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Delhi Nainital Road Review |
Last Saturday (July 15, 2007), I was driving on NH24 as I had some work in Naukuchiatal and thought that I would write a quick Road Review since there are lots of folks who use this road for going almost anywhere in Kumaon. Though I didn’t go to Nainital, but probably going till Bhimtal is as good as going till Nainital from Road Review perspective ;)
This road can be divided into many sections.
- NH 24 – Delhi, Ghazibad, Hapur, Garh Mukteshwar (NHAI)
- NH 24 – Simbhavli, Gajraula, Moradabad, Rampur (NHAI)
- NH 87 – Rampur, Bilaspur, Rudrapur (mostly UP)
- NH 87 – Rudrapur, Haldwani, Nainital/Bhimtal (Uttrakhand)
Section 1 which starts from Nizamuddin Mode in Delhi has lots of small cities/villages en route. Expect a little jam at Ghazipur Crossing (almost all times of day), then one at Ghaziabad Trade Tax (just beyond Vijay Nagar) and usualy slowness as you cross numerous towns. Hapur bypass is lovely and amazingly smooth, you can go beyond 120 easily. I drove at 80-100 KPH (in my Mahindra Scorpio) as it was raining and road was wet, so less traction. Beyond Hapur, the road is mostly single and not too much of traffic till you get closer to Brij Ghat or Garh Mukteshwar where it can take from 15 minute to many hours depending upon whether there is anything big at Ganga. By the way, this is the closest point for Delhi-ites for a Ganga dip. Avoid mornings on major poornimas (full names) or big festivals.
Section 2 is after Garh. Again single road for some time and then you stat to see the NHAI work. There are stretches where the road work has been done and there are two roads, 3 lane each. On these stretches you can easily go beyond 120 and make merry but every 20-30 odd kilomters, you will enter a bottle neck, mostly at the places where they are trying to make a flyover, these bottle necks can actually kill your entire fun if its raining or if there is a break down. But all in all, this stretch is bettr then Section 1. Once NHAI is done, it would be cream. Moradabad bypass is already a marvel. I dont know why they stopped accpeting money at a single toll for the whole stretch, now you have to stop twice to pay toll. As you pass Moradabad bypass, Rampur City can get a littly stuffy but its just couple of kilometers so not too much of pain.
Section 3 is when you cross Rampur city and take a left turn to get on NH87. Now the ordeal begins, now you are not with NHAI but on a road maintained (or not maintained) by government of UP. I have been driving this stretch for at least last 8-9 years and I have never found this good. You have to handle this till Rudrapur.
From Rudrapur, you again take a left leaving the road which goes till Lucknow, and now you drive along side jungle. Infact both sides. Amazing drive. For 20 odd kilo meters you and this long serpenetine road amid Tanda (thats the name of Jungle Reserve), reach Rudrapur and then Haldwani. From there the road to Nainital is very good. For Bhimtal/Sattal/Naukuchia Tal or going to Almora/Bhavali/Binsar/Mukteshwar, you need to take a right exit at HMT factory, which is about 6 KM from Kathgodam station, if you dont take a right and keep going straight you reach Nainital.
Tip – Start early in the day (5 for Summers and 6 for Winters) to avoid traffic and it should not take you more then 7 hours to reach Nainital or other places.
I was back on Sunday, july 16 2007.
hi everybdy.. i m planning to go to nainital with my wife and 3 yr old daughter on march 26… can you pls guide me the best route to reach there, and wat will be the road condition at present. as i m driving for the 1st time to any hill station.. pls tell me whether it is safe to go there driving its own… are there any blind steep dangerous turns…as i dnt have any previous experince of this kind of drive.
thanks
pankaj
sorry i forgot to mention that i will start from delhi…. to nainital.
i just went to nanital on 14 april from delhi go via ghaziabad-hapur-simbhaoli-brij ghat-gajroula-moradabad-rampur-rudrapur-haldwani-kathgodam-nanital
this route is awesome most of d road is double sided except in hapur and brij ghat and u can hve a midway stop in gajroula here u can hve MC.d or u can go to meriton MC.d while goin MC.D will b on ur left side while meriton on right and after stop before haldwani in Athithi its awesome taste and quality is good and thn go straight to nanital
start early at 4 or 5 in mrning and ull reach their 6 hour includin stops and there no blind and sharp turns….nd avoid night driving as there is a lot of heavy traffic on highway at night….go enjoy hve fun…….and got ur fuel tanked filled bfore entering nanital as everytime u enter nanital u hve to pay rs50 so save ur money…..
Pankaj – the last comment about the road status is of ‘Dec 24 2009′. Its by Akshaya, please look at comments. I am mentioning them again here.
I went to Nainital last weekend (19-21 Dec).
The roads are in best state as of now. I went through “Noida-Garh Mukteshwar-Gajraula-Moradabad-Tanda-Bajpur-Kaladhungi-Nainital” route and came back through the more trusted “Nainital-Kathgodam-Haldwani-Rudrapur-Bilaspur-Rampur-Moradabad-Gajraula-Garh Mukteshwar-Noida” route.
Both routes have very good roads now.
General Safety rules are
- Do not overspeed, Have lot of patience and enjoy your drive
- Avoid traveling in night and use horns extensively at turns in hills
Hi Everyone
While looking for the best route for my next road trip, I stumbled across this wonderful website and registered after reading only a couple of posts.
Being new to the website, I am not sure how it works. But what I am searching for is a best route from Delhi to Nainital just like Pankaj
I am planning to take the trip next week. I found two routes mentioned over the internet and in this post as well.
It would be great, if someone could help me out with the following
(1) Considering I am mostly a plain driver, I would like to keep the hill journey as minimum. Which route offers minimum hill journey.
(3)What will be the best route considering I will be leaving at 4-4:30 in the morning from Delhi.
Any kind of suggestions are welcome.
Looking forward to a warm welcome from the Ghumakkar’s family
Rgds,
BT
bindaastraveler (thats a very interesting name) – Take Delhi – Moradabad – Rampur – Bilaspur – Haldwani (so far plains) – Nainital
All the best and do come back and update the state of the roads. Wishing you a happy journey.
Hi all,
I shall be driving first time to hilly area. kindly advice would it be safe for me to drive on the route to nainital Please.
Thanks & Regards
Neeraj
It is one of the best motorable hill roads in India. So, you should not worry.
EXCELLENT AND VERY VERY USEFUL NEWS TO HILLS DRIVING. MY BUNCH OF THANKS TO YOU