Planning Road Journeys

ma_hat_ma_candy · Aug 28th, 2008, 21:55

Hi guys

This site is brilliant for planning road journeys - motorbike or otherwise. It's a free site so no profit promotion or otherwise - it's the nearest I've found to a SatNav as I can't use my existing system in India. Click on the free bit on the navigation desk

http://maps.mapmyindia.com/

Nick-H · Aug 28th, 2008, 22:11

Yes, and has a lot of detail where Google Maps runs out.

They do make portable navigation devices. They are on my list of wanted Christmas Presents!

puchoo · Aug 28th, 2008, 22:47

I have started seeing them in stores in delhi now , but yet to meet a sales guy willing and one who can give a good demo..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Yes, and has a lot of detail where Google Maps runs out.

They do make portable navigation devices. They are on my list of wanted Christmas Presents!

fatal_error · Sep 11th, 2008, 16:51

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We recently used the mapmyindia.com A-Max GPS Navigator (http://navigator.mapmyindia.com/prod.../overview.html) during a road trip from Pune to Kolkata (2034 kms).

The navigator is a wonderful help. The maps are very detailed in the cities and lot of POIs are pre-stored. So you can just select your final destination (say, a hotel) and the device leads you to it. The device works perfectly in the cities.

Some observations:
1. Rural areas aren't marked very well. We stopped at Puri on our way but the maps were off the road by a km at least.
2. Highways are decently marked but no POIs. There were some random national highways (NH203) incorrectly mapped.
3. The route may not always be the best one to take. I have noticed that Satguide gives you the option of the quickest or the shortest route. Don't know how well it works though.
4. One ways are marked in some places but this doesn't work when one-way changes with time.

Overall, a must-have for travellers, especially when you are going to places where language might be an issue!

puchoo · Sep 11th, 2008, 21:22

Thanks for that info Fatal , i have been waiting to hear from someone who has tried it firsthand..

Paresh · Sep 12th, 2008, 00:14

Hi

Did anyone try wikimapia.org? The best thing about it is, anyone can mark personal locations on it. So if you zoom in, you can find even the minute details. You can see the shops, restaurants, land marks and even the small tea stall on the road side. These land marks are very helpful when traveling to inner part of India.

Haylo · Sep 12th, 2008, 02:39

I have had the British version of this for several years now, and have found it to be a great help, particularly in large cities. Thought I would post a few warnings and observations from which might be useful to people buying this one.

It will only take you to the right hotel if you select the correct one (not saying any more about that story or I might not have anywhere to stay when I get back to Delhi! ) so be sure to double check. Also beware of place names which are similar or even the same, especially when you are travelling in unfamiliar places where you might not realise you are heading the wrong way for a very long time. One poor guy ended up 1600 miles away from where he should be!
Do not use it as a substitute for your brain. At Hampton Loade, not far from me, there is a single track road which leads to a disused foot passenger ferry over the HUGE River Severn. It is shown on satnavs as a bridge, as far as I know nobody has driven into that one yet, but reversing for several miles is not a bunch of fun. People driving into rivers after blindly following the instructions of their satnav is far from uncommon.
If it looks too narrow... Lorry drivers selecting "shortest route" regularly become stuck in country lanes here in England. When I say stuck, I mean stuck! In my County, we have had one bridge parapet completely demolished three times in the last year, due to lorries being directed down a road that is clearly signed as unsuitable. Before satnavs, it had been hit about once every ten years.

fatal_error · Sep 12th, 2008, 16:31

A hilarious post there Haylo! The links really tore me up.

Dilliwala · Sep 12th, 2008, 21:31

They shud introduce a new offence/fine for those sort of drivers - Driving under the Influence of GPS.

Aug 28th, 2008, 21:55	#1
ma_hat_ma_candy Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: London / Chennai Posts: 17	Planning Road Journeys Hi guys This site is brilliant for planning road journeys - motorbike or otherwise. It's a free site so no profit promotion or otherwise - it's the nearest I've found to a SatNav as I can't use my existing system in India. Click on the free bit on the navigation desk http://maps.mapmyindia.com/

Sep 11th, 2008, 16:51	#4
fatal_error IM Foodie! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bombay, India Posts: 50	We recently used the mapmyindia.com A-Max GPS Navigator (http://navigator.mapmyindia.com/prod.../overview.html) during a road trip from Pune to Kolkata (2034 kms). The navigator is a wonderful help. The maps are very detailed in the cities and lot of POIs are pre-stored. So you can just select your final destination (say, a hotel) and the device leads you to it. The device works perfectly in the cities. Some observations: 1. Rural areas aren't marked very well. We stopped at Puri on our way but the maps were off the road by a km at least. 2. Highways are decently marked but no POIs. There were some random national highways (NH203) incorrectly mapped. 3. The route may not always be the best one to take. I have noticed that Satguide gives you the option of the quickest or the shortest route. Don't know how well it works though. 4. One ways are marked in some places but this doesn't work when one-way changes with time. Overall, a must-have for travellers, especially when you are going to places where language might be an issue! __________________ The Un-natural Act http://blog.gprakash.com Last edited by fatal_error : Sep 11th, 2008 at 19:20. Reason: Added Image

Sep 12th, 2008, 02:39	#7
Haylo Structural Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Middle East and heading Easter Posts: 5,804	Observations from the UK I have had the British version of this for several years now, and have found it to be a great help, particularly in large cities. Thought I would post a few warnings and observations from which might be useful to people buying this one. It will only take you to the right hotel if you select the correct one (not saying any more about that story or I might not have anywhere to stay when I get back to Delhi! ) so be sure to double check. Also beware of place names which are similar or even the same, especially when you are travelling in unfamiliar places where you might not realise you are heading the wrong way for a very long time. One poor guy ended up 1600 miles away from where he should be! Do not use it as a substitute for your brain. At Hampton Loade, not far from me, there is a single track road which leads to a disused foot passenger ferry over the HUGE River Severn. It is shown on satnavs as a bridge, as far as I know nobody has driven into that one yet, but reversing for several miles is not a bunch of fun. People driving into rivers after blindly following the instructions of their satnav is far from uncommon. If it looks too narrow... Lorry drivers selecting "shortest route" regularly become stuck in country lanes here in England. When I say stuck, I mean stuck! In my County, we have had one bridge parapet completely demolished three times in the last year, due to lorries being directed down a road that is clearly signed as unsuitable. Before satnavs, it had been hit about once every ten years.

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Aug 28th, 2008, 22:11	#2
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,203	Yes, and has a lot of detail where Google Maps runs out. They do make portable navigation devices. They are on my list of wanted Christmas Presents!

Sep 11th, 2008, 21:22	#5
puchoo Maha Guru Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Delhi & Himachal Pradesh (Shimla) Posts: 5,411	Thanks for that info Fatal , i have been waiting to hear from someone who has tried it firsthand..

Sep 12th, 2008, 00:14	#6
Paresh No no, I am not a Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: India Posts: 278	Hi Did anyone try wikimapia.org? The best thing about it is, anyone can mark personal locations on it. So if you zoom in, you can find even the minute details. You can see the shops, restaurants, land marks and even the small tea stall on the road side. These land marks are very helpful when traveling to inner part of India.

Sep 12th, 2008, 16:31	#8
fatal_error IM Foodie! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bombay, India Posts: 50	A hilarious post there Haylo! The links really tore me up.

Sep 12th, 2008, 21:31	#9
Dilliwala Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: 28N 077E / दिल्ली Posts: 4,798	They shud introduce a new offence/fine for those sort of drivers - Driving under the Influence of GPS.