I just returned from another bike trip along the same route, from Kerala to Hyderabad, as I write this. This time I was not alone. I ride with my wife and my brother. I have traveled alone on bikes, with friends, and now with family. All of these have different experiences and memories. Also, I am planning to continue this trip from Hyderabad to Himachal and then to Leh. I am not sure I will be able to enter Leh as the winter will be starting in a few months. I hope that you have read my Delhi to Kerala Bike Trip: Part 1. This is the second part of Delhi to Kerala by road.
If not you can read it from here:
My Delhi to Kerala Bike Trip – Part one ( Delhi to Sagar)
Till then I had covered 650 Kms and the next day I had to cover a comparatively lesser distance. I learned that this route has to go through a forest and roads may not be great. Keeping this in mind, I decided to stay in Nagpur, which is 400 km away. I was so excited for that day’s trip as the roads were going through the Pench National Park.
DAY 2
Route: Sagar -Narasinghpur – Lakhnadon – Seoni – Nagpur
Total Distance to cover: 400 Kms
Starting from Sagar
The hotel I stayed at was a great one and it was very affordable. Got a room with a view of a cabbage farm view. That was something new. I started early from the hotel, tied my bags on my bike, and headed to find the HIghway. One thing is when you move away from the highway, it will all be bad roads and your trip won’t get smoother unless you enter the highway. With some difficulty and inquiry, I finally entered the NH 44. The morning view of the mountains far away was so striking and I started riding through the roads and slowly winds between the ghats.
While riding, I figure out that Sagar is on a high elevation, and the topography changed before entering and after leaving the small city. Once I crossed the small hills and finally started traveling through plains with maize and sugarcane fields. The ride was so calming and the morning landscape filled your mind with a lot of joy and questions. I was very much curious about the life of the people in these small villages.
An interesting case of a small breakfast…
I didn’t have anything in the morning and it was already 11: 30 AM. There were not many places to eat. Finally, I found a small shop with a heap of hot samosa. There were a lot of villagers around that shop drinking tea and having Samosa. It was like an oasis out of nowhere in those Maize fields. I stopped my bike, removed my jacket, and walked to the shops. Then I noticed that all the eyes were on me and my bike. I ordered Samosa and chai. In the middle of a group of men, women, and children scanning me from top to bottom. Had my first Samosa and ordered another one.
I noticed people paying their bills and leaving as well. I finished mine and walked towards the shopkeeper to ask about my bill. One villager was standing next to him and was having tea. I asked the shopkeeper how much a Samosa costs. The villager who was standing there and the shopkeeper replied to me simultaneously. The shopkeeper said 10 Rs each. But the villager said that each Samosa costs 5 Rs each. I smiled at the villager and gave my bills at a 10 Rs rate.
The actual price was 5 Rs and when the shopkeeper noticed that I was not from around here, he doubled the price.
Narasinghpur
Before reaching Narasinghpur, we have to cross the Narmada river. I have read somewhere that this river along with the Mahanadi river divides North India and South India. I stopped near the Narmada river and sat on a big stone for some time to enjoy the view. A little more kilometers, you will cross Narasinghpur town. It is a small town and there are a lot of petrol pumps on both sides of the highway.
A marshy landscape in MP
Lakhnadon and Seoni
Lakhnadon is a small town and a junction where another highway from Jabalpur meets the NH 44. I took a detour of the town before heading again towards Nagpur. Seoni is a small town on the way and after Seoni, the scenery becomes greener and slowly enters the forest route.
Pench National Park
Highway above the forest
Pench National Park borders the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. I was so excited to enter this famous forest. Because this is where Rudyard Kipling was inspired to write the ‘JUNGLE BOOK’. In the book, Seoni is the village where Mowgli was born and in that jungle where he was raised by wolves.
Another great thing about the national park is, this is an elevated highway with flyovers and underpasses. The highway passes above the forests and animals can easily cross below it. This helps to travel without disturbing the movements of animals. We know about those sad stories of animals getting hit by trucks and other vehicles while crossing the road. This can be avoided if we take the example of Pench National Park.
Goodbye Madhya Pradesh
This was my first time traveling along the lengths of Madhya Pradesh and I must say, I enjoyed it. This second day was the best stretch of my 5 days trip. I loved how the topography changes from lush green mountains to great rivers and plains and then to great jungles. I was also curious about the life of people there. Most of them living near this highway was not rich. They far away looked very poor and their lives intermingled with agriculture and cattle. Maybe I am wrong. But this is what I observed.
This place deserves more recognition. We travelers should visit these places more and more to enjoy this raw nature.
Entering Maharashtra
There is nothing more beautiful than Maharashtra after rain. Luckily, I entered there just after the rain and everything was so green and fresh. I reached Nagpur easily and traffic was less until I entered the city. The hotel that I booked was almost on the highway and by around 4:30 PM I reached my room.
DAY 3
Route : Nagpur – Hinganghat – Adilabad – Nirmal -Kamareddy – Hyderabad
Total Distance to cover: 500 Kms
Nagpur
Maharashatra
Started from Nagpur very early. There were a lot of truck drivers on the way and the morning ride along the Maharashtrian Highways was amazing. It was so cool and misty. We could see the sun rising with brilliant colors on the horizon and endless green fields stretching beyond our eyes. Small rivers were adding to the beauty and this landscape resembles the Konkan train route during Monsoon season. I had to stop multiple times to enjoy the beauty and relax.
Adilabad
A few Kms before Adilabad, we need to cross the border. This stretch was more like a straight route and there was nothing specific to describe. Just after Nirmal Nirmal, we need to cross the Majestic Godavari river. It resembles the Ganga river and is hence called the Dakshin Ganga. The bridge that crosses the river is named Soan Bridge.
Soan Bridge
Hyderabad
Before Hyderabad, there is a small town called Kamareddy. One thing to note while entering Hyderabad and if you are ORR( Outer ring road). Only cars and other 4 wheelers are allowed on ORR.
After crossing countless Briyani restaurants and hectic traffic, I finally reached my room near the Shamshabad Airport.
DAY 4
Route: Hyderabad – Kurnool – Anantapur – Bangalore
Total Distance to cover: 600 Kms
I find Hyderabad city unique with its hilly landscape. There are lakes, both big and small everywhere, busy urban settlements, the best food, etc. I started from Hyderabad in the early morning and the road to the main highway was so secluded and through a small winding hill route. The road joins the NH 44 near Shamshabad airport and after that, it’s the straight road to Bangalore.
Kurnool
Kurnool is the border town between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Just before reaching Kurnool, we have to cross two rivers, the Krishna and the Tungabhadra river. It was a great experience seeing all those great rivers that we have read in our schools.
Anantapur ( Winds Turbines, Koreans Stores, and Kia Factory)
Traveling in Andhra Pradesh on NH 44 is almost similar to traveling in Madhya Pradesh. Small mountains and elevated landscapes. Not small villages and towns scattered along the way and most of the time, its endless fields and no sign of settlements
An interesting thing in this route is the Kia car manufacturing factory and wind turbines. There is a small Korean township for the Korean employees working in the factory. It is interesting to see stores in the Korean language out of nowhere on these highways.
Bangalore
Most of my travels on this route are just after the rain. So the climate was pleasant and green. There are small vineyards that stretch below the rocky hills. Those hills look like small pebbles stacked into a hill. When we ride close to Bangalore, you can see small mountains and I think we can see the famous Nandi hills.
If you wish to visit the Nandi hills, you can take the diversion at Chikkaballapur and take the road to the Nandi hills. Entering Bangalore city without a map is very confusing and I had a hard time finding my hotel in Brookfield. The hotel I stayed at was Oyo townhouse Brookfield and it was a decent hotel. I reached the hotel at around 4: 30 PM and I had the best Kothu Parotta I ever had from a nearby restaurant.
Last Day of of Delhi to Kerala by Road
DAY 5
Route: Bangalore – Hosur – Krishnagiri – Salem – Namakkal – Dindigul – Theni -Cumbum – Kumily – Changanassery -Alappuzha
Route Map to Kerala
Total Distance to cover: 630 Kms
The most hectic and worst road I experienced was the 20KM road from my hotel to the Karnataka Tamil Nadu border. Most of the lorries and cars take that road and I am not sure why the authorities are not maintaining it. But once you reach NH 44 again, the roads become amazing again and you ride like a rocket.
The roads from Hosur to Krishnagiri are very picturesque and are a perfect blend of urban and nature.
Hosur to Dharmapuri
I mistakenly took the wrong route and instead of taking the NH44 to Krishnagiri, I took a single-lane road to Dharmapuri. That was a shortcut and I was happy that I took that route. It was raining heavily and it ran through a forest area, small villages, and agricultural fields. It was like traveling through Kerala with a lot of coconut trees and mango trees on the side of the road.
Somewhere in Tamil Nadu
The rain stopped when I reached Salem and I decided to take the Dindigul route instead of the boring Coimbatore route. If you are in a hurry, you can take the NH 44 to reach Kerala. However, I decided to take the long route to explore the amazing Theni and Kumily routes. You can see the western ghats at their best at Kumily to Changanassery route.
Theni
I stopped at a small restaurant near Dindigul to have my first meal of the day and it was around noon. After a long ride, I finally entered Theni and it was a wonderland for me. The climate was great and the hills were bright red with patches of greens. You have to travel through canopies of trees on both sides of the road.
After crossing Cumbum and when you are crossing Gudalur, you will be able to see wind turbines on the faraway hills. If you check the map, you can see this is a straight road of many Kms. You will also be able to see the huge mountains far away and roads winding up to the top. Beyond those mountains in Kerala.
Kumily
To reach the Kerala Tamil Nadu Border, you need to climb uphill through countless hairpin bends. The view of the valley from there is very unique. You could see the Vairavar river winding through the valley. It is like a complete plane area surrounded by mountains.
After crossing the Kumily check post, I entered Kumily town and it was around 4 in the evening. I have traveled the Kumily to Changanassery route before when I was a kid. That time this was one of the best routes I have traveled in my life.
Highways in tropics
This route is famous for a very beautiful waterfall called Valanjanganam WaterFalls. There are many tea plantations on the way and you will truly experience the evergreen tropical forests in these routes. Most of these forests are turned into rubber and spice plantations.
This is a picture from another trip through the same route
After Vandiperiyar, you will again start climbing uphill with deep gorges and small waterfalls. This route is notorious for mists and sometimes visibility can be as low as a meter.
This is a picture from another trip through the same route
Roads are well maintained now. But when I traveled through these roads 15 years back, I was very scared.
Valanjanganam WaterFalls
This beautiful waterfall is a favorite stop for almost all the travelers on this road. There are many shops nearby where you can have hot tea and try some of the best Kerala snacks.
Valanjanganam WaterFalls
Changanassery to Alappuzha
After riding for another 3 hours, I reached Changanassery. From there, it’s around 30 KMs to Alleppey or Alappuzha. This route runs through Kuttanad and is famous for its backwaters and paddy fields. I have written all about it in the article:
Detailed Travel Guide to visiting Alleppey.
It’s a must-read if you are planning to visit Alleppey.
I reached my home at around 8:30 at night and it was a great experience.
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