14th November 2015 Vijaywada to Visakhapatnam

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The journey commenced from Vijaywada at about 9:50 AM, NH 5 was quite close to our Hotel, in fact just a few Kms away, we reached the highway and got going in a short while.

NH 5 between Vijaywada and Vizag is a rather crowded road what with large numbers of the larger share autorickshaws and two wheelers all vying for space in the middle of the road, most of them do not want to keep left but stayed right in the middle of the road.  If we wanted to overtake the slower vehicles on the highway they would expect us to go past them while they remained in the centre of the road. The highway is four lane and two lanes going each way, the motorcycles and autos would be on the white marking or line which divides the two lanes.

Goats on the highway

As was expected in this part of the Golden Quadrilateral there were a number of diversions and one has to contend with traffic coming in opposite direction, not only because of these diversions but also many humans wanting to take the short cut, meaning driving or riding in the opposite direction on a one way highway.

The toll booths were pathetic, run down and with very little amenities, wonder why? If we were surprised with this a bigger surprise awaited us in Bihar and East UP.

A toll booth on NH5 close to Vizag, poor infra structure at all toll booths along the way and no amenities :(

Another funny thing was that there were no restaurants between these two cities on the NH5, the only decent place we saw was a Cafe Coffee Day quite some distance form Vijaywada, how do travellers manage, carry their food? Make do with what is available? Yes, there was not many cars on the road, is this how it is at all times? Is this why there is lack of infa structure and facilities on this road?

About 240 Kms from Vijaywada we came to Ammavaram, from here the road was good for a about 30 Kms and went through valleys the drive here was superb and the scenery refreshing and not much traffic too. Beyond this stretch we had to contend with what we had experienced of NH5 earlier.

The drive was rather uneventful and a little stressful because of the many slow vehicles on the road wanting to remain in the centre of the road.

Slow vehicles trying to overtake and holding up traffic, common throughout India.

While the surface of the Golden Quadrilateral is good there is little thought that has been paid to safety, hundreds of cross roads go through the NH5 and posing great danger to those on the road, many two wheelers join the highway from the village and side roads coming in at high speed and not caring to check for oncoming traffic, while the authorities talk about careless riders and drivers why are roads laid without safety being considered?

The farmlands on the highway broke the monotony and provided a pleasant view.

Hay stacks in the field

Dinner was at Dharini a vegetarian restaurant at "Daspalla" on our mind was the Andhra Meals and that is what we had, good meal. We wanted to go to the beach close by but were told to be careful and come back soon etc. so we decided not to go - anti social elements

With nothing much to do at Vizag we filled up fuel, stocked up on drinking water and back to the Hotel to sleep.

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