Lifes adventurous drive during Yellow Alert - IT City to The Orange City - 1100 kms

Pandemic, Pandemic and Pandemic...., all travel plans were curtailed or only getting postponed for almost 2 years.., I badly needed a break. Every time I had thought of family vacation, new wave hit.., however this time we were not perturbed. Though managed short trips to Hampi and Chikmagalur in the last 2 years, a real long trip was due...

2021 November, family had already left to Nagpur after Diwali, I was doing the catchup..., finally decided to make a visit to the Orange City, in-laws place and this time by road with my Jeep Compass from Bangalore.

By road, the route taken is Bangalore - Anantapur - Kurnool - Hyderabad - Nizamabad - Adilabad - Nagpur.

The route cuts across Karnataka, AP, Telengana then Maharashtra.

I am passionate about long drives, with Jeep my confidence was immense.

Bangalore to Nagpur is close to 1100 kms.

I had got few tips from my friend Sandeep who had earlier driven from Bangalore to Nagpur in his car. One night stay in between is recommended, however if started early, you have the capacity to stretch, the journey can be completed in a day.

I planned to leave on a Thursday evening from Bangalore. Stay overnight at Anantapur which is roughly 200 plus kms from Bangalore. And, Friday, on Gurunanak Jaynthi resume journey to Nagpur covering 800 plus kms.

Plan was simple, its a solo drive, pack stuff and leave..

What made the travel more interesting... presence of RAIN GODS during most part of the journey.

Several parts of South India was witnessing heavy rains in November. Chennai, Bangalore, AP, Telengana, costal districts were receiving heavy rains. There were cyclones formed. Red Alerts and Yellow alerts were being issued by MET Departments. Weather forecasts like continuous rains, or heavy rains with thunder across various cities and districts was common.

Now, the travel had to be planned keeping in mind the weather forecast.

My Dad was very anxious as I will be driving solo and weather conditions were not good.

If heavy rain continues, I was planning to postpone my travel for a day..., however even next 2-3 days the weather forecasted was with heavy rains across Bangalore, AP, Telengana districts.

The day of my travel, heavy rains lashed out Karnataka, AP districts. Tirupati was heavily battered. There was Red Alert in AP. Yellow alert was issued by Karnataka Met Dept.

I went ahead with the plan, despite heavy rains.

Evening after finishing my office works, started by my JEEP from my apartment. Dad had already kept 4 lemons below the wheels, as I am on for a long drive, divine support is very much required.

I started to Anatapur. Initial plan was to start early and reach Anantapur before dark. Bangalore was witnessing rains in the evening and night time over previous 2-3 weeks.

It took more than 2 hrs to reach Hebbal from Bannerghatta Road with heavy city traffic amidst pouring rains.

Dad was constantly in touch to find out my current location, if I'm driving safe and how were the weather conditions.

I had stopped for dinner at Adyar Anandha bhavan towards BIAL airport.

The rain was so intense, I got almost drenched by the time I moved from parking to the restaurant. I hadn't seen such heavy rain for a long time. Finished dinner and left the place quickly.

The intensity of the rain increased after 8.30 pm, it became heavier as I was leaving Bangalore, then on to karnataka border, moving towards AP.

Rain Gods were relentless, with heavy winds the direction of rainfalls were constantly drifting.., the rainfall was hitting on my front Windshield with loud - thud thud thud thud...I was driving in complete dark in the NH..., still maintaining decent speed.

Driving on completely wet road in NH, crossing underpasses, overbridges... I was caught by surprise due to lack of visibility in the dark.., while crossing roads with water stagnated some places, which eventually slowed down the vehicle when I was at good speed.

Both front and rear wiper were ON for full speed most part of my journey. I prayed Lord, the wiper's work without any hitch...else I am stuck. Music System in my Jeep gave me good company, listening to devotional songs on my way to Anantapur.

Kia has a very large manufacturing setup at Anantapur, AP. I stopped before the place for a cup of coffee.

After a short break, resumed my drive to Anantapur.

Reached Anantapur after 11.30 pm, covered 226 kms in 5.5 hrs, due to city traffic at Bangalore where more than 2 hrs was lost only reaching Hebbal and heavy rains had only increased my travel time.

I had booked a hotel for overnight stay.., this was right on the highway. 11.45 pm, quickly checkedin to the hotel, went to sleep. It was raining all night.

Next day, plan was to wake up early and start to Nagpur.

The hotel's water heater was based on Solar panel system and due to heavy rains the water wasn't getting heated, had to manage bath with available cold water supply.

By 7 AM, I had left the hotel, the rains continued to lash, I was better prepared with my previous night experience and driving in day time easier compared to dark.

868 kms had to be covered to reach Nagpur from Anantapur.

8.00 AM, stopped for breakfast in the Highway after crossing Anantapur city.

I ordered for onion dosa. Onion Dosa is prepared differently across AP, Karnataka and TN.

Karanataka restaurants serve onion uttapam when ordered for onion dosa.

TN restaurants serve proper onion dosa. Shredded Onions properly fried and kept inside the dosa.

AP's onion dosa recipe I had tasted for the first time, they just added few raw onion pieces, green chillies and mirchi powder between the dosa and served.

Quickly wrapped up with a coffee and left the place.

Soon before 9 I hit Kurnool, which is at the AP - Telengana border.

From 7 am till 10.30, until I crossed AP, there were heavy rainfalls. Weather was chill, and drive was pleasant.

I had downloaded few of my favourite songs, was playing them continuously, sometimes the beat songs does energise while driving, I was pumped up too..

Crossed AP, and plan was to be somehow cross Hyderabad by lunch.

Telengana roads were excellent.., they were the best..., I gathered good speed.. stopped after the toll gate for a quick coffee break.

Called up and comforted my family members who were constantly worried about my solo travel during Yellow Alert.

Rains slightly reduced, while I was at Telengana. Soon, I was at exteriors of Hyderabad.., I took the Nehru Outer Ring Road without having to enter Hyderabad city. Nehru Outer Ring road has broad roads, well planned, multiple lanes, any time better than the NICE Road at Bangalore. I zoomed past, many vehicles, finally hit the highway which connects to Nagpur.

12.30 pm - Now, with clear sky, I was driving in steady speed to reach Nizamabad for lunch..,

Gurunanak Jayanthi and Karthigai Dheepam fall on the same day. I found a Gurudwara temple on the way, crowded with sikhs who had come to offer prayers. Karthigai dheepam is celebrated in Tamil Nadu, houses are decorated with diya's, people worship Lord Murugan seek his divine blessings.

I stopped for lunch on the way, I had ordered for Chicken Biriyani, which I shouldn't have ordered as it was Karthigai Dheepam. I was misinformed earlier. I got to know about correct date of karthigai dheepam only while eating my Biriyani, when munching the chicken leg piece. Sorry Muruga! I left the remaining chicken pieces, and ate some kuskka and packed remaining biriyani to Nagpur.

With anguished mood I left the place..

Post lunch, I was keen to reach outskirts of Nagpur before dark.

While crossing Nizamabad, out of nowhere, there was an unforeseen moment.. , I was in very good speed, a white Toyota Innova crossed from the right side to the left. They were a family. Driver completely ignored to check my vehicle coming in the highway before crossing..., It would have been a clear collision if I hadn't applied brake and honked on time... , my tyres were screeching as I was on high speed, vehicle couldn't halt, with my continued honk the driver saw my Red compass and increased the speed right on time, I was about to collide with its rear side, luckily I steered to the right, Toyata veered to left, it was a narrow escape, I avoided collision on nick of the moment..., there were few onlookers on the road, hearing the sound of applying brakes, they were stunned, as I had taken sudden right towards median and brought my SUV back back to centre of the road.

My heart beat skipped for a few moments, and I drank some water. I thanked God, presence of Almighty is felt during such moments. Such moments are sometimes inevitable during long drives., though you drive carefully, you have no control if the person on other side commits any mistake.

And, this is remote place in Telengana, my mind ran through to think about what could have happened if there was a mishap, certainly this could have got into a police case.

After gathering composure, resumed driving to Nagpur. I didn't break for snacks or tea, as I was clear about utilising day time to cover maximum distance.

Around 4.30 - 5 pm, I reached the Telangana - Maharashtra border - Bori.

Poonam, my wife and Gunjan my sis in law were excited to know I had touched Maharastra. When I informed Dad about crossing Maharashtra border, he was much relieved person. He got the comfort, I am now safe.

The roads, weren't good..., there were full of patches., due to lower elevation, Jeep was able to gather good speed.

Talking about NH across Karnataka, AP, Telengana and Maharashtra. The NH in Telengana was the best, they were flat road, hardly any elevation...The stretch from Hyderabad - Adilabad is a beauty.

Soon after sunset, I was closer to Nagpur border. I had stopped for refreshing.., soon I realised one of my tyre had puncture. I was pretty luck again to find a puncture shop close by, the guy replaced my punctured wheel with stepney wheel. Lost some 20--30 mins in this..

Then, it was time to hit the Orange City. I am coming to Nagpur after almost 2.5 years. The city has developed fast, there's metro running in full swing, there was full traffic...

With guidance of my Home Minister Poonam at Nagpur, around 7.45 pm reached Jawahar Nagar, Manewada Road, Nagpur. This is close to Tukdoji Putla chowk. Even after many years, I get confused reaching the bylane of Jawahar Nagar in the dark.., I was lost again, somewhere close to this Tukdoji Putla, all I had to know is this whether I was facing Tukdoji's front or his back, I got guided accordingly to reach home.

Landmarks in Nagpur are famous for such PUTLA's - There's also one Nanga Putla square. I was first taken aback, but when you are in Nagpur, speak and listen as Nagpurians do.