My first ever longest drive


^th November 2015. As I was very excited, I started noting down the things to be taken for the journey. As my daughter is 6 years old and son is 2 years old, I had to take care of their sleeping and sitting arrangement to make the journey comfortable for them. Two days before the journey there were some changes in the rear seat to make like leg room area which I filled with mattress and made it to the seat level so as to make it spacious for them to sit, play or sleep. Packing was done on 3^rd5-Nov-2015: Pune to Bhopal


Sunrise: On the way to Sangamner



At 4:45am we locked the door and now we were ready to move and started at 5am. In the morning there was very less traffic on Nasik highway and we reached Sangamner by 7.30am. Took right for Kopargaon and then turned left after 6 km for Manmad, we joined NH-3 (Before Malegaon Girna river, take right and join NH-3 for Indore) and took our first tea break at 10:30am at hotel A-1 Sagar (Hotel is just 9.7 km after Malegaon junction which has excellent parking and restroom).


Hotel A-1 Sagar



Dhule Indore highway (NH-3)




Welcome to Madhya Pradesh



Toll booth: Dewas Bhopal corridor
6-Nov-2015: Bhopal to Lucknow


Standing on the Tropic of Cancer







7-Nov-2015: Lucknow to Basti

Lucknow



We woke up at 5 am, had our breakfast and left for Basti at 6 am. There was no traffic and it was easy to maintain 100 kmph, so we covered 206 km in 3 hrs and at 9 am we were on our doorstep. Till now we covered 1680 Km.


7-12 Nov- 2015: At home

We were at home only busy enjoying Dhanteras and Diwali.


My grandfather with my daughter



Lakshmi poojan





Bhadeshwar Nath temple - Basti






13-Nov-2015: Basti to Lucknow


Ayodhya bridge (On the way to Lucknow)
14-Nov-2015: Lucknow to Basti


It was already in our plan to visit Lucknow Zoo to make the day enjoyable for the kids. Me, my wife, both kids and her both sisters with their kids reached the Zoo. Now we all have a count of 10 members (my brother in law joined us later). After some time he came with Tunde ki Kabab and parathas. We all enjoyed the meal.

Lucknow Zoo


























In the evening at 5 pm we finished our visit to the Zoo. At 5:30 pm we departed for Basti and reached at 9:00 pm and covered 204 km.


15-Nov-2015: Devi Patan temple


We visited Devi Patan (Maa Pateshwari) temple, Located in town Tulsipur in Balrampur District. It is the most important and among one of the 51th Shakti Peeths in the region. Nepal is just 23 Km from Tulsipur. After reaching the temple we parked the vehicles and stood in the queue for Darshan.

Devi Patan temple main entrance





We did our darshan in about 30 minutes. Time for lunch so we chose to sit under the tree and had our home made lunch. After spending 3 hours we left from there.
There were 9 members, including 3 kids so we took two cars (Grand i10 and Zen). From Basti the distance of the temple is 114 Km. Road condition between Basti and Itwa was good 2 Lane roadbut from Itwa to Tulsipur the stretch of 50 Km was horrible and worst ever road in my whole trip.


18-Nov-2015: Basti to Jagdishpur

Resting for the next drive !!



Indogulf township park



Indogulf temple





We stayed 18^th and 19^th in Jagdishpur only. Jagdishpur visit had been already there in our plan, but before the 18th. To break this 870 Km stretch we have covered it on 18^th November Instead of going from Lucknow, via Jagdishpur we skipped two Toll plazas which is located between Faizabad to Lucknow.


20-Nov-2015: Jagdishpur to Bhopal

21-Nov-2015: Bhopal to PuneBhopal during Sunrise








Leaving Bhopal



My better half trying her hand on driving




A huge hunk - 74 Wheels


Thumbs up hill - Manmad



Our next target was to reach Sangamner before the Sun set and by 6:30 pm we touched Sangamner. And finally 9:30pm we reached home.

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About the Trip:

It was our first and a very long trip indeed. The result was that all four of us enjoyed and were again ready anytime for such long drive with our Grand i10. Must say it was an awesome experience.

Route:



Kilometers covered: 4,200
Speed limit: 80 - 100 Kmph
Fuel consumed: 220 Liter
Fuel economy: 19 Kmpl
Fuel cost: Rs.14,680
Toll paid: Rs. 3,403
Flat Tyre : No


Road condition:
Pune To Sangamner : Road widening is in progress, but no issues in the early morning to cover the distance in time.
Sangamner - Kopargaon : Good
Kopargaon - Malegaon : Very Good
Malegaon - Indore : Excellent 4 Lane
Indore - Dewas : Very good 2 Lane
Dewas - Bhopal : Excellent 4 Lane
Bhopal - Vidisha : Good
Vidisha - Malthone : Very good
Malthone - Jhansi : Excellent 4 Lane (Bumpy road)
Jhansi - Lucknow : Very good 4 Lane
Lucknow - Basti : Excellent 4 Lane
Basti - Faizabad : Excellent 4 Lane
Faizabad -to Jagdishpur : Very good 2 Lane
Jagdishpur - Gosaiganj : Very good 2 Lane
Gosaiganj - Mohanlalganj : Good 2 Lane
Mohanlalganj - Lucknow-Kanpur highway : Very good 2 lane.


Toll Plazas and the amount paid:



Petrol Pump used for filling :


Car performance: Hyundai Grand i10 is an awesome piece of technology and you can blindly trust in it. I drove 510 Km nonstop from Malegaon to Bhopal without any trouble. The car is very comfortable for long drives. Now I am a big fan of Hyundai.


At last, I would like to appreciate my family members for showing immense patience throughout this long journey and making my dream journey to come true.