National Highway 40 (NH 40) in India: Routes, Length Entry/Exit Points & Rules

source: wikimedia

Many people prefer to take National Highway 40 when travelling between Kurnool, Allagadda, Nandyal, Kadapa, Mydukur, Pileru, Chittoor, Rayachoti, and Ranipet. NH 40 is a beautiful route that connects all these places boosting trade and commerce between places and also contributing immensely to the tourism sector.

The National Highway 40 passes primarily through two states, connecting them via road. Furthermore, the entry and exit points lie in each of these states.

States Falling Under National Highway 40 (NH 40)

The states through which National Highway 40 passes are as follows:

• Andhra Pradesh
• Tamil Nadu

Entry and Exit Points of National Highway 40

The National Highway 40 starts at Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh and ends at Ranipettai, a city in Tamil Nadu.

The different types of vehicles allowed on the National Highway 40 are as follows:

• Cars and Motorcycles
• Buses and Trucks
• Three-wheeled vehicles
• Vehicles carrying a maximum of 8 passengers

All vehicles must abide by the speed limit when travelling on National Highway 40. These are as follows:

• Motorcycles: 80 km per hour
• Quadricycle: 60 km per hour
• Three-wheeled vehicles: 50 km per hour
• Motor vehicles with not more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat used to carry passengers: 100 km per hour
• Motor vehicles having nine or more seats in addition to the driver’s seat used to carry passengers: 90 km per hour
• Motor vehicles used to carry goods: 80 km per hour

Some of the popular places around National Highway 40 are as follows:

1. Hyderabad

Famous places in this city you must visit while travelling via NH40, are:

• Golkonda Fort
• Osman Sagar
• Wonderla
• Ramoji Film City
• Safar Jung Museum

2. Tirupati

Some of the places you can visit in this place:

• Govindarajan Temple
• Akasaganga Teertham
• Deer Park
• Talakona Waterfall
• Sri Vari Museum

3. Visakhapatnam

Some of the must-visit places at Visakhapatnam include:

• Yarada Beach
• Rushikonda Beach
• Dolphin Hill or Nose
• Kailasagiri
• Katiki Falls
• Borra Caves

4. Araku Valley

Some of the tourist magnets at Araku Valley include:

• Chaparai Waterfalls
• Ananthagiri Hills
• Padmapuram Botanical Garden
• Araku Tribal Museum

5. Nellore

This is the 4th most populated city of Andhra Pradesh. You can go to famous destinations in Nellore, including:

• Udayagiri Fort
• Venkatagiri Fort
• Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple

6. Vijayawada

Located at the banks of the Krishna River, here are some of the must-visit places in Vijayawada are as follows:

• Undavalli Caves
• Prakasam Barrage
• Gandhi Hill
• Rajiv Gandhi Park
• Mogalarajapuram Caves

7. Chennai

Coming to Chennai, you should ideally visit

• Covelong Beach
• Thiruvanmiyur Beach
• Fort St. George
• Madras War Memorial
• Prakasam Salai, etc.

8. Pondicherry

Some of the most popular tourist destinations at Pondicherry are:

• Shri Aurobindo Ghosh Ashram
• Auroville
• Paradise Beach
• Promenade Beach
• Ousteri Lake, etc.

9. Kanyakumari

This is the southernmost tip of India. Here, you can visit places like:

• Vivekananda Rock Memorial
• Thiruvalluvar Statue
• Tsunami Monument
• Mayapuri Wax Museum, etc.

10. Vellore

This is also known as the 'Fort City'. Some of the best places to visit at Vellore are:

• Jalakandeswarar Temple
• Srilakshmi Golden Temple
• Vellore Fort
• Periyar Park
• Sri Margabandeeswarar Temple, etc.

11. Coonoor

This is one of the coolest tourist spots in Tamil Nadu. Besides this, you can also visit other tourist destinations like

• Catherine Falls
• Sim’s Park
• Droog Fort
• St. George’s Church
• Rallia Dam, etc.

Below are some important things that you should consider when driving on National Highway 40:

• When driving on NH40 highways, make sure that the speed limit of your vehicle does not exceed the allowed speed as this route is congested.

• Driving at night is a challenging task on NH40 due to reduced visibility. If required, spend the night in a hotel nearby and continue the following morning.

• Drive cautiously on NH40 during monsoons to reduce the chances of your car skidding. You can also ensure you are covered with add-ons like consumables cover, engine protect or towing cover with your commercial vehicle insurance for added safety.

If you are driving for the first time on National Highway 40, make sure that you abide by all the traffic regulations and have a valid car insurance or bike insurance policy. Also, ensure you are aware of the traffic and the weather conditions on the highway. This will make your journey safer and allow you to reach your destination on time.