Drive from Hyderabad to Bangalore via NH7.
I still and will continue to miss good old Hyderabad after being there for over 12 years now, but life’s like that, and I have been transferred to Bangalore. Not a very bad choice, but Hyd is ’different’!
I was transferred and had to move bag and baggage to IT Capital and Garden City Bangalore, and hey, in case I forgot to mention my wife moved too with me.
It started with Agarwal Packers coming home and packing our stuff...and maybe they deserve a different review, but they are good, I mean really good. You can really trust them with your delicatest of stuff, all my wife’s crystal ware moved with out a single crack.
I was checking on the options available for the best way to get to Bangalore and I am a driving nut (you can read my other reviews), and since I had a couple of days in hand wanted to use this to my advantage. Thats when I spotted my Black Hyundai Santro Xing XP eyeing me greedily. I was very huffed and puffed with all the packing, but Xing stayed at the back of my mind.
There was really no other option, once the thought had entered my mind of driving down, other than rush to the nearest Internet Cafe and download all the available maps from ( http://www.mapsofindia.com).
No looking back, we started early in the morning, 07.00AM if thats early for you, it was for me, and by the time we hit NH 7, through the Rajendra Nagar and all the hustle and bustle, we had already crossed 08.00AM.
Once out of Hyderabad city limits the highway eases and is a well maintained 2 lane road. The traffic is heavy but not dense on the highway. Be on the guard always, and dont slip even for a micro second. The traffic is continuous and all is heavy traffic. The road is wide and comfortable, and I did a good 110 kmph on certain stretches. 4.5 hours into the journey we approched Kurnool Town, and had lunch. This is a very nice little town, and the ideal place for you to break for lunch. The driving after lunch does get tedious, and the general speed that you have been maintaining does ease a bit, but it takes a good 30 minutes on the road for you to get back your steam.
Look to target Gooty by around Tea time, and from then on its Dhone, Penukonda and Karnataka. About 70 kms from AP border you will find Bangalore City. Hebbal flyover will loom in front of you, and you will know that you are there. The more popular suburb of course is the Yelahanka Air Force base.
I did an average speed of about 75kmph and it took me 12 hours from Hyderabad to Bangalore, driving all by myself. Start as early as you can, its very important, even if it is dark, because if you approach any city in the evening while you are pretty tired (single driving) the traffic density increases and basically you would not want to concentrate so hard after the grind all day. While you are fresh in the morning clear the traffic and target in such a way so as to reach either city early say latest by 06.00PM. Plan your way backwards from this time, and you will make it.
Its a great drive, you will feel you are in the big league after that, and a little tired. My eyes were burning a bit and had slight back ache but that was because of age. I am all of 29 and 6’1’’.
Things to see...well if you stick to the highway, you can see multi colour lorries from various parts of the country, doing various speeds, carrying various stuff. You can take a diversion and go towards Puttaparthi, I think the diversion is from Kurnool (not sure) or just before you hit Karnatka border you can take a diversion to Lepakshi.
The road is really not too scenic, but for driving buff’s like me, its wonderful, with challenges both in terms of skill and maintaining a safe speed. Its a very do able journey and thousand times better than travelling in a Bus. Its your personal car, at your mercy, stop where you want, do what you want types. But again this is reccommended only for leisure travel, while on Business Travel definitely no no!
Food on the highway is decent to moderate, would suggest you carry stuff. There are wonderful trees lined on both sides of the road, and you can just park under any one of them for a break, insteading walking into a dhaba or a restaurant. You never know!!
I filled in Rs.1, 000/- worth petrol (Indian Oil - Extra Mile in Convenio, Begumpet) and it lasted me till Hebbal (about 1 litre in tank). We used the A/c and heater(rather the de-mister) on and off. There are petrol bunks all along the way, especially IBP, and in case you are one of those Hi - Octane users like me, suggest you carry some extra, to avoid nerves in the last leg of the journey. I really thought I will run out of gas. There is not a single Petrol Bunk which dispenses Hi Octane Fuel and there is a risk you carry. I lucked out, but trust me guys, this Hi Octane fuel is really magical.
Summing up, worth the drive, good experience, and cant wait to drive back to Hyd. Best time to drive is obviously between October and January.