[souravdebiswas]

Originally Posted by ank.nsit

The alternate route from Tanda is horrible, but on this route roads are great except exactly 5 KMs after Suar & before Bazpur.

Hi - How much time would it take to reach Mukteshwar from Delhi with current road conditions (via the Rampur - Suar - Bazpur route)?

And whats the view about the Kashipur - Ramnagar route as suggested in the previous posts (google map link)?

[joybhowmik]

Originally Posted by souravdebiswas

Hi - How much time would it take to reach Mukteshwar from Delhi with current road conditions (via the Rampur - Suar - Bazpur route)?

And whats the view about the Kashipur - Ramnagar route as suggested in the previous posts (google map link)?

I see you have been planning this trip since 2011. Did you not find the time to go to Mukteshwar even once in 3 years ?

Back to topic:
The drive time would vary depending on the route you take. If you go via Bazpur-Kaladhungi-Nainital-Bhowali-Mukteshwar you may be able to save some time in the plains.

If you go via Rampur-Bilaspur-Rudrapur-Haldwani-Nainital-Bhowali-Mukteshwar , you may be delayed as the road surface between much of Bilaspur to Haldwani resembled a lunar landscape (last time I was there this year).

But, I suggest you to leave the laptop and actually venture out to Mukteshwar, and post your experiences on this destination in the travelogues section.
BTW: I can definitely recommend the Mountain Trail resort for a stay. The gentleman who runs it is an avid photographer and birder. So try getting on one of his planned treks, and you won't regret the experience.

[phamilyman]

Check the latest conditions before you plan. my friend returned from jeolikote on Monday, took 520km and 13 hours to return to delhi because the moradabad highway was flooded and they had to divert via bareilly and badaun, then via aligarh and YE.

[souravdebiswas]

Originally Posted by joybhowmik

I see you have been planning this trip since 2011. Did you not find the time to go to Mukteshwar even once in 3 years ?

Back to topic:
The drive time would vary depending on the route you take. If you go via Bazpur-Kaladhungi-Nainital-Bhowali-Mukteshwar you may be able to save some time in the plains.

If you go via Rampur-Bilaspur-Rudrapur-Haldwani-Nainital-Bhowali-Mukteshwar , you may be delayed as the road surface between much of Bilaspur to Haldwani resembled a lunar landscape (last time I was there this year).

But, I suggest you to leave the laptop and actually venture out to Mukteshwar, and post your experiences on this destination in the travelogues section.
BTW: I can definitely recommend the Mountain Trail resort for a stay. The gentleman who runs it is an avid photographer and birder. So try getting on one of his planned treks, and you won't regret the experience.

Thanks.

BTW, I did take the trip in 2011 though never posted a travelogue. We had stayed at Ramgarh for 2 nights and then at Mukteshwar for 1 night. Both places at the KMVN hotels. Had 2 reduce our stay by a day at Mukteshwar because our daughter was very cranky.

I reposted the query to get information on the latest road condition, not because I never went there.

[TB16]

How are the road conditions on this route? I'm planning to do a delhi-bhowali-mukteshwar next month. Any suggestions?

[joybhowmik]

Last heard a section of moradabad expressway was washed out due to rains. Bhowali - Mukteshwar won't be that good in September either. Allow for another couple months before things improve.

[TB16]

Originally Posted by joybhowmik

Last heard a section of moradabad expressway was washed out due to rains. Bhowali - Mukteshwar won't be that good in September either. Allow for another couple months before things improve.

Ohh that's bad news! I anyways will have to go to mehragaon (5 km short of bhowali) as the construction of our cottage will begin from next week. Maybe I'll postpone the mukteshwar trip until winters.

[drnarenderdutt]

Hi friends
I am planning a trip to Mukteshwar in second week of June. Please update road conditions preferred route and recommended places to stay. How long a stay is recommended 2 days or 3.
Thanks

[shady_lawyer]

Originally Posted by drnarenderdutt

Hi friends
I am planning a trip to Mukteshwar in second week of June. Please update road conditions preferred route and recommended places to stay. How long a stay is recommended 2 days or 3.
Thanks

I can help with the route only.
1. From Gurgaon come to Sarai Kale Khan, turn right onto Gurjar Samrat Mihir Bhog Marg/HH24 and head towards Hapur Bye Pass Mordabad Bye Pass. You can stop for food and a bio-break at Gajraula just after the Gadhmuktheshwar Bridge.
A word of caution before you leave ask someone with a good religious knowledge if the day of your departure is a holy day for taking a dip in the river ganga. Laugh not, the reason I'm saying so is because at Gardmukhteshwar there is a "ganga snan ghat" and if its a holy day, there will be a jam right from Ghaziabad to Gajraula thats a good 100 odd KM's. I've been stuck in one such jam for 6 hours on my way to Mukhteshwar.

Right Ho Now! eaten and emptied at Gajraula, next stop Rampur.

2. While approaching Rampur you have to turn left, its a massive junction with a free left, take it. Then keeping Rampur Rly. Station on your right turn left and head out of Rampur again.

Road condition so far-8/10 some patches are undergoing resurfacing so watch out for sudden dips in the road.

3. Bye pass Rudrapur and keep heading straight till you see Ashok Leyland's Factory on your left and a fork in the road ahead. So the right hand of the fork has Nainital/Pantnagar written on it-DON'T go right instead head straight-ish/left onto Rampur Road. Its a beautiful two laned road through the forest which winds through farmland, keep it at 80 kmph just to be on the safe side and cross the Govt. Medical College and you're in Haldwani.

Haldwani has lots of fuel bunks and restaurants, take your pick but don't tarry, there's a while to go yet.

Road Condition so far-9/10. End of the plains-Ghats up next.

4. Head out from Haldwani and toward Kathgodam and Ranibag and now keep your eyes open. There is a major bifurcation you have to turn right towards Bhimtal, soon you'll cross the Bhimtal proper. Right at the edge of the lake there is right turn take that and cross the water body, its confusing since multiple roads meet at that junction. Take the right and you're fine.

5. A long u-turn welcomes you to Bhowali, head straight and turn right after the butcher shops.

Road Condition so far 8/10 the roads were freshly laid, however the present rains might have done some damage..

6. At Ramgarh the road splits again this time keep right and off you to Mukhteshwar.

Road condition till Mukhteshwar-5/10.

I also have a Mapmyindia Route Saved. If you (or anyone else) knows how to share it, let me know i'll put it up here.

Time taken-if there are no jams at Gadhmukhteshwar budget about 10 hours never exceeding more than 90 kmph, which I don't. Better drivers take about 8 hours. Budget 1 hour for breaks. If you leave at 4 AM from Gurgaon, you'll be at IVRI Area by 5 pm.

A word of advice, if you hit Haldwani/Kathgodam at 6 PM or after avoid the Ghats in the dark, its confusing and bits above Ramgarh are leopard territory.

Edit

Just checked my notes. We traveled on 8th of June, and hit the jam which caused us to get stuck. Also Joy Sir has some details post June, so he may have better updates.

[atul.sxna]

Originally Posted by shady_lawyer

I also have a Mapmyindia Route Saved. If you (or anyone else) knows how to share it, let me know i'll put it up here.

Dude, we are planning a drive to Mukteshwar on the first weekend of June.
We have 2 toddlers travelling with us as well.

I would like to thank you in advance for the detailed route description. Also, if you can share the map you have saved, I will feed that in my GPS as well.

I'm accounting a 12hr ride taking into account a few additional stops for kids to stretch their legs.

[shady_lawyer]

Atul, I have sent you the information via a pm since most of the information was already included ay #24 above. Regarding the MMI route, if someone can guide me how to extract the file, i'd be happy to share the same.

[nilanjanray]

Originally Posted by shady_lawyer

I can help with the route only.

I will be traveling on that route on 9 June. How does one find out whether it is a holy day or not, lol? This is worrying

Btw, I was planning to take the Rampur - Bazpur - Kaladhungi - Nainital - Ramgarh - Mukteshwar route. More picturesque I would think. WOuld this route take more time (Kaladhungi - Nainital narrow ghat road, traffic at Nainital)

Edit: any idea about the Agra - Aligarh - Moradabad route?

[shady_lawyer]

Well 8th June last year was a Sunday; I can safely hazard that perhaps its a weekend ritual? Also regarding your route queries, have never traveled via Bazpur so cannot comment.

[nilanjanray]

Seems that June 8 last year was Ganga Dusshera, that must have caused the huge jam. This year it happened on May 28, so roads should be clear after that.

[Singh09]

I am originally from Moradabad and I take the same route (NH24), Ghaziabad-Hapur Bypass-Gajraula-Moradabad (Don't take the Moradabad Bypass) Approx 165 kms. I usually make 1-2 trip every month.

There are few things to keep in mind if you are planning to take this route:
- Avoid taking this route during any "Nahan" or any festival that is related to Nahan or River Ganga.
- Never take this route during "Kanvar". Sometimes they open one side of the road for both side traffic. Which may cause a big jam (I have been a victim of this situation for a couple of times)
- Sometimes they close both side traffic during Kanvar. In that case you have 2 options, they are kinda long and have some bad road patches as well.
1. Delhi-Greater Noida Expressway-Bulandshahr-Sambhal-Moradabad. (210 Kms Approx). You cross River Ganga at Anupshahar, though you will find little bit congestion but you will pass through. But the road conditions are not that good on this route.
2. Delhi-Ghaziabad-Merrut-Bijnor-Noorpur-Kanth-Moradabad (250 Kms Approx) You cross River Ganga once you about to enter Bijnor at Mirapur Barrage. This is the longest and most preferred route. Even the trucks and buses use this route.

And if you are travelling to Ramnagar, Nanital, Haldwani, Lucknow etc and if you find Moradabad Bypass jammed up. Simply turn back enter Moradabad right below from where the Moradabad bypass starts.
- Keep moving straight.
- You will cross a small bridge (Gagan River)
- Once you cross the bridge you will see a intersection with a round circle ahead. Take right from there and keep following the road until you hit a T-point.
- Take left from T-Point and then first right (you will see a two lane road with divider) that' the RTO area.
- Then again you will reach a T-Point and then you take left from there and reach an intersection.
- Take right and keep following the road and you will end up Moradabad-Rampur road at Moradabad outer.

This entire stretch you will hardly get any traffic and you will cross Moradabad in no time.