First Road Trip In My Car - Need Suggestions Please

[Wolfheart]

Hey Everyone,

We're expecting bombay to be flooded around 23rd,24th and 25th and the entire city being paralysed. So I'm using the excuse to drive out of the city for the very first time in my Scorpio VLx with my girlfriend.

I have been flirting with the idea of driving to dandeli but realised that there arent any safari's happening in the rains and it doesnt seem very practical since I have only 4 days on hand.

I would really appreciate it if you guys could recommend a destination within 8-9 hours drive from Mumbai. The ideal location woud be a palce of natural beauty but not too commercialised and touristy. It's my first road trip in my new Scorpio and I want it to be memorable. So c'mon guys help me out here......Thanks!!!!

[Wolfheart]

I was just going through google maps and noticed a green patch between Satara and Ratnagiri called "Chandoli National Park". Does anyone have any first hand info about this place as to accomodation options, wildlife sightings, permissions etc?

[StarVegabond]

Do Konkan Belt

Start with Alibag beach, Kashid/Nagaon beaches, Murud Jhanjira Fort, Raighad fort, Harihareshwar, Mahad, Ganpatipule, Marleshwar, Ratnagiri, Pavas, Tarkarli Brach, Amboli, Vengurla etc.

it could be a vagabond holiday.

you can stay at the Homestay locations at each beach. There are MTDC resorts at Ganpati Pule, Harihareshwar, etc.

while returning you can return via Kolhapur, Pune back toward Mumbai

[ASHISHPALLOD]

Originally Posted by Wolfheart

I would really appreciate it if you guys could recommend a destination within 8-9 hours drive from Mumbai. The ideal location woud be a palce of natural beauty but not too commercialised and touristy.

Looking at the criteria, only one destination fits----Amboli near sawantwadi.

between Satara and Ratnagiri called "Chandoli National Park"

No parks and sanctuaries are open during monsoon for tourist.
Forget Chandoli national park.

[Wolfheart]

Originally Posted by StarVegabond

Do Konkan Belt

Start with Alibag beach, Kashid/Nagaon beaches, Murud Jhanjira Fort, Raighad fort, Harihareshwar, Mahad, Ganpatipule, Marleshwar, Ratnagiri, Pavas, Tarkarli Brach, Amboli, Vengurla etc.

it could be a vagabond holiday.

you can stay at the Homestay locations at each beach. There are MTDC resorts at Ganpati Pule, Harihareshwar, etc.

while returning you can return via Kolhapur, Pune back toward Mumbai

Thanks SV,

Sounds great!! How are these places during the monsoon?

Originally Posted by ASHISHPALLOD

Looking at the criteria, only one destination fits----Amboli near sawantwadi.



No parks and sanctuaries are open during monsoon for tourist.
Forget Chandoli national park.

Thanks Ashish! If Chandoli is a dense forest, I would be happy just staying on the outskirts, doesnt matter if there are no safaris etc.

[ASHISHPALLOD]

Originally Posted by Wolfheart

If Chandoli is a dense forest, I would be happy just staying on the outskirts,
.

As of now, there is no proper accommodation at Chandoli.
Chandoli park stretches from malkapur in kolhapur district to koynanagar in satara district.
As you are going with your gf and that too first time in your scorpio, in this monsoon, you don't take any chances about these parks and beaches.
Beaches in monsoon, big no no.
Amboli suits your requirement. It is monsoon destination with nature at best.
No rush, very less commercilised, family destination. Ref my travelogue about amboli CLICK http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...take-quiz.html (Monsoon masti: watch it LIVE and partake in the quiz)

[arin_12]

If you are driving in Mansoon any thing can happen at any place. So dont be very particular. Just drive and enjoy as much as possible.

[StarVegabond]

Originally Posted by Wolfheart

Thanks SV,
Sounds great!! How are these places during the monsoon?
.

Konkan belt would be very scenic during mansoon period
lush green, i am not sure about the road situation. but generally
Konkan roads are good (thanks to Narayan Rane)

beaches are very clean, isolated, home stay would be cheaper
as it would be non season. Food would be great, as good as it
is at home, you can enjoy seafood and other non veg or veg food
it would be freshly cooked for you.

MTDC resorts are clean, easier to get rooms now, it would
be cheaper too. Most of the MTDC resorts are on the beach viz. Ganpatipule, Tarkarli etc.

More over you are planning to travel with your girlfriend,

Barish mein, girlfriend ke saath, bheegneka mazaa hi kuch aur hai

only thing is you need to carry enough garments with you.
As only two of you would be driving there is enough space in the car, i suppose.

[Wolfheart]

Hey guys,

I'm planning a trip again. As you know, mumbai never got flooded and we never did that trip we planned. However I have a few days off work for Diwali.

What would be a good wilidlife destination, within say 12 hours drive from mumbai? I'm mainly interested in a destination with a good chance of spotting big cats, ellies etc. I'm not much of a bird enthusiast though. I would have a total of 4-5 days . At this point I'm considering the following options:

1. Dandeli- seems very interesting but too commercialised. It appears that wildlife sighting (big cats) etc are extremely rare. correct me if I'm wrong.

2. Gir National Park- I have read mixed reviews about Gir. However it's the only place in the world where you can see the asiatic Lion. It's also reputed to have a sizeable leopard population. So far this seems to be the most attractive option yet. We've also heard rumours of a beach where the lions hang out. Would appreciate more info about Gir , the road conditions to and from Mumbai, possibility of good sightings at this time of the years etc.

3. Chandoli- Seems like the perfect destination. Not a lot of tourists, dense forests , however dont know much about the infrastructure, wildlife sightings etc.

4. Melghat Tiger reserve - According to google maps, Melghat is just 10 hrs drive from Mumbai. However i have absolutely no idea about the road conditions. safety is an important concern 'cos I'm driving with my girlfriend.

If any of you guys have any info, sugestions, links etc I would greatly appreciate your sharing those with me. I plan to leave by saturday morning. Thanks!

[scorpydave]

Hey Wolfheart,

Check out the Madhav National Park, near Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, however I haven't been to this park, I suppose that should be infested with wild cats too on NH3 and rest be assured that from Nashik to Dhule is a 4 lane highway, Dhule to MP border is pretty good condition, however would caution you there is one ghat section of 15 kms, lots of dug out hole road before Mhow and Indore, hit the Indore bypass (4lane) leading to Dewas and Biaora, however watch out for dug outs again from Biaora to Shivpuri via Guna (2 lane), would caution you to travel mostly in the day this section.

The distance from Gwalior to Dhule was 755 kms as per google, and with 2 1/2 hrs break, we started from Gwalior(MP) at 6 am, reached Dhule(MAH) 9 pm. So you can calculate the distance from Mumbai.

Gir National Park is also a very good option, probably would be of almost close to the same distance but with lots of sight seeing around in Gir and Diu. (Mumbai via Surat bypass to Vadodara is a 4 lane again, you can be rest assured of the road, would not be of much time consuming on this highway).

[Shutterbugger]

Originally Posted by Wolfheart

2. Gir National Park- I have read mixed reviews about Gir. However it's the only place in the world where you can see the asiatic Lion. It's also reputed to have a sizeable leopard population. So far this seems to be the most attractive option yet. We've also heard rumours of a beach where the lions hang out. Would appreciate more info about Gir , the road conditions to and from Mumbai, possibility of good sightings at this time of the years etc.

This may not be the best time to visit Gir - lions are known to not come out that often from their lush green confines after monsoons. Your chances of spotting lions would probably increase during the hot summer months.

[Wolfheart]

Originally Posted by scorpydave

Gir National Park is also a very good option, probably would be of almost close to the same distance but with lots of sight seeing around in Gir and Diu. (Mumbai via Surat bypass to Vadodara is a 4 lane again, you can be rest assured of the road, would not be of much time consuming on this highway).

Originally Posted by Shutterbugger

This may not be the best time to visit Gir - lions are known to not come out that often from their lush green confines after monsoons. Your chances of spotting lions would probably increase during the hot summer months.

Thanks for your replies guys. I finally did the trip and drove for a total of 1850 Kms. As far as the lions go, we were very lucky and saw quite a few of them in addition to other fauna.

It was a great trip overall and the roads in Gujarat were excellent just like Scorpydave mentioned.

[issigonis]

A travelogue with pics and an excel based log, if you )

Regards

[Wolfheart]

Originally Posted by issigonis

A travelogue with pics and an excel based log, if you )

Regards

Hmm......sure dude! As soon as I am free I will write one. However I suck at narration so dont have very high expectations