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They
say, express your mind when you have just experienced an incident – because you
can feel and also narrate what has happened because the moment after any
incident, the brain begins to lose facts and also the emotion involved for that
matter. And now that I am retracing the steps which I had taken almost a week
back, I am clearly at a loss to feel the vibrant energy that I carried THAT
DAY.
We
were clearly in high spirits. Feeling pretty excited and vibrant. This was
supposed to be my first “long” distance trip. We had travelled to the
popular beach spots – Digha and
Mandarmoni a number of times in the car. But those didnt even cover a 200+ km
bracket.
were clearly in high spirits. Feeling pretty excited and vibrant. This was
supposed to be my first “long” distance trip. We had travelled to the
popular beach spots – Digha and
Mandarmoni a number of times in the car. But those didnt even cover a 200+ km
bracket.
What
we had learnt:
we had learnt:
|
Route
|
Distance
(km) |
Condition
|
Planned Travel Time
|
Remarks
|
|
Calcutta – Panagarh
|
160
|
Excellent
|
3.5 hours
|
Includes: 30 min halt for
light snacks |
|
Panagarh -Morgram
|
150
|
Good
|
4 hours
|
Have on way packed lunch
|
|
Morgram – Malda
|
100
|
Poor
|
3 hours
|
Take a tea break of 15/20
mins. |
|
Totals
|
420
|
|
~11 hrs
|
|
Calcutta – Panagarh:
We
woke up at 6 AM, washed and cleaned the car ,took bath and had a very light
breakfast and tea. But it took us 9 AM to get started – and that made a pretty
late start. Tanked up at the Indian Oil pump opposite Bhawani Bhavan and off we
went. But almost immediately after crossing the Vivekananda Setu toll plaza we
were stuck in heavy traffic – crawling
at a snail’s pace. It took 2 hours to cover the first 46 kms. From that point
onwards to Burdwan was made in good time. The Swift crunched up 76 kms in the next
one hour. At Shaktigarh we made a brief
halt for Langchas. The initial
disappointment for the slow progress was made up. The road condition till
Panagarh was excellent too.It took another 40 mins to cover the 43 km stretch from Burdwan to
Panagarh.But at Panagarh we were hauled
up in a traffic jam that took a good 30 mins to cross.
woke up at 6 AM, washed and cleaned the car ,took bath and had a very light
breakfast and tea. But it took us 9 AM to get started – and that made a pretty
late start. Tanked up at the Indian Oil pump opposite Bhawani Bhavan and off we
went. But almost immediately after crossing the Vivekananda Setu toll plaza we
were stuck in heavy traffic – crawling
at a snail’s pace. It took 2 hours to cover the first 46 kms. From that point
onwards to Burdwan was made in good time. The Swift crunched up 76 kms in the next
one hour. At Shaktigarh we made a brief
halt for Langchas. The initial
disappointment for the slow progress was made up. The road condition till
Panagarh was excellent too.It took another 40 mins to cover the 43 km stretch from Burdwan to
Panagarh.But at Panagarh we were hauled
up in a traffic jam that took a good 30 mins to cross.
At Panagarh we were late by 1 hour
against our planned time.
against our planned time.
Panagarh – Morgram:155 kms/5.5 hours
At
Darjeeling more,Panagarh, we took the right to Panagarh – Morgram State highway
– which is where all calculations went wrong. The road condition was pathetic.
Darjeeling more,Panagarh, we took the right to Panagarh – Morgram State highway
– which is where all calculations went wrong. The road condition was pathetic.
Challenges
Faced:
Faced:
·
Almost 50% of the entire stretch was littered
with potholes which made it impossible to drive fast.
Almost 50% of the entire stretch was littered
with potholes which made it impossible to drive fast.
·
There were times when the under body of the
car grazed the road surface.
There were times when the under body of the
car grazed the road surface.
·
There were certain stretches when the car
touched 80/100 kmph speed but a pothole arrived unannounced which resulted in
heavy jerking.A couple of instances like these resulted in our not over
speeding. We had to maintain a sedate 40 kmph later.
There were certain stretches when the car
touched 80/100 kmph speed but a pothole arrived unannounced which resulted in
heavy jerking.A couple of instances like these resulted in our not over
speeding. We had to maintain a sedate 40 kmph later.
·
The entire stretch from Panagarh to Morgram
is very dusty.
The entire stretch from Panagarh to Morgram
is very dusty.
·
Heavy truck movement ensures further careful
driving.
Heavy truck movement ensures further careful
driving.
A SUV
would have definitely eased the troubles faced, but I would reiterate it is a
very strenuous stretch that takes a lot out of both man and the machine.
would have definitely eased the troubles faced, but I would reiterate it is a
very strenuous stretch that takes a lot out of both man and the machine.
 |
| Tea Break! |
We
started from Darjeeling mor at 1.30 PM and it was almost 7 PM when we finally
reached Morgram.The trip meter read 155 kms and it took 5.5 hours to cover the
distance. At times Morgram appeared to be a mirage – but later we were to find
out that with the low speeds that we were traversing potholes, it was something
quite normal to expect.
started from Darjeeling mor at 1.30 PM and it was almost 7 PM when we finally
reached Morgram.The trip meter read 155 kms and it took 5.5 hours to cover the
distance. At times Morgram appeared to be a mirage – but later we were to find
out that with the low speeds that we were traversing potholes, it was something
quite normal to expect.
At
Morgram, the road merges with NH34. Long queues of trucks makes it very
difficult to navigate at the crossing. When we did finally reach Morgram it was
more of a relief.
Morgram, the road merges with NH34. Long queues of trucks makes it very
difficult to navigate at the crossing. When we did finally reach Morgram it was
more of a relief.
Morgram – Malda:
Once
on NH34, the numerous lights of the shanties beside the road as opposed to the dark roads of Birbhum was
immediately noticeable. Whereas there were lights, but there was not a single
Durga Puja pandal in sight. It appeared to be grossly depressing. We pulled
over at a petrol bunk to refuel and refresh. It was a 30 mins break and we had
some tea. Malda was another 90 kms. The highway was under construction and
there were a number of diversions. There were stretches where the road construction
was complete and good speeds can be attained. But the entire road was two way
traffic which meant it requires quite a
bit of attention. Again some of the
roads were potholed too. Add the high beam of truck head lights all along and
what results is extremely careful night
driving. Since, this was the first time for me I was doubly so. The 10 hours of
driving had taken its toll on my senses too. The legs were extremely tired
after a lot of clutch driving. It was around 9 PM when Farakka Bridge was crossed.
Then came the infamous jam at Kaliachowk where we were stuck for almost 40
mins. We reached Malda town at around 11 in the night. But the heavy traffic
jams due to the Durga Puja made it almost 30 mins to our hotel.
on NH34, the numerous lights of the shanties beside the road as opposed to the dark roads of Birbhum was
immediately noticeable. Whereas there were lights, but there was not a single
Durga Puja pandal in sight. It appeared to be grossly depressing. We pulled
over at a petrol bunk to refuel and refresh. It was a 30 mins break and we had
some tea. Malda was another 90 kms. The highway was under construction and
there were a number of diversions. There were stretches where the road construction
was complete and good speeds can be attained. But the entire road was two way
traffic which meant it requires quite a
bit of attention. Again some of the
roads were potholed too. Add the high beam of truck head lights all along and
what results is extremely careful night
driving. Since, this was the first time for me I was doubly so. The 10 hours of
driving had taken its toll on my senses too. The legs were extremely tired
after a lot of clutch driving. It was around 9 PM when Farakka Bridge was crossed.
Then came the infamous jam at Kaliachowk where we were stuck for almost 40
mins. We reached Malda town at around 11 in the night. But the heavy traffic
jams due to the Durga Puja made it almost 30 mins to our hotel.
 |
| Traffic Jam at Panagarh |
So,
when we finally reached Malda, it was a drive of 14.5 hours from Calcutta .A
very light dinner of Rice,Dal, Omlettes and Alu bhaja and we crashed to sleep.
when we finally reached Malda, it was a drive of 14.5 hours from Calcutta .A
very light dinner of Rice,Dal, Omlettes and Alu bhaja and we crashed to sleep.
Night Halt for the Day: Hotel
Kalinga on NH 34.
Kalinga on NH 34.
Short Review Notes: We
stayed for a mere 10 hours – from 11.30 at night to 9.30 the next day but even
with the guest pressure, especially due to the Pujo, the dinner arrived on
time. Rooms were not opulent – we did not expect it to be – but it was neat and
tidy. Hotel staffs in suburban areas are
usually not professionally trained, but overall their behaviour was amicable.
Overall it was a decent experience.
stayed for a mere 10 hours – from 11.30 at night to 9.30 the next day but even
with the guest pressure, especially due to the Pujo, the dinner arrived on
time. Rooms were not opulent – we did not expect it to be – but it was neat and
tidy. Hotel staffs in suburban areas are
usually not professionally trained, but overall their behaviour was amicable.
Overall it was a decent experience.
Personal
Rating – 3/5.Recommended – if you are in Malda.
Rating – 3/5.Recommended – if you are in Malda.
Actual Figures
|
Route
|
Distance
(km) |
Condition
|
Actual
Travel Time |
|
Calcutta – Panagarh
|
160
|
Excellent
|
4 hours + 0.5 hr stuck at
traffic jam |
|
Panagarh -Morgram
|
150
|
Poor
|
5 hours + 0.5 hr lunch
break + 0.25 hrs recess |
|
Morgram – Malda
|
100
|
Poor
|
3 hrs + 1.25 hrs traffic
jam + 0.5 hrs recess |
|
Totals
|
420
|
|
~14.5 -15 hrs
|
