This time around my younger nephew came with me. He is quite tall (6 feet 2 inches and still growing) and he would have been quite miserable if the seats are cramped. At ISBT (Inter State Bus Terminus, Kashmere Gate, New Delhi) when we started inquiring for deluxe buses to Manali, we were told that there was a Delhi-Manali Volvo available at 8.26 that night. The tickets for this bus are sold from the first floor of ISBT.
We headed to the HP counter. The first floor at ISBT was much less crowded than the ground floor. It was just 6.30 in the evening but still the only seats available in the Volvo were for the last row. We decided to take it. Since, we had to get down at the tunnel before Aut, we were given tickets up to Bhunter. I paid Rupees 1590 for two tickets and my nephew immediately remarked, “Bua (Aunt in Hindi) there you have already spent almost the price of your cell phone.” The bus was supposed to leave from platform 6.
We went to platform 6 around 8.15 and there was no sign of a Volvo. After a few minutes we asked a bus conductor of another bus and he pointed out the Volvo standing near a wall and said we should head there as it is almost time. After depositing the rucksack in the luggage space we walked in.
This was the first time for both of us in a Volvo and the bus looked comfortable and spacious with lots of leg room, till we reached the last row. The last row seats were really cramped in the Volvo but luckily there were just three of us for 6 seats and we could spread out on two seats. My nephew was in the middle seat which opened up to the aisle, so he had some leg room. I was on a window seat (not originally but since no one turned up I moved to it) with the next seat vacant.
They play a movie in the bus that runs till 12 at night. On our trip they played Bhagam Bhag, a truly silly movie and many passengers grumbled that they can’t go to sleep. I am OK with silly movies occasionally.
Otherwise, the journey was comfortable. However, on the return journey we had to travel by various Khatara buses and to his credit he never complained even once.
When we went to Manali from Delhi, we had hired a private car since we always like to stop in between at our convenience to see places on the way. Plus I am also a fan of Avomine, like you. ;)But this too seems to be a good choice.
I am surprised, there are a no. of private 2*2 deluxe, semi-dluxe and super luxry buses available from Delhi and Back. Khataras can be avoided if you wish to.
Vovlos are good for long journey … esp for ur back. They have a good suspension and goes easy on bumpy roads 🙂
Cuckoo, we consider private car prohibitively expensive! Even Volvo is not going to be a habit. It was a one off fun thing. We somehow like our Khataras, as Calvin’s dad would say, they build character!Karnail, we looked only at the Government bus stand and there was a Volvo to Delhi but it would have reached quite late and as it was only my nephew and me, we wanted to go direct to Gurgaon.Viewer, thanks for your comment. But I somehow also like our khataras (uncomfortable) buses. But in-between a Volvo trip is nice.
before the tunnel eh?? And then take a bus across the river to the geographical east bank? I’m curious to know your route. Did you take Himachal path parivahan buses? do they start from Aut or Kullu? Any other means to go?
Priyank, the second time we took the HP Volvo and instead of going to Aut got down at the tunnel before it. Flag a bus going from Aut to Banjar at the tunnel and then go to Banjar from there to Jibhi and then to Shringi or as we did the second time around, took a taxi from Banjar to Shringi for Rs. 200.
That does sound really, really expensive!
such painted buses i saw on TV, these are very eye catching
Sidhu, the tickets? They were but what to do, sometimes you do want to travel by a Volvo too!Vineet, I too found it quite eye catching and decided to take a picture.
how long was the travel?
D if you start around 8.30 at night you would reach Manali by 8.00 or so the next day.
Thanks very much Mridula 🙂 That was pretty useful.
You are welcome 🙂
HiThe pic posted in the post is not of a volvo. are u sure this was your bus? It is a Indian made TATA one…..bunny – travelbyvolvo.blogspot.com