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Originally Posted by Samba Kudos to you on driving for nearly 24 hours as a solo driver, that too with family .
Sharing a pic of my old Toyota from North Bengal. ![Smile](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.png) |
Thank you for the kind words Samba, we all did a trip in Oct-Nov it seems. Your long and elaborated TLs have always been a guiding beacon for everyone and my attempts are just to align to the same. But only because you have a AWD SUV now, does not mean your Toyota is old, its still young. Thank you for appreciating and hope we have a full TBHP meet soon.
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Originally Posted by ABHI_1512 1. Why didn’t you take the Araria-Bahadurganj-Khoribari-Naxalbari-Siliguri route ? It is way better then through Kishangunj(NH31) and the driving surface is a dream. Asking because you did take the road to Araria instead of moving from Purnia towards Kishangunj.
2. How was the road surface to Bindu? Last time I visited, the road was dug up at places but of course many years have since passed by. |
Thank you ABHI for all the help and guidance provided prior to this trip, you are the ambassador of North Bengal to us with almost a North Bengal TL every alternate month. Thanks for the kind words and sincere apologies for missing out on your TL, now I have seen it in details, another great one indeed.
Regarding your questions, during the onward journey, call it my inexperience, I had blindly set the course on google map and whatever it showed as fastest we followed along. Next time will certainly try alternate route.
The main problem of the road to Bindu is the damaged tarmac making the ride bumpy under slower speeds and further elevated by the narrow width in many stretches. I had to be always cautious of incoming traffic from the opposite direction so could not speed up much. In the hairpins sometimes there were much deeper crater and once the under body of the Crysta also grazed, I consoled myself saying its the first hill drive and moved on, although it felt like a blow to the chest
![Frustration](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/Frustration.gif)
. However, in even worse shape are the roads leading to Rocky Islands from Samsing which have bad stretches, narrow width, congestion and house construction works along it. Posting some pictures from the dash cam, apologies they are poor owing to low light and the dusty windshield.
Bad Patch on the way to Bindu
Route of Rocky Island
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Originally Posted by hothatchaway Do you mind sharing the expenses of this trip? Especially one ones incurred on lodging and meals? |
Thank you dear for great words. I will PM you the details.
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Originally Posted by justwheels The greenery is so addictive and those pics of the Kanchenjunga are blissful.
Kudos for solo driving for nearly 24 hours with family. Your travels are an inspiration for many that if you want, it can be done.
I am sure the Crysta was the best companion on those roads. Ever so smooth and non tiring, must have been a joy to cover the miles. |
Thank you dear for the encouraging words. Our favorite pick was Delo and the drive through Gorubathan via Lava Road. Travelling with small kids poses lots of challenges and key ones are being in motion and timely feeding. We learnt a lot from this long continuous trip and will rectify next time.
As for the Crysta, yes, a longer wheelbase certainly minimizes the driving fatigue and we could perfectly take longer leaps without significantly tiring ourselves out over almost any kind of roads. Of course our body has its limits while being in motion constantly and we sometimes had to adjust by halting and taking breaks in the middle of the routes. While returning we drove for close to 27 hours and break time within that is 7+ hours. Of course some of that was pre planned like visiting Margaret's Deck or Mother's Hut and if one needs to conserve on journey time then carrying packed food is the best bet.
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Originally Posted by sayakc I had visited most of the places around the Murti area last year. But wanted to see some more photos of the undulating tea gardens around Matelli.
Quick Q: Do you think a Swift can reach Kolakham? Was reading somewhere its a strict 4x4 zone. |
Thank you Sayak for the kind words, I have a long way to go and learning from you all.
We passed the Mateli Tea Garden on our way back from Samsing / Rocky Islands and it was already dark by then so could not get a glimpse of it and the adjoining tea gardens on that route.
Regarding Kolakham, I think its main challenge is the narrow road and being unpaved with uneven rocks poses risk to tyres and traction especially around the harpins. Rest of the portion is pretty flat. Having said that I saw a WagonR with a pahari driver having a side co-passenger and a rear co-passenger on our way plying effortlessly so if Wagon R can do it, so can your Swift. Make sure you are lighter at the rear and loaded at the front considering its FWD car. We did see few Boleros and a Gurkha on the way and some 2-wheelers too. Posting a trimmed dashcam footage of the road to Kolakham if this helps you.
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Originally Posted by gmhossain Looks like you got to see mount-K from almost all possible locations, be it the plain or the hill |
Thank you Hossain da for appreciating, you are our resident custodian of the routes to Siliguri, and your posts on the routes from time to time have been real help in planning the timing. Expect no less than a gala trip once you take the delivery of the mighty Nexon.
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Originally Posted by BlackPearl Thread moved |
I never expected that the thread will be reviewed and made live so fast in a matter of 1 hour within submitting and that too in the evening hours. Thank you very much sir and thanks for the appreciation.