Road review for this journey or rather saying road review for NH2 in one word to say is simply awesome. It is advisable to start as early as possible in the morning so as to avoid the city rush.
Starting with the Durgapur Expressway from Kolkata, this is one of the best highways in India, there is absolutely no doubt in that. If you are actually driving in this highway, the road quality is so good and the greenery around are so nice, that you will just want to keep driving on this road. A maximum speed of 150 KMPH is no big deal in this highway and you can easily maintain an avg speed of around 90-100 KMPH.
Normally the trucks are very well-mannered. You do not need to overtake them from the wrong side. Blow the horn once, one or two beamers and they will give you way. Although always there are exceptions, but normally its quite ok. Just got to be a little careful.
View Larger Map
Every now and then one can find decent places to have tea and snacks, there is not limitation on any kind of meals, whether its breakfast, lunch or dinner. Shaktigarh around 100 KM from Kolkata is one such ideal place to have a good breakfast. It’s known for its famous sweets (langchas). It’s also known as langchagarh. It’s an interesting place. You will find all the shops around by the name langcha.
Moving ahead from Durgapur towards Asansol and on to Dhanbad, the road quality is equally good. As one enters Dhanbad, the entire stretch of NH2 is concrete and the quality is even better than Durgapur Expressway, although you will find occasional people in 2-wheelers coming in the wrong way just to avoid long U-turns. As you travel along you will cross small places like Kulti, Nirsa, Aurangabad, Sasaram (Jharkhand to Bihar), Mughal sarai where you actually enter Uttar Pradesh.It’s advisable to keep printouts of route maps. Helps you to keep track of your driving directions.
Varanasi is ofcourse a very congested area with its own historical enigma. Once you move from Varanasi towards Allahabad, it’s more of a congested highway, although the road condition is still very good.
Congested roads of Varanasi
Photo Credit : Anjana Saha
Also since we started early, traffic was really low and Allahabad (a distance of around 125 KM) could easily be reached in 3-4 hours. Allahabad to Sultanpur road quality is now far better compared to what it used to be around 10 years back. Only a small stretch of the NH96 is broken otherwise 99KM from Allahabad to Varanasi should not take more than 2 and half hours.
Sultanpur to Lucknow (NH56) and Lucknow to Kanpur (NH25) are again very good. Although the Sultanpur -> Lucknow stretch is very easy to travel Lucknow ->Kanpur stretch is slightly more congested. Once you move to Kanpur, a pathetic patch starts and moving out of Kanpur sideways to NH2 is a big challenge till you actually touch the highway. Once you touch it, it’s again the awesome highway.
Kanpur->Delhi connectivity around 440 KM is also not a problem, but the traffic is very high and especially once you reach places nearing Agra and Faridabad, traffic really starts to pinch you. It’s no wonder if you get stuck for 3-4 hours for a stretch of just 70 KM. Lucknow to Delhi also has another route which is NH24, but it being 2-lane is always more congested and traffic prone.
Overall its one of the best routes to travel from Kolkata to Delhi.
Kolkata to Delhi is not now NH2, but it is renumbered as NH19. And Lucknow Kanpur is now NH27.
Sir,
I never knew about that. Is it so, when did that happened. Is there a way i can correct the text here?
Regards
Anupam Mazumdar
Neeraj ji
NH-2 is also Now Delhi To Kolkata (Delhi-Mathura-Agra-Kanpur-Allahabad-Varanasi-Mohania-Barhi-Palsit-Baidyabati-Bara-Calcutta)
NH-25 is also now (Lucknow-Kanpur-Jhansi-Shivpuri)
NH- 19 is Ghazipur-Balia-Patna
NH-27 is Allahabad-Mangawan
Go though National Highways site : -> http://www.nhai.org/
Thanks
Ritesh
??????? ????? ?? , ?? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ???? ? ???? ?? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ? ???? ???? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??
Hi Manu,
Yes, its really a different fun doing a drive.
Regards
Anupam Mazumdar
Thanks, Anupam. This info will be of use for those intending to travel from Kolkata to New Delhi by road. I am planning to drive all round the country along the Golden Quadrilateral and I shall refer to your write-up when I do it.
Hi Mr Nayan,
That is the prime motive. To make my experiences of atleast some use to others. I will providing my next writeup to ghumakkar soon for review and posting too. Even that might help you :-).
Keep posting your valueable review comments and that will be of great help to me in improving my writeups.
cheers :-)
Regards
Anupam Mazumdar
good series overall………………
Anupam ji
Thanks for nice post…
Short review, probably more details like eating places beyond ‘Kanpur’, bio-break points (usually COCO pumps are good here), toll rates etc would further add value.
I am putting a link of the iconic Delhi-Kanpur-Lucknow article at Ghumakkar. Look at the number of comments -) – https://www.ghumakkar.com/2008/02/11/road-review-delhi-kanpur-lucknow/
As of now, it was 65K views and 270 comments.
Hey Neeraj – Delhi- Kanpur – Allahabad-Kolkata is NH2.
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“Hey Neeraj Delhi- Kanpur Allahabad-Kolkata is NH2.” ???? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???? ??? ?? ??? ??? ?? ????? ?? ???? ???? ???, ??? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ??? ??? ?? ?? ???? ??? ?? ????? ???
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???? ???? ?????????? ?? ?? ????? ??? ????? ??? ??- ?????-?????? ???? ?? ????-?????? ????? ?????-?????? ???? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ?? ?? ?? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ??????? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ????- ?????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ?? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ?? ????
?????? ?? ????, ????????? ???????? 1 ?? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ??? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???????? 3 ?? ????? ?? ??????, ???????, ??????, ????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ????????? ???????? 5 ?? ???????? ?? ????????, ???????, ????? ?? ??? ????-?????? ???? ?? ??? 7 ?? ????????, ???????, ???????, ????????, ?????? ???? ??? ??????, ????????, ???? ?? ??? 9 ?? ???????, ?????, ?????, ??????, ?????????, ???????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ???????? 87 ?? ?? ????? ?? ????????? ?? ???? ???
??? ??? ????????? ???????? 2 ???? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ???????? ?? ??????, ??????, ????? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ?????? ??? ???????? 4 ?? ??????? ??????? ????? ???? ??? ??? 6 ?? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ?? ????????? ???????? 44 ?? ?? ??????? ?? ??????????? (???????, ?????, ??????, ????, ????????, ????????, ??????, ????????, ??????, ????? ?? ???????????) ?? ?? ?? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???????? ?? ??? ???? ??????? ???????? 68 ?? ?? ??????? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?? (?????? ??? ???? ?? ??? ??, ????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ???)
?? ?? ???????? ??? ????????? ?????????? ??? ?? ???? ???????? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???? A, B ??? ???? ??, ???? ???????? 1A, 1B ??? ?? ??? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ?? A, B ????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ????????? ???????? 34 ?? ?? ???????? ?? ??????, ????????, ??????, ????, ????????? ???? ??? ?????, ??????, ??????, ?????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?? ????? ?? ????????? (??????????) ?? ???????? ?????? ??? ?? ?? ?????-?????????? ?? ????? ?? 134 ???? 34 ??? ?? ????? ??? ???? (??)????????? ???? ??? ???????? ?? ????????, ????, ??????? ???? 234, ????, ??????????, ?????, ???????? ???? 334 ??? ??? ??? ???? ??? ?????????? ??? ?? (??)???????? ????? ??? ????
@ ?????? ?????,
??? ?? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ??? ??, ????? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ???????? ???? ?? ?? ?? ????? ?? ????????? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ?? ?? ???????? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???? ????? ?? ?????????? ?? ??????? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ?? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?? ?? ?? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? ???? ????????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ????????? ???? ???? ??? ??? ?? ?????-?????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???
@ ????? ??,
????? ????????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???, ???? ?? ??? ????????? ???????? 58 ?? ????? 34 ?? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?? ????? ?? ?? ?? ???? ????? ????? ?? ??? ???? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?? ?? ???? ??? 2 ?? ??? 44 ?? 19 ???? ????? 44 ???? ???????-??????????? ????? ?? 19 ???? ??????-??????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ??? 44 ?? ???? ?? ?? 19 ???
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???? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ?? ??? ???? ???? ?? ????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?? ?????, ?? ??? ?? ????? ?? ?? ???? ????
@???? – ???? ?? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ????. ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ????. ??? ????/????? ??? ???? ??, ???? ?? ????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ?? :) ?? ???????? ?? ???? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ???? . http://dorth.gov.in/writereaddata/sublinkimages/finaldoc6143316640.pdf ???? ?? ???????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ??? ???????? ?? ???? ???.
???? ???? ??????? ????? ????? ?? ???.
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??? ??? ?? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?? ?? ????? ?? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ?? ??? ??, ?????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ???? ????? ???????? ?? ???? ???????? ????? ?? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ?????
Hi Anupam,
The series has indeed turned out to be good. However, there’s always scope for making it more informative. Especially in case of road reviews, Nandan’s suggestion is quite valid. More details would be very helpful. But this being your first post at Ghumakkar, I’m sure we can look forward to more posts with deeper details.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Your post has led to some interesting discussions and knowledge enhancement.
Hi Vibha,
Thanks for your comments. As you know, this is all that we want, getting comments and improving ourselves that will benefit others.
Just to let you know, i will be sending you the details of my next post in a couple of days and hope you will be posting that too after reviewing :-).
Thanks a lot for your support.
Regards
Anupam Mazumdar
Apart from the National Highway topic your blog convinced me to share my story…My dad loves driving a alot but i have never used to like travellin by car…but because of my dad’s passion i used to accompanied him all the time..my dad is little religious so according to Sikh community, he had mission to see all Gurudwara’s all over India ..and we did that mostly with car or by train even we have been to Pakistan…whether it is Manikaran sahib.. Sahib,Harmandir Sahib Amritsar..Even Nanded in our own scorpio …One of my experience was when i went to Patna ..we knew it’s not possible in car ..so it’s better to go by train but how…and where to stay was a queston…then one of my dad’s frndz advised him to consult some good travel company and then there is Yatra.com…you guys have must heard about it..thry made our trip Joyful all the way..newa now i am married but…
Now my hubby is also very passionate abt traveling to different places after every 2-3 mnths we plan our trip somewhere around in Indiaaa.
Hi Sahiba,
That made my day. I hope to share more of my writings. Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Anupam Mazumdar
Hi Neeraj,
Its really nice to get this new information about the highways renaming. I searched the web and found it true too. But having said that, i believe we should still continue using the old highway names as long as the new ones are not completely established. Reason being two-folds:
1) The milestones in the highways display the old number and so the driving directions
2) If we add the new highway numbers right now, people will find it difficult to really identify the numbers.
I would like to find out your views and also other team member’s views on this.
Regards
Anupam Mazumdar
????? ??,
?? ??? ?? ?????????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ????????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???? ???? ?? ?? ??? ???? 58 ?? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ?? ????? ???????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ??? 8 ?? ???? ?? ?? ????? ?? ??? ??? ?????????? ?? ?? ???????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?? ??? ???
?? ??? ?? ???? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ????????? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ??? ??? ????? ?? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ??????? ??????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??? ??? ??????? ???? ??, ?? ??? ?? ?????????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???????? ?? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??, ????? ????? ??? ??, ??? ??? ??? ????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ?? ??? ???? ??? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ???
@ Neeraj – I was not aware of this new system and there are quite a few like me. So thanks for sending more info on this. Probably the new system is being implemented as the NHAI site still lists the old numbers. http://nhai.org/statewise.htm
As Anupam says, the signages are all showing NH2 (or the old numbers as you tell us) so may be there is a plan of implementation. Send us more info around this if you have. Greatly useful for everyone.
——–
Secondly.
Me knowing all this as a person and running the site are two different things. Lets not link the two and stick to the topic and NOT the person. I hope you understand. Lets maintain decorum and draw positive energies from each other.
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???? ???? ??? ?? ????? ??, ???? ??? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ?? ??:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LHwXIt88cFw/T1TaPvTYFAI/AAAAAAAAIPA/cgVhL-OrMxM/s1600/NH+MAP.jpg
?? ????? ???? ??? ??? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??, ?? ????? ??-??? ?? ???????? ?? ???? ???, ????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?? ???? ???? ???, ????? ??? ??? ????? ???? ??? ?? ?? ?? ?? 15 ??? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?? ??? ?? ?? ???? ???????? ?? ?? ????? ?? ????? ???, ???? ????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ???? ???? ??? ???? ?? ?? ??? ???????? ?? ??? ?? ??? ???, ?? ????? ?? ????? ???
??? ????? ??? ????? ???, ??? ??? ?? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ????????? ??? ?? ?? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ??, ?? ????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ????????? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??, ??? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ???????? ???? ???, ?? ????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? ????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ?? ??? ??, ??? ???????????
I have already given the the official information link in my previous comment above for all the highways.
Neeraj – There is nothing right or wrong here. Let me tell you I myself has a lot of interests in roads but I was also unaware of this information. I don’t remember anywhere government has published this or do any advertisement in any form of media. Everybody is appreciating you for providing this valuable information. It is not good to pinpoint on a person if he/she does not have the same information. Running a website is not a business where the owner have to know everything about it. Specially if the website content is created by bloggers.
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Very nice and very informative for those who are going to use same route for drive.
I am planing to go from New Delhi to Faizabad. Kindly let me know which is the best route by road.
There are two routes NH91 and NH2.
I have no idea of NH91, but for NH2, if you start early in the morning, it would be better traffic free jouney. During day and specially in the evening, traffic till Agra is huge.
If by the time you go, yamuna expresway is operational, then take yamuna expressway till Agra and from there take NH2.
I would not suggest taking NH91, because that route may be shorter, but probably is not as good as NH2
Dear Sharma, Thanks Anupam. Here is my 2 cents.
1. NH 91 is pretty bad. Avoid.
2. NH 2 is super till Kanpur. Take Yamuna Expressway if it is ON when you leave, till Agra. From Kanpur to LKO is mixed and from LKO to Faizabad it is good.
3. If you are in eastern-side of town, you can explore taking NH24 (Delhi – Hapur – Moradabad – Rampur – Sitapur – LKO). This is shortest. Except Rampur – Sitapur, rest of it is very good.
All the best.
Hi Nandan,
I agree with you NH24 is shortest, i also stay in Indirapuram, just on the side of NH24. But i never took this highway, because i have heard if to be jammed most of the times specially by trucks and tempos.
regards
Anupam Mazumdar
No, it has improved a lot in last 5 years. Delhi – Moradabad – Rampur is pretty good. Sitapur – LKO is super. They are making a bypass at Rampur so once that is done, probably it would be the preferable route for Delhi-LKO.
I am here on this road every month on my way to Nanital side.
https://www.ghumakkar.com/2007/07/18/delhi-naintal-road-review/
wow, thanks for the info Nandan. Next time i will also try taking this route.
Sharmaji,
Hope these informations help you in deciding your route.
Regards
Anupam Mazumdar
Hi Anupam/ Neeraj
with reference to your above updates, i would like to know 2 things
1. Are the road conditions same today as you experienced in 2012
2. How safe is it for a biker to travel from Kolkata to Allahabad solo
Dear Anupam,
I am planning to visit Delhi from Kolkata via Lucknow. I will be staying in Varanasi on day 1. Can u suggest me the route to go from Varanasi to lucknow or should i take Allahabad / Kanpur route to reach Lucknow. Would not mind travelling extra km but road condition should be good. Also what route should i take while going from Lucknow to Delhi ?
Kindly suggest any other tips if at all required in this trip. BTW i will be travelling with my family.
Thanks in advance.
Rahul Sharma.
Rahul,
If you plan to visit Allahabad then take the Allahabad route, otherwise go directly to Lucknow, because via Allahabad will be a longer route. Varanasi to Lucknow will be hardly 6 hours of drive (290 KM). We had plans to visit sangam to went in to Allahabad too.
Regards
Anupam Mazumdar
@ Rahul – Further to what Anupam suggested, for LKO-Delhi you should take LKO-Kanpur-Etawah-YamunaExpressway-Delhi.
For Delhi-LKO, you can get more recent updates on following story
https://www.ghumakkar.com/road-review-delhi-kanpur-lucknow/
@ Anupan : Thanks for your suggestions. Will surely mention my trip here.
@ Nandan : Thanks a lot for your suggestion.
Hello Anupam da, I am planing to take my family with me from Delhi to Kolkata by road. Kindly guide me with some points which will help me to reach there safely. I am planing to start from Delhi at night 2PM and drive through out the day. Take rest at evening & journey again from next day morning. Please help me out. My mobile no is-8607880700. Hope to hear from you soon or you can mail me to ttapas76@rediffmail.com
Tapas, follow the road directions straight through NH2 and you will easily reach Delhi by 2nd day evening.
First day don’t drive beyond varanasi. Stay in Varanasi. You will reach by 3-4 pm in the evening. Next day again start around 4 in the morning.
Anupam Mazumdar
Hi all
Thanks for the information update.
Lets cut out the shit.
This really helped
Any idea any one whats the latest time distance matrix on NH2 Via Yamuna Exp from Delhi (Noida) to Kolkata.
Cheers
I have to travel Delhi to Siwan By my own car I10 in April. Request You all please suggest about rout and other things.
Thanks in Advance :)