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Bengaluru to Gurugram in a Scorpio N: 5 states and countless memories

25th May 2025, 09:20 by Utkarsh Chaudhary

The SUV's go-anywhere nature, comfortable seats and high driving position gave me complete confidence for this cross-country road trip.

BHPian codezilla recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

As part of relocating from Bengaluru to Gurugram, we decided to turn the move into a road trip. With generous leave and a long weekend to work with, we planned a 5-day relaxed drive across the heart of India—taking in scenic beauty, national parks, historic places, and of course, the thrill of the open road.

Our vehicle of choice? The Mahindra Scorpio N 2WD Diesel Automatic Z8L. The go-anywhere nature, ample luggage space (especially for two people ), comfortable seats, RWD dynamics, and the high driving position gave me complete confidence for this cross-country drive. No fretting about road conditions—just drive and explore.

Route Planning

The first half was standard:

Day 1: Bengaluru - Hyderabad
Day 2: Hyderabad - Nagpur

Option 1:

Nagpur - Chitrakoot
Chitrakoot - Agra
Agra - Gurugram

Option 2 (Chosen):

Nagpur - Bhopal
Bhopal - Ranthambore (Sawai Madhopur)
Ranthambore - Gurugram

Day 1: Bengaluru to Hyderabad – Great highways, excellent drive and Nostalgia

After a late farewell party, we woke up groggy and had a few last-minute packing tasks. We finally set off around 10:30 AM. Since it was Saturday, we were able to dodge peak traffic and hit the NH44, which was in great shape.

We stopped near Kurnool for a peaceful lunch and some rejuvenating filter coffee, then cruised into Hyderabad by 9:00 PM. The plan was to stay at our alma mater, the Indian School of Business (ISB)—a perfect way to relive old memories.

Distance: ~600 km; Mileage: 16 kmpl; Fuel stop: Jio BP

Routemap Bangalore to Hyderabad:

Midway coffee run at Starbucks

ISB under the moonlight

Day 2: Hyderabad to Nagpur – Elevated Roads, Rivers, and Milestones

After catching up with a friend, we left Hyderabad at 10:00 AM. The scenery quickly improved—elevated highways, river crossings, gentle hills, and minimal traffic. We stopped for lunch near Dahegaon and continued non-stop after that.

We reached Nagpur by 8:00 PM and checked in at Indus Suites, located centrally.

In Nagpur, we explored:

The Zero Milestone – Origin of India’s road network
The iconic Shreenathji Pav Bhaji – Definitely lives up to the hype
Corridor Seven Coffee Roasters – Highly recommended for coffee lovers

Distance: ~600 km; Mileage: 14.6 kmpl; Fuel stop: Nayara

On our way to Barbadi

Zero Milestone and the Scorpio N

Shreenathji Pav Bhaji

Day 3: Nagpur to Bhopal (via Satpura) – Jungle Book Safari

Though the direct route is only ~350 km, we had bigger plans: visit Satpura National Park, which added ~150 km. We had pre-booked a 3 PM safari at the Madhai Gate, so we left Nagpur at 6:30 AM sharp.

It was chilly and foggy—ideal winter drive conditions. After ~100 km, we stopped for a hearty breakfast and chai near the Maharashtra–MP border at a cozy Dhaba.

The final 50 km stretch to Madhai Gate was an off-roading dream—perfect for the ScorpioN. A mix of broken roads and jungle tracks took us to Tawa Reservoir, from where we boarded a boat to cross over and begin our Maruti Gypsy safari.

Pro tip: Skip lunch at the park’s only restaurant (MP Tourism). It's average at best. Eat earlier.

The safari itself? Fantastic.

We spotted:

A sloth bear
The Malabar giant squirrel
Spotted deer
And the elusive Bengal tiger!

Distance: ~500 km; Mileage: 14.3 kmpl; Fuel stop: Jio BP

Great Highways!

Jeep Safari

The Sloth Bear

The giant squirrel

Day 4: Bhopal to Ranthambore – All About History and Not-So-Good Roads

We had a long day planned—around 650 km to cover, including a visit to Sanchi Stupa, crossing the Tropic of Cancer, and doing some local shopping.

We started early and reached Sanchi (~70 kms) by 10 AM. The place was serene and steeped in history—a must-visit if you're in Bhopal. On the way back, we took a rural detour hoping to cross the Tropic of Cancer, but the roads were extremely poor and full of potholes. Not worth the effort unless you're very keen.

After returning to Bhopal, we stopped at Malviya Nagar, Bunkar Adda for some quick shopping—picked up Chanderi (Stree movie fame) bagh print suits (100% mom recommended!). Post this, we began our long drive to Ranthambore around 1:00 PM.

The route from Bhopal to Ranthambore was quite taxing. The roads till Dara were narrow and patchy esp. after crossing the MP border, with lots of truck traffic. Things improved once we joined the NE4 Expressway—wide lanes, smooth tarmac and minimal traffic meant we could relax and make good progress using cruise control. However, this was short-lived. The expressway abruptly ended before Lalsot, and from there till Ranthambore, it was back to rough, broken roads with steep gradients, tight turns and poor lighting. The ongoing Kawad Yatra made things worse.

We finally reached Hotel Tiger Kingdom (Club Mahindra affiliated) by 9:00 PM, quite exhausted but relieved to be done for the day.

Distance: ~650 KM; Mileage: 13.8 kmpl; Fuel Station – Jio BP

The Sanchi Stupa

Tropic of Cancer

Well lit NE4

Some poor roads to Ranthambore

Day 5: Ranthambore to Gurugram – From Disappointment to Delight

Expectations were sky-high for Ranthambore, but our Zone 6 Canter Safari (6:30 AM) was underwhelming.

Observations:

Canter ride was extremely cold and uncomfortable
Driver/guide coordination was poor
Wildlife sightings were minimal (just deer and langurs)

To cheer ourselves up, we gorged on Pyaaz Kachori and Ghevar at a local joint and hit the Delhi–Jaipur Expressway (NE4).

This was bliss—120 kmph cruise control, buttery-smooth tarmac, and zero stress. We reached Gurugram in the afternoon, ending the journey on a high note.

Langurs and the Canter