After my last experience with KSRTC's Palakkad-Bengaluru Airavat Club Class, I did not look further at other options when I booked this ticket. This option was also the cheapest at that time, and made all the sense to book this bus.
August 05, 2019:
I had decided to try using public transportation to get to Palakkad this time. A lot of enquiries were made to confirm the timings of buses in the evening hours. An autorickshaw was arranged to get me from TW's home to the nearest bus stop. The auto driver dropped me at the bus stop by around 1915hrs - he offered to wait till I got a bus, but I refused. There was brief wait to get a bus - and it poured down this time. The bus turned up at around 1930hrs - it wasn't very crowded either. I managed to get a seat in the bus. The bus got to Palakkad town bus station by around 2020hrs - I took an autorickshaw from here to the KSRTC bus station, about a kilometre away. I was at the KSRTC bus station at 2030hrs - a full hour before the departure of my bus to Bengaluru.
I always though Thrissur KSRTC bus station was the worst - but I recently realised that the Palakkad KSRTC bus station was worse. While crowd is the issue at Thrissur, Palakkad doesn't have even a proper shelter! I kept moving around the bus station for most of the time, waiting for my bus to be brought in. The bus was parked outside the bus station, while the crew were getting ready. I could see them preparing the interiors of the bus - activities like arranging the blankets, placing water bottles, etc were happening at a brisk pace. The bus was brought to the bus station exactly at 2100hrs - 30 minutes before departure.
Boarding started soon later - there were two crew members - a driver and a conductor. The conductor was quickly checking tickets and assisting passengers with their baggage. Boarding was completed well before time and the crew actually were ready to depart before time - we got moving exactly at 2130hrs. The driver was slow from the beginning - and kept lugging the engine quite badly. The driver stuck to the left lane and maintained speeds in the range of 70kmph, all the while lugging the engine in the top gear. I was quite tired and slept off even before the bus got to Coimbatore bypass (the bus doesn't have a pick-up at Coimbatore, and all the seats were occupied as well anyways).
I had a nice long sleep - quite undisturbed by things outside. I vaguely remember the bus stopped for a break somewhere en route. I woke up only as the bus reached Electronic City (0420hrs). We were about 31 minutes behind schedule compared to the last trip. The bus did not take the elevated highway - he just took the road below the flyover. This turned quite useful for people staying in places on the way. The bus stopped at Bommanahalli (0429hrs) to drop passengers, before getting to Silk Board (0431hrs). The bus stopped at Madiwala Police station (0433hrs) to drop passengers and then at Madiwala St. Johns hospital (0436hrs). The roads were quite deserted at this time - more so since it was not a Monday! We reached Shantinagar bus station at 0445hrs. They stopped on the main road, not inside the bus station. About 3 of us remained in the bus - the crew headed to Majestic without any complaints. We finally got to Majestic (Kempegowda Bus station) at 0452hrs - about 38 minutes before time!
Remarks: The bus, KA-01-F-9355 homed at Bengaluru-4 depot, had about 12.45 Lakh kilometres. The bus was kept in great shape - it did not show its age! There were no rattles or squeaks, and was clean as always! The crew were very helpful - the driving style was poor. It wasn't dangerous or rash - it was really sleep friendly, but the engine kept crying as it kept being lugged for most of the time. The service was perfect as always!
Amenities:Blanket: Yes
Water: Yes
Snacks: No
Charging Point: Available, Did not use.
Entertainment: Available, not used.
Ratings:Maintenance: 5/5
Cleanliness: 5/5
Driving: 5/5
Crew behaviour: 5/5
Punctuality: 5/5 (Reached early!!)
Overall: 5/5
Pros: Great Crew, comfortable bus, fairly punctual
Cons: Nothing specific!
Will I take this service again? Absolutely! Already my favorite!
August 05, 2019:
I had decided to try using public transportation to get to Palakkad this time. A lot of enquiries were made to confirm the timings of buses in the evening hours. An autorickshaw was arranged to get me from TW's home to the nearest bus stop. The auto driver dropped me at the bus stop by around 1915hrs - he offered to wait till I got a bus, but I refused. There was brief wait to get a bus - and it poured down this time. The bus turned up at around 1930hrs - it wasn't very crowded either. I managed to get a seat in the bus. The bus got to Palakkad town bus station by around 2020hrs - I took an autorickshaw from here to the KSRTC bus station, about a kilometre away. I was at the KSRTC bus station at 2030hrs - a full hour before the departure of my bus to Bengaluru.
I always though Thrissur KSRTC bus station was the worst - but I recently realised that the Palakkad KSRTC bus station was worse. While crowd is the issue at Thrissur, Palakkad doesn't have even a proper shelter! I kept moving around the bus station for most of the time, waiting for my bus to be brought in. The bus was parked outside the bus station, while the crew were getting ready. I could see them preparing the interiors of the bus - activities like arranging the blankets, placing water bottles, etc were happening at a brisk pace. The bus was brought to the bus station exactly at 2100hrs - 30 minutes before departure.
 |
| The bus: KA-01-F-9355 |
Boarding started soon later - there were two crew members - a driver and a conductor. The conductor was quickly checking tickets and assisting passengers with their baggage. Boarding was completed well before time and the crew actually were ready to depart before time - we got moving exactly at 2130hrs. The driver was slow from the beginning - and kept lugging the engine quite badly. The driver stuck to the left lane and maintained speeds in the range of 70kmph, all the while lugging the engine in the top gear. I was quite tired and slept off even before the bus got to Coimbatore bypass (the bus doesn't have a pick-up at Coimbatore, and all the seats were occupied as well anyways).
I had a nice long sleep - quite undisturbed by things outside. I vaguely remember the bus stopped for a break somewhere en route. I woke up only as the bus reached Electronic City (0420hrs). We were about 31 minutes behind schedule compared to the last trip. The bus did not take the elevated highway - he just took the road below the flyover. This turned quite useful for people staying in places on the way. The bus stopped at Bommanahalli (0429hrs) to drop passengers, before getting to Silk Board (0431hrs). The bus stopped at Madiwala Police station (0433hrs) to drop passengers and then at Madiwala St. Johns hospital (0436hrs). The roads were quite deserted at this time - more so since it was not a Monday! We reached Shantinagar bus station at 0445hrs. They stopped on the main road, not inside the bus station. About 3 of us remained in the bus - the crew headed to Majestic without any complaints. We finally got to Majestic (Kempegowda Bus station) at 0452hrs - about 38 minutes before time!
Remarks: The bus, KA-01-F-9355 homed at Bengaluru-4 depot, had about 12.45 Lakh kilometres. The bus was kept in great shape - it did not show its age! There were no rattles or squeaks, and was clean as always! The crew were very helpful - the driving style was poor. It wasn't dangerous or rash - it was really sleep friendly, but the engine kept crying as it kept being lugged for most of the time. The service was perfect as always!
Amenities:Blanket: Yes
Water: Yes
Snacks: No
Charging Point: Available, Did not use.
Entertainment: Available, not used.
Ratings:Maintenance: 5/5
Cleanliness: 5/5
Driving: 5/5
Crew behaviour: 5/5
Punctuality: 5/5 (Reached early!!)
Overall: 5/5
Pros: Great Crew, comfortable bus, fairly punctual
Cons: Nothing specific!
Will I take this service again? Absolutely! Already my favorite!
Comments
I must say & believe this travel season of yours was quite joyful & exciting for you having covered another few thousands of kilometres and was exciting too for readers as me who await your travelogues ... all the best and keep them coming !!
I must say & believe this travel season of yours was quite joyful & exciting for you having covered another few thousands of kilometres and was exciting too for readers as me who await your travelogues ... all the best and keep them coming !!