[MandarMax]

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

Anmod ghat is officially closed for all traffic, as per this post:

Not sure why GMaps continues to show it as an option to travel to South Goa.

I made the "mistake" of blindly following Google maps when I drove Goa yesterday. As we got closer to Anmod ghat, there were signs saying the road was closed yet there was a constant flow of cars coming from Goa. We asked some people and they said that the road is now open. We decided to take our chances and found that that barring a couple of "unofficial obstacles" the road is now mostly ready and in very good shape. Much of the ghat is now laid in concrete, some parts are still covered in layers of jute but you can drive over it. The picture below will hopefully give you a better idea:



There was very little traffic and we reached south Goa 30 minutes sooner than expected. The Goa entrance toll plaza was closed and so we didn't have to pay. I hope this won't cause any issues when exiting. I of course have the option of taking the same route on the way back. Hope they don't close the road again. Based on what I'm hearing from others about Chorla ghat - the road status, traffic etc. - taking the Anmod ghat route may be a good option if you are coming via Belgaum. (Disclaimer: I don't know if the road is going to remain open forever. Secondly, if your car has low ground clearance then you may want to avoid it. I drive a Jetta and had no issues other than couple of minor scrapes, the kind you would experience with big speed breakers.)

Hope this helps.

[ADI_77]

I returned from Goa to Ahmedabad just yestarday in our XUV500.

While going we took Route 1.Pune-Kohlapur-Belgaum-Chorla-Mapusa-Candolim
While coming back Rouite 2. Candolim-Sawantwadi-Amboli-Nippani-Kohlapur-Pune

Would like to share some key updates
Route 1. Chorla Ghat - we passed this on 26th Oct around 2 PM, it was foggy with cool breeze (cyclone effect). There are deep potholes at some turnings which can damage your tyres if not manoeuvered properly. The last stretch while going downhill was in very bad shape with almost no tarmac at few stretches and full of small potholes where you can barely manage to move.

Route 2. Amboli Ghat - this was almost a breeze compared to Chorla as we encountered the odd pot holes and bad stretches at few places till Sawantwadi. The Ghat road till the waterfall and ahead was in good condition.

I would strongly advice eveyone going towards Goa to take the Amboli route only. There is a good restaurant called 'Minerva' enroute where you can stop.

[VWAllstar]

Did Mumbai - Kolhapur - Gagan Bawda - Kankavli on the 30th October.

Mumbai - Pune : Absolute breeze and no traffic as well (Left Chembur at 7 and crossed Pune by 10 am)

Pune - Satara : Really awful potholes especially on the ghat roads. But these can be avoided if you drive around 80-90 kmph with an eye for the potholes.

Satara - Kolhapur : Decent roads with less traffic. However I had a misfortune of car going through a deep pothole at 100 kmph. Got a bulge ony Yokohoma BluEarth front right Tyre. The right fog lamp has also stopped working. Changed to the spare Tyre and been driving around. Looking for 195/55 16" but no luck so far.

Kolhapur - Gagan Bawda - Kankavli: There are absolutely no roads with really huge potholes which can break the best of cars. Had the worst drive of my life and will never be coming back to this route in near future.

It's a request to all to please avoid Gagan Bawda at every cost. This is unhealthy to occupants as well as the car.

[MandarMax]

Originally Posted by MandarMax

The Goa entrance toll plaza was closed and so we didn't have to pay. I hope this won't cause any issues when exiting. I of course have the option of taking the same route on the way back.

Looks like the entry tax for other state vehicles in Goa is abolished from 2017. I didn't know that, so I assumed that the toll plaza was closed because of the road closure.

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by VWAllstar

It's a request to all to please avoid Gagan Bawda at every cost. This is unhealthy to occupants as well as the car.

Sad that reaching southern Konkan is painful as well. I just got back from Kashid and as you said, it is unhealthy for the occupants of the car. The roads are THAT bad.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route...ml#post4684980 (Pune - Kashid : Route Queries)

[inder]

Read about the roads leading to Konkan from Western Maharashtra. I am planning to go from Pune to Kolhapur and then to Malvan next month. Any suggestions on which route should I take from Kolhapur to Malvan. I shall be driving a Xuv 500.

[VWAllstar]

Originally Posted by inder

Read about the roads leading to Konkan from Western Maharashtra. I am planning to go from Pune to Kolhapur and then to Malvan next month. Any suggestions on which route should I take from Kolhapur to Malvan. I shall be driving a Xuv 500.

Take the route from Karad joining the old highway. Gagan Bawda is completely broken. Don't even think about it.

Old highway has nearly 20 kms of bad patch but overall much better than the usual Gagan Bawda route or even the Phonda ghat road.

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by inder

Read about the roads leading to Konkan from Western Maharashtra. I am planning to go from Pune to Kolhapur and then to Malvan next month. Any suggestions on which route should I take from Kolhapur to Malvan. I shall be driving a Xuv 500.

From various posts spread across different threads, seems that currently Amboli ghat remains the best (relatively) option if you want to visit the Southern Konkan region. For Malvan, it will be a bit longer than taking Gagan Bawda or Phonda ghat (via Radhanagari WLS), but should be easier on you and your vehicle's suspension.

Cheers,
Vikram

[inder]

Amboli route is 40 km longer,but time taken is almost same as per google maps. So will most probably take the Amboli route unless the gaganbawda road is improved in a months time,which I think is not possible.

[vivek95]

Chorla route update as on 31st October 2019

Hello team. I am at my hometown Belgaum presently and drove this circuit on the said date ->> Belgaum--Khanapur--Ramnagar--Ganeshgudi--Kumbharwada--Ulavi temple--Anshi ghat--Sadashivgad--Palolem beach,Goa--Madgaon--Ponda--Sanquelim--Chorla ghat--Belgaum. This totalled 400 kms spread over 16 hours. I was not so keen on staying back at Goa in the wake of cyclone approaching the coastal areas of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa. I did the Goa--Chorla--Belgaum in pitch dark ( read bang midnight 1:00 a.m at Chorla ghats )

Palolem beach--Madgaon--Ponda--Sanquelim :- Entire route remains mostly good albeit potholes scattered here and there. Absolutely nothing to worry.

Sanquelim--Chorla ghat--Belgaum :-

A. Goa state limits : The ghat section of 17.5 kms from Keri toll to Goa--Karnataka border is 60% absolutely horrendous Rest 40% is decent. This is the first time in last 7 years that Chorla ghat has gone to dogs. Low slung cars ( mine was a VW Polo and the underbelly royally suffered ) need to exercise extra caution. I scraped the underbelly of my Polo partly because the oncoming high beam glare of opposite vehicles blinded me and I couldn't gauge the depth of potholes on my right side. Infact I couldn't see anything on my right whenever I faced high beam. Even otherwise, the bad sectors are so horrible that it warrants extra caution even during daytime.

B. Karnataka state limits : Once into Karnataka, the road quality improves tremendously. 90% is in pristine condition as it has been so last 7 years ever since the new road was made. However, out of nowhere, the remaining 10% to my shock is horrendous. So basically these bad sectors are interspersed in the otherwise smooth stretch. You will keep driving continuously on the smooth sections but then there are these sudden expected deep potholes near the edges and the shoulder lanes have become deep. At one point the road was so tremendously horrible that I had to drive with my car tilted fully towards left on shoulder lane to avoid the huge crater that could have drowned my Polo and caused a great damage to the bumpers. I came to a full halt, took few seconds to plan how will I cross that martian surface. That particular point causes a huge traffic backlog. At night time itself, there was queuing up of vehicles. I am sure, during day, it leads to a good traffic snarl.

Guess what, there was a lot of traffic in both directions even at the peak of midnight on Chorla that mainly comprised of cars followed by trucks and few buses. Most cars sported GA ( Goa ) followed by a significant number of MH 12/14 ( Pune ) and then KA 22 ( Belgaum ) plates. There were a couple Mumbai registered cars. It also rained heavily for a brief time in the ghats.

Conclusion :- I would overall rate Belgaum--Chorla--Goa as 6.5 / 10 presently. I drove at midnight, so faced much trouble. Chorla is still "very okay" to take if you are driving during daylight. However it does warrant that extra caution even in daylight, which definitely was never the case in the last 7 years. As regards traffic, it is very high for sure ! Night time driving ?? - a big NO !!

If other BHPians report Amboli to be in better or even decent shape ( I don't have an idea how is it presently ) then avoid Chorla altogether if you are driving from Mumbai/Pune. The biggest USP of Amboli is availability of mobile network all throughout the stretch and better hotel /stopover facilities.

Hey, there is also a new seemingly posh resort outside Belgaum now on the Chorla route. It falls on your right when driving towards Chorla/Goa side from Belgaum. "Regenta resorts" is the name. Looked very premium and grand at night.

Lastly, I would like to mention that my favourite Palolem beach was as beautiful as always and I totally enjoyed being there in the evening What beautiful landscape and what serenity ( relatively ) South Goa rocks big time !

[Ertigiat]

Originally Posted by vivek95

Belgaum--Khanapur--Ramnagar--Ganeshgudi--Kumbharwada--Ulavi temple--Anshi ghat--Sadashivgad--Palolem beach,Goa--Madgaon--Ponda--Sanquelim--Chorla ghat--Belgaum.

Hello Vivek,

How is the road condition between Khanapur and Ramnagar? Is road widening work complete?

Chorla is still "very okay" to take if you are driving during daylight. However it does warrant that extra caution even in daylight, which definitely was never the case in the last 7 years. As regards traffic, it is very high for sure ! Night time driving ?? - a big NO !!

I totally agree with your comments. I have done this route 4 times in last 2 weeks and every time I prayed Anmod ghat should be opened as soon as possible.

Chorla route isn't meant for this volume of traffic. It is not only road condition that has detoriated but also flora and fauna to some extent.

Twice, I have seen Ghorpad (Iguana or type of monitor lizard) getting crushed under the wheels of lorry.

Lastly, I would like to mention that my favourite Palolem beach was as beautiful as always and I totally enjoyed being there in the evening What beautiful landscape and what serenity ( relatively ) South Goa rocks big time !

Let us plan and catch up when you are in South Goa next time. Don't mind but Palolem Beach is passé. . We will try and visit less commercialised (beautiful) beaches.

[Sawyer]

Originally Posted by vivek95

If other BHPians report Amboli to be in better or even decent shape ( I don't have an idea how is it presently ) then avoid Chorla altogether if you are driving from Mumbai/Pune.

Amboli ghat is in excellent shape as of yesterday. The problems are on the Ajra Amboli bit where there are sudden broken sections one has to quickly shed speed for. And the Uttur bad stretch can be avoided by using the Sankeshwar to Ajra road. The unavoidable horrors are on the Goa side of the highway, even till leaving it for Pernem.

The other place to take care of is the stretch from the Mahabaleshwar turn till the Satara Karad four lane road: sudden potholes on fast stretches. One ripped the front tyre of an accompanying BMW, and only the run flat bit stopped the damage from being worse.

[vivek95]

Originally Posted by Ertigiat

Hello Vivek,

How is the road condition between Khanapur and Ramnagar? Is road widening work complete?

Hello

The road is overall "good". 4 laning between Belgaum and Khanapur is going on in full swing. Same is the case between Khanapur and Ramanagar, however this would be just a superwide 2 lane and not a 4 lane. I drove past the "Road closed" board at Khanapur after confirming with locals that it was compulsorily closed during monsoons but nothing as such presently. The diversions were muddy and bumpy but rest of the road was decent enough. No, its still far away from completion and will take another year easily. Honestly speaking, there was absolutely no need to destroy the forest and widen this NH4A (Belgaum--Anmod ghat--Panjim) highway. The traffic is not that high and there are three proper roads to cater to the Belgaum/Mumbai/Pune--Goa traffic, especially the car traffic --> Chorla, Anmod and Amboli. If Tilari route is revamped then that will be fourth. Well, below is how the Khanapur--Ramnagar road looks like. We spotted peacocks.

Twice, I have seen Ghorpad (Iguana or type of monitor lizard) getting crushed under the wheels of lorry.

That's sad. I have so far spotted Bisons and Monitors on the Chorla route. Everytime, I hope to spot some elephant or a leopard or a tiger but no luck so far.

Let us plan and catch up when you are in South Goa next time. Don't mind but Palolem Beach is passé. . We will try and visit less commercialised (beautiful) beaches.

Sure, am too looking forward to meet you. Infact I was gonna ping you on the go this time but I realised that due to time constraints I wouldn't be able to meet you properly. Okay, let's visit some lesser known beautiful beaches.

[Haste]

Planning my first trip to Goa from Pune via road. I was planning to take Satara route (as also suggested by google maps) and do stop over at Amboli for the night before moving to Goa. But looking at couple of posts above it seems, its not a good idea, especially since I was planning to do in an Alto


Which route should is suggested for a first timer?

[ishan12]

Originally Posted by Haste

Which route should is suggested for a first timer?

I do Pune - Goa by road very year, there is no need for a stop over overnight. (Unless you are wary of driving 400-450 Kms in a day). I start around 7 AM and have always reached at max by 5 Pm in North Goa. (With breakfast and lunch and bio breaks). Since you have not mentioned which part of Goa you are travelling to, I am assuming north Goa. I was in Goa at the start of this month, and have always taken below route. It takes the least amount of time for North Goa.

Pune- Satara- Kolhapur- Nippani (Take a right turn and leave the NH) - Ajara - Amboli - Sawantwadi - North Goa.

Road this year upto Sawantwadi is in a better shape. Try leaving early from Pune to avoid congestion on diversions and tolls upto Satara and just follow google maps. Also, Alto would do just fine, only be careful of some large potholes after Nippani.