[Sawyer]

Originally Posted by dmplog

1) Which are the reliable fuel stations / Petrol Pump along the way? I want to know the Chiplun - Goa and Goa - Kolhapur (Amboli/Chorla route). Are there any COCO outlets there?
2) What food joints are along the way? Especially Chiplun - Goa route?
3) But, never been through Chorla. So, what's the opinion?
4) What should be the precautions for Monsoon weather?

Plenty of good pumps on nh17, since lots of towns are on the highway and not bypassed by it. Goa Kolhapur via Chorla has Belgaum for fuel on the scenic but longer route, while Amboli has Sawantwadi - take your pick.

Best place for food for Chiplun Goa is probably Chaitanya in Malvan, a worthwhile detour for excellent Malvani food.

The first 2-3 weeks of the monsoon are always dicey anywhere in the western ghats because that is the time landslides are most common. Pray.

[dmplog]

Thanks Sawyer. Are there any COCOs along the way?
Thanks for Chaitanya. Unfortunately, as I will only leave by about 2pm from Chiplun and I have to reach by dinner in Goa, I wouldn't be able to do the detour to Malvan. Any other food joints? I heard there's one decent place near Kankavali (owned by a certain politician who lost in Bandra!)

[Sawyer]

No idea about COCOs, but the ones in the large towns that nh17 runs through should be fine. Sawantwadi has good ones, for sure. There are some decent places to eat there too, I can't recall the names off hand.

[humbleroadster]

Originally Posted by DevendraG

Can somebody please suggest if I should take the Chorla Ghat route this time around for Baga Beach?

I'll be travelling with my family (including kid) on Wednesday (May 27) Morning 6 AM & would start my return journey on Saturday (May 30) 1 PM.

Thanks in advance!

Chorla is a safe bet in any condition of the day! It does have enough windings on the way, but road quality is excellent nevertheless.
Several exits take you through different parts of north goa(use maps here!). One exit particularly comes out of bicholim onto nh17. You're almost there! Or you could opt for a straight exit into Panjim and then head to baga.

Have a fun trip ahead!

HR.

[coriollis]

Hello,
I will be going to South Goa- Majorda in June 1st week. Tentative Plan is as follows.

1. To start from Pune around 4-4.30 AM.
2. Breakfast break of around 1 hour at Sankam- Belgaum.
3. Take Chorla road, and head to shantadurga temple. take darshan and have lunch.
4. Reach around 4PM at Majorda.

While returning, Start after breakfast and reach home after having dinner enroute.

Does this plans sound ambitious? This is a family vacation with kids.
Please help me out with a better plan if any.

Cheers.
AB

[jogidada]

First long drive for my Vento TSI on 15-May! Used the Pune - Belgaum - Chorla ghat route. Left at 6:00AM, so the roads out of Pune had very light traffic. Stopped for some fantastic pohe and misal-pav just before Khambatki ghat. It's the hotel (don't recollect the name) just after the erstwhile Khambatki ghat toll on the right. Lots of traffic in Khambatki ghat. Another quick stop at Sai International ~30Kms before Kolhapur. I swear this has the cleanest loos I have ever seen on Indian highways (It makes those early morning starts possible!). Tea here is bad but the sandwiches are good. Packed some and we were on our way. Also hit traffic in Belgaum city. Seems it was a good "muhurta" day with lots of weddings and people out in the afternoon in their finery.
Tip for Google Maps users - use the following locations as waypoints to make sure the "Google Female" does not lead you astray and you stick to your intended path:
1. Before Belgaum on the highway use "Jawaharlal Nehru College" - for the turn off to Belgaum city and KFC/McD in the city
2. While in Belgaum city use "Kinaye" - to make sure you don't take the Khanapur route by mistake
3. After Chorla ghat use "Amona bridge" to make sure you reach South Goa via highways.
Chorla ghat was simply amazing. Perfect black top, with no potholes and greenery all around. The road was so good, my wife took the wheel at the start of the ghat and didn't give it back till the Goa entry toll . For a change I was not driving, so got some time to click some snaps:
Twisty roads



Greenery in peak summer

No complaints about roads in Goa as always. Reached South Goa at 3:30PM. Return journey was on the same route, didn't make the mistake of handing over the wheel this time and thoroughly enjoyed the drive back through Chorla ghat.
Multiple diversions after Satara are the only fly in the ointment - I counted 19 in all! Plus some low-lifes on the way - met a guy on a bike coming from the wrong side in Khambatki tunnel. You can only shake your head in amazement at their stupidity and move on.

[coriollis]

Originally Posted by jogidada

First long drive for my Vento TSI on 15-May! Used the Pune - Belgaum - Chorla ghat .

Thanks Jogidada.
Your post entirely answered my doubts. Thanks for the signage guidance in Belgaum.
I'm planning for an ambitious 4am start. Let's see. Well keep the updates posted.
Cheers,
AB

[TaurusAl]

Inspite of the CM, Devendra Fadanvis's statements nothing seems to have changed as far as toll collection is concerned. Today 3rd June 2015, travelling from Mumbai to Kolhapur noticed all toll is still applicable as before, only place where toll was not collected was at Kamothe Toll plaza (30 Rs.) . we paid 195/- on Mumbai Pune Expressway, Then 80/- 55/- and then twice 70/- 70/- plus 20/- for entering Kolhapur. Do not think these crooks will give up collecting toll which is a money minting machine for the local goondas.

[AbhishekE]

Greeting BHPians!

I'll be doing my maiden voyage from Mumbai to Goa via Kolhapur. Of the two, which one of the routes has better roads, Chorla or Amboli? Depending on that, I'll be taking a call.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by AbhishekE

Greeting BHPians!

I'll be doing my maiden voyage from Mumbai to Goa via Kolhapur. Of the two, which one of the routes has better roads, Chorla or Amboli? Depending on that, I'll be taking a call.

Chorla is surely the better one. Just check couple of posts above and you will get a complete description about the ghats and the snaps. Also make sure you cross Pune before the city wakes up. Or at least try to cross it as early as possible.

[latentpotential]

Originally Posted by AbhishekE

Greeting BHPians!

I'll be doing my maiden voyage from Mumbai to Goa via Kolhapur. Of the two, which one of the routes has better roads, Chorla or Amboli? Depending on that, I'll be taking a call.

We just did this journey past weekend via Amboli. It was FUN!
There is a BPCL COCO about 10-15 Kms before the Nipani naka turning. We tanked up there on the initial leg.

I replicate my post from here:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...s-here-24.html

Details as below:

Left Mumbai at 3:30 AM, crossed Pune by 6 AM, took a break at Satara 7.30-8.30 AM, crossed Nipani at 11.30 AM, via Amboli stopped at Sawantwadi for food at 2 PM, reached Baga by 4:30 PM.

Road conditions are good, got zero bumps or jerks anywhere, could be the Superbs suspension at play. Speeds were respectable in the journey.

Return was not so great however. We left Baga at 11:30 AM, Sawantwadi at 1 PM for Lunch, and crossed Nipani at 3:30 PM. Pune was touched at 11 PM. And we reached Mumbai at 1:30 AM. The diversions between Pune and Kolhapur for bridge construction hampered our progress a LOT. On an average we spent 20-25 mins per junction in traffic (6 Junctions of this nature). Had to play catch up on the clean sections. Also, was informed later that this gone Sunday was the last one of the summer vacation season, probably this added to our traffic woes.

On the onward journey, we did not face the traffic since we covered the same diversions early in the morning.

Fastest Section: Obviously the Mumbai-Pune expressway. Maintained 3 digits throughout.

Slowest Section: Kolhapur to Wai. Diversions.

Note that we had two toddlers, so we stopped on demand for any random thing, including looking at the sunrise & sunset.

Best section for driving: Nipani Naka to Sawantwadi. Those narrow winding roads, hint of rain (yes, we caught a few showers on this stretch) and them Ghats. Thrilling indeed! used Sports mode throughout and kept traction control off. Will be happy to do this stretch anytime in this car now.

Fuel economy in the 1.8 TSI as per Tank to Tank method: ~12 Kmpl on petrol for the full journey. Distance covered in the Superb: 1190 Kms.

[AbhishekE]

@ampere

Thanks for your inputs. Like you said, we've decided to start off early and take the Chorla route to Goa while going.

@latentpotential

Taking your words on the return journey. We'll be returning via Amboli ghat.

[dmplog]

Planning to leave from Goa tomorrow to Pune from my south Goa hotel. I was contemplating taking Chorla route this time. However someone suggested to consider Anmod ghat route as well. Any feedback on Anmod route? Or I should trust God reviews of T-bhp on Chorla?

[Dieselritzer]

What are the toll amounts from Pune to Anjuna? (Via Amboli). Will be leaving Pune tomorrow morning at 5AM.

[1lokesh]

So I was planning to go on a solo trip to Goa from Mumbai tomorrow (Saturday, 12-Jun-15) and back on Monday morning. Single point agenda - Casino
Checked all the flights and trains - they are way beyond my budget.

Then thought that I'll drive, but decided against it since my car is due for servicing and I don't go on long drives unless I prep up my car.

Just checking if someone is going and wants company, I can tag along

Of-course, I'll share the fuel and related expense.