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.
Ajay – I was there during Republic Day weekend, which is not too far back and it was perfect. I dont think roads would have gone bad during last month since its not a rainy season.
Plz let me know the safe and good road route from Patiala to nainital
Patiala – Ambala – Yamunanagar – Saharanpur – Roorkee – Hardwar – Najibabad – Dhampur – Kashipur – Haldwani – Nainital
Hello everybody.
last week i went to Nainital via Rampur, road is repaired, but going via Tanda,Bazpur, Kaladungi is better, this rout will take lesser time. i came back by this rout and reached Delhi in only six hrs.
Ajay
Thanks a bunch for your responses in this thread.
Done the Delhi – Mukteshwar – Delhi last weekend.
Route taken = Delhi – Hapur – Moradabad bypass – Tanda – Baazpur – Kaladhungi – Haldwani – Kathgodam – Bhimtal – Khutani – Padampuri – Mukteshwar was an absolute delight.
Started at 4.30 in morning from delhi and reached Mukteshwar by 12 noon. Best time to start in summers, beat the heat in till Kathgodam by starting in morning, the remaining stretch is anyways cool.
Nicely maintained roads, greenery on both sides, no issue of bridge at Kaladhungi (this is not monsoon).
316 km by Hyundai Accent, quite comfortable. Fuel Station – I guess the nearest fuel station on the route was at Khutani. Petrol was for Rs. 40.96 per litre.
Any special comments / queries welcome.
One minor change – 316 km from Ghaziabad (not from Delhi)
Sushant:
Need some advice. Am traveling to Sitla. is the route from Kaladungi to Nanital to bhowli route not better than to do kaladungi to haldwani to khadgodam to Bhimtal ? Please let me know if possible?
Navjit
navjit – Kaladhungi – Khurpatal – Naini – Bhowali is better. I took this route on 26 jan 2009 weekend, was going to Kausani.
Hi Navjit
Would give you latest update as I was in Nainital yesterday & went to Mukteshwar today. Took Nainital – Bhowali route which was fantastic. As Nandan Jha said I would also recommend the same route. Happy driving.
came to Nainital from Delhi today. latest update on Road condition is as below:
took Hapur- Moradabad Bye pass – Left U Turn – Tanda – Bajpur – Kaladhungi – Nainital route. Road was fantastic & smooth except for small stretch from Sambhavli to Garh which anyways is always bad & under construction. kept me stuck in jam for 1 hr after which I decided to let my new car pass through Kuchcha farm area.otherwise would have stuck there itself for hours.
But overall would recommend this route to fellow GHUMAKKARS as its smooth & short. Sarita Vihar, New Delhi to Mall Road , Nainital took 290 kms & 7 hrs.
CLIMATE: weather websites are showing temp as Max 33/ Min 15 BUT actually wheather is very pleasant over here . had to purchase woolens which I forgot to bring , courtesy : weather forecast.My advice carry light woolens alongwith.
Nandan and Ashish:
Thanks. I guess both of you were traveling via Nanital so that made sense. If i have to go direct to Sitla or Mukteshwar from Delhi then should i go from Kalagundi to Haldwani and onwards to Ranibagh ?
Navjit
Both routes are good. But Kaladhungi – Nainital – Bhowali route is 50 Kms Max (from Kaladhungi till bhowali) which is 10 kms shorter than Kaladhungi-Haldwani -Kathgodam-Bhowali which is nearly 60 kms. So would suggest via Nainital. Also its very scenic. You will love this route & roads are very smooth so no problem.
What days are best to avoid the traffic at Garh Mukteshwar. Does one only aboid the Amavasya days?
Navjit
Yes Navjit, one should generally avoid Amasvasya, Poornima & festive days like Chhat puja etc. But then also worst road patch is from Sambhaoli to Garh because of construction work & Trucks coming in. But after Garh till Moradabad bye pass end its a marvel. Easily one can get 140 KM/hr.
Good Review Ashish………..Cheers Buddy Hope you had a gud time there..
Here’s a good site to check out AMASVASYA etc:
http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/religions/calendar.htm
Have fun,fellas!
I am planing to go Haldwani.
I am living in Gurgaon. please tell me the route hoe to reach Hapur bypass through Delhi, Ghazibad.
please tell me the main (landmrk) point to remmber ………….
Mr. Joshi,
Take NH8 and reach ‘Dhaula Kuan’ and then go towards Ashram. Be on Ring road till you cross ‘Sarai Kale Khan Bus Terminus’. Take first right after the ‘Bus Adda’. Now you would be on NH24, this is the road which you need to be on for next 150+ KMs.
All the best
Nandan
i hav some confusion from Akshardam……… should i have to go through Shaibabad
Mr Joshi
from Akshardham route is very simple. no need to confuse yourself. if you are coming from Ashram-Sarai Kale Khan Bus terminus – Nizamuddin bridge route then Akshardham would be on your left. you are on right track ….just be on the same road….. drive for approx 150 kms (as Nandan Jha says) you will reach first Hapur bye pass & then Moradabad Bye pass.
Have visited this route last week (26-28 April). Just to inform all Ghumakkars that both the NH-24 and NH87 strech of this route are in almost good condiction, and if you plan to go via Haldwani take this route instead of via Kaladhungi.
In fact, even if you want to go vis Kaladhungi, what I’ve noticed is it is the common part of the route ( NH-24, Delhi to Rampur) where you will find some parts of the road full of craters, diversions and off course , jams some of the time. Once you cross Rampur and head towards Haldwani on NH87, this road is almost smooth, except 1 Km strech between rampur-bilaspur. It was a pleasant surprise to drive on an unexpectedly good road right from rampur. You can maitain your speed above 80KM in this part, but be attentive as it is a two way road without dividers.
Coming back to section by section detail of the route: we can devide it into 4 broader parts from the smoothness perspective of the road. first section from Delhi upto gajroula is more or less in good condition. you can maitain good speed once you cross Ghazipur chowk.
Second part is the worst portion of this route, right from gajraula to joya in onwards direction, and garh Ganga to gajroula in return direction. you will find suddenly road converting to two lane two way without dividers. on top of this, you have to be very attentive to keep your eyes on the road for large craters , and sometimes , blade like speed brakers. even tough, you may be unsuccessful to keep yourself away from all this. I think once this strech of NH is complete, the drive will be very comfortable and one would be able to save at least 45 min – 1 hour in total journey time.You will also notice most of the accidents in this part ( it was unfortunate to see fatal accidents both ways in this part).
The next section from Joya to Rampur is mostly good in condition, though diversions are still here and there, but you can save yourself from cratters, there are not many in this part.
once you cross rampur, there is absolutely smooth road , except 1 or two small portions. picturesque dirve with trees on both sides of the road.
Once you’re on Rudrapur- tanda- haldwani section, do not forget to purchase those juicy and sweet , fresh guavas from roadside furit sellers, you will find them between the point where SIDCUL ends and next railway crossing on tanda road.
complete journey from Delhi to Haldwani , with 45 min break both ways ( onwards at Bhajan , and return at A1 – it’s a new reliance site, only retaurant is operational, pump is yet to function, but good food and services) took around 6 hours and 30 min.
I just returned from a trip to Ranikhet and Mukteshwar this evening. On the way up there on Friday, the road at tanda was blocked and we had to take a diversion throught some village roads and join the kashipur road to Bajpur. The diversion created a delay of atleast one hour. On the way back was caught at Garh Mukteswar because of the festivities going on there. Again a delay of an hour or so. I found that the road from Gajroula onwards till the Hapur bypass is in quite a bad shape. The best road improvement is between Gajroula and Moradabad bypass which is quite good now.
Hello friends,
I am planning to go to nainital on 10th june for 3 day vacations. As I have planned my vacation as 1 night stay corbett and the next 2 nights for nainital.
But this will be my first ever road trip, as i prefer train to road trip. I would like you to help me getting my way right for delhi to nainital via corbett and nainital to delhi with some places of interest on my coming back.
Can somebody explain me the way from moradabad bypass to corbett in detail as this will be first ever trip to nainital.
Dhiraj,
Route from Delhi – Corbett : Take NH24 (Nizamuddin Bridge Road) and be on it till you reach Moradabad Bypass. At the end of Moradabad Bypass, take a hard left (almost a U turn). Take first right and then again first right. Keep going straight, you would find few forks so ask for the road which goes to Kashipur. Reach Corbett via Thakurdwara – Kashipur – Ramnagar.
Corbett – Nainital is very simple. You need to go to Kaladhungi and then go towards Nainital via Khurpatal.
You can make a quick stop at Kaladhungi and be at Jim Corbett Museum (his old house converted into a museum).
Leave early, if you can leave by 4.30 then you save lot of city traffic (Delhi – GZB – Hapur etc).
all the best and do write back here, about your experience.
Hi Nandan,
Thanx for your very helpful tips.
But now there is only one confusion here “Take first right and then again first right.”. As I have been asked to take a first right and then go towards crossing over small bridge to reach to Thakurdwara.
So please revert me with some more details in route after Moradabad bypass.
I hope its not too late, Was out of town.
As you take a U turn (hard left) after the Moradabad bypass, you drive for about a KM or less and then you reach a fork, keep on right. The right fork turns right, go for about 200 odd meters and then take a right towards Thakurdwara. You would find folks on the road to help you with directions. Thanks and all the best.
hi all. i am planning to go on 13th june 09 night starting 8:00 night from delhi to binsar and to chakouri with family in car. whether the main route via rampur-haldwani will fine in night.is there any good hotel for stopover near rampur.we 2 persons will be driving the car(wagaon-R)
Anand – I avoid driving on nights unless its critical and I do not have a workaround , because of road safety reasons (and not security) so I would advice against it, but its a personal decision/preference.
You should be able to find hotels in Haldwani/Rudrapur. Try speaking to Kostubh Pandey (0-9837092025), though he is based in Corbett, he might have contacts in Ramnagar. Give Ghumakkar as a reference.
Best wishes.
We are planning to drive from delhi to Nainital/bhimtal around Jun 18. Please suggest on the route we shud take. What are the current road conditions via Rampur and via bazpur, kaldhungi.
Also if we want to go directly to bhimtal instead of nainital is there an alternative shorter route and please let know the condition of the road too.
Archna – The last report which we have on the route is from KC
“…Have visited this route last week (26-28 April). Just to inform all Ghumakkars that both the NH-24 and NH87 strech of this route are in almost good condiction, and if you plan to go via Haldwani take this route instead of via Kaladhungi……….”
Please read his comment fully for route details. You can try both, go via NH87 for the to and come back via Kaladhungi.
For going to Bhimtal, after Haldwani, look for a right cut (ask around) which would take you directly to Bhimtal.
If it rains heavily, as it did in late May, don’t take the Kaladhungi road. There may be landslides and washed-out sections that took place only hours before and no one knows about.
I traveled to Nainital via the Kaladhungi road on July 18. The road is extremely good. Also heed to Max’s advice on the rains and resultant landslides.
I left Delhi around 5:15, as I live in East Delhi NH 24 is just 10 minutes drive for me. I was able to avoid traffic at GZB, Hapur, Garh Mukteshwar, etc. I missed the Moradabad Bypass, and went thru Moradabad city. Although onroute I was advised by a couple of people to go thru Rampur I chose to go thru KalaDhungi and was more than happy with the experience. The road is a pleasure, both in terms of road quality and the scenic beauty.
Another thing, avoid driving on the NH 24 after dark, the road widening is a work in progress, and the diversions are difficult to make out.
am planning to go to nainital from Ghaziabad on 14th aug. greatful if someone advises on the latest road condition and which toute to take.re
regards.
mkgarg
I am planning to go to Nainital from delhi on 02nd Sep. i am greatful if someone advises on the latest road condition and which route is safe for
family trip through car.
regards.
tn sharma
Dear Mr Sharma,
We do Nainital twice every year and hence this input. Have come back after doing Naintak – Ranikhet – Kausani on 16 Aug 2009.
Please take the following Route :
Delhi – Hapur Byepass – Gajraula – Moradabad Byepass. Take a full left at the end of the this Moradabad Byepass Go a few KMs and you will hit a Y Junction.
Left goes into Moradabad Half right goes to Jim Corbett ( Very Well marked it is ).
Take the Jim Corbett Road; 15 KMs or so ahead turn right towards Bajpur ( Very well marked) and on to Kaladhungi . At the Jim Corbetts housein Kaladhungi, the road bifurcates into two Left for Naintal and straight goes to Haldwani. You could visit Jim Corbett’s House in Kaladhungi also; It will take about 15 minutes or so to see it and it is bang on the Main Road
Take the road to Nainital from Kaladhungi via Khurpatal.
The route is perfectly safe, good road, very light Traffic, shorter route too.
Do not take the Rampur Route.
Except for the stretch between Hapur – Simbhaoli – Gajraula, balance of the route is definitely good.
For some more detailed inputs about enroute see my article on the subject – Go to ghumakkar.com – Archives – Sep 2007 – Corbett Village by Sandeep.
Heres wishing you a very Happy Holiday.
Sandeep Gupta
Hia,
M plannning to go to nainital – ranikhet – kausani – reetha Sahib gurudwara in September last week. Can you all experienced comment about the weather in September end – starting october ?
Thanks
Its post Monsoon so fabulous scenery all the way. Early morning would be nippy (light jacket), sun is pretty good in hills so days would be warm (T-Shirts, shorts etc), late evenings would be cold esp if you venture out.
Hi everybody
going to Bhimtaal and sat taal next saturday, i hope Bajpur Kalladunghi Road is best yet.
Ajay
Ajay please update the road conditions?
Hi Ajay,
Hope you had a good weekend at Bhimtaal.. So, after so much of rains, what is the current status of this route ?
Any one having the latest updates ?
Cheers
Jupi
Jupi,
Do you have the latest information on the road conditions on this strech?
Saurabh
Hi Saurabh,
M going this sunday i.e 27th and would be back on 03rd October. Would share my part after that.
My plans are to go via Bazpur, kaladhungi – Khurpatal.This would gimme a good driving pleasure as compared to the other route. and since I am going to Nainital first, I would enter the area onto the Stadium parking ground ! So planning to park the vehicle and search for a hotel on the mall road (naini).
Cheers
I am planning to go to Binsar via Almora on Saturday, 19th September from East Delhi in a Swift.
It would be great if someone can through some light on the road conditions and suggest which route to take:
Delhi – Moradabad – Bazpur – Kalladunghi- Haldwani
Or
Delhi – Moradabad – Rampur – Haldwani – Kathgodham
Please I am driving through this region for the 1st time. Your inputs would help me a lot.
Thanks
Saurabh
Saurabh – Take Bazpur road. At Kaladhungi, instead of going towards Haldwani, go the other way i.e. towards Khurpa Tal and you would enter Nainital from the other side. From Naini, ask for Bhowli and then on to Almora and finally Binsar.
All the best and once you are back, please update us with current state of road.
Can anybody update on the road conditions after the monsoons?
As of last weekend, the kaladhungi bazpur haldwani bhimtal bhowali route was good. The route via nainital bypass was horrendous in comparison at rampur et al.
I would say, take kaladhungi – go to haldwani, from there take the main road to nainital – best route and short enough as well.
Took self about 11 hours driving back from Binsar
what is the condition of road from muradabad to nainital via kaladungi
Hi All,
Just returned from a trip to Naukuchiatal. Thought will share with you the state of the roads. Left at around 5.30 am. Onwards from South Delhi till Hapur its a smooth ride..then a bad stretch of repairs, unfinished and even abandoned at parts. Break at Gajraula..till Moradabad was fine..then got caught in heavy traffic at Garh Muktheshwar (it was amavaysa day). Thankfully, it was smooth after that and we reached destination by 1.15 pm. Total running time just short of 8 hours.
Did not take the Bajpur, Kaladunghi road as we had a toddler and so thought will stick to normal route..worked fine this time.
Return jouney (same route) was smooth except that as soon as we enetered Ghaziabad all traffic lights failed and massive jams at every junction (despite being a sunday). Took two and half hours from Ghaziabad to home. Total running time 9 hours.
Overall, roads in good condition post monsoons-except Hapur stretch and usual traffic in towns along the way.
Thanks
I m planning to leave for nainital tomrrow , i will try the kaladhungi route.
I will be driving maruti 800,
anbody recently visited this route please tell
are teh roads good enough for this car?
Have just returned this afternoon from Kotabagh,near Kaladhunghi.The stretch after Hapur bye-pass to the bridge at GarhMukteshwar(about 60kms)is bad but the rest is fine.See plenty of Maruti 800s whizzing around.We left Gurgaon at 5am and after two stops of 30mins each at Tarka(Restaurant)and at Bazpur to buy some vegetables,we reached Kotabagh at 11am.
Hope this helps!
Gogi
Hi Guys,
Came back (Delhi) on 03rd October after my trip to Nainital/Ranikhet/Kausani/Reetha Sahib Gurudwara. Went throught Tanda/Kaladhunghi and came back through Haldwani/Rampur.
Both the routes are equally good to drive overall :)) Would be posting my travelogue for this very soon..
Cheers
Dear Friends,
Did Delhi-Bhimtaal-Nainitaal-Mukteshwar recently via Rampur/Haldwani/Bhimtaal/Nainitaal/Bhowali/Ramgarh/Mukteshwar and returned via Mukteshwar/Bhimtaal/Haldwani/Tanda/Kaladhunghi. Road is equally good.. bridge at Bilaspur is opened. Rampur-Bilaspur-Rudrpur is crowded than Haldwani -Kadungi-tanda route.
It is better and safer to go to Mukteshwar via Bhimtaal than Bhowali ramgarh route.
South Indian food is just great at Udipiwala, Purani Chungi, Kathgodam.. a must visit en route.
Take Care
Punit
Dear all,
I am planning to go Nainital from Moradabad via Bazpur – Kaladhungi by own car. Please tell me the road condition of this route. How much kilometer and time will I save by adopting this route instead of via Rampur – Rudrapur – Haldwani – Kathgodam.
Dear sir I am planning to go Nainital via Rudrapur by road and than want to go kashpur and Naintal in one stroke . Please advice to rout from Rudrapur to Naintal via kashipur .
Mr. Gupta – I am not sure whether I understand your question correctly.
I am guessing that you want to go to Rudrapur, Kashipur and Nainital with Nainital being the last destination. I am also guessing that Rudrapur should be the first halt. If my understanding is right then here is the route
Delhi – Rudrapur – Bazpur – Kashipur. And then from Kashipur, go to Nainital via Kaladhungi route, essentially you would have to back track from Kashipur to almost till Bazpur to take the road to Nainital.
Going to Nainital from delhi on 29th Nov. KIndly suggest the best route considering that I will be driving and will be having a toddler with us
Priyavrat
Hi ppl, i am planning to leave for nainital on coming saturday monring, are the roads still good to drive, i heard there are some land slides happening these days!!
Can you advice me the best route possible & time required for travel.
Regards,
Sid..
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.
Hi Everyone…
I wanna know how much time will it take to go from Rudrapur to Nainital….
Pls respond ASAP as I have to go in 2 hours…
2 hours. If you are driving very early morning then probably less. Its about 90 odd KMs and you can go faster till Haldwani since the road is very good.
hi i m from mumbai and planing to come to Delhi on 29th of april2010 and we are reaching at 11.00 am so can you help me how i can go to nainital and what will be ideal time to leave is it safe to drive at night or we have to leave immediately i reach Delhi or we can do site seen of delhi and leave at night and reach early to nainital
Prashant – Here’s my suggestion
1. It would be very hot in Delhi, esp between 1100 – 1600 hrs so I would suggest that you take enough precautions during your sight seeing here. I am not sure on what interest you, whether you are along or with kids or senior folks, how mobile you are , and so on. But if you let me know some of it, I can probably suggest a few places to you.
2. Without waiting for any further time, book yourself (or more people) a ticket on ‘Ranikhet Express’ (5013). Its a overnight-er to Kathgodam which is about an hour away by road from Nainital.
I just checked and tickets are available in SL. It would not be too hot , esp during night (be wary of mosquitoes though, esp during the long halt at Moradabad).
hope this is useful