[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by indusboy

Thanks Parag sir. If I take the Bangalore-Hubli option, what would be the route from Hubli.

Hubli - Bagalkot - Vijayapura - Pandharpur. With this route you will really have to enter and exit Hubbali and during certain times of the day, this is not something you will like if you were driving from Bangalore with Pandharpur as destination.

Are there any advantages in this route over the Hospet route.

Known devil that you are already aware of till Hubli. Hospet route actually remains in pristine condition that it will be stress-free till you start driving on single carriageway for the last 120km after Vijayapura.

I have done Bangalore-Goa recently and I thought Chitradurga-Hubli the diversions have reduced considerably, at least while going to Hubli.

A very early start from Bangalore, say 0400 is actually going to be a lot better to tackle these diversions peacefully and considerably faster compared to passing them after 9am.

Bangalore to Hubli in current state takes anywhere between 6.5-8 hours tops. Hubli to Vijayapura another 4.5 Hours. So thats around 10-11 hours for Vijayapura if done via Hubli.

Now, if you would be doing Vijayapura via Hospet, it would take lesser time, say around 8.5-9.5 hours.

Beyond Vijayapura, its the common route whether you choose Hubli or Hospet.

However, only thing you really need to plan with Hospet route are your breaks soon after you exit out of Pune highway at Chitradurga.

[bullock-Car]

I travelled from Bangalore to Solapur 2 times in last 6 months. With the completion of Chtradurga to Hospet stretch, travel up to Bijapur is a breeze. Excellent roads from Bangalore till Bijapur.
In fact in lockdown period, I travelled from Bangalore to Bijapur in 7 hours and till Solapur in 9 hours. It was an emergency travel and took for 2 short breaks with empty roads. THe Chitradurga to Hospet is an excellent stretch and Hospet to Bijapur was always good built by GMR group.
While travel to Solapur, everytime one stretch acts as bottlenecks. Now the Bijapur to Solapur is bottleneck and hopefully by this year end the road should be ready. The work is in full swing.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by indusboy

Planning a drive from Bangalore to Pandharpur

Kolhapur-Pandharpur via Miraj, Sangola was good. Except Miraj town and few rough patches on the last 10 km ahead of Pandharpur. Rest were a breeze. This was Dec 2017, and I haven't been on the route since.

[indusboy]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Kolhapur-Pandharpur via Miraj, Sangola was good.

Thanks. So go all the way to Kolhapur on NH4 and then take the turn. From a distance point of view this is longer than the other route. But would this be faster?

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by indusboy

Thanks. So go all the way to Kolhapur on NH4 and then take the turn. From a distance point of view this is longer than the other route. But would this be faster?

It will certainly not be any faster over Hospet Vijayapura route. That is sure for certain given the fact that the route till Vijayapura is in good shape.

Forget Pandharpur, even for Aurangabad from Bangalore NH4 is no longer the preferred route.

[Jerremee]

Even for Bangalore to Pune, the route via Solapur may be a better option given the multiple diversions on the Bangalore - Chitradurga - Davangere - Hubli route. Again, beyond Karad till Satara, there are deadly stretches with massive potholes riddled all across the highway. Beyond Satara, this gets combined with multiple diversions. If you are driving at night, it can as well be described as a road to hell.

[indusboy]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. We did a Bangalore - Akluj trip recently.

Route taken: Bangalore - Tumkur - Chitradurga - Hospet - Bijapur - Umadi - Mangalwedha - Pandharpur - Akluj.

Left Bangalore around 6am and were able to reach Bijapur by 1:30 pm. This is after a breakfast stop in Tumkur. We had lunch at Bijapur.

BLR-Chitradurga, is good. And is discussed on other threads.

As noted in replies to my question - Chitradurga - Bijapur (NH50) was a pleasant surprise. Well laid out 4 lane highway, Fastag working everywhere.

However, work is going on in Bijapur. So keep sometime for crossing Bijapur itself.

After a nice millets lunch at Hallimane, we left Bijapur. With the ongoing work on NH50 in Bijapur, it is a pain to exit the city. We followed Google Maps directions, and it took us on pretty narrow roads (but good surface quality) until Umadi. From Umadi there is an excellent 2Lane MH state highway (cement road) until Pandharpur. There are some rough patches and some construction activity. But overall this stretch is good.

Pandharpur - Akluj is under construction and takes some driving.

We reached Akluj in 11 hours.

We followed more or less the same route - we did try to find some alternate routes from Umadi to Bijapur, but all of them were in bad conditions.

Hopefully this helps others.

[Capri89]

Originally Posted by indusboy

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. We did a Bangalore - Akluj trip recently.
==========
We followed more or less the same route - we did try to find some alternate routes from Umadi to Bijapur, but all of them were in bad conditions.

Hopefully this helps others.

Did Bangalore - Pandharpur in late March.

Followed the above route.

However, after Bijapur a left at Tidagundi is the shortest route to Pandharpur via Umadi. The road is a typical village road. With grape farms on both sides, one can experience Indian village life. Better to ask for directions now and then and not rely on google maps wholly.

Umadi - Mangalweda - Pandharpur is excellent road as stated above.

On return took Mangalweda - Chadchan - Zalki route to touch Solapur - Bijapur highway. Not a wise decision though. Mix of some good roads and very bad ones for long stretches.

If ride comfort is primary Bijapur - Solapur - Mohol - Pandharpur would be a good one. Presently the Mohol - Pandharpur is a work in progress. But it is a good six lane one on fast track. Not advisable at night time as of now.

[GeeTee TSI]

Originally Posted by Capri89

Did Bangalore - Pandharpur in late March.

I am planning a trip Bangalore - Pandharpur - Kolhapur - Bangalore (also considering to include Akkalkot and Tuljapur).

Any stay options in Solapur or Pandharpur would be much welcome (good parking, the only preference).

Having done Bijapur in August I am confident of the roads till there (Via Hosapete) but didn't look encouraging beyond Bijapur. Wonder how good are the roads connecting Pandharpur and Kolhapur

[narayans80]

Bijapur-Solapur 4-lane is complete. See updates in Bangalore-Auragabad thread.

Kolhapur-Pandharpur is via Miraj-Sangola. It was a good 2-lane before, currently its partly 4-laned I think.

Tuljapur is easy. Pandharpur-Mohol-Solapur Bypass-Tuljapur

Originally Posted by GeeTee TSI

Any stay options in Solapur or Pandharpur would be much welcome (good parking, the only preference).

Solapur is a lousy town for hotel stay. Has poverty spec parking lots. If you are doing Tuljapur, you can stay Pushpak Park in Osmanabad or you can think Bijapur or Gulbarga depending on whether you are returning back to heading to Akkalkot.

[condor]

Akkalkot - check Ajinkyatara for stay. If you are keen on Solapur, can check. But will need type of hotel that you want

[GeeTee TSI]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Solapur is a lousy town for hotel stay. Has poverty spec parking lots. If you are doing Tuljapur, you can stay Pushpak Park in Osmanabad or you can think Bijapur or Gulbarga depending on whether you are returning back to heading to Akkalkot.

Much enlightened! But for Solapur being a major town and geographically in the middle of these places, I have no business in Solapur per se. Return will be via Kolhapur after Pandharpur. I might stay one night at Pandharpur specifically (proximity to temple not a great concern but good parking is)

Originally Posted by condor

Akkalkot - check Ajinkyatara for stay. If you are keen on Solapur, can check. But will need type of hotel that you want

It makes sense staying closer to (or in) any of the temple towns as suggested. I will look to end day 1 either at Akkalkot or Osmanabad, much appreciate the hotel suggestion at each

[Capri89]

Originally Posted by GeeTee TSI

Any stay options in Solapur or Pandharpur would be much welcome (good parking, the only criteria.

While at Pandharpur I stayed at Prabhu Residency. Quite decent, walking distance to the temple, has ample car parking space outside the hotel.

Six months back Solapur - Mohol - Pandharpur roads were being laid. Hopefully most of the stretch may be complete now. These are really wide, 6 lane, good tarmac ones.

A shorter route from Bijapur is, however, through Tidagundi. As mentioned earlier, these are single lane, but with hardly any vehicular traffic. You can enjoy a short village route upto Mangalweda. Post that the roads are wide and good upto Pandharpur.

Hope this helps. Have a good trip.

[avasekeh]

Hello Bhp-ians,

Planning on a trip to Kolhapur-pandharpur from bangalore setting out tomorrow early morning.

Are there protests on-going - is it ok to travel now?

Planned Itinerary - Bangalore-Pandharpur-kolhapur-bangalore or would bangalore-kolhapur-pandharpur-bangalore be a better route?

thank you!!

[GeeTee TSI]

Just completed a round trip from Bangalore to covering Tuljapur - Barshi - Pandharpur - Kolhapur

I have put a summary of the trip details here, covering almost 1700 kms over 4 days with each night at a different hotel. Heartfelt thanks to the suggestions from BHPians in earlier posts, which pretty much took care of routes and halts


Interestingly, this trip was covered from Bangalore in my father's KL plate Grand i10 Nios with 3 co-passengers with the thought that it would be under the radar compared to my KA plate car (especially with protests in Belgaum). However, abundant caution aside, the trip was uneventful on that front

That said, the 'lil' Nios completed the journey with surprising ease, with its spacious non-claustrophobic cabin keeping the occupants comfortable. Only catch, there was (strict) instruction to pack only soft bags which can be squished in place in the tiny boot (whose parcel shelf was removed for the trip)

A click on the highway near Hospet (with a 'trash' bag and improvised rear blinds among 5 soft bags in the boot)


Day 1 started at 04:30 from Bangalore to Osmanabad, a really long drive with the following segments
* Bangalore - Tumkur: high traffic, poor surface
* Tumkur - Chitradurga: fast 3+3 lanes with manageable traffic
* Chitradurga - Hospet : 2+2 fast and straight roads, with hardly any traffic (or eateries to speak of)
* Hospet - Bijapur: Really desolate and great to drive
* Bijapur - Solapur: great highway roads aside, Solapur town limits had crumbling roads (even by Bangalore standards!)
* Solapur - Osmanabad: The NH 52 was FANTASTIC, effectively lifting our spirits at the fag end of a long drive

Photos enroute Day 1
Tungabhadra Dam reservoir at Hospet


Almatti Dam reservoir


A fleeting glance of the Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur from the highway


The lovely parking area of Hotel Pushpak Park, Osmanabad (even enabling me carry out a waterless wash exercise)


A rather nifty device in the room - a wireless charging dock cum bluetooth speaker!


Day 2 was all about temple darsans (and a much shorter drive).
Considering Osmanabad Tuljapur was a short 22 kms on a really good highway, we decided to leave early for the temple darsan and come back to the hotel for breakfast and check out. Shri Tulja Bhavani Temple has a massive parking ground (which can accommodate many buses even!)


Shri Bhagwant Mandir, Barshi was a lovely temple that we visited enroute, notwithstanding the rather average (yet motorable) surface and dual carriageways

Checked into Prabhu Residency around noon, one among the few good hotels in a popular temple town like Pandharpur. This one has parking but on a public (side) road in front of the property (quite tight and one cannot be assured of a spot). But the temple is just one straight walk under a kilometer and the rooms were clean, that was about it!

Vittal Rukmini Temple, Pandharpur.


We reached the temple around 6 pm and stood in queue for 'Charan Sparsh' darsan for a good 2+ hours. Booking the online darsan slot is highly recommended (which we had not). Do take note that phones are not allowed inside the temple, lockers are available, but they close before the last darsan.

Day 3 we headed to Kolhapur along NH 166 which was fantastic. Stopped for breakfast at Grameena Olden Days...(that's the name replete with the dots), a food park of sorts in a nice rustic ambience beautifully recreated


Checked into Hotel K Square, Kolhapur around noon, with its clean basement parking (which trumped even my Bangalore apartment!) and very well thought out rooms


Shri Amba Bai Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur; a sacred temple and also a 7th century architectural gem!




Parking near the temple was close to non-existent, so we chose autos, thanks to auto stands right outside the hotel

The last agenda on our itinerary was an unplanned addition, Jyotiba Temple atop Wadi Ratnagiri, around 45 minutes away



An absolutely lovely hill climb to a very unique temple which was slathered with pink gulal, pink being Lord Jyotiba's favourite colour. It was everywhere, do mind your clothes but your feet soles will have a layer of pink!

Day 4 was the home run to Bangalore, a predictable drive along a fairly familiar route



Had breakfast (a lovely buffet!) at Sankam Residency, Belgaum with no protests or incidents to report (a perfectly normal town even after going off the highway)

Dad enjoying a cruise on arrow straight highways never experienced in hometown KL!


Ended the trip with around 7 pm with an impressive (indicated) 19.6 kmpl with 52 kmph average speed (and a full load). Overall toll charges were close to 2000. The 'lil' Nios more than proved its mettle, only leaving us wishing it had a 6th gear for cruising