Convoy of camels on highway near Muktsar Sahib, Punjab

Won't you feel excited to spot a convoy of camels with its leader trudging along on a National Highway near Muktsar Sahib in Punjab, India.

Chandigarh to Muktsar Sahib via Ludhiana, Moga (i.e. via NH5 and SH16) is 260 kms (4 hrs 30 mins).

India is a representation of everything beautiful that one can crave to see around the world.
Traveling by road is the best, safest & most economical option for wanderlust Indians and expatriates to get the true essence of India.
It's only while traveling on road in India does one get to see such beautiful sights. Just keep enjoying every km of your drive/ ride. A road journey in India is never ever tiring.

Photo credit: Amaan Singh Nagpal.

Itinerary of a proposed proposed road trip to Daringbari, Jagdalpur, Araku and Vizag by Tata Nano in Nov - Dec 2017

Here is a tentative itinerary of approx. 2750 kms chalked out by IndianRoadie fan/ senior member, Deepak Mitra for a proposed road trip to Daringbadi, Jagdalpur, Chitrakote, Tirathgarh, DumDumaFalls, DeomaliHills, Araku, Vizag and Puri in a Tata Nano in Nov - Dec 2017.
Parts of West Bengal, Odisha, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh will be traversed during the proposed road trip.
Suggestions and comments (if any) are solicited.

01. Kolkata - Cuttack       :          426     Stay

02. Cuttack - Daringbadi :          267     Stay
     *(Via Daspalla, Surada)
2a. Daringbadi sight seeing       ....       Stay

03. Daringbadi - Jagdalpur        358     Stay
3a. Jagdalpur-Chitrakote: 39
3b. Chitrakote-Tirathgarh: 61
3c. Tirathgarh-Jagdalpur : 32   132     Stay

04. Jagdalpur-Gupteswar: 98
05. Gupteswar-Dumduma
                                     Falls: 91  189     Stay

06. Dumduma-**Deomali
                                   Hills:  111
07. Deomali-Araku          :   65   176    Stay

08. Araku-Vizag                             91    Stay
      (via Golikonda, Borra caves)
8a . Vizag sight seeing                 ....    Stay
8b.  Vizag sight seeing                 ....    Stay

09. Vizag-Gopalpur beach :        286   Stay

10. Gopalpur-Puri (2nd half):      131  Stay
      (via Satapada)
10a. Puri & surroundings             .....   Stay

11. Puri-Kolkata                            500
------------------------------------------------------------------
        TOTAL                                   2556 kms
         FOR SIGHT SEEING              200 kms
------------------------------------------------------------------
         GRAND TOTAL    2756 kms  13 days

* Why is he opting for the unconventional route?

To avoid the boring and monotonous NH16 and to explore a new road through hills and forests. And also to see new areas of our grand and majestic country (at least geographically).
And secondly, to avoid not-a-very-meagre amount of toll tax.

** Why has he included Deomali hills?

This hill occupies a very important place in the topographical characteristics of India. It is the highest point in the Eastern ghats. Moreover, Deomali hills is adjacent to the area where people of Bonda Tribe can be seen.

Train passing by Chilka Lake as viewed from NH16 (erstwhile, NH5)

Train passing by Chilka Lake as viewed from NH16 (erstwhile, NH5) over the Eastern Ghat between Barkul and Rambha on 2008-03-13 (Day - 1) during a road trip from Kolkata to Puducherry with family.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mMXKrwt3xU

Road trip to Baruva, Andhra Pradesh

Baruva is a quiet sleepy village and a beach resort located 5 kms off the NH16 (old, NH5) near Sompeta in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. The MahendraTanaya River merges into the Bay of Bengal at Baruva. It is situated 8 km away from sub-district headquarter Sompeta and about 125 km away from district headquarter Srikakulam.

Moreover, this unexplored beach village of Baruva is a comfortable 640 kms (10 - 11 hrs) drive from Kolkata (Vidyasagar Setu toll plaza).
For those driving from Vizag/ Visakhapatnam (Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium), Baruva Beach is about 225 kms (3.5 hrs) away.

Howrah-Chennai main railway line crosses through Baruva village where Baruva railway station is located. Important trains stop at Sompeta and/or Palasa stations. Local transport is available from these stations to reach Baruva.

Baruva boasts of branches and ATMs of State Bank of India and Andhra Bank. About 2 - 3 grocery stores at the village market sell almost every item of daily use. Those with a sweet tooth like me would love to gulp down a couple of bottles of chilled Heritage flavoured milk. These outlets sell Heritage Dairy icecreams, too.

Key attractions on Baruva Beach which literally captivate visitors are the serene atmosphere that takes one close to nature and a couple of famous temples that define the holiness of this region. Greeneries and a clean unpolluted golden beach mesmerizes every roadie driving/ riding to Baruva. I have also heard most Indian Roadie fans/ members saying that that this little known village and beach resort can be termed as 'Goa of the East'!

A holiday/ roadtrip to Baruva is incomplete without a walk up the cleanest Lighthouse in India in the evening. The view of greenery stretching upto the horizon on three sides and the chill sea breeze is enough to soothe nerves.
Baruva Lighthouse was commissioned on 15th May 2014 and is owned/ operated by the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India. The Lighthouse shares a common boundary wall with the Andhra Pradesh Tourism/ Aptdc owned Haritha Beach Resort.

As in July 2016, Haritha Beach Resort in Baruva (thrown open to public in May 2014) is the only place for decent and comfortable stay. There's sufficient space to park over 20 cars, a good reason for every roadie to feel relaxed. The food served at the inhouse restaurant is basic but very tasty. The chicken fried rice served by them deserves special mention. The staff at the resort are courteous, pro-active and ensures that guests feel at home.

Each of the three cottages in the Haritha Beach Resort complex are mounted on stilts with a granite layered staircase leading up to a large rectangular sitting space of approximately 20 ft x 12 ft on the first floor. There are four suites at the four corners of the sitting space. Each suite has a small living room, a large air-conditioned bedroom, a small dressing room, modern bathroom and an open-air sea-facing private balcony of about 200 sq.ft.

Cumulative Distance* from
Kolkata (Vidyasagar Setu toll plaza) -
Kharagpur = 109 kms
Balasore (Birla Tyres) = 234 kms
Bhadrak (Hotel Orion) = 300 kms
Chandikhole = 361 kms
Manguli toll plaza = 386 kms
Cuttack (Badambadi crossing) = 399 kms
Bhubaneswar Bypass for road to Puri, Konark = 409 kms
Bhubaneswar (Vani Vihar, Utkal Univ) = 420 kms
Bhubaneswar Bypass (Rameshwar Chhak) for road to Nirakarpur, Puri = 468 kms
Barkul (OTDC Panthnivas) = 519 kms
Chilka (view from ghat) = 533 kms
Rambha (OTDC Panthnivas) = 540 kms
Brahmapur & Gopalpur on Sea crossing = 582 kms
Roland Institute of Technology, Brahmapur = 600 kms
Ballupada toll plaza = 610 kms
Baruva Beach crossing = 637 kms
Haripuram = 639 kms
Palasa = 656 kms
Laxmipuram toll plaza = 665 kms
Tekali = 685 kms
Madapam toll plaza = 723 kms
Srikakulam (Eenadu) = 732 kms
Chkpalem toll plaza = 750 kms
Nathavalasa toll plaza = 789 kms
Vizag/ Visakhapatnam (Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium) = 825 kms
Vizag (Srinivas Plaza, MVP Colony crossing) = 834 kms
Vizag (Vizag Steel Plant gate) = 856 kms
Vizag (Aganampudi toll plaza) = 859 kms

* All distances are on actuals as noted during multiple drives on this route by Deep Banerjee, Indian Roadie founder.

















































































































































































Route map and distances of locations from Kolkata



Route map from Ichchapuram to Baruva



Route map from Srikakulam to Baruva





Approaching Ballupada toll plaza on NH16 (old, NH5) in Andhra Pradesh after crossing Odissa border







Baruva crossing