[pickdj]

All
I am planning to visit Kurnool in Mid-June and will need to stay over in Hyderabad for the night. Based on what everybody says, it looks like the best route is
Pune-Solapur-Akkalkote-Kalburgi-Pargi-Sedam-Hyderabad.
Is this ok? I haven't done research on the Hyd-Kurnool road as of yet.
Also, I have an option of taking either the SX4 ZXI or a Figo diesel. Which one would you recommend? I Will be the only driver accompanied by the missus and two noisy kids.
Anybody else travelling around the same time?
DJ

[Drivethru]

Originally Posted by rakesh_r

Apart from the roads inside the towns (which I guess should not exceed 1 or 2 km) are the main highways in good condition?

Yes. I would just repeat what Ranjit _ p mentioned. Motorable is the right word to describe the Gulbarga route with few excellent patches thrown in while you are in Karnataka.

Originally Posted by pickdj

I am planning to visit Kurnool in Mid-June and will need to stay over in Anybody else travelling around the same time?
DJ

I guess SX4 has slightly better Ground clearance would help navigate the city roads better. On Pune - Solapur stretch you have many restaurants for food and rest room breaks. Hyderabad-Kurnool road is in good condition.

I'm not aware of places to take a break on the Solapur - Chevella stretch.

There is a shorter route to Kurnool from Gulbarga without coming to Hyderabad (From Kodangal there is a route to Bhootpur via Mahabubnagar). Bhootpur is on the Hyderabad - Kurnool highway. Check google maps if you want to explore this route.

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by pickdj

All
I am planning to visit Kurnool in Mid-June and will need to stay over in Hyderabad for the night. Based on what everybody says, it looks like the best route is
Pune-Solapur-Akkalkote-Kalburgi-Pargi-Sedam-Hyderabad.
Is this ok? I haven't done research on the Hyd-Kurnool road as of yet.
Also, I have an option of taking either the SX4 ZXI or a Figo diesel. Which one would you recommend? I Will be the only driver accompanied by the missus and two noisy kids.
Anybody else travelling around the same time?
DJ

You might want to also explore the option of flying to Hyderabad or taking the Duronto/Shatabdi to Hyderabad and hiring a self-drive zoom car which is available at the airport as well as Secunderabad station.In my opinion this would be a saner option than driving all the way.

Hyderabad to Kurnool is a fantastic 4 laned highway(the same highway continues all the way to Bangalore and further).If taking the flight,Kurnool is just about 200kms from Shamshabad airport and the drive will not take more than 2-2.5hours(inclusive of waiting times at toll gates enroute)

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by rakesh_r

Apart from the roads inside the towns (which I guess should not exceed 1 or 2 km) are the main highways in good condition?

Hyderabad to Solapur via. Gulbarga is quite good and highly motorable (more so in your Scross)

Originally Posted by pickdj

I am planning to visit Kurnool in Mid-June and will need to stay over in Hyderabad for the night. Based on what everybody says, it looks like the best route is Pune-Solapur-Akkalkote-Kalburgi-Pargi-Sedam-Hyderabad. Is this ok?

Have done this route quite a few times and is perfectly fine except for some rough patches for a few kms

Originally Posted by pickdj

I haven't done research on the Hyd-Kurnool road as of yet.Also, I have an option of taking either the SX4 ZXI or a Figo diesel. Which one would you recommend? I Will be the only driver accompanied by the missus and two noisy kids.

Any car that is comfortable. It's not like you will be encountering roads like in Ladhak or craters in moon

Originally Posted by pickdj

Anybody else travelling around the same time?
DJ

Will be driving again on this route during the June 2nd long weekend and can share updates post this trip

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

You might want to also explore the option of flying to Hyderabad or taking the Duronto/Shatabdi to Hyderabad and hiring a self-drive zoom car which is available at the airport as well as Secunderabad station.In my opinion this would be a saner option than driving all the way.

I wonder why you keep giving advice that Hyderabad to Pune via. Gulbarga is not worth a drive? When was the last time you drove on this stretch?

I have done this route 4 times (Once on a motorcycle) in last 6-8 months and find it quite good and a great option till the NH8 is completed

This route is just 20kms extra (320kms) from Hyderabad and takes 3.5 hours even if you drive at a steady pace of 100-120kmph

[mobike008]

Update

I drove Hyderabad-Pune-Hyderabad on June 2nd and 4th (Onward & Return)

Hyderabad-Sedam-Pargi-Kalburgi-Akkalkote-Solapur-Pune

Hyderabad to Kalburgi : Decent roads with some rough patches here and there

Kalburgi to Akkalkote : Good roads but, with quite a few speed breakers

Akkalkote to Solapur : Not that good roads but, driveable

Surprisingly,

Solapur to Pune is also not that great. I mean we in Hyderabad are spoilt by the super smooth tarmac around us

Solapur to Pune is roughly 280kms and out of which atleast 100-140kms the 4-lane does not have a good tarmac. It's patchy, bumpy and not smooth as how a typical 4-lane highway should be

I'm disappointed by this 4-lane experience

Hyderabad to Pune (585kms) : 6:00am-3:00pm ( 9.5 hours)

Pune to Hyderabad ( 585kms) : 12:30pm-9:30pm ( 9 hours)

P.S : We squeezed in a day drive trip ( 260kms) to Mahabaleshwar on June 3rd too

[unoczar]

Originally Posted by mobike008

Update

Kalburgi to Akkalkote : Good roads but, with quite a few speed breakers

Hi Avi bhai. Kalburagi to Akkalkote - Did you take state road 10? And how was Mahabaleshwar - planning to go in July.

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by unoczar

Hi Avi bhai. Kalburagi to Akkalkote - Did you take state road 10? And how was Mahabaleshwar - planning to go in July.

Yes. State 10 is the only way google will take you. I didnt know there is a different route that exists

Mahabaleshwar is beautiful place and I never get tired of it (visited on my bike last year same time).

It will be lush green in July due to the monsoon. Btw, dont miss visiting the Table land in Panchgani and make sure to time your visit so you reach in the evening around 5:00pm as the weather and views are awesome during that time

[VKS]

Update :

Pune to Hyderabad - NH 65 ( 24 June )

Pune 0 KM -7 AM
Sholapur 250 KM - 11 AM
Maharashtra Border 350 KM -1:30 PM
Hyderabad 536 KM - 5:30 PM

Vehicle : Fiesta

Pune to Sholapur is all 4 lanes, No issues except few undulations in the road surface . Much time spent on the toll booths,early morning start would have saved time.

Sholapur to Maharashtra Border is the problematic road . Average Road condition with few bad patches . No scraping but have to be cautious. It's not as bad as I expected.

Maharashtra Border to Hyderabad - Road surface is very good and can maintain good speeds even with diversions.

The bypass also seems to be complete for zaheerabad & other towns but not open so have to go through the towns .

The L&T section ( 145 kms) seems to be nearly complete and I expect it to be open in 2-3 months . Sholapur to Maharashtra Border is long way from completion, I don't expect that to be complete in 2018 too.

[unoczar]

So wait, I'm a little confused. Shall we still stick to gulbarga route or can we start using the zaheerabad route? I'll be traveling on the 17th.

[VKS]

Originally Posted by unoczar

So wait, I'm a little confused. Shall we still stick to gulbarga route or can we start using the zaheerabad route? I'll be traveling on the 17th.

I never travelled on Gulbarga route so don't have a comparison. The 100 kms of bad stretch between Sholapur to MH Border might become an issue in rains.

If Gulbarga route has good surface all through it will be better to use during Monsoon.

[fiesta1.6]

Hello,

I am planning to go to Hyederabad from 12th Aug to 15th Aug. Initial plan is

12th Aug: Pune to Hyd(Gachi Bowli)
13th Aug: Hyd
14th Aug: Hyd
15th Aug: Hyd to Pune

I'll be taking my car Fiesta 1.6 and will be with my family. I have certain queries:

1) Is it advisable to this stretch by car?
2) Given that it will be a long weekend, will the tolls get to crowded on this stretch as well?
3) Which route to take?

Could someone please throw some light on this?

[ragh_bhushan]

Originally Posted by fiesta1.6

1) Is it advisable to this stretch by car?

Yes. No issues at all.

2) Given that it will be a long weekend, will the tolls get to crowded on this stretch as well?

Quite likely. Although on my numerous trips, I have never encountered any major delay at any of the toll plazas. Nothing like Mumbai Pune Expressway toll during long weekends.

3) Which route to take?

Take Pune - Solapur - Akkalkote - Kalburgi - Pargi - Sedam - Hyderabad route as suggested by mobike008 above. I have done this as well as Zaheerabad one. Via Kalburgi is much much better with above average to good tarmac all along.

Safe travels!

[unoczar]

Hello guys, I'm going to Mahabaleshwar tomorrow.

I've been checking the thread and gmaps too. Gmaps was showing the Gulbarga route until now but today it says the fastest route is the zaheerabad route. I'm in a little doubt now, has the zaheerabad road been completed?

I'm sticking to the Gulbarga Akkalkot route anyways, but if there is a completion update on the Hyderabad - Solapur road then I might take that.

[joshuakeys]

Originally Posted by unoczar

Hello guys, I'm going to Mahabaleshwar tomorrow.

route. I'm in a little doubt now, has the zaheerabad road been completed?

I'm sticking to the Gulbarga Akkalkot route anyways, but if there is a completion update on the Hyderabad - Solapur road then I might take that.

I have done Hyd-Pune, last week(12.07.2017), The roads have improved tremendously, There's been a good progress with regards to the roads.

I have done Hyderabad - Pune in 7hrs with 30Mins break and it was a day journey.

I would say you can take the zaheerabad route, The moment you cross zaheerabad, you come across the new roads till Omerga. roads from omerga to sholapur has also been laid new except for about 20 odd kms. Rest of the roads are new.

From Sholapur you can take the Pandarpur route.

If you take Gulberga route, Most of the times you are in the Town roads and you will end up driving slow, more over you will add up another 80 -100kms to your journey.

My Suggestion, Go ahead and take zaheerabad route, the only mess on road you will have is zaheerabad town traffic, post that u can just zoom.

[unoczar]

Thank you Joshua. I took the gulbarga route and although the roads weren't bad, I didn't actually enjoy them. I'm in mahabaleshwar now and intend to take the NH for my return on Friday.