My last road trip to Haridwar was in Feb this year. After this trip again in March this year I did a road trip to Wagah Border.And now after five months here comes my road trip again.This time too during Rakhi Holidays , we again planned a road trip to Dehradun, Mussoorie and Haridwar similar to every year. My Last years wonderful Mussoorie experience is described in my previous post -“Road Trip to Mussoorie – The Queen Of Hills “. This time Rakhi was a little late ie. in the last week of of august , and this time was the peak of monsoon. However , our plan was made a month in advance. We had to go to Dehradun this time by different route. We had decided to follow the Route – Delhi – Panipat – Shamli – Saharanpur – Chutmulpur – Dehradun. But rains played havoc to our plan. We knew that this is the state highway and the condition of roads were not good due to heavy rains. So just a day in advance , we changed our plan and decide to go by the same old route of National highway. Details of the trip –
No. of Adults – Four
1. Myself – The solo driver
2. My Father
3. My mother
4. My Great Grand Mother
My Car – Maruti 800
Total distance covered in the trip – 750 Km
Avg distance per litre – 18 Km/Lr
Total cost of fuel consumed – Rs 2500
It was 22nd August’10. Rains were on its full throttle. But our plan was made. We left Delhi on 22nd at 5 am. Continous rains were pouring. We followed the route from ISBT , Dilshad Garden on NH-24 towards Ghaziabad .
From Ghaziabd we turned on NH-58 towards Meerut.
We crossed the Meerut Bypass by 7 am. But it seemed the rain would not stop the whole day. I drove the car continuously in rain. The condition of NH was not good at all. Due to continuos rains , there were really bad patches on the roads , with huge pit holes filled with water. Meerut Bypass is mostly double road now.
Newly constructed Toll Plaza after Meerut
There were some really bad patches on the Meerut Bypass and crossing them in rain was really a hell. However we continued further. We reached Khatauli at Cheetal Grand at 8:30 am. Took some snacks there. We stopped there for 30 min.
Cheetal Grand
After Cheetal , the road was a hell for 10-15 min. Bumpy roads , broken and the pit holes filled with water and above all the continous rain. My small car was really feeling the pain.
Some really bad stretch
After Khatauli till Muzaffarnagar , NH-58 was in good condition. The Muzzafarnagar Bypass was in a good shape.
But just after crossing the bypass , something happened which was never expected. My car stopped in the middle of highway. It was raining heavily at that time. Really confused what to do now. Our family was with us and the car broke down at Muzaafarnagar – Roorkee stretch. There was no mechanic in the near viscinity. Then my father decided that he would go to find a mechanic and I will remain in the car with the ladies. He took a lift from a bike and decided to go towards Muzaffarnagar city. My father came back to the site with the mechanic after an hour walking a distance of 2km as nobody gave lift. When the mechanic opened the bonet he told us that the timer coil in the car was broken. He told us that there was no option left. The only option left was to toe the car and take the car to his shop. Then by chance a vikram ( type of Auto ) came. He asked us Rs 200 to toe the car just at a distance of 2km. Then the car was toed to the auto and he pulled the car.
Car being repaired.
After the car was brought to the mechanic shop , the mechanic told that he did not have the Timer Coil. We must go to the Muzaffarnagar City to buy the faulty part. There was no mode of transport there except taking the lift. Also as it was heavily raining heavily no one was stopping the car. When I asked the rate of the coil from the mechanic he told Rs 600. Just then I called up my Delhi Mechanic he told that its cost was Rs 200. The road side mechanic was charging Rs 400 extra for the part. Just then I decided that I will too go to the shop to buy the part
However one bike stopped. Then , myself and the mechanic took the lift and went to the city. Only one shop was there, which was closed. We moved further we found another shop. We bought the coil from the shop. Again we waited for a lift or some tempo on the highway. A tempo came. We took a lift and came back to the mechanic shop after 2hrs. My family was waiting there. Then the mechnic took another 1.5 hrs to replace the faulty part. He took Rs 1100 total as his labour. After the car was repaired we again continued our journey. It was really a very horrifying experience that the car broke down in the middle of highway and with you the whole family is there and continous rains accompnying you. But then, All’s Well That Ends Well.
After that experience and wasting around 4hrs there we moved further. From Muzaffarnagar to Roorkee we continued on NH-58.
Roads were good except some bad stretches at Purkaji. After Manglaur we reached Roorkee. From Roorkee turned left on NH-73 towards Chutmulpur.
At Roorkee
NH-73 From Roorkee to Chutmulpur
Roads were now pretty good after entering Uttarakhand. From Chutmulpur, Turned right on NH-72A towards Dehradun. Then moving further we stopped at Biharigarh for some famous Pakodas. Roads were good till Mohund. After Mohund the Hills start.
Groups of Monkeys
The roads in hills were also good except a few landslides which were being cleared by the JCB Machines.
Flock of Goats grazing
My little car resting besides the river
My little car resting in mountains
Just before entry of Dehradun , we stopped at Dat Mata Mandir which marks the finishing of hills and entry into Dehradun
After the Mandir , there comes the tunnel marking the entry into Dehradun.
The road condition inside the tunnel was a hell with large no. of pitholes full of water. Finally we reached our grandparents place at Rajpur Road at 3:30 pm. We were late by 4hrs. But we reached Doon safe and sound . But it was really an expereince.
Jungle at Mohund
View of Mountains with thick cloud cover from our house.
The next part will feature the road to Mussoorie and local sight seeing of Dehradun. Till then – :-)
To be continued..
Thanks for reading…