Driving on Indian Highways - A First Timer's Experience

Since this was my first highway trip, so, jotting down the experiences of my "first time" will come in more handy for the first timer on Indian highways. I am sure there are a good number of safety "Dos and Donts" for Highway driving, but this one is from a "fresher's" perspective. This is from an overall experience perspective, and focusses on things that one may need to adapt to while driving for long hours on Indian highways/

Trust, but verify (the source of information): I am sure, almost all starting on a road trip will first search through the internet, contact friends who travelled through the route and pick up threads and plan the trip. Whereas the internet is an indispensable source of information, but it might not be accurate all the time. Whenever someone mentions about the road condition - ask when did that person travel because not only good roads might disintegrate, bad roads might be repaired as well! I took the Panagarh - Morgram State highway because I had heard that it was in a very good condition. But that ultimately turned to unhook all our plans.

Dont Be Biased On The Route You Choose To Take: Calcutta to Cooch Behar can be reached through 2 different routes -

Route 1 : NH 34-NH 31

Route 2: NH 2 - NH60-NH34-NH31

I took the second route, because that is what most recommended me.What I didnt ask was whether anyone travelled on that route. I was so biased with the feedback that I received second route that I didnt even bother about Route 1. I was to learn later that the NH34-NH31 route is shorter than Route 2 by over a 100 kms. And given the horrendous stretch of the Panagarh - Morgram State Highway, I would have arrived at Malda atleast 3 hours earlier than I actually reached.

Use Your Local Contacts: I was aware that the Siliguri to CoochBehar is a bad stretch even though I never travelled by road for over 4 years. But I was lucky enough to have local contacts there and that helped me in my plannings. Similarly I know folks who take the Calcutta - Burdwan  NH2 route every week and that helped too. However, I wasn't aware of any one taking the Panagarh - Morgram highway on a frequent basis.A frequent traveller and local people are more often than not reliable.

Be Mentally Prepared For Set Backs: We had spent 26+ hours in the car during the two days of travel and coupled with the bad roads and the constant jerking knocking the small car out of its wits, it was a very bad experience for us. We started in very high spirits, good roads for company, excellent weather for the the first 4 hours but from there on it was steadily downhill on all parameters. As they say - hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst.Long road journeys require mental toughness and determination and an indomitable spirit.

Choose The Right Car: Whereas most don't get a choice to select cars, but there are terrains which are not meant for Hatchbacks and sedans. Usually SUVs and MUVs with solid suspensions and a good ground clearance(GC) can traverse Indian Highway with reasonable dependability. But the same does not apply to low GC vehicles. The Calcutta - CoochBehar route is a rough ride for most hatches and sedans but can be travelled lot more comfortably in SUVs/MUVs.

Be Prepared to Stretch Yourself: We had planned for day time driving hours for both the days but what actually happened was 6 hours of night driving on the first day and 4 hours the next day.Additionally it required more physical stamina because the body and mind gets tired in the later hours of the day.

Do not Guess, but Ask (the route): At around 9 in the night, somewhere near Farakka we were stuck in a long queue behind a number of trucks. On enquiring to the nearest truck driver we came to know that private vehicles, usually take a different route. Getting lost at such late hours is definitely not the most pleasant of things. So, when in doubt about the route to take - stop and ask the nearest person for driving directions.

Obey traffic rules and adhere to the basic rules of safety at all times on highways because even a single mistake might prove to be very costly.