[d_payne]

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

1. What's the exact route I should be putting down?
>> Belgaum to Palolem via Khanapur - Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary - Anmod Ghat is shorter, while Belgaum to Palolem via Chorla Ghat - Sanquelim has better road conditions (according to recent reports on this thread).

2. Night stop seems to be Belgaum according to most of your recos, which hotel is good to put up there?
>> High end --> Marriott, The Fern. Mid-budget --> Ramdev, Sankam Residency, Sanman Deluxe, Pai Resorts

3. Any interesting stops I should look for along the way - apart from lunch at Kolhapur!
>> If you take the Mollem route, you could check out the Tambdi Surla Mahadev Temple, which should be a short detour on the way to Palolem.

Thanks so much! This is really good!

One other option I see is spending the night in Kolhapur, and then completing the journey on day 2 too.

The way back will be the same route, I am guessing.

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by d_payne

One other option I see is spending the night in Kolhapur, and then completing the journey on day 2 too.

I would recommend staying in Belgaum. That way you can have a leisurely breakfast before starting the 2nd leg of the journey, and yet be in Goa by lunch time. If you stay in Kolhapur, it will mean an early start if you want to avoid traffic while crossing Belgaum.

Similarly, if you want to take an overnight break on the return journey, then Kolhapur makes more sense rather than Belgaum.

[Potenza]

Completed our Goa holiday yesterday. We started from Double Tree Panjim (located on Old Goa bypass at Ribandar) at 9.30 am and reached Abhimanshree Society Pune at 7 pm. Took two halts on the way; at Belgaum for lunch which took 45 mins and 15 mins for tea at Sai International.

A few pointers about the Chorla route that we took:-

1. Overall road quality is good.

2. However, the problem of crossing Belgaum City still exists and that consumes easily around half an hour.

3. After crossing Belgaum towards Goa, the road is littered with numerous speed breakers, some of which which are massive in size.

4. The road in and around Chorla ghat has been completely washed away at around 7-8 places. These patches are around 10m in length and are absolutely treacherous if you’re driving a sedan or a hatchback, more so for a sedan. We were in a new Honda City CVT and i had to drop speed to a crawl to ensure I didn’t damage the underbody. However, some amount of scraping is inevitable and at times you have to take a track which will be least damaging- Rock and a hard place types. These patches are under dense foliage and hence difficult to spot since there is no sunlight falling on them. I recommend turning on headlights for better visibility.

5. Apart from Vaccination certificates, Car documents and PUC are also checked at the Goa border. I showed all the documents on the MParivahan app and that was accepted. No physical documents needed.

6. The Chorla route, while in good shape is more time consuming than Amboli. Once Amboli road quality improves even slightly, its better to take that route.

[bj96]

Originally Posted by Potenza

… The Chorla route, while in good shape is more time consuming than Amboli. Once Amboli road quality improves even slightly, its better to take that route.

Thanks for sharing update. I am driving with family next weekend. On my motorcycle ride a month ago had taken both Chorla and Anmod ghat routes. Keen to try Amboli this time. Do you think it will be unwise in X3 considering your recent experience? Also what is the RTPCR scene at KN border near Kognoli?

Tia,

-BJ

[Potenza]

Originally Posted by bj96

Thanks for sharing update. I am driving with family next weekend. On my motorcycle ride a month ago had taken both Chorla and Anmod ghat routes. Keen to try Amboli this time. Do you think it will be unwise in X3 considering your recent experience? Also what is the RTPCR scene at KN border near Kognoli?

Tia,

-BJ

From the earlier posts on this thread I gather that Amboli route is in very poor shape currently. That’s why we took the Chorla route. I would recommend Chorla till Amboli improves.

No RT-PCR needed at Kognoli if you’re travelling to Goa. I was let through immediately after telling them I’m going to Goa.

[adi.mariner]

I am travelling to Morjim on the coming weekend from Pune. Planning an overnight halt at Kolhapur and then carrying on the next day. Any route recommendations?

[lamborghini]

Just returned from a round trip to North Goa via Chorla.

At MH-KA border: they asked for RT PCR but let us go with double vaccination certificate when we mentioned we were headed for Goa.
KA-GA border : There were some 2 or 3 check posts we crossed after Belgaum. 1 mainly for trucks, 2 for vehicles where they asked for double vaccination but let us go after glancing at them. No PUC or any other vehicle documents requested.

During return at GA-KA border they stopped once to check vaccinations and once for alcohol. No checking at KA-MH border surprisingly but that could also be due to the heavy thunder showers we were in.

Road conditions

We went in two vehicles: a friends 530D and our Tiguan.
Mum-Pune: standard fair, nothing out of the ordinary though you need to be careful : middle lane best.

Pune-Satara: lots of patch work and bumps. Drive carefully! This stretch is best done in day light. Middle and left lanes are the best.

Satara-Belgaum: beautiful roads albeit mainly 2 lanes. Scenic views, good weather. There are some patchwork patches but can be easily avoided. Right lane best.


Belgaum-Chorla-Goa: massive speedbreakers from Belgaum onwards till the ghats start. The Ghats by themselves are ok and many patches can be avoided by switching lanes (since they are thankfully where visibility is clear / speeds at low), though some are simply horrid. The Tiguan made it through with some ease, but the 530D wasn't as lucky and suffered 2 underbody scrapes in these sections: thankfully the only two the entire trip.
Speedbreakers were managed by going sideways since they are wide speedbreakers (similar to the ones in Pune).


To be honest, more than the road conditions what was unnerving were the narrow roads mixed with reckless bus drivers who were gunning it through the turns.

The journey there was driving time of 9.5 hours since we left super early at 4am. Made it to the hotel in time for lunch, but return took 10.5 hours since we left later at 12 noon but thankfully managed to avoid city traffic as we crossed all the main cities before / after peak traffic hours.

[Sagarpradhan85]

Thank you for providing information relating to the Chorla route and RT-PCR scene while travelling.

I am travelling next Sunday, and will skip the RT-PCR, since we shall be carrying our double-vaccination certificates.

I have done Chorla and Anmod both in previous trips, and have found Anmod to be even better compared to Chorla. I can totally imagine what bad can look like on Chorla, since I encountered at least 1 such patch in previous trips - Sedans can hardly make it through - mostly not.

However there were I believe 2 comments recently stating Anmod is damaged too.

Is there anyone who has taken the Anmod route in the past 2 weeks or so? Any inputs will be helpful...

I will be travelling in a Vento, so non-existent patches is definitely a concern.

[lamborghini]

Originally Posted by Sagarpradhan85

I will be travelling in a Vento, so non-existent patches is definitely a concern.

If it's of any help, there was a Rapid ahead of me for most of the bad patches and the driver seemed to be doing fine.
The bad patches required all of us to crawl over them - sedan, SUV, truck! It's key to choose the right driving line over these patches and most can be cleared.

[ishan12]

Did Pune- North Goa -Pune, came back yesterday. Took the Amboli route.
The road is in really bad shape from Ajara to Sawantwadi. Have been driving Pune- Goa almost every year since 2015, never seen the road in such bad shape. Last I took this route was in 2019, doesn't look like it has seen any repairs since then.
Pune- Satara also is in same bad shape as usual post monsoons.

KA cops would stop all private vehicles after Kolhapur where KA starts. RT-PCR mandatory to enter KA even if you are fully vaccinated. Just tell them you are heading to Goa and show the hotel booking, and they let you through.

For entering Goa, no RT-PCR needed, they just check your fully vaccinated certificate.

MH cops on the return route are on their usual per year hyperactive collection mode before Diwali, with the attitude of "aaya hu toh kuch toh le k jaunga".
Make sure to carry original, license, RC and PUC, plus have a valid insurance. Don't depend on digilocker/ Parivahan app. They will insist on hard copy and it will just give them an excuse to harass and extract some money form you. Also, check if your vehicle has any pending fines on MH RTO website. Once they stop you, they also run your number on their hand held device to check for any pending fines.

After market alloys
Tinted glass
Aux lights
seatbelts
masks etc
They are just looking for an excuse. Since all my docs were in place and noting illegal on the car, one smart one tried to fine/ ask money for not having the yellow sticker on headlight that was mandatory in GJ, since mine is a GJ registered car.
Imagine the level of desperation, MH cop asking for money/ fine for a GJ rule that was done away in GJ in 2015

I was stopped thrice and was delighted inside to see them disappointed on not finding any fault to extract money.

[jogidada]

Planning to leave early morning tomorrow for South Goa. Based on recent reports, Chorla looks to be the best option considering road conditions.

How is the situation in Belgaum city? There were a lot of roadworks 1.5 years back that required a very creative detour to avoid the hot spots.

Any feedback on the RT-PCR situation for the return journey. Are the police asking for RT-PCR for kids on return journey as well (entering Karnataka from Goa and from Karnataka to Maharashtra). In that case, we will need to get the tests done once more before leaving Goa. TIA.

[a_myth]

Originally Posted by ishan12

Did Pune- North Goa -Pune, came back yesterday. Took the Amboli route.

I was stopped thrice and was delighted inside to see them disappointed on not finding any fault to extract money.

My friend travelling to Mumbai had to face all this and plus the cops also enquire if you are carrying any alcohol. He got away from the hassle, for being a doctor and also telling them that he is returning from Malvan and not Goa. But one thing I don't understand is how cops have the authority to check for alcohol, which is normally done by the excise officials.

[ishan12]

Originally Posted by a_myth

My friend travelling to Mumbai had to face all this and plus the cops also enquire if you are carrying any alcohol. He got away from the hassle, for being a doctor and also telling them that he is returning from Malvan and not Goa. But one thing I don't understand is how cops have the authority to check for alcohol, which is normally done by the excise officials.

I also frequently drive towards Gujarat from Pune and always notice these checks considerably increase before Diwali and during year end in March. I guess its for their unofficial and official collection targets. Not just highways, I have noticed the same pattern in Pune and Mumbai city too.

[adi.mariner]

Drove from Pune to Candolim yesterday. Left at 10.15 am and reached at 8.00 pm. We took the Chorla Ghat route. There were Interceptor vehicles checking for speed violations on the highway when approaching Satara, Karad and Kolhapur. At Kognoli toll, the Karnataka police checked for double vaccination and Goa booking and let us go. At Goa entry point, double vaccination for all the travellers was checked. The Ghat is mostly in good shape except for some patches which are in horrible shape.

[IamNikhil]

Originally Posted by jogidada

Any feedback on the RT-PCR situation for the return journey. Are the police asking for RT-PCR for kids on return journey as well (entering Karnataka from Goa and from Karnataka to Maharashtra). In that case, we will need to get the tests done once more before leaving Goa. TIA.

Travelled from Goa to Mumbai last weekend. No one bothered to check anything at Kognoli Toll Plaza. I think they're mostly bothered only while entering Karnataka and not while exiting. In case they do ask, tell them you're heading back to Mumbai. No hassles once you've crossed Kognoli.