Kolkata To Mumbai Road Trip


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Driving to kol today agn! Sudden plan by mom and wife..hehe!
Hi Nilav, I wanted to get in touch with you to ask a few things regarding the trip. I am planning it this year and since the maximum I have driven is till Goa, feeling a bit nervous as I will be the only driver and my wife and kid will be travelling with me. They too are exited about it. [:)]
 
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Hi All, just joined the forum. I own a WagonR LXi Green (CNG). Planning a trip from Kalyan to Kolkata and back. Do you think it would be a better idea to rent a SUV for the trip? I will be travelling with my wife and daughter (5 yrs). Thanks!
Hi Shuvayu, Welcome to TAI and welcome to Kolkata when you do arrive.

If you are comfortable with your Wagon R then the Wagon R will also be comfortable to undertake the journey. Just that pardon my ignorance on CNG vehicles but does it run on petrol also because you might not get CNG refueling on the highways.
 
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Hi All, just joined the forum. I own a WagonR LXi Green (CNG). Planning a trip from Kalyan to Kolkata and back. Do you think it would be a better idea to rent a SUV for the trip? I will be travelling with my wife and daughter (5 yrs). Thanks!
Hi,

Welcome to TAI, I have done Kanpur - Delhi (500Km)in my '14 Wagon R VXI, last March, its a wonderful car no issues.

As Chandranath has mentioned check if you will get any CNG refueling stations on your planned route.

By the way, my friend from Lucknow travel to Delhi via Kanpur in their Ertiga CNG for just Rs.300/-, which is like peanuts.
 
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Hi Chandranath, thanks for the response! My car also runs on petrol. I think out of Mumbai, I will not get CNG anywhere so have planned accordingly.

I like my Wagnon R a lot and we are comfortable in it. I will drive only in day and take breaks along the way to enjoy the trip.

:☺ Really happy to see a response from the forum. Makes me feel that I am not alone.
 
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@Nanofreak: the economy of CNG is simply unbeatable. I travel from Mumbai to Pune for 350 bucks one way. Cheaper than bus.
 
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Hi Chandranath, thanks for the response! My car also runs on petrol. I think out of Mumbai, I will not get CNG anywhere so have planned accordingly.

I like my Wagnon R a lot and we are comfortable in it. I will drive only in day and take breaks along the way to enjoy the trip.

:☺ Really happy to see a response from the forum. Makes me feel that I am not alone.
Hi Shuvayu!

Were you able to do this trip ?
 
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Hi Nilav, I wanted to get in touch with you to ask a few things regarding the trip. I am planning it this year and since the maximum I have driven is till Goa, feeling a bit nervous as I will be the only driver and my wife and kid will be travelling with me. They too are exited about it. [:)]
Hello Shuvayu. Firstly Iam sorry for my so very late a reply. I had lost my password & so on. Well I hope Iam not very late in replying back. Please feel free to get in touch with me for any queries you have on the route. Please drive worry free. It is an experience in itself. I drove down in my Wagon R vxi petrol 2012 model with my 60-68 yr parents & they loved it! Few points below which I took care of that could be of use to you:
1. Started early & stopped driving after sunset. Ideally 7 ish.
2. Took enough breaks. Had reaching the destination alone being important, would have caught a flight rather. These breaks kept everyone in the cabin refreshed & easy
3. Did a full check at authorized service station before the depart. Air pressure check after every 300km drive.
4. Carried : a) Cash apx 10k., b) Mobile phone chargers c) Home made curtains/coverings for windows d) Enough fruits, dry fruits, 10 lt bisleri, chocolates, dry sweets, bread, butter, jam. e) Medical kit f) Car manual & papers g) Printed google map incase gps gives up in the way
5. Route while going to Kol: Mum - Nagpur - Raipur - Sambalpur - Kharagpur - Kolkata. This route is scenic. Has ghats, forest stretches. Roads in various stretches of Chattisgarh & even Orissa were in shambles then (Oct 2014) Please get in touch with me for a detailed understanding. Avoid Lodhasuli stretch after sun sets.
6. Return: Kol - Bhubaneswar - Vizag - Rajahmundry - Hyd - SOlapur-Pune -Mum. This route is longer by about 170 km. But fantastic roads. Absolutely safe. Smooth tarmac. I would suggest you taking this route.

Rest I can assure you it will be an awesome experience for you. Iam going to do this trip this Pujo too, now that am married, with my wife :) and my parents may join in too.

So good luck & have fun. You and everyone along with you will love it.
 
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Hey Nilav, thanks for the reply. I am flying to Kol tomorrow for a vacation of 7 days. Probably by pujo will go again and hopefully will drive then. I'll definitely take the Hyderabad route.

Again thanks for replying. Once I confirm my dates, will update you. Let me know once yours are all set. [:)]
 
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Sure! Take care and have fun. Mine would be around Pujo. Will keep updated on the dates. This time it will be a CNG ertiga [:)] An am hoping hence more cost effective!

Tc.
 
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Hello.
Ok Iam drawing a plan for my Kol trip during Pujo to Kolkata from Mumbai. More than a story, I will try and bring in as much information as possible to the table so that it helps us all. I will be posting my plan (also based on my previous experience 2014) soon along with car, route, estimated fuel costs (petrol+CNG), halts, preparations (car, personal & enroute) & areas of worry. In the meanwhile if anyone has info on CNG availability in Orissa (bbsr/cuttuck area) and WB (Kol area) would be great.

Tc & keep driving.
 
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Hi Guys,

Thanks for all of this above post, I am planning a trip for Mumbai Kolkata Mumbai trip. I saw all the routes mentioned in this thread, I am little worrying about Safety. Please brief me. I will be driving alone, with my wife.

Mr. Nilav can i get your number?


Sayantan
 
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Hi guys,

I am back again..[:)]

Planning for a drive from Kolkata to Mumbai and back and i have a week for the total trip and i am doing some homework on that.

Any first hand information from anybody who has driven through this path recently is welcome to advice me.

NH 6 and the NH 3 would be the normal route from Kolkata to Mumbai through Kharagpur, Baharagora, Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Raipur, Raj Nandgaon, Nagpur, Amaravati, Jalgaon, Dhule, Nashik, the 2 planned night halts mentioned in bold.
But my recent experience through Baharagora was horrible(mentioned in my last travelogue i.e. http://www.theautomotiveindia.com/f...ata-travelouge-will-remember-all-my-life.html ) and i am very very apprehensive to go by that route. Alternate route might be NH6, then catching NH60 from Kharagpur and then NH5 and take NH 42 from Cuttack and get back to NH 6 from Sambalpur. It would be around 150 kms extra but better roads i guess.. Basically want to avoid Lodhasuli-Baharagora-Jamsola stretch. Road conditions from Sambalpur onwards would be average i guess..

So please do let me know if anybody has any information on the route..
Hello anisghos,
Congratulations on your proposed trip (Kolkata>Mumbai>Kolkata) and I hope you have a pleasant experience. I have not made a direct trip from Kolkata to Mumbai and back to Kolkata so far. But we have made the trip from Mumbai to Lucknow & then Lucknow to Kolkata (and back again) many times over the past two decades. From Mumbai my usual route is via NH3 (to Shivpuri - passing Dhulia, Sendhwa, Indore, Guna etc enroute to Shivpuri). At Shivpuri I leave the NH3 & turn right on to NH27 & continue on to Jhansi, Moth, Orai, Kalpi, bye-passing Kanpur & on to Lucknow (passing Unnao enroute). We normally stay over at Lucknow for a few days and then continue on to Kolkata. From Lucknow my route is usually the NH30 upto the outskirts of Allahabad (passing Mohanlalganj & Raebareilly enroute). Well before Allahabad (app. 20 km or so) I get on to the AH1( the old GT road!) which is part of the Golden Quadrilateral (made famous during AB Bajpai's tenure as PM). As you know, the AH1 goes on to Kolkata via the same old route as before (Allahabad, Varanasi, Dehri-on-sone, Dhanbad, Asansol, Durgapur, Burdwan and so on to Kolkata. We usually halt at Bodhgaya for the night before continuing on. I don't drive at night & if I cover 600 km a day I am happy[:)]. Between Mumbai & Lucknow (app. 1400 km on the odo) we usually halt at Indore & Orai for the night, reaching Lucknow on the 3rd day around 1100 hrs, well in time for lunch.

I do not know how useful the foregoing will be for you, since you have not mentioned Lucknow at all[:)], but if you feel tempted to take in Lucknow in your itinerary, I hope I have been of some help.
 
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Hi Guys,

Thanks for all of this above post, I am planning a trip for Mumbai Kolkata Mumbai trip. I saw all the routes mentioned in this thread, I am little worrying about Safety. Please brief me. I will be driving alone, with my wife.

Mr. Nilav can i get your number?


Sayantan
Hello @ SayatanL. Just did a road trip to Kol from Mumbai in Oct. Before I get into the story (later), let me try and address your concerns point wise.
Safety:
I have gone through both routes ,Route 1> Mum-Nagpur-Raipur-Sambalpur-Kolkata (2014) and Route 2> Mum-Hyd-Vizag-Bhubaneswar (+ detour to Puri)-Kol (2014 & Oct 2016). While both routes are safe (avoid driving after dark), I felt route 2 is much better with regards to safety. This is because, most of the stretch has numerous towns, villages with key cities all along and also good passenger car traffic, great roads, thus you won't feel alone. However, my suggestion - start early & halt early. I had an experience of my own which I will share later in the tips section.
Distance & time:
Route 2 is longer than Route 1 by about 150 kms apx. However, time/fuel consumed is almost (not exact) same. This is because of fabulous road conditions.
Road condition (tarmac & lanes):
Route 1: good till Dhule (Maharashtra), Nagpur to Raipur very small patches of Orissa & post Kharagpur. Rest (majority) was a nightmare - Single laned, numerous diversions, lunar craters, dust, no tarmac (at all). This was ofcourse in 2014 in a WagonR. Things might have improved (unlikely) now. Bigger vehicles might find my above suggestions rubbish :)
Route 2 : Excellent roads till Solapur. Solapur till Hyderabad roads are bad in patches. 4 laning in progress. Hyderabad to Kol is a breeze!
Fun element:
Route 1: Those who prefer adventure & love the jungles, definitely route 1! Lots of beautiful ghats, jungles, reserve forests. I had halted for a night somewhere near Bangriposi, before Lodhasuli (Avoid Lodhasuli after dark. As advised by locals to me). The night halt experience was amazing. Never had I seen such a starlit sky in my life sitting in the balcony of a hotel, surrounded by forests. My opinion, great if you are alone or gang of guys.
Route 2: Those who prefer beautiful wide country sides, meadows & leisure with no hassles, Route 2 is definitely for them. Great if you have family including women.
Tips (as per my experience):
> Start early around 5/6am. Earlier makes you droopy which could be dangerous. Halt by 6-7pm, depending on time zone/season you are in.
> Carry enough water. I carry a 20lt bisleri. Saves money & hassles. Enough fruits, dry fruits, candies & juices. Good if you carry brown breads/jams. You will be hungry when you are driving & you wouldnt wana stop frequently either & nor can you trust most highway side vendors for quality.
> Breaks: Give rest to your body & nerves (including the co passengers') whenever needed. Its a ride to enjoy. I had 1 break for breakfast(45 min), 1 for lunch (1 hr), 1 for tea (45 min). Rest were all as per need & mood not lasting more than 10-15 min each. Do not halt in desolate areas. Ideally a good pump or a town market or even a good dhaba.
> Bad experience: I had a bad experience when I halted in a small dhaba (1st mistake) near Kolkata border for tea. Time was about 8pm (2nd mistake) where both me & my wife got down (3rd mistake). Post some snacks I crossed the toll & immediately halted or a pee break , 8:45pm (4th mistake). A cop came and told me to move quickly as this was not a great place to be in. I moved and shortly stopped near a tyre puncture guy to check pressure and also ask directions, 9:15pm (5th mistake). We drove off and within 3-4 mins we were chased by 2 youths in a bike screaming at us to halt at the next crossing. Thankfully we had curtains in the car & inside was not visible. My wife got ready with pepper spray (CARRY them). I did a sharp U-turn and sped back where I halted near a small village apx 10km.Grabbed our breath. Again a U-turn and I tail gated 2 fast moving passenger vehicles. Thugs no where to be seen. Moment we saw 2 cops in the next toll, I narrated our ordeal. They were kind to escort us to the bridge which connects to Howrah. SO yeah..No night driving, pepper sprays & no halting in lonely stretches. Carry an empty bottle if you wana pee in the night :D.

But well, thats part of the game and should not deter us from traveling! Planning a trip to Kutch shortly to get back to our feet ;)

tc, Nilav
 

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