There were many stretches where I could use the ADAS of my Kia Seltos diesel. The car also returned a great fuel efficiency.
BHPian ttm_220d recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
Bengaluru to Hyderabad in my Kia Seltos; the last long drive for 2024
Date of travel: 28.12. 2024 and 30.12.2024
(Always wanted to take a picture of the Kia outside the massive Kia factory in Ananthpur, AP. Could only stop very briefly as it was a busy road but still managed to get some good clicks of the Kia from its home)
Prelude
When the opportunity presented itself for my friend and I to drive from Bengaluru to Hyderabad, it was the perfect opportunity to take my Diesel Kia Seltos GT on a nice long drive. I had driven this stretch 2.5 years ago so it was going to be interesting to see how this drive would be different. This write-up is to highlight a few of my observations and point out some tips for those driving on this route.
The route
The route is extremely simple, from Bangalore Airport Road you join NH-44 and you stay on this route till Hyderabad, passing Anantapur and Kurnool on the way. The roads are great for a good majority of the journey. Almost 98 percent, but there is the occasional lane closure and road works.
(Stopped for a chai around 240 KM from BLR, there were not many options we knew about so stopped at this small shack with a great view)
The car
The car was my eight-month-old Kia Seltos Diesel AT GTX+, I have already written a few write-ups on TeamBHP about this car. This drive was perfect for the car as it was only 2 people, many stretches I could use ADAS, great mileage and compact enough to not be a nuisance in city traffic. I also took it on the drive as it was recommended by many on this forum to prevent DPF issues.
(Snapshot of Hyderabad ORR)
PUC certificate
At least 150 KM from Hyderabad, you see a lot of Omni vans with PUC testing equipment. Turns out other state cars are checked by Telangana Police. As my car was still very new, the Police at the checkpost didn’t ask me to stop but I saw many other cars being stopped and were apparently fined. Do get an updated PUC before visiting Hyderabad.
Hyderabad ORR
Hyderabad Outer Ring Road is a 158 Kilometre, 8-lane expressway. This is an expressway unlike no other in India and even makes the really good NH44 I drove on from Bengaluru seem small. This ORR has strict rules on speeding, lane discipline and going the wrong way. Ensure your car has sufficient fuel and you know your correct exit before entering ORR.
Restaurants and toilets on the way from Bengaluru
I keep doing the Bengaluru-Kochi drive frequently, there are ample choices of clean and comfortable restaurants and restrooms. In the Bangalore – Hyderabad stretch, there are not that many good places with clean washrooms in the middle of this route. Near Ananthpur, and Kurnool there are some places as well as 100 km before Bengaluru and Hyderabad. But if you are travelling for the first time, and unsure, take some snacks and refreshments with you and research on maps the good places to stop. I also saw many restaurants that were advertised as open but were closed when we reached. This is important for you to do your research especially if the washroom is a priority, I visited Big Bay and the KFC in the food complex near Ananthpur.
Stray cattle and people crossing randomly
The route from Bengaluru is great. I drive from BLR to Ananthpur to Kurnool to Hyderabad via the really smooth NH 44. There are some road works but overall great drive for your car. Only thing I noticed is there is quite a bit of stray cattle on this route to be careful of. There are also many junctions on NH 44 hence should be careful as many careless two wheels without helmets and other crazy drivers merge onto the highway without proper knowledge of driving.
Fuel
There is ample selection of the usual Indian Oil, HP and BP but if you want Shell, I only saw one shell In Karnataka just before crossing into AP. Also, I noticed that the fuel in Telangana was a bit pricier per litre compared to Karnataka. Some of the petrol bunks I saw on the highways looked old and dilapidated, so just felt more peace of mind filling up in Hyderabad city (especially since the DPF in the Kia and the entire fuel management system is quite finicky)
Speed
This stretch is overall mostly not too crowded, some cars do go quite fast and should be careful of them but if you drive between 100-120 KMPH you can make very good time, enjoy the drive and still be safe.
Heat
When driving through the day, it does get quite hot outside. Almost 40-45 degrees. Ensure your car is serviced well and equipped to deal with the heat before the long drive.
Emergency services
I didn’t see many ambulances stationed on the roads or emergency phone booths, but did see highway patrol cars parked very frequently. Did see a hospital every 50-60 km.
Driving in the night
Would as much as possible avoid driving in night as I didn’t see much passenger traffic, a lot lesser than the other routes I’ve seen. Also, not many places to stop and stay the night so best to avoid driving at night. Many seasoned drivers who used to drive through this area did tell me that many years ago dacoits used to be an issue on this stretch during the night. Not sure of the authenticity of that statement today though.
Overall, a great drive. Feel free to reach out in the comments.
(This post is just my experience on my drive, the factors and circumstances may change when you set out on your drive!)
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