BLR->Pune->Mahabaleshwar->Lonavala->Shirdi->Ajanta-Ellora->BLR:In Sep Recommended? - Team-BHP

ashwinsid · 18th September 2009, 13:25

Hey all you wonderful people.

We are planning a trip to Shirdi from Bangalore between September 26 - 30. And along the way, we plan to visit Pune, Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala, Ajanta Ellora.

I would like some info on how the road conditions are and is it rainy at this time of the year?

Right now I am going through all the travelogues of the other members for route details. We'll be traveling in a Maruti 800.

Any suggestions are welcome with a huge smile

Akadian · 21st September 2009, 13:28

While approaching from the Bangalore side, you could first see Mahabaleshwar and then proceed onward to Pune and the other places you want to see. Then from Pune, it would make sense to see Lonavla before going to the rest of your sight-seeing list. Right now, the rains have subsided and I don't envisage heavy rains this time of the year

aryashiv1 · 21st September 2009, 14:40

yes you can first take Mahabaleshwar, then proceed to Pune. From Pune you can ahead to Lonawala. From Lonawala...you can take Talegoan Chakan road and once you reach Chakan take left on NH 50. This is very good raod to take you all the way to Shirdi via Rajgurunagar, Manchar etc. One you finished Shirdi you can take road to Shani Shingnapur (which is another holy place to visit as it comes on the way you can visit the same). After finishing Shani Shingnapur, the highway to Aurangabad (Pune Nagar Aurangabad Highway) is just a KM away from there. It wont take you more than couple of hours to reach Aurangabad from there. Had done this route twice in my i10 last year only. The road is excellent. Only bad patch you wont like is road from Shirdi to Shani Shingapur. Its quite wide road but not done up properly. You can make your base at Aurangabad and from there can visit Ajanat Ellora. 90% of the roads on this route are very good.

One word of caution please beware of the farmers. the cattles and the bike ridden people on these road. They can appear right in front of your car from no where all of a sudden. I have had a bad experince last year.

f1fan · 21st September 2009, 21:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashwinsid

Hey all you wonderful people.

We are planning a trip to Shirdi from Bangalore between September 26 - 30. And along the way, we plan to visit Pune, Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala, Ajanta Ellora.

I would like some info on how the road conditions are and is it rainy at this time of the year?

Right now I am going through all the travelogues of the other members for route details. We'll be traveling in a Maruti 800.

Any suggestions are welcome with a huge smile

What dates are you planning to be in Mahabaleshwar as I would be there from 26th to 28th. Its always a great feeling to meet a fellow T-BHPian

ashwinsid · 21st September 2009, 23:54

Hey guys, thanks for the replies.

Right now this is the plan (but not yet decided):

--Friday 25-09-09: Leave from Bangalore at evening.
--Saturday 26-09-09: Reach Mahabaleshwar in the morning. Then visit Panchgani.Evening reach Pune. Overnight halt at friends place.
--Sunday 27-09-09: From here we hire a car with driver as we'll have our friends join in too. So from Pune to Aurangabad, Ellora, Grishneshwar. Night halt at Aurangabad.
--Monday 28-09-09: Visit to Ajanta. By evening reach Shiridi.
--Tuesday 29-09-09: Have Sai Baba darshan early morning and then visit Bhimashankar, Lonavala and reach Pune by evening.
--Wednesday 30-09-09: Leave Pune early morning and return to Bangalore.

Now is this plan good or can we cover other places too? If there are really good places to visit, we can reach Bangalore on Sunday 4th October too.

Your suggestions are eagerly awaited.

@f1fan, Thats nice. I will confirm the details of when I will be in Mahabaleshwar. Though I plan to just visit the place for a few hours and not stay there.

Akadian · 22nd September 2009, 00:04

hi ashwinsid,

The plan is cool but if you are visiting both Bhimashankar and Grishneshwar, why don't you include Trayambakeshwar in your itinerary as well. It is in the same parts more or less

ASHISHPALLOD · 22nd September 2009, 10:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashwinsid

--Friday 25-09-09: Leave from Bangalore at evening.
--Saturday 26-09-09: Reach Mahabaleshwar in the morning. Then visit Panchgani.Evening reach Pune. Overnight halt at friends place.
--Sunday 27-09-09: From here we hire a car with driver as we'll have our friends join in too. So from Pune to Aurangabad, Ellora, Grishneshwar. Night halt at Aurangabad.
--Monday 28-09-09: Visit to Ajanta. By evening reach Shiridi.
--Tuesday 29-09-09: Have Sai Baba darshan early morning and then visit Bhimashankar, Lonavala and reach Pune by evening.
--Wednesday 30-09-09: Leave Pune early morning and return to Bangalore.

Now is this plan good or can we cover other places too?

@ ashwin,
little time and too many places. too ambitious.
you are going to play game of touch and go.
do you really want to play this game with your trip?
i suggest, skip bhimashankar and lonavala , spend that saved day at ellora, a'bad and ajanta. also skip mahabaleshwar. no point to go there for merely 6 hours.

ashwinsid · 22nd September 2009, 11:08

@Akadian, We have already been to Tryambakeshwar. So planning to visit the temples we have not been to.

@ ASHISHPALLOD, even I have a feeling that it is crammed. But our main intention of the tour is Shiridi Darashan. So visiting Mahabaleshwar as an 'en-route place'. If it is not recommended, then we'll drive directly to Pune. Lonavala also just visiting and can be removed from the plan. Bhimashankar is a must visit. As I had mentioned, the itinerary is not yet decided. I wanted TBHPians response to the plan so that I can make changes accordingly. Will see which places to skip.

ASHISHPALLOD · 22nd September 2009, 12:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashwinsid

But our main intention of the tour is Shiridi Darashan. So visiting Mahabaleshwar as an 'en-route place'. Bhimashankar is a must visit. As I had mentioned, the itinerary is not yet decided.

Then i suggest,

day1 drive bangy to pune in day time on saturday and halt at pune.
day2 halt at aurangabad. see all places in a'bad. skip ajantha.
day3 ellora, daulatabad fort, ghrishneshwar and halt at shirdi.
day4 lendyadri [ ashtvinayak ganapati], ozar[ ashtavinayak ganapati], take darshan at bhimashankar and halt at pune.
day5 pune-bengaluru.

18th September 2009, 13:25	#1 (permalink)
ashwinsid BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 103	BLR->Pune->Mahabaleshwar->Lonavala->Shirdi->Ajanta-Ellora->BLR:In Sep Recommended? Hey all you wonderful people. We are planning a trip to Shirdi from Bangalore between September 26 - 30. And along the way, we plan to visit Pune, Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala, Ajanta Ellora. I would like some info on how the road conditions are and is it rainy at this time of the year? Right now I am going through all the travelogues of the other members for route details. We'll be traveling in a Maruti 800. Any suggestions are welcome with a huge smile Last edited by ashwinsid : 18th September 2009 at 13:26.

21st September 2009, 13:28	#2 (permalink)
Akadian BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Karnal Posts: 156	While approaching from the Bangalore side, you could first see Mahabaleshwar and then proceed onward to Pune and the other places you want to see. Then from Pune, it would make sense to see Lonavla before going to the rest of your sight-seeing list. Right now, the rains have subsided and I don't envisage heavy rains this time of the year __________________ Indigo CS LX Tdi '09 Hyundai Getz '05 Ex-Bullet Thunderbird '06 Ex-Yamaha RX100 '96

22nd September 2009, 00:04	#6 (permalink)
Akadian BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Karnal Posts: 156	hi ashwinsid, The plan is cool but if you are visiting both Bhimashankar and Grishneshwar, why don't you include Trayambakeshwar in your itinerary as well. It is in the same parts more or less __________________ Indigo CS LX Tdi '09 Hyundai Getz '05 Ex-Bullet Thunderbird '06 Ex-Yamaha RX100 '96

22nd September 2009, 11:08	#8 (permalink)
ashwinsid BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 103	@Akadian, We have already been to Tryambakeshwar. So planning to visit the temples we have not been to. @ ASHISHPALLOD, even I have a feeling that it is crammed. But our main intention of the tour is Shiridi Darashan. So visiting Mahabaleshwar as an 'en-route place'. If it is not recommended, then we'll drive directly to Pune. Lonavala also just visiting and can be removed from the plan. Bhimashankar is a must visit. As I had mentioned, the itinerary is not yet decided. I wanted TBHPians response to the plan so that I can make changes accordingly. Will see which places to skip. Last edited by ashwinsid : 22nd September 2009 at 11:10.

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21st September 2009, 14:40	#3 (permalink)
aryashiv1 BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 55	yes you can first take Mahabaleshwar, then proceed to Pune. From Pune you can ahead to Lonawala. From Lonawala...you can take Talegoan Chakan road and once you reach Chakan take left on NH 50. This is very good raod to take you all the way to Shirdi via Rajgurunagar, Manchar etc. One you finished Shirdi you can take road to Shani Shingnapur (which is another holy place to visit as it comes on the way you can visit the same). After finishing Shani Shingnapur, the highway to Aurangabad (Pune Nagar Aurangabad Highway) is just a KM away from there. It wont take you more than couple of hours to reach Aurangabad from there. Had done this route twice in my i10 last year only. The road is excellent. Only bad patch you wont like is road from Shirdi to Shani Shingapur. Its quite wide road but not done up properly. You can make your base at Aurangabad and from there can visit Ajanat Ellora. 90% of the roads on this route are very good. One word of caution please beware of the farmers. the cattles and the bike ridden people on these road. They can appear right in front of your car from no where all of a sudden. I have had a bad experince last year.

21st September 2009, 23:54	#5 (permalink)
ashwinsid BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 103	Hey guys, thanks for the replies. Right now this is the plan (but not yet decided): --Friday 25-09-09: Leave from Bangalore at evening. --Saturday 26-09-09: Reach Mahabaleshwar in the morning. Then visit Panchgani.Evening reach Pune. Overnight halt at friends place. --Sunday 27-09-09: From here we hire a car with driver as we'll have our friends join in too. So from Pune to Aurangabad, Ellora, Grishneshwar. Night halt at Aurangabad. --Monday 28-09-09: Visit to Ajanta. By evening reach Shiridi. --Tuesday 29-09-09: Have Sai Baba darshan early morning and then visit Bhimashankar, Lonavala and reach Pune by evening. --Wednesday 30-09-09: Leave Pune early morning and return to Bangalore. Now is this plan good or can we cover other places too? If there are really good places to visit, we can reach Bangalore on Sunday 4th October too. Your suggestions are eagerly awaited. @f1fan, Thats nice. I will confirm the details of when I will be in Mahabaleshwar. Though I plan to just visit the place for a few hours and not stay there.