This is my first attempt at a travelogue. So kindly pardon me if it turns out to be soporific.
We (read me, mom and dad) were planning a trip to Papikondalu, near Rajahmundry for a long time. The original plan was to take a train to Rajahmundry and then travel by boat to the place, but i insisted on visiting the port at Vizag too. So travel by train would turn out to be too hectic and thus was ruled out. So there it was decided, road it would be.
So thus our dear old Santro was readied and decked up. The car was sent to the service center and was deemed to be fit as ever to take the trip.
Our planned route was to take the NH9 till Vijayawada and then take the NH5 to Rajahmundry. Then stay overnight there and visit Papikondalu, the next day and then continue on the next day to Vizag and spend a few days there before returning back. So with all preparations done and ready, i could hardly sleep before my first road-trip.
After a sleepless night for me, we started off early at about 5 AM on a wednesday. The roads were bare except for a few early morning joggers and maniacal 7-seaters. We made good time and by sunrise at about 6 AM we were comfortably outside Hyderabad.
For all those who thought, traffic jams in the city can be nerve wracking, check this out.
We got stuck in a 13 km long traffic jam just near Narkatpalli on the NH9. Some of the truck drivers mentioned that they were stuck there since 3AM in the morning. Then just when i thought, ' there goes all the planning, down the drain', my dad, decides its time to go offroading in a Santro.
Thus, we follow a Zen who it seems was accustomed to this sort of traffic hurdles and we start weaving through the traffic, sometimes travelling on the mud, beside the tar road and finally we manage to clear it, though we lost valuable time.
From then on it was smooth sailing, with the roads good to drive on. We reached Suryapet and stopped for breakfast at about 9:30 AM. Then onwards from Suryapet, the road to Vijayawada was horrible, with craters everywhere and the car took a beating.
Near a village(dont remember the name), a mad man hurled a stone at the car. It scraped the paint off the right rear door. Never understood why he wanted to do that.
Then finally, we reached Vijayawada at about 12:00. One word though, the roads from Keesara to Vijayawada(about 70 km i think), the roads were amazing. Real fun to drive on.
We finished lunch at Vijayawada and after a short siesta, we headed out to Rajahmundry along NH5 at about 4 PM. The sight of the open roads was such a delight and the car was begging to be pushed. I managed a 145 before my mom freaked out. The road was an absolute bliss to drive on.
I really think, this is one road, every vehicle must be let loose upon.
With a steady 80kmph, we managed to reach, Rajahmundry by about 8 PM after a brief stopover at Tanuku.
A sumptous dinner ensured that i enjoyed sleeping, as i savored every moment of the day's drive.
Woke up early the next day,and was greeted by a lazy sunrise. Got ready and went out to the travel agent who arranged for the trip to Papikondalu. Here while waiting for another family to turn up i managed to click a snap of the Rail cum road bridge at Rajahmundry. What a site it was, early in the morning.
We travelled by Sumo to Pattiseema and then boarded the AP Tourism boat. It was windy and chilly. I regretted not carrying my windcheater with me.
But then, once we got going, and as the sun rose higher, the temperatures rised and we all sat down to savor the beauty of the river Godavari and its serene surroundings.
The much talked about Papikondalu, were a sight to behold. Though the actual stretch was less than 3kms, it was amazing, and seemed like it went on forever. Its amazing what nature can treat you to.
Came back and crashed in the hotel after a visit that offered a truly spectacular insight into nature and its ways.
Next day, a friday we started off to Vizag early at about 7AM after a quick breakfast. Again the sight of NH5 was intoxicating and truly amazing. The only dampener were the toll gates, every 80-100kms. We nearly forked out 1000 bucks only at the gates, both ways inclusive.
We reached Vizag, at around 12:00 in the afternoon and finished lunch. We then tried to go to the port and were told that we were forbidden. We were disappointed to know that, but then dad said he knew someone on the inside and he promised to take me in the next day. So we went around Vizag, the Ramakrishna beach and the submarine museum which was completely outta this world, i must say.
It was pretty late and after a night walk down the beach, we geared up for the next day. The next day, with the help of a relative, we got permission to visit the Port and were taken around on a tour. Wow ! my word, those ships were huge. Felt like a tiny speck, compared to them.
Then the next day(sunday), we started our return journey back to Hyderabad early at about 4AM and reached Vijayawada by 12 PM. After a brief stopover, we started for Hyderabad and reached the city at around 10:30 in the night.

Overall, a very exciting and refreshing trip. The drive was an experience in itself. Covered a total of about 1500 kms. Topped the tank 3 times and the car returned a FE of about 17.5-18.5 km to the litre.