Hyderabad to Prayagraj road trip

TLDR **We drove from Hyderabad to Prayagraj for Mahakumbh ** ** The Decision to Go** On **February 17th (Monday) at 8 AM**, I got a call from my parents. They had secured two rooms in the **tent area of the Maha Kumbh Mela (Sector 21)** and planned to stay for two days. A group of **10 family members from Munger, Bihar** was also driving to Prayagraj that morning. Realizing this was our only chance, we made a quick decision—it was **now or never**. We aimed to leave by **10 AM** for Jabalpur, but with last-minute preparations, we finally hit the road at **10:45 AM**. **Day 1: Hyderabad to Jabalpur (850 km)** Since we were travelling with **two kids**, we stocked up on snacks and essentials. After a **full tank refill** and **air check**, we started from **Kondapur**, taking the **Mallampet entry to ORR** and exiting onto **NH 44 (Srinagar-Kanyakumari Highway)**. * The first **3-4 km** after ORR were in bad shape, but after that, the roads were smooth. * Entering **Maharashtra**, the roads till **Nagpur** were uneven and lacked proper markings. * **Near Pandarkhawda**, disaster struck—**my car’s engine guard fell off from the front end**! Luckily, we found a **mechanic shop**, where we noticed **three other cars facing the same issue**. With minimal damage, we opted for a **temporary fix with screws and wire** and continued the journey. As it got dark, we stopped for another **tank refill** before driving towards **Jabalpur** (another **5-6 hours**). On the highway, we saw many vehicles with **Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra registrations**—all heading for **Kumbh Mela**. **Reaching Jabalpur at Midnight** We arrived at **Hotel Royal Orbit in Jabalpur at 1 AM**. The **highway-side location** was convenient, and given the Kumbh rush, the hotel was nearly full. We had booked the room **on the go** for **₹6,000 (including taxes and breakfast)**. **Day 2: Jabalpur to Prayagraj (400 km)** We started at **10 AM**, with **Google Maps showing an ETA of 4 PM**. Every restaurant along the highway was **jam-packed**, so we grabbed **chips and biscuits** to keep us going. At **Rewa**, Google Maps suggested exiting the highway and passing through the town. Seeing **many Kumbh-bound vehicles** doing the same, we followed. Before entering Prayagraj, we **refuelled and stocked up on food and water**, unsure how long it would take to reach **Sector 21**. **Traffic Jams Begin** * **First jam**: Toll booth after **Rewa**—took **20 minutes** to clear. Despite the delay, tolls were still being collected. * **Second jam**: **Ghurpur (20 km from Prayagraj)**—cleared in **20 minutes**. * **Third jam**: **Yamuna Gate**—from here, the road was **packed all the way into Prayagraj**. During the traffic, we saw a **street vendor cooking fresh rotis**. We bought some along with vegetables—these roadside vendors were a **lifesaver**! **A Costly Wrong Turn** Our **biggest mistake** was taking the **Arail Ghat route and Bridge 26** to Sector 21. The road was **completely choked**, and to make things worse, **Bridge 26 was closed** that day. After **1.5 hours wasted**, we turned around and took the **new Yamuna Bridge**, which was much smoother. From there, we crossed **Shastri Bridge**, found parking **1 km from our tent**, and took **bike taxis for ₹100 per bike** to reach **Sector 21**. **Day 3: The Holy Dip & Return Journey Begins** On **February 19th**, we took our **holy dip** at the Maha Kumbh. By **10 AM**, we started our return journey, but it took **until 3:40 PM just to exit Prayagraj** due to heavy traffic. **Prayagraj to Jabalpur** * Highways were **jam-packed** with Kumbh visitors. * We stopped at a **Punjabi Dhaba** for lunch, but it was **completely full**. * Reached **Jabalpur at 1 AM**, checked into the **same hotel**, and **crashed immediately**. **Day 4: Jabalpur to Hyderabad (760 km)** After **three days of continuous driving**, exhaustion kicked in. We decided to **take it easy** and drive only till **Nagpur**. * **Started at 10 AM**, reached **Teakdi (near Nagpur) by 2:30 PM**. * Since it was **too early to stop**, we extended our break till **Adilabad**. * Had lunch at **Haldiram’s in Nagpur**—from there, it was **441 km to Hyderabad**. * The road till the **Maharashtra border** was **rough**, but once we entered **Telangana**, the roads were **excellent**—proper markings, well-maintained dividers, and smooth driving. * **Tiredness vanished near Adilabad**, and I started enjoying the drive again. * We took **hourly breaks** to ensure safe driving. * Reached **Nehru ORR (Hyderabad) at 12:30 AM** and **home by 1 AM**. **Final Thoughts** This was the **experience of a lifetime**—long drives, unpredictable traffic, and the divine atmosphere of **Kumbh Mela**. Despite the challenges, the journey was completely worth it! **Travel Tips for Kumbh Mela Road Trips** 1. **Always keep your car stocked** with fuel, water, and food—traffic can be unpredictable. 2. **Stick to highways**—Google Maps might suggest shorter routes through villages, but these can be slow and congested. 3. **People and police in Prayagraj are extremely helpful**—don’t hesitate to ask for assistance. 4. **Climate **- Prayagraj can be very hot in the afternoon and very cold in the night. Would I do it again? **Absolutely! But next time, with even better planning.** 🚗🛣️✨