Road/Traffic Conditions in Uttarakhand

Dilliwala

Absolutely. It's sometimes a tough one to decide where a post shud go. Like I said earlier about this thread, NH 58 is not only in UA, but this particular move u've got right becos it starts in UP and this sub-forum is coincidentally UP and UA .
Which brings me to another point - UA really deserves to have a separate link under 'States in India' (though I can't even pronounce the new name!). The bulk of the posts are about UA anyway, yet it's chained to UP (which makes some of us UA lovers cringe). Might be a hassle to separate the old posts, but new posts onwards? Ok I just realised that all this means more work .
Yeah, as I said at present I can't think of how to go about it cos the particular thread/s I'm thinking about can't be done in the present format, with or without a sticky. Fresh updates have to go in the original post (not poss after a period of time), rather than a new post as is the case now - sort of like a bulletin. A multi-pager in the present format wud quickly drive people crazy.
Let's see - I'll bounce my ideas off some as u PMs one day, I wasn't looking to start these new threads immediately.

capt_mahajan

My off the top of the head reaction to some of the above: (dont want to hijack the thread too much, sorry)

For me, and for Dilliwala, too, I suspect, self-driving in the hills is an end in itself.

Not sure how many others would be interested. Four wheelers, remember.

Also, my sense is that most foreigners and most Indian's distant from Delhi don't really self drive into Uttarancal or Himachal.

So, not sure, but letting it gestate

Dilliwala

U got that right!!

Oh, but I wasn't thinking of 4-wheelers only - 2-wheelers/bikers are an integral part. Also other travellers wud find some of the info very useful in the threads i'm thinking about.
Re interest: plenty of people drive up - let's not forget the nearby states - Punjab, Haryana, UP are all within reach. And then the hill residents going to other hill states - not every Himachali knows Pithoragarh district inside out, for example. (I'll bet the average is the same as for us plains-types - about 99%. In fact to give another example, I've met a number of Garhwalis who know less about Kumaon than I do, and vice-versa).
But as I said earlier, I'm not in a hurry - letting it gestate, as u say. I'll bounce it off thru PMs some day. Cheers.

SarahV2

Hello. Am hoping to be in the area in a couple of weeks- is there a reliable way of keeping abreast of landslides/ traffic problems- maybe an equivalent of the RAC website we have over here (UK) that lists road problems- or should I just keep an eye on Indiamike?

Dilliwala

U can check Google News regularly with search-terms like "Uttarakhand" "Badrinath" "Rudraprayag" etc, but I think by far the surest that I know of will be this website! Not necessarily this thread, though - there's no gainsaying that someone won't start a fresh thread with their up-to-date info.

solo_trekker

well, nh-58 is not just a road - it's the life-line for the people of uttarakhand, one which takes u from hell to heaven...! from delhi to mana, around 5 km ahead of badrinath...! uttarakhand (erstwhile uttaranchal) is a state close to my heart as i happened to be there the night it was born - since then there hasn't been a year when i haven't been in the state...!

the 'kanwarias' that i had talked about in this forum will start heading back to delhi in the next few days and just about everything will come to a stand-still for 2-3 weeks...! so, anyone heading towards haridwar / rishikesh, just watch out...! (and btw, the chaos is mainly in the delhi and u.p. part of the nh-58...!!! so, where does this leave the thread now...???!!!)

Dilliwala

Don't know what your point is. The thread is about landslides on NH 58 between Rksh and J'math, not Kawarias on the UP section.

solo_trekker

ok ok... agreed...
with all these rains happenin', any news of any further landslides...???

Sadanand Kamath

I just saw on a news channel that there have been major landslides on Rishikesh-Badrinath Road and many pilgrims have been stranded enroute. There was also news that Rishikesh-Gangotri road has been closed due to landslides. BRDO has been on the work to clear these landslides.

Sadanand.

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solo_trekker

This time, the landslides have been rather bad - and the routes for all four dhams, viz., yamunotri, gangotri, kedarnath & badrinath have been blocked. That means the valley of flowers and hemkund sahib are also affected.
People heading towards the VOF and Hemkund better postpone their trips till the end of this month. VOF will have the flowers even in September - the flowers bloom at different times...

kumaran

Hi all , As of this day morning it seems that roads to all four dhams are blocked due to landslides . Hope there have been no casualities or too much loss of property .

solo_trekker

The roads are open now. But minor landslides can and do keep happening. If you are keen on VOF, wait for another week or so.
Cheers...!

Bhaswaran

Can anyone give the recent account of the road conditions in Garhwal. Has the monsoon and landslide season receeded? Check the following roads:

1. Rishikesh to Gangotri

2. Rishikesh to Gaurikund

3. Gaurikund to Badrinath (Bhukh-Hartal route via Chopta)

4. Rishikesh to Badrinath

Has normal bus services resumed?

Any first hand info will be appreciated.

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rst1066

Hmmm, no one's been out of these roads recently it seems?! I'm interested in visiting Gangotri around Oct 12-15, so hopefully someone has some useful info to share...
Many thanks,

Sadanand Kamath

Pl see Kartik's post #45 in Regarding Gaumukh-Tapovan trek..... under Trekking and Mountaineering forum.

Sadanand