Bangalore to Kolkata by car with family during COVID19 lockdown

This my travel blog during lock down situation due to COVID19. I drove my car and did the journey with my family (4 persons, including 2 kids). Here is my travel details and video blog on youtube.

Day 1

I started on Saturday morning at 6:30am from Bangalore and drive about 700km to reach Vijayawada. It took nearly 12.5 hours including small break. Road conditions was overall good. We stayed at Hotel Center Side booked from MMT. It's really nice hotel, good sanitize facility is there. We brought lunch and snacks from home and did dinner at hotel. It was really good food. We took roti from hotel at night for next day breakfast, which we eat with Jam. At AP border they make entry for entrance and it took an hour. There was no social distance for this queue.

Day 2 

I started from Vijayawada at 6am towards Bhubaneswar. Its about 800kms. We heard road conditions is excellent but it's not. The NH16 is now modifying and maximum places are diverted by side lane. This road condition is not good, drove about 40-50kms speed. I found traffic as well and a place was water logging. This journey took about 18 hours and reached at Hotel Pushpak around 12:40am (midnight). This Hotel was not as good as earlier day but it's okay. Again it's sanitized hotel booked from MMT. This day we faced issue with dinner as it was too late. We purchased from a road side dhaba but it was not good quality. Orissa border they provided a pass and it was check at 4 places before reaching at hotel.

Day 3
Started from hotel at 9am after breakfast and took luchi/puri-sabji parcel from hotel for lunch. It was about 500km journey for me. Road condition is good. On road my Fasttag stop working due to KYC due and can't recharge. On road I called to customer care and asked for help. It took about 30-45mins and got solution to use it. I did not stopped anywhere for food and come direct to home. Road conditions is really pathetic from Dumdum Airport to Habra about 40km. Also I noticed people are not following COVID safety like mask , social distance. Kolkata-Mumbai road was traffic after Kolaghat. Also lots of bicycle on road. After all I reached at home around 10pm. I applied for WB epass but no one checked it.

Note: This is 14th day and ending our home quarantine. We are happy to inform we have not infected by corona during our journey. So I can say hotel stay and journey is safe from Corona. :)

Shravanabelagola, KARNATAKA TOURISM

Shravanabelagola situated about 143 kilometers from Bangalore in Hassan district. The 58-feet tall monolithic statue of Gommateshwara is located on Vindyagiri Hill in Shravanabelagola, this the world's largest monolithic statue. This is Jain religious temple. To know more about Shravanabelagola  click here.

Halebeedu, Karnataka Tourism

Halebeedu was capital of Hoysala Empire during 12-13th century. Halebeedu means 'old city'. This is a tourist place near Belur (about 34 kilometers) in Hassan district and about 230 kilometers from Bangalore. There has some best architecture of Hoysala empire. Hoysaleshwara and Kedareshwara temple are most famous.

To read more about Halebeedu visit this link.

Belur Chenna Keshava Temple, Karnataka Tourism

Chenna Keshava Temple situated in Belur city situated in Hassan district in Karnataka state around 220 kilometers from Bangalore and 153 km from Mangalore. This is about 900 years old temple. 

Summary in short:

• Travel Type: Pilgrimage, Heritage
• Best Time to visit: November to March
• Time to spend: 1-3 hours
• Nearest Major City: Bangalore, Mangalore
• Best mode of travel: Bus, Taxi, Private Car, Auto
• Timing: 7am to 1pm, 2pm to 8pm

• History 

Belur was early capital of Hoysala Dynasty on the bank of Yagachi river. Chenna Keshavatemple was build by Hoysala Dynasty. This temple was started in 1116 A.D. and it took 103 year to complete by three generations. It is said that this temple was built to commemorate the victory of Hoysalas over Cholas in the great battle of Talakkad. Another story about this temple is, King Vishnu-vardhana dreamt about Lord Keshava during his night stay at the Baba Budan forest and decided to construct the Chenna Keshava temple at Belur. Main temple is Keshava temple also there has  other temple like Veera Narayana Temple, Andal Ammanavara temple etc. Chenna Keshava temple is the only functional Hoysala temple which pujas being performed both in the morning and evening. This tradition is being practiced for last 887 years.

• How to reach
• Train nearest train station is Hassan railway station about 40 kilometers away.
• Bus very good bus connectivity from Bangalore, Mangalore, Mysore etc. cities to Belur.
• Private Car can travel to Belur with your own car.
• Air you need to reach to Bangalore or Mangalore then take other option.

• What should visit on the way, if you are coming from Bangalore by private car then you can visit multiple places on the way. For more information please visit How to reach Chikmagalur section (click here).

• List of Temples 

Main temple is Keshava temple.

Kappe Chanigaraya temple.

Veeranarayana Temple

Sowmyanayaki Temple

Gurutvakarshaka Kamba




















Andal Ammanvara Temple

• List of all places to visit near  Belur

Halebeedu Temple is situated about 15  kilometers from Belur. To see more about Halebeedu click here.

Yagachi Dam is located on the way to Chikmagalur from Belur. This dam was constructed on Yagachi river. This is a quite big dam and its good to visit. This is a advanture water sports center with multiple facilities. For details click here

Chikmagalur is a small and popular hill station in Karnataka. It’s located in western-ghat. This is the land of coffee, elephant and leopard and of course natural beauty. From Belur to Chikmagalur city distance about 25 kilometers.

Shravanabelagola situated about 143 kilometers from Bangalore in Hassan district. The 58-feet tall monolithic statue of Gommateshwara is located on Vindyagiri Hill in Shravanabelagola, this the world's largest monolithic statue. This is Jain religious temple.

• Where to stay.

There are many hotels near to the Chenna Keshava Temple and in entire Belur city. You can find any from popular websites. However few hotel phone number is here.

Hotel Mayura Velapuri (KSTDC) 089706 50026 / 08177-222209

Karnataka Hotels Belur (KSTDC) Temple Rd, Belur 573115, India

Vishnu Regency Hotel & Vegetarian Restaurant, Belur - Somvarpet Rd, Belur, Karnataka 573115•090609 82495

Hotel Samanvi International, RSK complex, Temple Road, Belur, Karnataka 573115•090081 29032

• Restaurant for food.
• There are multiple restaurant on Temple road and in Belur city. Everywhere you will get good veg and non-veg restaurant. Hotel Ksrtc, Vishnu Sagar Veg Restaurant, Al Kareem Hotel are good.