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 (and about Delhi to Nainital road condition), 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 ;)
Delhi to Nainital by road. 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 (Delhi to Garh Ganga route) 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 moons) or big festivals.
Section 2 is after Garh. Again single road for some time and then you start 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 better than Section 1. Once NHAI is done, it would be cream. Moradabad bypass is already a marvel. I don’t know why they stopped accepting 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 it’s just a couple of kilometers, so, not too much of a 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 serpentine road amid Tanda (thats the name of the Jungle Reserve), reach Rudrapur and then Haldwani. From there the road to Nainital is very good. For Bhimtal/Saat Tal/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 don’t 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 than 7 hours to reach Nainital or other places.
I was back on Sunday, July 16 2007.
Thanks Ajay and Nandan. I guess we’ll take the regular Rampur Route this time then. I’ll update the status of the roads when I’m back on Tuesday.
Cheers:)
Ajay – Very interesting thought. I dont frequent this route but I am sure there would be lot of people who would be.
Thanks Nandan. I hope few regulars will be intrested in club.
regular visitor of Nainital and adjouring area should contact me at setiaajay@hotmail.com,if they are intrested in Delhi-Nainital long drive club.
ajay
Hi Guys,
I’m back from Saat-Taal and as promised I am here to report back on the road conditions. Sorry for the delay though :)
So..The road up to Garh is pretty ok ..although there are patches where you might have to use the makeshift diversions. After Garh and till Rampur, the road is still a road although with very big craters on it almost throughout, like it has been bombed or something.
After Rampur and till Bilaspur, the road is quite bad. Can’t pick up any speed at all….is going to eat up a lot of time. After Bilaspur, it getts better and then of course after Kathgodam its a better road uphill.
Though I haven’t been through the Kashipur, Baazpur, Kaladhungi road, but people at the camp said that the road that side has been repaired and the bridge is safe too…although they have now posted a barrier at the bridge, so the trucks etc cannot pass through on it .. Buses are out as well. Only Cars etc can pass through there.
So there it is …anyone who’s gonna travel there soon … Enjoy the trip
Cheers
Thanks Ramesh. Sad to hear that road beyond Garh is bad. I thought that the new roads which NHAI has recently laid, would survive rains.
Good to hear about the bridge. I should be driving that side in october and would update on what I find.
Thanks Nandan ji and Pramesh ji,Nandan ji i have read u on another chapter also,but am not still sure , unless someone write his/her on experience.because Pramesh only heard from someone.i hope i will come to know soon,and than i will inform to u also.
thanks guys. ajay
how can i go to nainital by air from delhi
better you give me air lines name fare no probleum from delhi – nainital
ist week of octobar 08
Nainital is not connected by air to any place. There is a airport at Pantnagar but that doesn’t help too much.
Best way to go there is to either take a train till Kathgodam and then Taxi from there or take a Taxi from Delhi.
Hi Guys
am going to Nainital tomorrow via Rampur,because after visiting Sattal,i have to go to Bageshawar,so this rout will be better,i hope i will be coming back by monday or tuesday via Kaladhungi,than i will come back here to report the road condition.
ajay
Hi,
I am planning to visit Binsar on 12th October. Please tell how much time it will take me to drive down from Delhi. Also road condition please?
I wish it is a safe route for family of two three people?
Can’t say about road condition but in terms of time you should plan for 10 hours assuming that you are driving during day time.
If you start early enough from Delhi then you would reach there by late afternoon.
Is the condition of road motorable from Lucknow to Nanital in this month.
Hi Ajay,
Hope yo had a nice trip to Nainital last week. I am planning to go there as well from Delhi, next week. Can you tell us about the Kaladhungi road, if you happened to take that route on your return.
thanks
Nitin
How is the road condition between Garh Mukteshwar and Moradabad? How much time does this stretch need this time of the year?
Hi,
Came back from Nainital on sunday(12th oct). While going took the noida-hapur-garh-moradabad-rampur-haldwani route. Despite knowing the bad road condition of rampur-haldwani streach, I took this route because of my desire to visit my College (G. B. pant University at Pantnagar) after a long long time. It’s around 14 km from Rudrapur towards Lalkuan.
The road till Garh is ok but after that there are so many diversions because of NHAI work. This goes on till moradabad. Moradabad to rampur is again ok and then starts the nightmare…from rampur till bilaspur there is absolutely no road, it’s only craters…too bad…eats up a lot of time. Bilaspur to rudrapur gets little better and thereafter it’s very good till nainital.
We started from Noida a bit late at around 8 in the morning and reached Naini at 4:30 in the evening after spending more than an hour or so at Pantnagar and two breaks of about 30 mins each.
While returning we took the Kaladhungi road (which i came to know from this site only ..thanks guys:)) and this was a surprise for me. Roads are very good and much more scenic and I really enjoyed the drive. Though I took a longer route kaladhungi-ramnagar-kashipur-moradabad but this was great. There is a place just before ramnagar where river flows over the road (they are making a bridge there) and we couldn’t stop ourselves from getting our feet into the water.
Next time will try Bazpur route which i guess is shorter by 40 km from ramnagar one.
One important point i would like to mention for the people who are not very familier with moradabad bypass. I missed the moradabad bypass because there is no signage. When you are about to reach Moradabad, look for the Flyover which is under construction (turns left from main road) and turn left under this flyover and then get on to the Moradabad Bypass otherwise you will end up in the city traffic which will spoil at least 30 mins.
One correction regarding the last point of moradabad bypass. it turns towards right and not left. So take the right under the flyover. Typo error you see ;) .
Hi Akash and all,
You are right. I recently made a trip to Bhimtal (from Noida) along with my family and followed the Hapur bypass, Garh, Moradabad bypass, Tanda, Bazpur, Kaladhungi, Haldwani, Kathgodam route both ways and found the route quite good except for the construction that is happening at various places between Hapur & Moradabad.
Thanks to the owner of The Satvik Resort (where we stayed) who advised me to take this route. Later I learnt from others that the Moradabad to Rudrapur road on the alternate route is extremely bad.
cab anyone suggest me best and shortesh road route from hazrat nizammudin station to nainital .
can anyone suggest me best and shortest road route from hazrat nizammudin station to nainital .i am planning to visit there on 21st october-2008.also tell me how much it takes time to reach nainital from h.nizammudin
Hazrat Nizammudin -> Ring Road -> Right at NH 24 (just after Sarai Kale Khan) -> Be on NH24 for next 150 KM or so till you are at Moradabad bypass
The usual run-down route is go straight from Moradabad till Rampur and then go via Bilaspur – Rudrapur. The road has always been very bad.
I would suggest following
After Moradabad bypass take a Hard Left (Almost a U Turn). Then head towards Bazpur – Kaladhungi – Kathgodam – Bhimtal – Nainital
Yogesh – In terms of time, it would depend on when you start and how many stops you take. I would budget for 9 hours for this journey, give or take 1.5 hours on other factors.
mr.nandanzha,
i m comming to nizammudin at 11.00 am.then in journey i will take 45 min break for lunch and tea break for 15 min.no other break so according to u i have to take -After Moradabad bypass take a Hard Left (Almost a U Turn). Then head towards Bazpur – Kaladhungi – Kathgodam – Bhimtal – Nainital.how much it take time and how are the roads now.pl.reply me.thanks for previous reply
Yeah, thats right. You can break at ‘Tadka Restaurant’ (just after Gajraula) for a late lunch and probably a tea-break somewhere in hills, while its still not dark.
Assuming that you are going by a cab and are able to start by 1130 from Railway station, you should probably reach Nainital by 9 PM or so. Give or take one hour.
It can take a little longer once it gets dark. Some patches of roads are bad (Hapur-Garh section for example) but overall the roads are pretty good.
My time guide would be
Delhi – Moradabad (4 hours)
Moradabad – Nainital (4 hours)
All the best and do write back on what you experience.
Just for your info:Sunday the 19th there was a massive blockade by trucks on the Moradabad Bypass,close to the toll booths..nobody knew why..I was stuck for four hours!!
thanks nandanjha-yogesh
Hi friends,
Happy diwali to all.
Am very very sorry,that i could not came to site earlier.
I went to Nainital via Rampur, road is bad as earlier.i went upto Bageshwer , in between i stoped for one hour only in Bhimtal to check my hut,which is under construction.
Road is very good form Rudarpur.
On return,i came via Kaladunghi……road is very good now……any one want to go to Nainital from Delhi,should go via Moradabad Kaladunghi.
Best of luck to all.
ajay
Please Note Bazpur,Kaladunghi rout is shorter also.
Hi friends,
Next week i am planing to go to Nanital.Which route i should follow after Moradabad.
Can i follow the route form KALADUNGHI to Nanital via Khurpatal directly. How is the condition of road.Some body pls advice.
dear Lokesh
Go straight on thaty road from moradabad to nainital road……. it’s via rudrapur, tanda, haldwani. the roads r little bad but the work is progressing, go through plublic transport
Prem Negi
Lokesh – I would go by Ajay Setia’s advice and take the Kaladhungi Road. Even if some stretches around Khurpa Tal may be bad, its still worth it and would be better than the other road.
Hi All,
Planning a trip to JIm Corbett NP on 15 Nov 08 with a couple of friends (by road). The start point is Jaipur. Jaipur Gurgaon, rather Dhola Kuan is no problem beyond that I am lost. Can someone guide me from DK to Ghaziabad and onwards from Ghaziabad to JCNP. I beleive Moradabad –> Kashipur –> Ramnagar is a better route?
Thanks in advance!!!
Major Amit – As you are coming from Gurgaon, you would hit Dhaula Kuan. Its a clover leaf flyover setup so you would have to be attentive to stick to correct lane. You need to take the Ring Road which leads ‘Ashram’. In terms of direction it would be a right turn but since there are no signals, you would probably have to take a multitude of flyovers-flyins to make a right turn.
So ask just to be sure. Ring Road circles Delhi so if you get yourself in the other direction then it would be a while before you get a chance to take a U Turn, so be extra vigilant. There are huge sign-boards.
Stick to Ring Road. Beyond Ashram you would see “Sarai Kale Khan Bus Terminal” (which would be on your left). Remain on left lane here and dont take the next flyover. You would reach a point called ‘Nizamuddin Mode (turn)’, from here take a right which would take you to NH24.
If you find yourself at a point where you see a rail overbridge then you have missed the Mode (turn) so take a U Turn somewhere and ask for Nizamuddin Bridge.
Once you take the right, you would be on a real wide super road and a not-so-sparkling Yamuna. If you see Yamuna, you are on correct road. Watch the massive Akshardham Temple Complex on your left as you cruise towards Ghaziabad.
Be on NH24 all the way straight till Moradabad and I think rest you can figure out.
Thanks a ton Nandan. I am sure I will be able to find my way now.
Can I also request you to address the PART II of my question – Is Moradabad –> Kashipur –> Ramnagar a better route?
Look forward to your reply. Will definately post my experience once I am back from the trip.
I haven’t been there off-late but I haven’t heard any complaints. The road is pretty good. Best wishes.
Dear Lokesh
I think you should go via Moradabad,Kaladhunghi< this is better road than RAmpur-Rudarpur, i have experence of both in Sept, i will be going by Nov end again on this rout.
thanks
Thanks Guys, will update current status once I am back.
Thanks to all,
I am planning to go by Swift Dezire.I will update the status of road once I am back.
does anyoen know an alternative route to jim corbett???
From Moradabad, you can go towards Bazpur (instead of Kashipur) and then from Bazpur, go to Kaladhungi and then Ramnagar.
I have come back from this route, mostly out of fun than for anything else. The route is more scenic, quiet and hardly any traffic. Beyond that its not a great choice if you want to make it short or to make it quick.
Dear all,
I just came back from Nainital on Sunday and took the Moradabad, Bazpur, Kaladhungi route both ways.
The route is excellent.
Take special care to get onto Moradabad by-pass. To get onto it, you lookout for a hotel named Westview just after the Mahavir Jain college on left hand side.
Building for this hotel looks impressive for this stretch. Immediately after this hotel there is a flyover which is under construction.
Take a right turn below it and get onto the wrong side of fly over. That is the way to get onto the bye pass.
As mentoned in one of the posts above, take a left turn at the end of bye pass. This left is as good as a U turn. Few km down this road you will hit a Y junction where you have to keep right and then it is one straight road to Nainital via places like Udham Singh nagar, Doraha and then finally a place called Corbett Nagar or something like that. At corbett nagar you have boards marked where you have to take a left to Nainital.
I had no problems whatsoever on this route and driving my SX4 on it was pure fun.
Happy vacation and happy motoring..
Raj
I am planning a trip from Chandigarh to Nainital in December. What is a decent route? I have been suggested Chandigarh – Yamunanagar – Saharanpur – Roorkee – Hardwar – Najibabad – Dhampur – Kashipur – Haldwani – Nainital. Is it OK?
Yes.
Thats the right route. I haven’t personally been on some of the stretches recently so wont know the road conditions but its a fairly decent route.
Went to Mukteshwar (Nainital) last week from Delhi. The Tanda-Bazpur-Kaladhungi-Haldwani road is very good.
Hi Guys,
Can Any one tell me if we do take a left from the Kaladhungi i see a WAVEY Approach to NainiTal this looks a bit Shorter Approach wrt the Haldwani
ATLEAST from the GOOGLe Map,
Any Ideas has anybody taken that root
Please update me on this as i am planning to take it up this weekend
Thanks
Bakul
Hi Bakul, The left turn from Kaladungi goes to Pangot (15 KMs from Nainital) via Kilbari but if you cross Kaladungi, you are almost inside the Nainital township. It is definately shorter than Haldwani and the best part is that you do not have to go the Haldwani enroute to Nainital. I would say that Pangot is also a beautiful place but there was no mobile connectivity there at least till 31st Dec 2008.
Bakul ,
If I am not wrong then you are referring to ‘Khurpa Tal’. Post Kaladhungi, instead of going all the way to Haldwani, you are going left-up and hitting Nainital from the court-end (other end).
I have been to that road some years back and though it was not as good as the other stretch but it was secluded, beautiful and looked much more less-trampled by hordes of tourists who throng the beautiful Naini lake.
I might be on the same road this weekend and if I make it then I would come back and update on the state of the road.
hope this is helpful
Nandan
That is indeed a lovely stretch.About two weeks ago even the tarmac was fine and no traffic!Must take it just for the scenery…
I went to Kausani on Republic day long weekend. I did Hapur-Moradabad-U Turn after the bypass towards corbett-Bazpur-Kaladhungi-Khurpatal- Nainital.
Fabulous route. No issues what so ever at any point.
By the way, http://www.mapmyindia.com shows a non-existing connection beyond pangot/kilbari to Kausani. Well there is no such road.
Hi everybody
Am leaving for Nainital this sunday, can anybody inform me,what is the latest position after Rampur. Road from Rampur to Rudarpur was in very bad condition, when i last traveled on this rout. Normaly i was going through Tanda Bazpur Kaladunghi, but this time i have to go via Haldwani, if this Road is not yet repaired than i will take Haldwani after Kaladunghi.
Please inform , if anybody have the latest position.
yhanks.
AJay SEtia