[AlokSriva]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

Thanks. Our plans are basically a bit different. We normally sleep for 2-3 hours at Mathura or Agra depending on progress. I prefer Mathura since we normally sleep in the car at the BPCL petrol pump premises which is a fairly busy area. Agra is a bit dicey since there are no sure shot safe areas there but its been good thus far. I am thinking to park outside a police station this time. Any suggestions?

After starting from Agra at 2 am, we never faced a jam anywhere in our many drives in 2008-13. Should we do Gurgaon-Sohna-Palwal (but I find the route bit more deserted/less safe) instead to avoid the rush? Thanks.

6. We don't take the elevated route since the return back is painful. We go on the service lane and take the Unnao route. Again, that is typically at 630-7am and we ALWAYS breeze through.

Thx for all the help.

If you can, then do avoid Sohna Road-Palwal route. Not on account of safety, but because of numerous unmarked and unscientific speed breakers dotting the stretch coupled with indisciplined traffic (irrespective of size of other vehicles).

Have never taken a break on this route therefore, can't comment on that aspect. Though, BPCL Mathura mentioned by you makes sense.

[rish27]

Hi All

Around April I would be in UP travelling to Kanpur (My Hometown), Agra, Lucknow, Allahabad etc.

I would be visiting Agra for a day and a close friend has offered me his car to drive down to Kanpur.

Just a few questions:

~ I plan to leave Agra at around 12:00-1:00 pm, post check out, and that will be on a Saturday. Is the time OK to leave Agra.
~ Approximate time to reach Kanpur.
~ Any safety concerns; I will be with my better half and kid. Have not done a road trip within UP in years, and have travelled extensively thru trains/flights to Kanpur/LKO etc.
~ What I reckon and have heard, that the NH2 is good and safe enough at least during the day time.

Any inputs will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Rish

[lordvader]

Originally Posted by TheDesertRat

As someone who travels on this route every couple of months,

Originally Posted by phamilyman

I would agree with the rest of what Desert Rat said
E

Originally Posted by AlokSriva

You can expect following choke-points:
1Allahabad/LKO. Though I am not sure if lately an exit has been made for

Have a safe journey!

Sorry for bumping an old thread!

Folks, I'm thinking of driving down to kanpur from noida on 29th on this month. Driving down was not initially the plan so I also have train tickets booked.

This would be my first out of city drive and that too a long one. And though I've driven around 11k on my polo (all in city), I still am a newbie when it comes to such long road journeys. I belong to lucknow and plan to visit my in-laws for a function scheduled for 29th itself, so the destination is not entirely an unknown territory even though the journey is.

I'm looking for your inputs on the route to take based on recent experience that you may have, pit-stops, choke-points and anything else that you deem necessary for a first-timer (both ways).

NB: Also, I need to be in Kanpur by Friday afternoon.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

[vikasshu]

Hi Lordvader, what a nice coincidence. I just came back yesterday from Lucknow using Kanpur-Etawah-Shikohabad-Firozabad-Agra-Noida route. You can read about my experience here: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post4023324

Like you even I am a newbie to long highway drives but this stretch is pretty good and you'll enjoy it. I'll also encourage you to go through a very informative thread on long drives

Originally Posted by lordvader

Sorry for bumping an old thread!

Folks, I'm thinking of driving down to kanpur from noida on 29th on this month. Driving down was not initially the plan so I also have train tickets booked.

This would be my first out of city drive and that too a long one. And though I've driven around 11k on my polo (all in city), I still am a newbie when it comes to such long road journeys. I belong to Lucknow and plan to visit my in-laws for a function scheduled for 29th itself, so the destination is not entirely an unknown territory even though the journey is.

I'm looking for your inputs on the route to take based on recent experience that you may have, pit-stops, choke-points and anything else that you deem necessary for a first-timer (both ways).

NB: Also, I need to be in Kanpur by Friday afternoon.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

[lordvader]

Originally Posted by vikasshu

Hi Lordvader, what a nice coincidence. I just came back yesterday from Lucknow using Kanpur-Etawah-Shikohabad-Firozabad-Agra-Noida route. You can read about my experience here: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post4023324

Thank you!

A couple of points that I needed clarification on:

• At time did you start, from Noida and then from Kanpur?
• Time taken for each side of the journey
• Any pit-stops and where?

[vikasshu]

^^^

I am sorry I missed this question earlier.

I started at 5:20 AM from my residence in Dwarka, Delhi. It was around 6:00 AM we hit Expressway. I left expressway around 8:00 AM in Agra. And I was on Kanpur bypass flyover by 12:00 noon. Even while coming back we started at 5:30 AM from Aashiana colony near Kanpur road in Lucknow. Lucknow to Kanpur is approximately 90 minutes during morning time as there is less traffic. My average speed was close to 100 kmph on expressway and on open and broad highways. I never went beyond this speed even on expressway where every one was leaving me behind . I maintained slower pace for denser areas ranging from 50-80 kmph depending on traffic and threats.

Time taken was more or less same both ways.I'll say 6 hrs from Noida to Kanpur. While coming back I was more relaxed so driving leisurely. Though I was a bit worried about Shikohabad and Firozabad towns as you hit them a bit late. Smaller towns come to life a bit late in comparison to metros. So while going from Noida, you hit them early and should be better. You can see pics of possible choke points in my post.

While going to Lucknow, our first pit stop was for breakfast after Shikohabad town. Since we were carrying our own food, we looked for a safe place to park and finish it. Our second stop was for lunch after Kanpur and before Unnao. There was this hotel named Surya on the main highway adjacent to a IBP petrol pump. The place had good options in the menu and food was good. The washrooms were nice and clean. Since you'll stop in Kanpur, you may not get an opportunity to use this hotel.

While coming back our first pit stop was after Orraiya town. Again, we were carrying our own food so we just needed a place to park and finish it. The second pit stop was on Expressway post the first toll from Agra side. The restaurant had options for snacks and tea. I believe it was operated by JP group itself.

[driver52001]

This is an old thread and the routes and road conditions may have changed. So thought of asking here. Am driving down from Delhi to Kanpur this week. Would be my first time on Yamuna Expressway and Lucknow Expressway. Google Maps show two routes - on via Etawah and the other from farther down the expressway closer to Lucknow. Any idea which one should be ideal? Thanks

[Sran]

Originally Posted by driver52001

This is an old thread and the routes and road conditions may have changed. So thought of asking here. Am driving down from Delhi to Kanpur this week. Would be my first time on Yamuna Expressway and Lucknow Expressway. Google Maps show two routes - on via Etawah and the other from farther down the expressway closer to Lucknow. Any idea which one should be ideal? Thanks

Attachment 2289451

Take the fantastic Lucknow Expressway. Then go to kanpur from there.

[mayankk]

Originally Posted by driver52001

This is an old thread and the routes and road conditions may have changed. So thought of asking here. Am driving down from Delhi to Kanpur this week. Would be my first time on Yamuna Expressway and Lucknow Expressway. Google Maps show two routes - on via Etawah and the other from farther down the expressway closer to Lucknow. Any idea which one should be ideal? Thanks

Attachment 2289451

Exit closer to Lucknow. The road is under construction towards kanpur even this way, but its equally as bad on the etawah side. But some time loss is offset by the more Eway time you spend.

[roy_libran]

Originally Posted by driver52001

This is an old thread and the routes and road conditions may have changed. So thought of asking here. Am driving down from Delhi to Kanpur this week. Would be my first time on Yamuna Expressway and Lucknow Expressway. Google Maps show two routes - on via Etawah and the other from farther down the expressway closer to Lucknow. Any idea which one should be ideal? Thanks

Attachment 2289451

Take YEW then ALE and exit ALE at Etawah. I did a same day return trip with each leg taking about 6 hours of easy, relaxed driving.

[barcalad]

All, I will be doing Noida - Kanpur solo this weekend. Returning next day with some night driving involved.

Queries -

• What is the road condition?
  
• Suggested route?
  
• Do all the tolls on both expressways accept Fastag?
  
• Any other stuff I should keep in mind?

Thank you!

[Mach_1590]

Originally Posted by barcalad

All, I will be doing Noida - Kanpur solo this weekend. Returning next day with some night driving involved.

Queries -

• What is the road condition?
  
• Suggested route?
  
• Do all the tolls on both expressways accept Fastag?
  
• Any other stuff I should keep in mind?

Thank you!

Hi Barcalad, below mentioned is my summary of 2 routes you can use.

Route 1 - Noida - (Agra Via Expressway) - (Exit Agra Expressway via inner ring road and Enter Lucknow Expressway) - (Take Etawah Exit at ~70kms) - (Auraiya) - Kanpur

Route 2 - Noida - (Agra Via Expressway) - (Exit Agra Expressway towards NH19) - (Firozabad) - (Etawah) - (Auraiya) - Kanpur

• Both routes are excellent with negligible traffic, route 1 is faster by 20 minutes approx. Fastag works all the way, check for fastag lane on inner ring road.
  
• Good eating options are near Vrindavan exit. Take the ramp to access the food court. Ample parking space available with fuel station for CNG vehicles and EV as well.
  
• Do not stop on expressway in the dark. If you have to somehow, call the traffic police, they are extremely co-operative.
  
• There are speed cameras on expressway at multiple locations.

Happy Journey.

[barcalad]

Originally Posted by Mach_1590

Route 1 - Noida - (Agra Via Expressway) - (Exit Agra Expressway via inner ring road and Enter Lucknow Expressway) - (Take Etawah Exit at ~70kms) - (Auraiya) - Kanpur

Thank you for your insights. I took this route and did both trips in about 6 hours without any breaks.

The road condition throughout is excellent. Six lanes - both on the expressway and NH - all the way till Kanpur. After the Etawah cut at ALE, one definitely needs to watch out for jay walkers and bovines, as in the case for any NH. No traffic jams encountered.

Fastag works on every toll, including on Agra Inner Ring Road. Paid about Rs. 930 as toll one way. Steep, in my opinion, but it is what it is.

Good trip.