Drive from Kolkata to Hyderabad

Kolkata to Hyderabad 
Total: 1550 KM

My career takes me to Hyderabad from Kolkata. A new job in Hyderabad, brings in a lot of planning and vacation time for me and my colleague. We decided to drive down to Hyderabad from Kolkata. Enroute we planned our stay in Vizag and a breakfast break in Bhubaneswar at a friend’s place.

I picked up my friend from his residence after his day completed on Friday. His shift used to end at 2 am so we planned to leave latest by 3 so that we can reach Bhub by morning, plan was to drive and reach Vizag before lunch. Just 100 kms before Bhubaneswar, an unfortunate accident happened with us. We ran over a diversion having a huge bump of soil and sand. That time my car was okay enough to run till Bhubaneswar, there were a few minor glitches here and there, so decided to get it checked in workshop in Bhubaneswar.

Came to know from Ford people that it was too risky for us to drive to Hyderabad in that condition. So my friend flew back to Kolkata and I went to Hyderabad by flight. Came back to Bhub after 10 days and resumed the journey from Bhubaneswar to Hyderabad. Left Bhubaneswar around 4 AM in the morning and reached Hyd 9 PM. Went straight to my cousin’s place in Secunderabad. There was some disturbance happening in HYD due to telengana activity that day. Luckily I found the roads all clear when I reached hyd because of that reason.

Although the journey from Kol to Hyd didn’t complete at one go and was not that exciting but I learnt another lesson of my life. Never ever drive when it’s dark and always be extra cautious while driving at night. Never lose sight of the road, not even for a fraction of a second. 

Drive from Kolkata to Mandarmani

Kolkata to Mandarmani and back 

Total: 400 KM 


Seven months passed by in 2009 without any long drive. I was hoping that we get one reason to drive somewhere. And finally there it was, 4th of July, independence for US and a holiday for us as well, so this time we decided to pack our bags and go to Mandarmoni. 2 of my colleagues, accompanied me during this trip. Obviously I got a reason to drive my car. 


Early morning we left, road condition was good enough till we took that left turn which takes to the virgin beach of mandarmoni. Otherwise road till digha is good enough. Mandarmoni is still not that popular and no electricity there, even AC runs on generator. There isn’t any road so have to drive on that kutcha stretch of village and then around 4-5 KM on the beach. That experience of driving on the beach was amazing in itself. The moment we started driving on the beach, immediately we had to stop our car and check why it was wobbling. We thought we had a flat tyre, but it was nothing else but sand which was making the car wobble. 


We had a flat tyre when we stopped for our breakfast in the morning before reaching mandarmoni. Changed the tyre and resumed. Should have got the tyre rectified immediately but we didn’t do it till we returned to Kolkata. Big risk, a lesson for driving here- whenever you have a flat tyre get it fixed immediately without any delay. Because a second flat tyre can be disastrous on the highway. 


Return journey was cool, had a sort of a race with a Volvo bus. When we reached Kolkata back, it was raining there that Sunday 5th July. 

Was a nice vacation of 2 days and a wonderful weekend getaway from Kolkata.