Madurai-Kolkata-Madurai (4500Km) 5days - with photos

NihilisticLogic · 25th November 2009, 22:43

Started on the 13th November and returned on the 21st. 5 days of driving 2 1/2 up, 2 1/2 down and 2 1/2 days of stay in Calcutta.

Big thanks to Team-bhp and specially hvkumar who replied to my first post with the route and road conditions ( which were perfect ).

Vehicle was a Tata safari EX 4x4. Did the trip with a friend but entire drive was solo.

I wanted to grasp the shift in food, climate, skyline, cityscape, language, dialects, culture by driving along the coastline through 4 states. Sightseeing is better done by aircraft with a long halt, but a fast road trip gives you the real picture of the local diorama.

I have the entire log of the trip ( every 40Km or so ) along with every single toll booth ( with costs ) and road conditions/route. Because its handwritten, if people are interested, I could input it into an excelsheet.

Day 1: Madurai - Vijaywada
Day 2: Vijaywada - Bhubaneshwar
Day 3: Bhubaneshwar - Kolkata ( half day )
Day 4: Drive around Kolkata
Day 5: Local sights and food
Day 6: Kolkata - Vizag
Day 7: Vizag - Chennai
Day 8: Chennai - Madurai ( half day )

Comments:
AndhraPradesh is the most amazing and beautiful state I've ever seen in India.
AP-Orissa checkpost is the worst ever.
Food in Calcutta is superb.

Notice : Be Extremely Careful when crossing from AP to OR, the 4 lane ends abruptly without warning. ( take a left, do not follow the 4 lane when near the border ). Dangerous, especially at night.

NihilisticLogic · 26th November 2009, 00:21

Panoramic photos of the landscape along the route. I couldn't upload or link the photos in their actual size or add the rest of the shots due to website restrictions and rules on Team-bhp.

Again, much gratitude to the folks here, wouldn't have happened without you guys.

mjothi · 26th November 2009, 07:27

wow, that was a one hell of a trip. And the pics, awesome. come on pour down your experience of driving the beast

Rudra Sen · 26th November 2009, 07:38

Excellent start. Where was that third place from the bottom?

funda2max · 26th November 2009, 08:13

Excellent trip! Why don't you share some more information on road conditions and travel time, etc...?

BlackPearl · 26th November 2009, 08:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

Excellent start. Where was that third place from the bottom?

I think that is Chilika.

Ravveendrra · 26th November 2009, 08:57

Nice start and great pics. Looking forward to reading more about your trip.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NihilisticLogic

.......
I have the entire log of the trip ( every 40Km or so ) along with every single toll booth ( with costs ) and road conditions/route. Because its handwritten, if people are interested, I could input it into an excelsheet. ...

That information must be priceless, do share if possible, it will be much appreciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NihilisticLogic

.......
Notice : Be Extremely Careful when crossing from AP to OR, the 4 lane ends abruptly without warning. ( take a left, do not follow the 4 lane when near the border ). Dangerous, especially at night.

Thanks for that warning!

Cheers,

Indian Ranger · 26th November 2009, 10:51

Excellent Panoramic Shots I must say. Do share some more snaps and the trip experiences with us. Would love to see some picture of your safari. I just love that color. Would also love to have the details in excel sheets since it will be very helpful is any of us is traveling this route in future.

Thanks..

NihilisticLogic · 27th November 2009, 03:23

I'll enter the details in the excel sheet and post it here in a couple of days. I need some time to do it, a bit tied up now. But here are some photos of the vehicle. Thank you for the encouragement and show of interest, stokes my ego a bit.

rulerofsun · 27th November 2009, 11:20

Thats a great trip. I am planning a Mumbai Kolkatta next year so your excel sheets may come in handy for me. The photos are great. Could you write about the entire trip with photos?

sumannandy · 27th November 2009, 13:56

Excellent pictures. Please share your trip log and the road conditions.

NihilisticLogic · 27th November 2009, 18:38

These sheets contain the details of the trip log at 20Km/15 minute intervals or as requisite along with:
-Signposts,
-Places on route ( noted purely from roadside signboards ),
-Trip meter readings,
-Toll booth locations, names, if available, & exact cost for a jeep/car Class 1 vehicle
-Fuel Quantity filled ( diesel ) and exact cost
-Directions to take
-Things to watch out for
-Places of overnight stay and meals ( when applicable )
-List of diversions, cautions
-List of stretches of bad roads with distances
-A complete set of timestamps

The information is extremely accurate as of November 2009 and I have taken every care to make it as easy to discern as possible. It took me 2 hours to input it into excel from the handwritten book. I am not mentioning this to get any brownie points but if any oddities are found, kindly inform me of the same so it can be rectified.
This is the least I can do to return the favour that this site and you guys has provided me.

I have taken other photos but I am not sure if I will do a write up for now. If I find more time over the next few weeks, I might get to it. I have another trip planned in december and I would be the one needing the information soon enough.

Much gratitude for everything and again, thanks to hvkumar.

NihilisticLogic · 27th November 2009, 18:40

The workbook has 2 worksheets, the first details the trip from Madurai to Kolkata and the second back to Madurai.

sumannandy · 27th November 2009, 21:18

Thanks for sharing the trip log. Excellent details.

Did you pay any entry/exit tax at Jaleswar?

NihilisticLogic · 28th November 2009, 02:05

Yes, I had to buy a 6 month vehicle permit for Orissa at the OR-WB border. It seems I had to pay at the AP-OR border but since road conditions were so miserable, nobody was there to issue it, so I had to do it during entry into WB.

I have mentioned the details in the log along with the exact cost and time.

25th November 2009, 22:43	#1
NihilisticLogic BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tamil Nadu Posts: 25 Thanked: 5 Times	Madurai-Kolkata-Madurai (4500Km) 5days - with photos Started on the 13th November and returned on the 21st. 5 days of driving 2 1/2 up, 2 1/2 down and 2 1/2 days of stay in Calcutta. Big thanks to Team-bhp and specially hvkumar who replied to my first post with the route and road conditions ( which were perfect ). Vehicle was a Tata safari EX 4x4. Did the trip with a friend but entire drive was solo. I wanted to grasp the shift in food, climate, skyline, cityscape, language, dialects, culture by driving along the coastline through 4 states. Sightseeing is better done by aircraft with a long halt, but a fast road trip gives you the real picture of the local diorama. I have the entire log of the trip ( every 40Km or so ) along with every single toll booth ( with costs ) and road conditions/route. Because its handwritten, if people are interested, I could input it into an excelsheet. Day 1: Madurai - Vijaywada Day 2: Vijaywada - Bhubaneshwar Day 3: Bhubaneshwar - Kolkata ( half day ) Day 4: Drive around Kolkata Day 5: Local sights and food Day 6: Kolkata - Vizag Day 7: Vizag - Chennai Day 8: Chennai - Madurai ( half day ) Comments: AndhraPradesh is the most amazing and beautiful state I've ever seen in India. AP-Orissa checkpost is the worst ever. Food in Calcutta is superb. Notice : Be Extremely Careful when crossing from AP to OR, the 4 lane ends abruptly without warning. ( take a left, do not follow the 4 lane when near the border ). Dangerous, especially at night. Last edited by Jaggu : 25th November 2009 at 23:14. Reason: Please host the pictures on TBHP itself, posting only with external links not allowed. Thanks
	() Thanks

26th November 2009, 00:21	#2
NihilisticLogic BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tamil Nadu Posts: 25 Thanked: 5 Times	Photos- Panoramic photos of the landscape along the route. I couldn't upload or link the photos in their actual size or add the rest of the shots due to website restrictions and rules on Team-bhp. Again, much gratitude to the folks here, wouldn't have happened without you guys. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

26th November 2009, 07:27	#3
mjothi Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,287 Thanked: 231 Times View My Garage	wow, that was a one hell of a trip. And the pics, awesome. come on pour down your experience of driving the beast
	() Thanks

26th November 2009, 07:38	#4
Rudra Sen Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 11,590 Thanked: 6,532 Times View My Garage	Excellent start. Where was that third place from the bottom?
	() Thanks

26th November 2009, 08:13	#5
funda2max BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 377 Thanked: 26 Times	Excellent trip! Why don't you share some more information on road conditions and travel time, etc...?
	() Thanks

26th November 2009, 10:51	#8
Indian Ranger BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 243 Thanked: 29 Times	Excellent Panoramic Shots I must say. Do share some more snaps and the trip experiences with us. Would love to see some picture of your safari. I just love that color. Would also love to have the details in excel sheets since it will be very helpful is any of us is traveling this route in future. Thanks..
	() Thanks

27th November 2009, 03:23	#9
NihilisticLogic BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tamil Nadu Posts: 25 Thanked: 5 Times	Roger, got it- I'll enter the details in the excel sheet and post it here in a couple of days. I need some time to do it, a bit tied up now. But here are some photos of the vehicle. Thank you for the encouragement and show of interest, stokes my ego a bit. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

27th November 2009, 11:20	#10
rulerofsun BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Thane Posts: 191 Thanked: 147 Times	Thats a great trip. I am planning a Mumbai Kolkatta next year so your excel sheets may come in handy for me. The photos are great. Could you write about the entire trip with photos?
	() Thanks

27th November 2009, 13:56	#11
sumannandy BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 822 Thanked: 592 Times View My Garage	Excellent pictures. Please share your trip log and the road conditions.
	() Thanks

27th November 2009, 18:38	#12
NihilisticLogic BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tamil Nadu Posts: 25 Thanked: 5 Times	The data log- These sheets contain the details of the trip log at 20Km/15 minute intervals or as requisite along with: -Signposts, -Places on route ( noted purely from roadside signboards ), -Trip meter readings, -Toll booth locations, names, if available, & exact cost for a jeep/car Class 1 vehicle -Fuel Quantity filled ( diesel ) and exact cost -Directions to take -Things to watch out for -Places of overnight stay and meals ( when applicable ) -List of diversions, cautions -List of stretches of bad roads with distances -A complete set of timestamps The information is extremely accurate as of November 2009 and I have taken every care to make it as easy to discern as possible. It took me 2 hours to input it into excel from the handwritten book. I am not mentioning this to get any brownie points but if any oddities are found, kindly inform me of the same so it can be rectified. This is the least I can do to return the favour that this site and you guys has provided me. I have taken other photos but I am not sure if I will do a write up for now. If I find more time over the next few weeks, I might get to it. I have another trip planned in december and I would be the one needing the information soon enough. Much gratitude for everything and again, thanks to hvkumar.
	() Thanks

27th November 2009, 21:18	#14
sumannandy BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 822 Thanked: 592 Times View My Garage	Thanks for sharing the trip log. Excellent details. Did you pay any entry/exit tax at Jaleswar?
	() Thanks

28th November 2009, 02:05	#15
NihilisticLogic BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tamil Nadu Posts: 25 Thanked: 5 Times	Affirmative- Yes, I had to buy a 6 month vehicle permit for Orissa at the OR-WB border. It seems I had to pay at the AP-OR border but since road conditions were so miserable, nobody was there to issue it, so I had to do it during entry into WB. I have mentioned the details in the log along with the exact cost and time.
	() Thanks