Vizag at 6:30 pm. Despite road block before Tirupathi because of Telangana issue.
Day 2: Vizag to Kolkata: Left 7 am and reached Kolkata at 9pm.

But - if you think, you want to do it in three days and not drive 14 or 15 hours each day - my suggestion would be;

Day 1: Bangalore to Vijayawada
Day 2: Vijayawada to Bhubaneswar or Puri (if you want to meet someone as mentioned)
Day 3: Puri or Bhubaneswar to Kolkata

[samish_g]

Originally Posted by ssjr0498

Day 1- Leave Bangalore at 5am- Reach Vizag at about 6:30-7pm. I generally stay at the APTDC resort on Rushikonda beach. Its really nice as it is just off the highway, so you can make a quick entry and getaway!

Thanks @ssjr0498. I too am planning to a Bangalore-Kolkata next year. I was planning to halt at the Ramakrishna Beach. Have you stayed in the Ramakrishna Beach during your trips? Any preferred hotels in this area?
Also wanted some information about the evening traffic in Vizag.

Regards,

Samish

[rajatmakar]

Originally Posted by maheshramaling

Yes - it's perfectly doable in two days and I have done in this Feb.
...

Originally Posted by ssjr0498

I would agree with Saurabh 100%. I have done Bangalore to Kolkata a minimum of 10 times all of them in 2 days! The last trip was made last month itself!
...

Originally Posted by Saurabh M

My 2 cents here.

Bangalore to Kolkata is doable in 2 days, without much stress. I did it in Aug 2013.

....

Originally Posted by JoseVijay

This looks perfect. But Nellore to Puri on day 2 will be more than a 15 hour drive, I bet. Budget at least 17 to 18 hours as you have your family travelling with you.

Thanks all for your inputs. Yes, 2 days should be enough. But I am starting in the evening as I want to reach Puri by Day-2 evening.

The road I am talking about is as below NH5 - Nirakarpur - Chupuring - Chandanpur - Puri. Any inputs on the condition of this road? I will be doing it mostly in the late evening.

[ssjr0498]

Originally Posted by samish_g

Thanks @ssjr0498. I too am planning to a Bangalore-Kolkata next year. I was planning to halt at the Ramakrishna Beach. Have you stayed in the Ramakrishna Beach during your trips? Any preferred hotels in this area?
Also wanted some information about the evening traffic in Vizag.

Regards,

Samish

Samish,

I haven't stayed at Ramakrishna beach, I 99% of the time stay at the Beach Resort (APSTDC) at Rushikonda beach. I prefer this because it is a 5 min detour from the highway, this helps is getting in and exiting the city when traveling to and from Bangalore.

As I stay at this beach hotel, I generally don't have to encounter a lot of traffic, but yeah, you could say that there is some level of traffic during the peak evening hours! Honestly, for me, as I stay in Bangalore, traffic in Vizag is peanuts compared to what I encounter here! Lol!

Cheers!

[rahul4640]

Originally Posted by rajatmakar

Yes, 2 days should be enough. I am starting in the evening as I want to reach Puri by Day-2 evening.

Please let us know what was the total duration of your journey time. Do you plan to make it a non-stop one?

[samish_g]

Originally Posted by ssjr0498

Samish,

I haven't stayed at Ramakrishna beach, I 99% of the time stay at the Beach Resort (APSTDC) at Rushikonda beach. I prefer this because it is a 5 min detour from the highway, this helps is getting in and exiting the city when traveling to and from Bangalore.

Thank you for the detailed information. I also checked their website www.aptdc.gov.in/vizag.html and found it fairly reasonable for a night's stay.

Honestly, for me, as I stay in Bangalore, traffic in Vizag is peanuts compared to what I encounter here! Lol!

Cheers!

I too being from Bangalore can imagine your plight!!!

Regards

Samish