Chandrapur to Sironcha by MSRTC Bus – My 212 KM Jungle Border Real Diary

By Nomad Patel | nomadpatel.in | Travelled: 8th Feb 2026 |Personal diary – Not official MSRTC

Welcome to nomadpatel.in. This is my continuation post.If you read my previous diary, you know I had just completed my Ambejogai to Chandrapur MSRTC Bus – My 500 KM Real Diary via Yavatmal Warora on 5th February 2026. I reached Chandrapur at 8:45 PM same day after 14 hours.

Why I stayed 3 days in Chandrapur?

I stayed in Chandrapur from 5th Feb night to 7th Feb night – total 2 full days at a lodge near CBS (Central Bus Stand) for Rs 500 per night.

Reason – After 500 KM my legs were paining badly, I needed rest. Also I explored Chandrapur city for my blog – Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve gate, and Ballarpur paper mills.

And most important – Sironcha weekly Adivasi market is on Monday, so if I go on 8th February Sunday morning, I will reach one day before market rush and get good lodge. Also the 53 KM jungle road between Rajura and Asifabad is risky at night, so morning 7 AM bus on 8th Feb is safest.

So on 8th February 2026, I woke up at 5:00 AM with new energy for Sironcha – The last town of Maharashtra on Telangana and Chhattisgarh border.

This is not a normal route. This bus goes from Maharashtra to Telangana and then again comes back to Maharashtra. So you cross the border two times. For a person like me who loves MSRTC, this is a dream route.

My Bus Timing – What I Experienced:

As usual, I reached Chandrapur bus stand at 5:32 AM early morning to catch the first bus.

Me: “Bhau, Chandrapur te Sironcha chi bus kuthe milte?” [Brother, where will I get Chandrapur to Sironcha bus?]
Counter: “Platform 4 var, 7:00 vajata.” [On Platform 4, at 7:00 AM]
Me: “Ticket counter khula aahe ka?” [Is ticket counter open?]
Counter: “Atta nahi. Bus madhye ghe.” [Not now. Take it in the bus.]

The enquiry counter told me there are 4 direct buses daily via Ballarpur, Rajura, Lakkadkot, Asifabad, Mancherial.I took the first morning bus which left Chandrapur CBS at 7:00 AM sharp and reached Sironcha at 12:00 noon.

When I asked the conductor, he told me there are 3 to 4 direct buses on this interstate route – one at 7 AM morning which I took, and others around 12:15 PM, 12:45 PM and 2:00 PM. I can only confirm the 7:00 AM timing because I personally traveled in it. The evening buses sometimes get late due to jungle and border checking. Please check MSRTC official app for today’s exact timing before you plan.

I took the first bus which is at 7:00 AM. This bus belongs to Chandrapur Division and Chandrapur Depot. The bus board was written in Marathi and English – Chandrapur – Sironcha. The bus was a regular Lalpari, not Shivshahi.

Morning bus is always best because you cross the 53 KM dense jungle between Rajura and Asifabad in daylight. Night journey in that jungle is risky due to wild animals.

My Bus Details: MH-34-BL-1823, Seat No 18 Window, Driver Name was Meshram kaka, very experienced. He said he is doing this route for 8 years.

What I Paid – Ticket Price Rs 350

My ticket was Rs 350, conductor said Rs 40 border entry tax for Telangana is included in it. If you go till Mancherial only, ticket is Rs 240.

Chandrapur To Sironcha Distance and Time

I started at 7:00 AM from Chandrapur and reached Sironcha at 12:00 noon. 5 hours is minimum, if jungle traffic or border checking, it can take 5:30 hours.

About Chandrapur – Why it’s called Black Gold City

Chandrapur is one of the most important districts of Maharashtra because of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. Every year thousands of tourists come here for jungle safari. Chandrapur is also called the city of black gold because of many coal mines in Ballarpur and Rajura area.

Chandrapur bus stand is one of the biggest in Maharashtra. Its new building is made with POP design. Very clean. It has more than 12 platforms. From here you get buses for Nagpur, Yavatmal, Gadchiroli, and even for Hyderabad. At 5:32 AM, the stand was already crowded with coal workers.

About Sironcha – Last Town of Maharashtra

Sironcha is a small town in Gadchiroli district. It is the last town of Maharashtra on the border of Telangana and Chhattisgarh. It is located on the bank of Godavari and Pranahita rivers. Population is only around 8,000 but it has a big bus stand because it connects three states.

People here speak Marathi, Telugu, and Gondi mix. The town is surrounded by thick forest and hills. Network is very weak. If you are going for the first time, download offline maps. Sironcha is also famous for old paper mills.

My Real Journey Diary – Full Stop by Stop Experience

5:32 AM – Chandrapur CBS

I reached early, took morning chai Rs 15 and one bun maska Rs 20 outside the stand. The morning was cold. My ticket No was 349182, printed at 5:48 AM. Bus was on Platform No 4. I took window seat. Bus was 60% full with many Adivasi people going to Sironcha weekly market.

7:00 AM – Bus Started From Chandrapur

Exactly at 7:00 AM, bus started. It went via Chandrapur-Mancherial highway, also called Mul Road. After leaving Chandrapur city, we crossed Bhimkund Warora toll naka. Toll is Rs 85 for cars, but MSRTC bus has a monthly pass. Road was two-lane good road.

Man: “Sironcha?” [Sironcha?]

Me: “Ho, tumhi suddha?” [Yes, you too?]

Man: “Ho. Kaam aahe tithe. 10-12 veles gelo aahe. Jungle area aahe – Tadoba cha jungle. Waagh baghayla milto.” [Yes. I have work there. I have been 10-12 times. It’s a forest area – Tadoba jungle. You get to see tiger.]

Me: “Khara?” [Really?]

Man: “Ho. Ekda baghitla hota. Lambun, pan baghitla.” [Yes. I had seen once. From distance, but I saw.]

7:37 AM – Ballarpur – 15 KM First Stop

First stop Ballarpur bus stand. Ballarpur is famous for paper industry and coal mines. Many workers with tiffin boxes got in. 2 minute halt. I saw Ballarpur fort board. Ticket checker came and checked tickets. Ballarpur to Rajura road is full of coal trucks, so dust is more.

7:54 AM – Rajura – 28 KM – Border Town – My Favorite Stop

This was the most important stop of my journey. We reached Rajura at 7:54 AM via Dhudwali Wardha river bridge and Rajura Bamni flyover. Wardha river bridge is very long, water was black due to coal.

Rajura is the last big town of Maharashtra before Telangana. This is where my interstate journey officially started. At Rajura bus stand, I saw at least 10 TSRTC red buses of Telangana.

That means we are near border. Rajura bus stand has total 6 platforms, very big for a small town because it is a border junction.

Me: “Ek cutting chai.” [One cutting chai.]

Tapriwala: “Sironcha bus is always full in this season because of market.”

Me: “Bhau, Asifabad kiti door aahe?” [Brother, how far is Asifabad?]

Tapriwala: “53 kilometer. Telugu state aahe. Tithe log thode vegle waatat.” [53 kilometers. It’s Telugu state. People there feel a bit different.]

Me: “Kay vegle?” [What’s different?]

Tapriwala: “Bhasha vegli. Culture thoda vegla. Pan chaan aahe. After Rajura no good hotel for next 53 KM. Only dense jungle.” [Language is different. Culture is a bit different. But it’s good.]

I took quick chai here Rs 15. The chai tapri wala told me “Sironcha bus is always full in this season because of market.”

My Personal Note From Rajura: After Rajura, there is no good hotel or shop for next 53 KM. Only dense jungle. Both sides of road have thick trees, so thick that sunlight does not come inside. Driver told me to keep window closed because monkeys jump inside for food. I saw two peacocks crossing the road.

9:00 AM – Asifabad – 81 KM – Entered Telangana State

This was the most thrilling part. From Rajura, after 53 KM non-stop jungle ride via Varur Road village, Lakkadkot ghat, Godigav village, we climbed a small ghat before border. At the top of ghat, there was Maharashtra-Telangana Border Check Post at Goigav. Police stopped our bus for 5 minutes, checked the permit papers of driver and conductor. Then we officially entered Telangana state.

Via Wankidi, Tejapur villages, the bus reached Asifabad bus stand at exactly 9:00 AM. Asifabad is in Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district of Telangana. It is a small town but bus stand is very crowded. Many women in Telangana saree style got in. The language suddenly changed from Marathi to Telugu. My conductor can speak both.

Vendor: “Sir, coconut water?”Me: “Kiti?” [How much?]

Vendor: “30 rupaye.” [30 rupees.]

Me: “Mancherial kiti door aahe?” [How far is Mancherial?]

Vendor: “66 kilometer, 1.5 tase lagel.” [66 kilometers, it will take 1.5 hours.]

10:15 AM – Mancherial – 147 KM – Big City in Telangana

Next stage was Mancherial. Distance from Asifabad to Mancherial is 66 KM. Route was via Rabbena village, Tandur village, Bellampalli toll naka, Mandamari village. This road is very good four-lane cement road because it is Telangana state highway. At 10:15 AM I reached Mancherial bus stand. Mancherial is a big city, like district place. Bus stand is very modern with digital display.

Me: “Sir, Sironcha sathi hee bus aahe ka? Road chaan aahe?” [Sir, is this bus for Sironcha? Is the road good?]

Conductor: “Ho, direct. 52 kilometer aahe ajun. Ek tase lagel. Highway chaan aahe, mag jungle yeto.” [Yes, direct. 52 kilometers more, it will take one hour. Highway is good, then jungle comes.]

Me: “Dhanyavad, bhaiyya.” [Thank you, brother.]

Conductor: “Chaan pravas zala?” [Was the journey good?]

Me: “Khoop, chaan vatla.” [Very much, I enjoyed it.]

I took 10 minutes break here, washed face, bought one water bottle Rs 20 and one biscuit packet Rs 20. Many passengers going to Hyderabad got down here.

12:00 PM – Sironcha – 212 KM Final Destination – Back to Maharashtra

Last and final stage – Mancherial to Sironcha is 62 KM.

This is again the most beautiful and lonely jungle route. Via Jaypur village, Bhima Ram village, Ghanaghat jungle, Kistampeth village, Chennur bus stand. Chennur is last town of Telangana. After Chennur, the bus went on a completely empty highway at full speed. No vehicles for 20 KM. Only forest and hills. Driver was honking continuously for wild animals.

Then again we crossed Telangana-Maharashtra border at Kistampeth check post and entered Gadchiroli district. At exactly 12:00 noon, my bus reached Sironcha bus stand. Sironcha stand is small but very clean, with only 3 platforms. But it has boards in 3 languages – Marathi, Telugu, English. I was so happy. 212 KM, 5 hours, 2 states, 1 jungle.

Sironcha is the last town. From here, Godavari river is only 2 KM. If you go further 20 KM, you enter Chhattisgarh. So this is called Tri-state border.

My Handwritten Diary Proof & Expense List

My Expense:
MSRTC Ticket Rs 350 + Morning Chai Bun Rs 35 + Rajura Chai Rs 15 + Water Bottle Rs 20 + Biscuit Rs 20 + Auto to Lodge Rs 40 = Total Rs 480. Very cheap for interstate 212 KM.

5 Important Learnings & Tips for Future Travelers

1. Always take 7:00 AM first bus. Jungle is safe in morning. After 2 PM, buses are less and jungle road is lonely.
2. Carry 2 water bottles and snacks. No good hotels between Rajura and Asifabad 53 KM jungle stretch.
3. Download offline maps and keep power bank 100% charged. No network from Lakkadkot to Asifabad.
4. Keep window closed in jungle. Monkeys and insects come inside.
5. Carry cash. No UPI works at border check posts and small tapris.

Conclusion & Chain Linking

Like this I completed my 212 KM interstate journey from Chandrapur to Sironcha in 5 hours. This was a continuation of my previous Ambejogai to Chandrapur 500 KM diary. So in 2 days I traveled total 712 KM across Maharashtra via MSRTC. So If you search chandrapur to sironcha distance, as per my travel it is around 212 KM via Asifabad and For return, sironcha to chandrapur distance is same 212 KM.

If you liked my Ambejogai to Chandrapur journey, you will also love this one.If you are planning to travel from Vidarbha to Telangana side, my Amravati to Chhindwara bus diary via Nagpur will also help you for planning.

What Next – Taking a Break at Home

After this 212 KM interstate jungle ride, my total journey in last 4 days became 712 KM – 5th Feb Ambejogai to Chandrapur 500 KM + 8th Feb Chandrapur to Sironcha 212 KM. Continuously sitting in MSRTC Lalpari, writing diary inside moving bus, no proper sleep in lodges – My body is now fully tired and asking for rest.So after Sironcha, I have decided to take a small break and go back to my home.

I need rest at home for few days. I want to meet my family, wash my clothes, backup all my handwritten diary photos properly with watermark, charge all my power banks and write all pending blogs.

Travel is not just running from one bus stand to another. Rest is also important to write better diaries. If I don’t rest, my diary quality will go down. So I will stay at home for 7-8 days, complete editing of these 2 big diaries.

Thank you for understanding. Your love on my Ambejogai to Chandrapur post gave me energy to complete this jungle border route.

Disclaimer: This is my personal travel diary blog, not official MSRTC website. MSRTC is trademark of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation. All timings and ticket prices mentioned are what I experienced on 08 Feb 2026, please check MSRTC official app for today.

FAQs – Chandrapur To Sironcha