Planning to drive from Siliguri,India to Pohkhora towards December end and had a few queries.
If anyone has driven the same, would appreciate helping with some pointers.
1. How’s the fog scenario usually in December time ?
2. Is Siliguri to Pokhara doable in a single day ? Planning to leave early morning and ideal get there before dark. Saw a few posts mentioning about the under construction roads so I am doubting now if I can cover up time on the road or not- google maps is showing like 17 hours. If that’s not possible I guess will have to do a stay over for the night and continue the next day
3. For layover which place would be ideal ? Someone suggested Mugling
4. Also google map is showing 3 routes, I am assuming the shorted one is the best one here ?
Any inputs are much appreciated
Honestly, I would advise against the drive altogether, here are a few reasons why:
– You may find thick fog throughout the day in Terai area, because of a yearly phenomenon of शीतलहर (google if you want to understand more).
– fog will be there in hills in early morning and around/after sunset (if youre lucky – if unlucky, you’ll end up in the middle of our winter monsoon and that will not be fun to drive)
– It is definitely not doable in one day.
– The roads are in terrible condition regardless of the route because *The Mugling-Pokhara highway and *The Siddartha Highway both are under expansion/maintainance. It is taking around 12 hours to get to Pokhara from Kathmandu, a route that previously only took 6 to 7 hours.
– For layover, finalize the route you want and if you choose the mugling route, lay-over in Mugling is advisable. If you want a good resort, however, you might have to come a bit further to Kurintar.
– Most importantly – dont trust google maps with the road timings here. The direction is mostly correct. Which route is it showing as the shortest one?