Kolkata to Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and back roadtrip by Scorpio in December 2015

Summarized travelogue of a drive by an erstwhile Indian Roadie member with family in his 2011 Mahindra Scorpio from Kolkata to Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and back to Kolkata during the extended X’mas 2015 vacation.

Started on the 24th December 2015 from Kolkata.

24.12.2015 Kolkata To Rewa. Total distance – 950 kms.
Route taken: Kolkata - Durgapur – Asansol – Barhi – Aurangabad – upto Ramnagar crossing, a little beyond Mughalsarai and exited NH2 – left turn and drove on NH7 to Mirzapur – Narayanpur – Adlahat – Jamui – Bakiabad – Mirzapur – Lalganj – Hanumana - Rewa.
Total Toll – Rs.735
Start – 12.05am. End - 7.30pm.


25.12.2015 Rewa to Jabalpur. Total Distance - 250 kms.
Route Taken: Rewa (Bypass) – Bela – Maihar – Katni – Jabalpur.
Total Toll – Rs.20
Start – 9.30 am. End 1.30 pm. Break - 30 minutes.


26.12.2015 Jabalpur – Bhedaghat (sightseeing) – Panchmarhi. Total Distance - 270 kms including Ghat roads - 22 kms.
Route Taken: Jabalpur – Bhedaghat – Narsingpur – Gadarwara – Bankhedi – Pipariya – Matkuli – Panchmarhi.
Sightseeing included - Dhumadhar Falls, Rock garden, Marble Rocks boating.
Total Toll – Rs.146
Start – 8.20 am. End 5.40 pm. Break - 30 minutes for lunch.


27.12.2015 Panchmarhi sightseeing. Total Distance – 50 kms.
Sightseeing Includes - Bison lodge, Mahadev, Gupto Mahadev, Pandava Caves, Bee Falls, Richgarh, Dhupgarh.
Most of the roads are Ghat section ... especially around Dhupgarh.


28.12.2015 Panchmarhi To Kanha national Park. Total Distance – 350 kms.
Route Taken : Panchmarhi – Matakkali – Jhipra – Tamia – Parasia Bypass – Chhindwara – Seoni bypass – Nainpur – Mocha – Kanha.
Total Toll – 0.
Start – 9.20 am. End 3.10 pm. Break - 20 minutes.


29.12.2015 Kanha Jungle Safari To Amarkantak. Total Distance – 250 kms.
Route Taken : Kanha – Bamhani – Mandala – Baghi – Dindori – Amarkantak.
Total Toll – 0.
Start – 11.45 am. End 4.10 pm. Break - 20 minutes.


30.12.2015 Amarkantak To Ranchi. Total Distance – 550 kms.
Route Taken : Amarkantak – Gaurella – Pendra – Marwahi – Manendragarh – Baikuthpur (stopped for lunch) – Surajpur – Ambikapur – Bagicha – Jashpurnagar – Gumla – Ranchi.
Total Toll – 0.
Start – 9.30 am. End 9.10 pm. Break - 1 hr 30 minutes.


31.12.2015 Ranchi and surroundings. Total Distance – 200 kms.
Sightseeing location included – Patratu Dam, Kanke Lake, Rock garden, Sun Temple, Dasam Falls.


01.01.2016: Ranchi – Hundru Waterfalls – Kolkata. Total Distance – 475 kms.
Route Taken – Ranchi – Hundru Waterfalls – Gola – Muri – Jhalda- Purulia Bypass – Gurguria – Raghunathpur – Gobag – Niyamatpur – Dungapur – Panagarh – Kolkata.
Total Toll – Rs.197
Start – 12.00 noon. End 7.30 pm. Break - 1 hr 30 minutes.


Total distance covered from 2015-12-24 to 2016-01-01 = 3360 kms.
Fuel consumed - 260 Ltrs of Diesel.
Average mileage (fuel economy) - 12.92 kmpl.


Special remarks:
Ambikapur to Ranchi stretch of the road can be divided into 3 parts:
1. Ambikapur to Bagicha ... Nice double lane road, but at some places are really narrow. Road work was going on. Very little traffic. One will encounter some ghat roads.
2. Bagicha to Jashpur Nagar bypass ... upto Jharkhand border. Roads are really bad. Moderate traffic. It is advisable not to drive after sunset.
3. Jharkhand border to Ranchi ... Very smooth road. Heavy truck traffic after Gumla, but it's manageable after sunset.
4. Ranchi to Kolkata ... Smooth road throughout. Tolls only at Palsit and Dankuni on NH2.
Minor local traffic in Jhalda for 2 to 3 kms. 

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* Madhya Pradesh Trails