Trip to Gondawale and Pandharpur

[roamer]

Hi All,

I am planning a small trip with my parents to Gondawale and Pandharpur by end October or in early November. We will be travelling by our car. This will be a weekend (2 day) trip.

Though I have checked the routes on google and best seems to be Mumbai - satara -Gondawale -Pandharpur. But this can be used only for Onward journey.

I will like to have some info on below from you guys..

1. Route condition of Satara - Gondawale - Mhaswad -Pandharpur.
2. Route condition of Pandharpur - pune (Solapur Highway??)
3. Which will be the best location to take a halt for a night (Gondawale or Pandharpur)
4. Any know hows on stay options at Gondawale / Pandharpur?
5. Any other good route/tips.

Thanks.

[hvkumar]

I went on the Satara-Koregaon route a few weeks ago and the road was good. You are taking the Koregaon route. I checked up locally about the road condition, was told that they were good all the way to Pandharpur.
However, please bear in mind that these are very narrow roads, have no bypasses and lots of miscellaneous traffic, hence speeds will be very low.
Solapur-Pune highway is a mess thanks to road widening from Indapur onwards, totally avoidable.
Pandharpur has limited accommodation (hotels), but several choultries.

[Abhay]

I went to Pandharpur via Gondawale early this year to visit a friend and that road is quite good. While coming back we took the Phaltan-Saswad road and that was a mistake!

Stay on NH4 and take the Phata from Satara - best option (as rec'd by HVK himself!)

[ASHISHPALLOD]

Originally Posted by roamer

1. Route condition of Satara - Gondawale - Mhaswad -Pandharpur.
2. Route condition of Pandharpur - pune (Solapur Highway??)
3. Which will be the best location to take a halt for a night (Gondawale or Pandharpur)
4. Any know hows on stay options at Gondawale / Pandharpur?
5. Any other good route/tips.

1] satara-gndawale-mhaswad-pandharpur road , good condition.
2] as hvk already quoted, avoid it.
3] Neither gondawale nor pandharpur has any good options for stay.
as abhay suggested, halt at satara.
5] come back via same route.

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Solapur-Pune highway is a mess thanks to road widening from Indapur onwards, totally avoidable.

Originally Posted by Abhay

While coming back we took the Phaltan-Saswad road and that was a mistake!
Stay on NH4 and take the Phata from Satara - best option (as rec'd by HVK himself!)

[naren_gs1]

Originally Posted by roamer

3. Which will be the best location to take a halt for a night (Gondawale or Pandharpur)

Sant Gajanan Maharaj Niwas in Pandharpur is primitive but neat, clean, peaceful. You also get simple, hygienic food at non-profit rates (including mineral water).

[Milind]

I have stayed at Hotel Ashwairya - opposite Income Taxoffice @ Pandharpur; they have A/C rooms with clean interiors, Good Parking place & attached restaurant. This place is close to temple too - about 10 minuted with Horse Tonga.
Good Idea to call up before hand and confirm reservation. Don't have theeir numbers; but you could search on net to get them.

I did see couple of other decent looking hotels nearby; but never visited them.

[cyberwhizs]

Hi !,

Am contemplating a trip from mumbai to pandharpur in the next couple of days. Any updates on the road conditions, is satara-gndawale-mhaswad-pandharpur road still the best bet.

Approximately how much time will it take from Mumbai, I have done mumbai satara in around 4.5 -5 hours couple of times.

Thanks.

[VBN]

Originally Posted by cyberwhizs

Hi !,

Am contemplating a trip from mumbai to pandharpur in the next couple of days. Any updates on the road conditions, is satara-gndawale-mhaswad-pandharpur road still the best bet.

Approximately how much time will it take from Mumbai, I have done mumbai satara in around 4.5 -5 hours couple of times.

Thanks.

Hi cyberwhizs, which route did you finally take? And what do you recommend for a Mumbai pandharpur trip now?

Regards, Vinay

[cyberwhizs]

Originally Posted by VBN

Hi cyberwhizs, which route did you finally take? And what do you recommend for a Mumbai pandharpur trip now?

Regards, Vinay

Hey Sorry, somehow this did not show up in the inbox. I travelled via satara. Mumbai - satara - pandharpur. Left in the morning and returned same day late at night. Check out the updates on NH9, i think i posted on that thread too about the trip.

Am not too sure of the road conditions between satara and pandharpur, it is typical single carriageway but not much traffic. the tarmac was a little broken in some sections so average speeds will take a bit of a hit. if you have a big vechicle it wont be much of problem though. The worst section i encountered was within the town of pandharpur.

I hope this helps.

ps: it is a little bit of a stretch if you plan to drive to and back on the same day. having a co-driver will help.