[gajadonga]

This trip was a dream run for me as I had always wanted to see the Northern India in winter.
A lot of planning route queiries and addition and deletion of places to suite our timings and the days we intend to stay.
On the whole did not want to miss out on the Iteniary that was fixed.
Finally it was decided that Agra Delhi Manali Bikaner and Jaisalmer were the destinations.
No bookings anywhere as it was offseason and was sure of getting occomodation.
The previous week I was away to Trichy for my grandfathers 90th birthday and was still making up my mind for the Northern journey.
It started with my children asking me are we going dad to the snow clad mountains for our vacation.
The decision was done on Saturday morning 8/1/2011 that we will start by 3pm and I asked my son to come early for the start for he came around 4pm.

Still the spirits were on and the last minute purchasing of wollen clothing was done and the journey started 4.30pm.

I just on the streets of Hyderabad negotiating the traffic to reach the highway my son was telling dad my mobile recharge is necessary.
Again a stop for mobile recharge and we were on our way.


THE FIRST LEG FROM HYDERABAD TO AGRA

Start time Hyderabad 4.45pm on 8/1/2011

End time Agra 5.00 pm 9/1/2011



I was on the North-South corridor and had heard lot of stories about the highway near Hingaghat but was sure that the assurance from HVK sir that the road was four lane and good to drive.

A small stretch of 20kms before Nizamabad was two lane with four lane work going on the rest of the roads were very good.

Stopped at a dhaba near Nirmal it was pretty cold outside and we had the first outdoor feel of the cold that is to come.

All of us were in casuals and switched on to our windsheeters and my wife slowly came out telling I have forgotten my windsheeter at home.
Finished dinner and on to the road again which was excellent topped up fuel at Nirmal crossed Adilabad and the diversions started but was fairly good
and no complaints about the road till Hingaghat and there it was four lane upto Nagpur.

Went into the Nagpur city for refuel and lost about one hour asking the way out of the city.
Luckily got some guys and they escorted us to Saoner road.After thanking them was on the lane to Betul.

As it was saturday night saw a lot of cars from clubs around that area at around 11.45pm.I was out of the city by 12.15am
A lot of truck traffic till Betul plenty of Rajasthan trucks.

From Betul the road till Shahpur was good and after Shapur occasinal pot holes started.

Itarsi town had very bad roads.

From Hoshangabad to Obaidullaganj the roads were bad with single lane bridges lot of curves average roads rubbled roads in patches
with potholes rough surface saw some Scorpios over taking me driving fast on that roads.

Suddenly a goup of trucks were parked on one side of the road was I just getting jiteery about a traffic jam but it was an accident by two lorries just then.
One coming in the opposite direction was on the middle of the road and the other truck from my direction was off the road into the bushes on the left side.

I had some space and along with the TATA safari vehicle in front of me could negotiate closely between the trucks to pass on.

I reached the Bhimbetka Caves around 5am and was trying to wake up the guys in this MP tourism hotel and in vain.Spent about 10mins but of no use
so again was on the road to encounter another traffic jam 30kms before Bhopal.

The jam was so heavy inspite of driving for 2 kms still could not reach the Jammed site.
Just then a police patrol came in and advised us to go through Bhojpur and the onwards to Bhopal.
I could get into a convoy of about 6 vehicles and we were on our way.The road was very bad a lot of underbody scrapings and lot of jolts yet managed to hand on to the convoy
and I hit Bhopal around 6am.I was in the bypass and was trying to find my way out.
One person guided me into the town and told me to take directions towards Lal chowk and from there towards Bhopal airport.

We were out of the city in 15mins in the early hours.

Some pictures of Bhopal town and outskirts of the city

[gajadonga]

The road uptill Biaora was good except for the bypass which was in bad shape.

The national highway was not that smooth as expected except for the tolled bypass of Guna town and we stopped 20kms before Gwalior for lunch in a Dhaba.

Gwalior bypass was bad but paid the toll charges for the bad roads.
Gwalior to Agra still some work on the four lane is going on otherwise it was drivable.

Reached Agra 5pm.

We straight headed to Tajmahal But it was 5pm and the acess to inside of Taj was closed on enquiring found out that Taj would open by 6am.

So took a room adjacent to the Taj took an Auto and went inside the city to buy a leather jacket for my wife and dinner.

Both were finished and we hit the bed for an early visit to the Taj in the morning
Some pictures on the way NH3 from Bhopal to Gwalior and from the Agra town

[dhuli]

Fantastic! I am a sucker for these long travelogues that span the country. Recently I was checking RoamingRao's GQ trip - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...3-days-gq.html

Keep the pictures coming, Gajadonga! BTW, what vehicle did you do this in? Verna? Thanks for sharing.

[hvkumar]

That was quite a long non-stop drive!
Maybe it would have easier had you taken the Nagpur Ring Road from after the airport to avoid going through town?
Bhopal still does not have a bypass for NH12 to go from Obaidullahgunj side to Biaora side?
Gwalior bypass - I think it is always bad!
Pholpur bypass is complete now (Gwalior-Agra)?

[gajadonga]

Originally Posted by dhuli

Fantastic! I am a sucker for these long travelogues that span the country. Recently I was checking RoamingRao's GQ trip - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...3-days-gq.html

Keep the pictures coming, Gajadonga! BTW, what vehicle did you do this in? Verna? Thanks for sharing.

Thanks dhuli.This was dream run for I wanted to do Hyderabad-Delhi for a long time but could not resist myself for the North-South corridor completion which is lagging behind its target date.
The vehicle was Verna.

[gajadonga]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

That was quite a long non-stop drive!
Maybe it would have easier had you taken the Nagpur Ring Road from after the airport to avoid going through town?
Bhopal still does not have a bypass for NH12 to go from Obaidullahgunj side to Biaora side?
Gwalior bypass - I think it is always bad!
Pholpur bypass is complete now (Gwalior-Agra)?

HVK sir it was a long drive took some power naps before Bhopal and after crossing Biaora and after Gwalior.
I could have taken the Nagpur bypass but wanted to refuel and I thought after 11pm could easily go through the city.
Guna bypass was very good
Gwalior bypass was a let down for the toll they charge.
Gwalior -Agra lot of work is going on but drivable.I did pass through a flyover but did not notice wheather it was Pholpur

[mobike008]

This sounds to be like a long and interesting travelogue. Kudos to you that you did the entire stretch from Hyderabad to Agra non-stop and that to with your family.

Didnt you feel any risk doing that? And, what about the stress factor, didnt you feel any?

Look forward to next installment hopefully with lots of pictures. Bring it on !

[gajadonga]

Originally Posted by mobike008

This sounds to be like a long and interesting travelogue. Kudos to you that you did the entire stretch from Hyderabad to Agra non-stop and that to with your family.

Didnt you feel any risk doing that? And, what about the stress factor, didnt you feel any?

Look forward to next installment hopefully with lots of pictures. Bring it on !

Thanks mobike008.I had a similiar picture of Madhya Pradesh landscape while driving have posted one weird picture.
I have been doing regular long drives last time to Gangtok also.The family is supportive but for the initial planning hiccups.
My only risky part of drive was from Nagpur to Bhopal in the night but as HKV sir had adviced it was not risky as there was plenty of truck traffic and lot of cars and Sumos too in the night never felt the stress.I was targeting Bhemketta caves near Bhopal as previously done by Rangith1 for a halt but was not successful.

[ramkya1]

That was some non-stop drive with family. Do continue your nice story and photos.

--Ramky
=====

[gajadonga]

Originally Posted by ramkya1

That was some non-stop drive with family. Do continue your nice story and photos.

--Ramky
=====

ramkya1 I was following your route from Hisar to Bikaner after your trip to Dharmshala will write about it in the following posts

[ampere]

Nagpur is one city, which I was amazed on seeing.
"The wide roads". That sums it up. Amazing place.

Agra is opposite. The area next to Taj should have been really crowded.

Non stop drive is something you got there!

[gajadonga]

Originally Posted by ampere

Nagpur is one city, which I was amazed on seeing.
"The wide roads". That sums it up. Amazing place.

Agra is opposite. The area next to Taj should have been really crowded.

Non stop drive is something you got there!

ampere Nagpur is a good city with ring roads and wide roads.
There is so much of tourist inflow into Agra the town seems to be ok wider roads are much desired.

[gajadonga]

Morning got up early 6.30am trying to wake up everyone was tiring than driving.We were ready by 8am and took a walk to the Taj.
It was pretty cold and lot of fog but visibility was ok.
Saw a lot of monkeys enroute paid for the entrance the leg covers to worn over our shoes got a guide.

The guide was not so fluent in english but two lady foriegners joined us and our guide was in full flow.
Passed through the regulars checks at the entrance

[gajadonga]

There was a lot of fog and we could see the Taj faintly from a distance.
The guide was telling us the previous day the Taj could be seen only after 12noon because of the fog.
While crossing the lawns before the Taj was aiming for a seated bird but it just flew and could catch an image.
Before we started to climb the stairs to go on to the Taj we wore our leg covers over our footwear.
The lady forigner was appreciating the practice of leg covers.

The weather was quite chill with lot of breeze and entering into the Taj gave us some comfort.

[gajadonga]

Some facts about Taj
It took 22yrs for construction (1631-1653)
22000 workers worked on this structure.
There are 16 gardens 8 on either side of the fountains and there are 53 fountains in all.
This again coincidental to the year of completion 1653