[Wanderers]

Introduction


Ruskin Bond narration of Mussoorie would have surely brought excitement to many souls like me, who look to be with Mother Nature, sit down relax and rejuvenate the life. The Idea of Summer Capital on Hills was great and staying on Hills always excited me.

For quite sometime I thought of visiting Mussoorie. Mussoorie & Simla for Delhiwalas are like what Ooty is to Bangalorians. Last Summer, we went to Simla and this summer we decided to cool at Mussoorie.

The trip was planned, Hotels booked and car checked a week before the actual start on 15th May-14. Initially planned to start early morning but had to change to afternoon due to some last moment School function cropping in for my son.

Car:



Toyota Fortuner 4X2 MT
Odometer Reading: 7425
Total Distance Covered: 825 (approx)
FE (From MID): 11.5 Km/L (FE dropped in 2 lane roads as well as hills. A/c full on)
Passenger: 2+1

See more at Ownership thread

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-d...ises-keep.html

Roads & Traffic:

ONWARD:

Noida Sector 50- Sector 62 underpass- Indirapuram- Canal Road till NH-58 Ghaziabad- Rajnagar Extn Bypass- Muradnagar- Modinagar- Meerut bypass- Khatauli bypass- Muzaffarnagar bypass- Rourkee- Chhutmalpur- Dehradon-Mussoorie.

Total Distance: 290 KM
Start Time: 2:15 PM (Thursday afternoon)
Destination: 8:15 PM

Stop1: 10 Min after Chhutmalpur ( For Water & Glass Cleaning)
Stop2: 15 Mins after Dehradun (For Tea)

Traffic

Best: Meerut-Muzaffarnagar Bypass

Worst: 25 Km before Rourkee till Chhutmalpur (total around 60-70 km)

Lovable : Chhutmalpur to Dehradun & After Dehradun to Mussoorie- the climb

Sight Visit:
Mussoorie- Dhanaulti- Kanatal-Chamba- Tehri & back to places around Mussoorie.


RETURN:
Mussoorie- Dehradun- Rishikesh (Stay) - Haridwar (Major stop)- Rourkee- Noida.
Rourkee- Noida same as ONWARD.

Start from Rishikesh: 9:45 AM (Sunday Morning)
Reached Noida: 4:15 PM

Stop1: Haridwar for Ganga Ghats
Stop2: Khatauli (Hotel Cheetal Grand for Lunch)

Sight Seeing: Rajaji National Park apart from usual ones at Rishikesh. (Did not go to Shivpuri)

[Wanderers]

We started at 2:15 PM on a Thursday afternoon. It had rained on previous 2 days but it was a was bright sunny- Hot & Humid.

We regretted starting late as I had read at Team-BHP that Ghaziabad- Modinagar is famous for traffic Jam. But the Hot afternoon came to our rescue and we faced little traffic & never had to stop. On return as well, we did not face any Major traffic in this sector.



Well you just have to remember that even though it is NH-58, it’s more of a intercity-road than a highway and if you drive in a city mind-set, we will not hate it.

Meerut-Muzaffarnagar was great run like any part of GQ (may be better as less traffic than GQ with same standard of Road)
The nighmare began after Muzaffarnagar by pass end. We could still manage another 25 Km with ease but as we approached Rourkee, roads narrowed and local traffic took on the street. Watch out for tractors & overhunged crops & whatnot.

somewhere after Muzaffarnagar, 4 laning in progress



Typical 2 lane road some 20 km before Rourkee. Such Sugarcane tractors are very common. Average speed 40 Km/h












Approaching Dehradun










Starting climb to Mussoorie




A small incident happened in some Bazaar, about 10 km before Rourkee. I stopped by the side (with right wheels still on metal part of the road) to reconfirm the direction as I had crossed sort of a T-Junction (My Car did not had GPS).

A Big Chariot driven by 2 horses was behind me and did not notice my car stopping still. The rider tried in vain to stop the horses but not before one of the horses brushing my right tail light area. Received 1 deep but small scratch coupled with 2-3 minors ones. More than the scratch I felt sad for the other horse which had fallen down completely as it had stopped seeing my car but his right partner had not and it was pulled leftward and encountered my car.

Co-ordination Issue but I realized two things
1. In case of a stop on a two lane road, please come off the metal part of the road completely or to the extent possible to avoid traffic movement.

2. GPS Navigation gives you the confidence, while taking on new roads & unexplored area even though it may not always give you the Best or the commonly taken Roads.

All bads things came to an end after Chhutmalpur & ascend to Dehradun was picturesque & full of greeneries but not to forget the monkeys sitting by the road-side preventing venturing out of the car.

On way to Mussoorie, you have to negotiate entire Dehradun but it was generally a straight road with all signs in place and one would not get lost.

We stopped after Dehradun, just before I felt the need to switch on the Headlights. Had really good tea before moving on to Mussoorie. On Ascend, we could see the lights of Dehradun & looked great. Switched off A/C and lowered the glass to enjoy the cold breeze as I could read the outside temperature as 21 deg C.


At 8:30 PM, We checked in our Hotel Royal Orchid Fort on Picture Palace Road.



The next day Morning at Hotel. View from Hotel courtyard.






Hotel Courtyard



Dog is the Hotel Property.


Nature at its Best.



The Next Day......

[Wanderers]

It was the Election Result day and the Hotel did not had many guest and that left us pretty to ourselves for enjoyment. We decided to leave the results and analysis in the safe hands of rest of 120 Crores fellow Indians and opted to go out for sightseeing. We were sure that friends and families would keep us updated as the day progressed.

Well we had done our duty of casting the votes, which mattered most.

After break-fast left Hotel for Dhanaulti. Dhanaulti is 30 Km away from Mussoorie on Tehri Road and We found this place better than places in Mussoorie. The crowd was minimal and greenery was maximum.

On the way to Dhanaulti. This road is sort of bypass starting 2 km before Mussoorie and later on joins the old Tehri Road coming from city. Traffic was minimum and road was very safe to drive even though, here the width was less when compared to other Roads in Mussoorie. Width improved by almost 2 ft, when the bypass met the old Road.








































Attachment 1242659

















Left for Kanatal at 11:45 AM. After brief stop continued towards Tehri Dam, which I felt like visiting from an Engineering Marvel point of view. Let me warn you that its not a family sightseeing destination and not worth 80 KM drive from Mussoorie.

Also you would not be allowed to stop or take pictures. You may obtain the visitor permission ( I did not bother to figures out from where & how) and then be allowed to go around & see everything but not sure if you can take photographs.

[Wanderers]

We returned to Hotel from Tehri. After little rest decided to go to Kempty Fall.


On way from Tehri



Chowk in Chamba Market



Mussoorie Road-Top View












Car was greeted by this plant at Hotel Parking. Green Everywhere







Kempty falls looked better from far. When we went close, we were disappointed by the commercialization of this natural beauty.










We had dinner at this famous Chinese/Thai Restaurant on Mall Road-MOMOS. Food was great, quantity large and price reasonable.
Also do not forget to try home made chocolates in a shop run by an english man on the Mall Road itself. (Few shops after MOMOs)




Approaching Rishikesh from Mussoorie, Beautiful drive through forest reserve














On the way to Rajaji National Park. Road by Ganga Canal. It connected to Haridwar













Car parked outside Hotel




View of Ganga from Rishikesh Hotel



Haridwar


Reached this milestone at Haridwar



Haridwar

[Wanderers]

We stayed overnight at Rishikesh. Loved the drive to Rajaji National Park. One can go to Haridwar via Canal Road, which took us to National park. But we had to return to Rishikesh to stay in pre-booked Hotel.

Next day morning after break-fast left for Noida via Haridwar. Stopped at Harodwar for visit to Holi Ghats.

Rishikesh Haridwar drive was typical 2 lane busy traffic and it took us almost 2 hours.

Haridwar- Rourkee was no better but speed improved. One cannot drive without overtaking. Sometime overtaking was challenge.

But we knew that its only 50-60 km and thereafter we would be better off so did not hurry down.






Overtaking was an art on this Road. Did remind me of 90s. You can blame good 4 lane roads for this extinct art.




Stopped at Famous Cheetal Grand for Lunch. We now have two Chetal Grand on either side of the Road but we preferred the one on the right side (from Muzaffarnagar)







Good 4 laned road (GQ Standard with much less truck traffic)



Remarks:

Noodles & Tea seemed to be National food of Hills





I was surprised to see Tubewell at 5000 ft. Also I found that entire roads in the Hills including the Tehri Road had Storm water drainage in place or being put in place.



Another Photographs of the Restaurant on Mall Road.



Lastly, I can say that the entire trip was was rejuvenating & look forward to our next trip.

Thanks for reading.

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to Travelogues. Thanks for sharing!

[gabrielthomas]

The pictures look relaxing and refreshing. No wonder you had a calm and cool trip!

[gearhead_mait]

Originally Posted by Wanderers

Co-ordination Issue but I realized two things
1. In case of a stop on a two lane road, please come off the metal part of the road completely or to the extent possible to avoid traffic movement.

2. GPS Navigation gives you the confidence, while taking on new roads & unexplored area even though it may not always give you the Best or the commonly taken Roads.

Nice travelogue Wanderer!!! The pics are soothing to the eye.

Yes, always park your car outside the tarmac to the extent possible. It is true for 4 lane highways as well. You never know the condition of some of the drivers you may encounter. The possibility of a bigger incident cannot be completely washed off.

[Ironhide]

That's a nice travelogue there Wanderer - reminds me of home! And the verdant greenery is actually soothing to the eye. Did you go down from Mussoorie to Rishikesh through Chamba-Narenndranager? How are the roads in that stretch?

How were the roads in the Meerut - Muzaffarnagar - Roorkee - Chhutmalpur stretch? The last time I had traversed that stretch, the car's suspension got a through workout . Have the conditions improved? I ask this, because the ongoing conversion work from 2 laned road to 4 laned road (which has been on for the last 6-7 years IIRC!) has led to a lot of the oncoming traffic being diverted on the single (and often unpaved) lane, making life difficult for motorists. Of course there are always the countless Vikrams, animal driven carts and Juggads all jostling for space in the same single two-way road making driving anything but easy.

All the same, a great travelogue ! Bravo !

Cheers!

[Wanderers]

Originally Posted by Ironhide

That's a nice travelogue there Wanderer - reminds me of home! And the verdant greenery is actually soothing to the eye. Did you go down from Mussoorie to Rishikesh through Chamba-Narenndranager? How are the roads in that stretch?

How were the roads in the Meerut - Muzaffarnagar - Roorkee - Chhutmalpur stretch? The last time I had traversed that stretch, the car's suspension got a through workout . Have the conditions improved? I ask this, because the ongoing conversion work from 2 laned road to 4 laned road (which has been on for the last 6-7 years IIRC!) has led to a lot of the oncoming traffic being diverted on the single (and often unpaved) lane, making life difficult for motorists. Of course there are always the countless Vikrams, animal driven carts and Juggads all jostling for space in the same single two-way road making driving anything but easy.

All the same, a great travelogue ! Bravo !

Cheers!

Hi Ironhide,

Thanks.

Well I did go to Chamba for onward visit to Tehri. From Chamba, there was a road going to Rishikesh but we had our stay for that night at Mussoorie, so took the same path on return. Next day we left for Rishikesh via Dehradun.

Mussoorie-Dehradun-Rishikesh Route was good but we had quite a few bazaars after Dehradun. Some stretchs were undergoing fourlaning.

Meerut-Muzaffarnagar is very good, you can see the photo outside Cheetal Grand.

Rourkee-Chutmalpur was horrible in the sense that it had lots of traffic and overtaking was almost impossible.
Road condition was not the problem.
There was no fourlaning work in progress in this section.

Fourlaning was in progress between Muzaffarnagar- Rourkee and we did have some hard to negotiate pot-holes.

Yes Animals, Vikrams & Sugarcane laden Trailers were the nuisances in this stretch.

[Ironhide]

Originally Posted by Wanderers

Hi Ironhide,

Mussoorie-Dehradun-Rishikesh Route was good but we had quite a few bazaars after Dehradun. Some stretchs were undergoing fourlaning.

Meerut-Muzaffarnagar is very good, you can see the photo outside Cheetal Grand.

Rourkee-Chutmalpur was horrible in the sense that it had lots of traffic and overtaking was almost impossible. Road condition was not the problem.
There was no fourlaning work in progress in this section.

Fourlaning was in progress between Muzaffarnagar- Rourkee and we did have some hard to negotiate pot-holes.

Yes Animals, Vikrams & Sugarcane laden Trailers were the nuisances in this stretch.

Travelled to Doon from Delhi yesterday and took the traditional https://goo.gl/maps/qUntZ route . BIG MISTAKE !

Despite having started at 5:30 in the morning, I only reached Doon at 2:30 in the afternoon. First got stuck in a HUGE jam at Modipuram that was caused by an accident. That took away a good part of two hours. Then, due to the four laning, the crazy traffic was murderous to say the least. After Muzaffarnagar bypass, where the toll road ends, the Police diverted all traffic going towards Doon on to as yet unfinished bypass to ease the congestion on the single road. This involved getting on to 'kuchcha' portions and some unintended cross country driving in a front wheel driven car!

Even after joining the main highway, there were jams galore, both before and after Roorkee ! That, along with the potholes (which are much lesser now) make the going rather slow. On the the hilly route up from Mohund, right till the 'Daat-ki-Kaali' tunnel, there were unruly drivers totally unaware of hill driving etiquette, causing jams by overtaking and hogging all the lanes.

On the way back, intend to take the Paonta- Kalesar- Yamunanagr- Pipli - Karnal - Delhi route https://goo.gl/maps/IQ5fc . This is supposed to be longer by approx 50 kms but relatively traffic free with better roads.

Cheers !