@Irish,

I can not advice you about entire route, however, I can on certain sectors.

A: Going from Mumbai to Bhimashankar, you can leave highway at Talegaon and take Talegaon Chakan Road to meet Pune-Nashik Road. This can save approx 15-20 Minutes.

B: Being Tuesday, Darshan Time of 1 Hr. looks ok for Bhimashankar.

C: Bhimashankar ro Trimbak should take 5 Hrs or little more than that depending upon Traffic conditions between Sinnar and Nashik.

D: Trimbak Shirdi should take 3 Hrs as you are crossing Nashik during evening peak time.

E: If you reach Shirdi by 2000 hrs darshan can be done the same day. It will not take more than 2 Hrs. If you make online booking for Darshan it can be faster also.

F: I trust Parali-Vajinath has some good accomodation. Else you can travel to Latur or Nanded where you can get good quality accommodation.

That's all I can advice as I am not aware of other areas.

Happy journey.

Alternate route without mumbai would be

Vadodara- charoti-Jawahar-Trimbak-Trimbak-Nashik-Bhimshankar-shirdi-Shirdi-grishneswar-parli-aundha

Total distance would be 1271 kms

Charoti-jawahar-trimbak is ok doable. i did it in may 2011.

You need the help of teambhp member - GSMINC

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/long-t...-counting.html

Regards,
Govind

Sorry for my delayed reply, my comments as follows:

• Jalore? That is one of the worst roads you can take.
  To get to Dwaraka, you have the superb EW Corridor route, from Pali reach Pindwara where you join the 4-laner.
  Pali-Pindwara-Abu Road-Palanpur-Deesa-Radhanpur-Samakiyari-Maliya
  From Maliya, turn off EW Corridor & go to Jamnagar. Alternativley, you can go via Morbi-Rajkot-Jamnagar also.
  En route, if you wish, you could also visit Pushkar near Ajmer, Ambaji, a detour from Abu Road also.
  Excellent roads all the way, except for heavy truck traffic on the narrow NH14 between Pali & Pindwara.
  Cover Nageshwar also next to Dwaraka. It is near Mithapur off the Dwaraka-Okha/Bet Dwaraka road.
  
  
  
  Quote:

  Dwarka - Porbandar - Mangrol - Veraval – Somnath – 233 kms – 4 hrs

  Budget for some extra time if you want to visit Gandhi's birth home at Porbandar.
  Speeds may slow down if - true to tradition - some sections of Dwaraka-Porbandar road are in bad condition.
  
  
  Quote:

  Somnath - Bhavnagar - Anand - Vadodra - Valsad – Mumbai – 884 kms – 14 hrs

  Somnath-Bhavnagar road is always in a bad condition. I would suggest you stick to the route via JUnagad-Jetpur (double road hereon)-Rajkot-Ahmedabad-Baroda, which is superfast. Yet you will find it difficult to reach Bombay in 14 hours, budget for at least 2-3 hours more.
  
  Why come to Bombay at all? Why don't you proceed direct to Nashik/Triambakeshwar by turning off NH8 at Surat or Chikhli (the former preferred) & going to Nashik via Dhule.
  
  
  
  Quote:

  Mumbai - Lonavala - Pimpri - Khed – Bhimashankar – 218 kms – 3.5 hrs Bhimashankar - Narayangaon - Sangamner - Sinnar - Nashik – Trimbak – 237 kms – 4.5 hrs Trimbak - Nashik - Sinnar – Shirdi – 117 kms – 2.5 hrs Shirdi - Shani Shingnapur – (73 kms – 1.5 hrs) Aurangabad - Ellora Caves – Ghushmeshwar – 102 kms - 2 hrs

  Keeping with my earlier suggestion, I would reroute as follows:
  
  Somanth-Ahmedabad-Baroda-Surat-Dhule-Nashik-Triambakeswar-Nashik-Sinnar-Shirdi-Sangamaner-Narayangaon-Bhimashankar-Narayangaon-Ale Phata-Ahmednagar-Ghodegaon-Shani Singnapur-Aurangabad-Ellora-Grishneswar
  
  
  Quote:

  Ghushmeshwar - Aurangabad - Shahgadh - Khopat - Majalgaon - Babhalgaon - Parli Vaijnath – 247 kms – 4.5 hrs Parli Vaijnath - Parbhanj - Aundha Nagnath – 119 kms – 2.5 hrs

  Allow me to suggest a different route.
  Grishneswar-Aurangabad-Beed-Parli Vaijnath-Gangakhed-Parbhani-Aundha Nagnath
  
  
  Quote:

  Aundha Nagnath - Hingoli - Washim - Amravati – Nagpur – 353 kms – 6 hrs Nagpur – Gondia – 162 kms – 2.5 hrs Gondia - Nagpur - Amravati - Khandwa - Omkareshwar Jyotirling, Mandhata – 621 kms – 10 hrs Omkareshwar - Indore - Sanwer - Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain – 138 kms – 2.5 hrs

  Unless you have some reason to visit Gondia......
  I would take Aundha-Hingoli-Washim-Malkapur-Edalabad-Burhanpur-Omkareshwar-Maheswar-Dhamnod-Indore-Ujjain.
  
  If you wish to go to Gondia, then take Aundha-Hingoli-Washim-Karanja-Amaravathi-Nagpur
  If you are looking for a different route to come to Omkareshwar, with some bad roads, you can take Nagpur-Amaravti-Achalpur-Dharni-Burhanpur-Khandwa-Omkareshwar also.
  
  
  
  Quote:

  Ujjain - Guna - Shivpuri - Gwalior - Morena - Agra – Delhi – 784 kms – 11 hrs

Now the best route is Ujjain-Badhnawar-Ratlam-Mandsaur-Neemuc-Nimbaherea-Chittorgarh-Jaipur-Delhi

Thanks HVK for the detailed reply. Need further help in confirming the route plan first.

Google Map updated as per your advice. Please check the link below my all replies.

Ajmer & Pushkar can be skipped this time. sice they are closer to Delhi so can be visited any weekend. Do not want to break the first leg unless it is really required to do so. Nageshwar shall eb covered but couldn't locate in map.


This needs to be included but I am not too sure about this. Need to ask co-passengers.


Please check the roue map. It's byepassing Ahmedabad at the moment i.e. after Rajkot --> Limbdi --> right towards SH8 and reach Vadodara via Borsad. Hope the roads will be okay on this stretch?


Wanted to meet relatives in Andheri (E) but if we run out of time in first 3 temples then Mumbai needs to be skipped. And this plan shall be effective.
But the route seems to be very confusing.

Sorry, couldn't understand this route. Where is Beed?
I hope I am doing the same sequence?


I've to reach there in Gondia (24th) / Nagpur (25th) as there are marriage functions in a series and will stay there for approx 4 days. This can not be skipped.


This is what I have planned earlier.


Agreed. Please check my revised route plan.


http://maps.google.co.in/maps?saddr=New+Delhi,+Delhi&daddr=25.78689,73.3295 5+to:24.97736,72.89788+to:24.46461,72.77183+towa rka,+Gujarat+to:Somnath+Jyotirling+Temple,+Somnath ,+Gujarat+to:22.30012,70.7917+to:22.57509,71.9253+ to:22.6716,72.23161+to:22.40724,72.77948+to:Mumbai ,+Maharashtra+to:Bhimashankar+Temple,+Bhimashankar ,+Maharashtra+to:Trimbak,+Maharashtra+to:Shirdi,+M aharashtra+to:Shani+Shiganapur+Mandir,+Shri+Shani+ Shingnapur,+Maharashtra+to:Ellora+Caves,+Aurangaba d,+Maharashtra+toarli+vaijnath+jyotirlingam,+Par li-Vaijnath,+Maharashtra+to:Aundha+Nagnath,+Maharasht ra+to:Nagpur,+Maharashtra+to:Gondia,+Maharashtra+t o:Omkareshwar+Jyotirling,+Mandhata,+Madhya+Pradesh +to:Mahakaleshwar+Temple,+Ujjain,+Madhya+Pradesh+t o:24.83461,74.62709+to:26.54775,74.87426+toelhi& hl=en&ll=24.166802,74.904785&spn=16.05422,28.54248 &sll=25.552354,75.734253&sspn=3.978877,7.13562&geo code=FazwtAEdAFyaBCkttn40W_0MOTHOTSBOSbfCUg%3BFQp6 iQEdjuteBCkJDZBSG3NCOTEfheTajhyq0w%3BFdAffQEdWFVYB CnX21_I0txCOTH913MfSgP0lw%3BFeJMdQEd9mhWBCmJeLXaIC ZdOTHTmRLIqaUTQg%3BFQloUwEdY2EcBCl745ljJpxWOTEKbhA aRm6GtQ%3BFey5PgEd_DwyBCEoH8oImHAIJynrhoiVnjL9OzEo H8oImHAIJw%3BFdhFVAEdFDI4BCk7pWdRHspZOTHfc14Yx0MKg A%3BFfJ3WAEdNH5JBCk5m9joHTNZOTHPckocBY9wOw%3BFfDwW QEduipOBCmnrEXVs8ZeOTGAGjAFPcSPKQ%3BFUjoVQEd2IZWBC nNw1_cEqtfOTGKe5fqsrgBBg%3BFZATIwEdWAZYBCnB7URmMMb nOzFpjGSNj-2kXQ%3BFSYEIwEd-BFiBCmDt1tTa1ndOzEUic8Xchqb7Q%3BFVQ4MAEdZBNiBClzFE kAyvTdOzHk_VSnBBTqCQ%3BFaydLQEdZIZwBCmvaBdGp1vcOzG cyUMpLC2ADQ%3BFXG-JwEdlz12BCGQ4TqmQOoGsikVM2XeRpncOzGQ4TqmQOoGsg%3BF c-TMQEdqR57BCFSkraR1wj2_CkzojtUZ5LbOzFSkraR1wj2_A%3B FXyDHwEd4tSPBCHaFwgfyy92JymfmL96JvfPOzHaFwgfyy92Jw %3BFXooKgEd54uXBCkTzwhL7kjQOzE-SrEsIUnjXw%3BFcioQgEdG8q2BCkTrx-jpcDUOzErPrvQBn2zGQ%3BFYpzRwEdJbrHBCl1AUsKra4rOjGW gYgh1AeGcQ%3BFVxzUwEd2vaJBCEnhiQ9vVuqvymjUP7B7bxiO TEnhiQ9vVuqvw%3BFbq9YQEdDSKEBCFiRi8gDCHf2CnRGEA4Nn RjOTFiRi8gDCHf2A%3BFTLyegEdErhyBClTAMzSuR9mOTFCFxd nTt0EgA%3BFSYWlQEdlH12BCnnX0XIqvBrOTENTGpAn24SHw%3 BFazwtAEdAFyaBCkttn40W_0MOTHOTSBOSbfCUg&gl=in&mra= dvme&mrsp=23&sz=8&via=1,2,3,6,7,8,9,22,23&t=m&z=6


Cheers!
Irish

You may consider adding following nearby temples:
1) Saptashrungi Devi - Vani - near Nashik
2) Lonar (Crater Lake) near Aundha Nagnath
3) Amabjogai Devi - near Parali
4) Mahur Temple - Aundha/Nagpur road

Also - Why not consider going directly to Trimbak from Surat? Surat-Trimbak-Bhimashankar-Shirdi would save you time. I am not sure if you have many options to stay in Bhimashankar.

Going to be difficult to reach Dwaraka the same day. Maybe Palanpur on Day 1 and then reach Dwaraka before midday, finish off darshan at Dwarakdeesh Temple, Rukmini Devi Temple, Bet Dwaraka & Nageshwar Temple. You can cover Nageshwar on the way back from Okha/Bet Dwaraka, by turning off at Mithapur.


The road you are talking about is Rajkot-Limbdi-Bagodara-Tarapur-Vataman-Borsad-Vasad-Baroda. That is shorter, but not 4-laned, has lots of truck traffic & passes through towns.

I have suggested continuing on NH8A from Rajkot till Ahmedabad (super-fast), then take Sardar Patel Ring Road around Ahmedabad, join the Expressway (do not be confused by NH8 A'bad-Baroda, the eway intersection comes next), which gives you 4-laned high-speed simple roads all teh way and will reach you at Baroda in the same time.


Continuing my explanation from above, you leave NH8 at Surat bypass, take NH6 to Dhule, switch over to NH3 till Nashik.
Return to Nashik after finishing darshan at TRiambak, then go on NH50 (Pune highway) till Sinnar to go to Shirdi.
From Shirdi, take the Pune road (direct, not via Sinnar) to rejoin NH50 at Sangamaner. BHimashankar is a dead-end road so you return to NH50 and then proceed to Ahmednagar. On teh way to Aurangabad (SH60), turn off at Ghodegaon fro Shani Signapur (<10 kms inside), return to SH60 & go on to Aurangabad. Ellora & Grishneswar are next to each other some 25 kms from Aurangabad.


From Aurangabad, take the Beed road (after crossing Aurangabad airport on Jalna Road) and at Beed, turn off for Parli. No confusion, simple route.


I will be happy to work out a detailed route plan, since it is not easy to drive with G Maps.


I do not prefer that he goes on the Chikli-Saputara-Nashik road, which is not only confusing for someone new to this area but also cracks up after the rains, hence NH6 route to Dhule has been suggested. Do not take the short-cut indicated in G Maps to Malegaon, stick to route via Dhule only.

Near Bhimashankar, there is a lovely resort which is popular with all pilgrims.

This thread indeed is very helpul.

I will be driving to Raipur this diwali. Instead of driving on the usual route to NGP, plan to go via Parli Vaijnath and cover Aundha Nagnath also.

From the above quoted comments, I could make out the route to NGP from Parli Vaijnath via Aundha Nagnath.

"Parli Vaijnath-Gangakhed-Parbhani-Aundha Nagnath-Hingoli-Washim-Karanja-Amaravathi-Nagpur" (Pls suggest if any improvements can be made in this?)

Since, I have already been to Grishneshwar, going to Parli via Aurangabad will be longer.

So, which is the best route to reach Parli Vaijnath from Pune directly? It will be just 2 of us travelling. If we start early morning by 4am, then is it possible to reach NGP by sunset or latest by 8-9pm after covering both Parli and Nagnath?

Regards,
Aniket Tiwari

From Pune, you can take Ahmednagar-Beed-Parli Viajnath road.
Going to be a tough drive, but nothing is impossible, although I would schedule arrival in Nagpur even later, say, after 10 pm, all depends on whether the temples are crowded too.

hi all.

I am also planning to do an 8 day trip starting this sunday, with parents, in my Honda City.
HVK sir (and others obviously ) - Would appreciate it a lot if i could get your suggestions on my itinerary. The itinerary is as follows;

11th - Sunday - Leave Mumbai at Morning 7 AM types - Darshan at Triambak - Carry on to Omkareshwar - Darshan at Omkareshwar - 625 Kms for the day.
Q - Would it make sense to stay at Omkareshwar or move on to Ujjain (mahakaleshwar) that day itself for stay?

12th - Monday - Finish Mahakaleshwar and move on to Udaipur. 501 Kms on the day
Q - Which route should i ideally take this portion? - Ratlam - Banswara - Udaipur?

13th - Tuesday - Stay in Udaipur (Want to show parents the palaces lit up for Diwali)

14th - Wednesday - Udaipur to Barmer (To see a farm) - 366 Kms for the day
Q - Pindwara - Narsana - Sindari - Barmer Route?

15th - Thursday - Barmer to Jamnagar (Stay at the refinery town) - 542 Kms for the day

16th - Friday - Jamnagar to Dwarka, Nageshwar and drive down to Somnath in the evening. 362 Kms for the day
Q - Would these three be possible in one day. And acco options near Somnath?

17th - Saturday - Somnath to Aurangabad (Grishneshwar & Ajanta/Ellora) 984 Kms
Q - Taking Rajkot- Ahmedabad- Vadodara- Surat - Dhule route as per suggestions earlier. However, this is too long a stretch, and not sure how much hours it would take. Would not want to drive for more than 12 hours a stretch. Would it make sense to stay in Surat/Dhule?

18th - Sunday - Grishneshwar to Shirdi to Bhimashanker to Mumbai - 471 Kms.
Would it be possible to do this considering darshan times at Shirdi on a sunday?

Meanwhile, some of the reasons i am opting for the above schedule
1. Want to show parents the diwali in Udaipur when it is in full flow. (Tuesday/Wednesday)
2. Want to keep the nearby ones for the last so that even if i decide not to cover them, or parents feel too tired, I can always take them to these places on a weekend trip.

Would greatly appreciate any tip from all of you .

regards,
Siva

Overall, sounds too aggressive a schedule & splayed all over the place, especially the detour to Barmer & Aurangabad.


Too late a start from Bombay. Expect long Qs at Triambakeshwar & unless you find someone to escort you inside, you will end up spending lots of time at darshan there. I suggest you leave by at least 5 am, get someone to help you with quick darshan (there are several priests who will do it for you there) and target reaching Omkareshwar by evening. I think it will be too much of a stretch to go on to Ujjain the same day.


Assuming you reach Ujjain in the morning from Omkareshwar. Bypass Indore using the Ring Road which has good signages to connect with Ujjain highway - without going deep into the city - as you proceed on the RR towards Dewas.
Do not take any routes to Udaipur other than this one:
Ujjain-Badhnawar (and not direct road to Ratlam)-Ratlam-Mandsaur-Neemuch (do not take route via Dungarpur))-Nimbahera -(check on condition of the direct road to Mangalwad, it was good some months ago)-Chittorgarh-Mangalwad-Udaipur.
Expect to take at least 5-6 hours for this drive.

Maybe you should also visit Nathdwara, just 1 hour away from Udaipur, but expect huge crowds in this famous Krishna shrine.

The shortest route would have been via Pindwara-Jalore, but that road is a disaster. No choice other than to go all the way round.
Udaipur-Pindwara-Abu Road-Palanpur-Deesa-Sanchore-Barmer.
Expect some bad roads around Sanchore.


Long drive, but super-fast all the way except for some bad roads in Sanchore-Tharad sector. Expect no facilities throughout.
At Maliya, you can turn off the EW Corridor & go direct to Jamnagar. BYpass Jamnagar to get to the refinery township (it is on road to Dwaraka).


Depends on the crowd at Dwarakdish Temple. Distance is easily doable. But if you also take the boat to Bet Dwaraka, then it is going to be pretty difficult. Heavy crowds in all temples post-Diwali. All of GJ will be travelling. Somnath - the temple trust has good acco near the temple itself.


Too aggressive. But then why Aurangabad? Why not do that as a separate trip from Bombay?
No hotels to stay in Surat bypass. You will reach Dhule late evening only. Manas Hotel on Dhule bypass, and some more.


Too much. Bhimashankar normally is crowded. Assuming you start from Dhule that morning, covering all of them looks very difficult.

I would do Triambakeshwar-Shirdi-Grishneswar-Bhimashankar in another trip.
I would go direct from Bombay to Omkareshwar & if all gets done early, proceed to Ujjain the same day.

Wow. Thanks HVK sir for the detailed reply.


Will do as mentioned. Will target to get to Omkareshwar, and just see at Triambakeshwar if a quick darshan is possible.

Done.

Will definitely keep this in mind.

Noted.

Parents do not come very often, once in two years or so they come for such a duration - but yeah, think i will chuck the Shirdi, aurangabad part for a later date - Agree with you that the schedule is too hectic.


Thanks a tonne for the advises. Will update once i am done with the trip!

Cheers and have a wonderful diwali

Hi, got back from the trip a few days back, one week exactly. Just a quick update.

Day 1, Sunday - Triambakeshwar, Shirdi (Stay)
No rush at Triambak. Good roads, but bad traffic from Nasik to Sinnar

Day 2, Monday - Shirdi - Ellora Caves, Gushneshwar - Maheshwar, MP (Stay)
Excellent roads from Dhule to Maheshwar - Ultra fast, with very little traffic.

Day 3, Tuesday - Maheshwar - Omkareshwar - Ujjain (Stay)
State roads, well kept. Went to Dewas from Indore and turned left for Ujjain - Excellent road.

Day 4, Wednesday - Mahakaleshwar, Ujjain - Udaipur (Stay)
SUperb 4 lane roads for most portions. Two lane after Neemuch when we turn left. But good roads.

Day 5, Thursday - Udaipur - Rajkot (Stay)
4 lane all through. Good roads, moderate traffic

Day 6, Friday - Rajkot - Junagadh - Somnath - Porbandar (Stay)
Junagadh Somnath road is terrible - not craters but will ensure your vehicle gets punished. Somnath Porbandar road is awesome. Would not be a bad idea to stay at Porbandar and go to either dwarka/somnath - about 100 kms on both sides

Day 7, Saturday - Porbandar - Dwarka - Jamnagar Refinery Township (Stay)

Porbandar Dwarka Excellent roads . Betdwarka also good. Dwarka to Jamnagar - Ok roads, which improve as your get closer to the refinery.

Day 8, SUnday - Evening start from Jamnagar - Stay at Ahmedabad.
Day 9, Monday - Start from Ahmedabad at 7.30, Reached home/belapur by 2.00. Nice, fast drive.

Generally kept two temples/sights per day. No driving after 9 typically. But being late risers, that was quite difficult to keep true to that

At the end of the day - about 3400 kms, in 9 days. Average Mileage of 17 Kms/litre. And happy face of parents

Thanks HVK for the valuable advises. Left Barmer out of this trip based on your comment actually

HVK sir,

Just need a quick advise. As per the below snapshot, google maps shows three routes to reach Parli from Pune. Out of three I shortlisted two 2 routes :

1. Via Ahmednagar-Beed [Dark Blue route]
2. Via Tembhurni (Pune Solapur Highway)-Kurduvadi-Barshi-Ambajogai [Ligh blue route].

Both are almost equidistant from my place. Planning to leave by 2-3 PM today. So, would prefer a fastest route with good roads. As I plan to cover the max distance before sunset.

Another quick questn, In case it gets late, where can I halt if I take route two? If I take route 1, should I halt at Beed? Any options u can suggest here to stay with family. Its just 2 of us, me and my wife.

Would u know of any option to stay at Parli too?



Regards,
Aniket Tiwari

I would prefer the route via Ahmednagar since NH9 widening results in traffic jams after Indapur.

In Parli, stay at Hotel Anasuya Palace, 02446-224877/222377
You should be able to reach Parli before 9 pm by any means.