Travelogue: River Run with the Hyundai Creta: Varanasi to Kolkata

  • Oct 5, 2015
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After a 3,050km long roadtrip, driving along scenic rivers and amazing landscapes, we reach Kolkata, the final destination of our journey and the city where the Ganges empties itself into the Bay of Bengal

The Hyundai Creta on its way to Kolkata

Mornings in any city are expected to be calm, but go to the tiny lanes of Varanasi and you will step right into chaos even before the sun rises. People wake up early to take a dip in the Ganges at sunrise and we are there too to get our city shots done. A quick wrap up is in order as we have a long 670km long drive ahead of us. The last day of our drive takes us to Kolkata, where this very river flows through in majority through one of its distributaries, the Hoogly.

Hyundai Creta on the highway

Out and away on AH1, the drive to Kolkata is fast in most places. The stretch as most of the drive we’ve covered all the way from Delhi, is part of the Golden Quadrilateral, the main highway loop in India linking its four corners. Truck traffic though on this route is quick heavy so the Creta gets a chance to stretch its legs and show us its strong mid range. Overtaking is easy and smooth but the unruly traffic as we cross Bihar is a cause for concern. There is no lane discipline here and vehicles coming the wrong side of the road in the fast lane should be expected at all times. 

Hyundai Creta on the highway

Cross Bihar, drive into Jharkhand and not many changes but after getting through Dhanbad, the West Bengal Border isn’t far. It’s funny how the roads change the minute you cross state borders. The highway the other side of the toll gate when you enter West Bengal just before Asansol is smooth and well marked and made of bitumen. Grip levels increase, tyre noise reduces, traffic is more disciplined and the drive into the sunset as we near Kolkata is just beautiful. 

Also read:

Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5Day 6

Vidyasagar Setu in Kolkata
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Entering Kolkata is quite difficult however. The GPS takes you through all the wrong roads, because the system of one-ways in the City is as complicated to an outsider as a labyrinth. It’s best to ask around. 

Next morning we are up early for a city tour, which includes pictures for you at the Vidyasagar Setu, Howrah Bridge, Victoria memorial park and the view from a local tram. The sun rises earlier in the east so the city is bustling with people, cabs, buses and what not as early as 7am. Vidyasagar Setu is beautiful though, and away from the hustle. The view from Princep Ghat is worth your while. We visited it early in the morning but we are told that the sights from here are splendid all day and night. It’s the longest Cable-stayed bridge in India and the main span is an impressive 457 metres. 

Howrah Bridge at Sunrise

For those entering the city from the west, this is the main highway so you will be driving across it when you visit Kolkata. South of the Vidyasagar Setu is the famous Howrah Bridge. 72 years old and still standing strong, Howrah bridge is said to carry across one lakh vehicles every day.  

A view of the Hyundai Creta through a Tram window

There’s something older than the Howrah Bridge that this beautiful city will not let go of. Commissioned in 1873, the Calcutta trams are mostly tinned out carriages that run at painstakingly slow speeds but the heritage value of this 142 year old transportation system is immense. Get into one while you visit Kolkata and enjoy the views out of its windows. When everything around is moving fast and all else is chaotic, that sense of calm as the Tram makes its route in an unhurried way is worth the touristy experience. 

As for the Creta, we are happy to have had it for a companion on this long drive. Comfortable ride, supportive seats, light steering and a nice Hyundai for highway runs, this car joins our long term fleet in Mumbai soon. Stay tuned for more experiences with the car and how it performs over the next six months with us.

Route: Varanasi – Asansol – Kolkata 

Distance: 670km

Best time to visit Kolkata: Winter months and Durga Puja

Also read:

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6

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