[nayaksrinivasv]

I would rather suggest ponda via kankavali. Considering only 10 _15 kms of bad road.

[bigwheelz]

Originally Posted by ASHISHPALLOD

As per today's newspaper, amboli ghat will remain partially closed in the next week daily for few hours for repairs.

Thanks Ashish. The govt babus will never provide complete information. How else will they be make useful.
Any idea where information on specific timings can be available?

[ASHISHPALLOD]

Originally Posted by bigwheelz

Any idea where information on specific timings can be available?

The newspaper not quoted any particular time of closure but i read somewhere that the traffic will be stopped between 10 AM to 3PM and 5PM to 7PM but i am not sure. Please confirm the timings before planning the drive.

[deutscheafrikar]

Originally Posted by nayaksrinivasv

I would rather suggest ponda via kankavali. Considering only 10 _15 kms of bad road.

A good suggestion considering that you have been on this route recently. Can you share the details of how you got on to the state highway from NH4 via or through kolhapur city that would help someone looking to go this the first time

[ASHISHPALLOD]

If one is going via phonda ghat, then i will suggest new route.

Continue on NH4, do not enter in kolhapur city, continue till kagal.
Just after crossing liitle flyover at kagal, turn right toward radhanagri road.[ ask for direction], you have to travel on service road backward for 100 meter to get on radhanagari road. Drive slow at kagal on flyover and turn right on service road through the gap of road divider, look out for oncoming traffic from Belgaum side.
I don't know if there is any underpass to cross the road to reach to the service road.
From kagal, there is direct road to radhangari, thats 2 lane good road, i had traveled on that road six months back.
By taking kagal-radhanagari road, you will save lot of time that may be wasted to cross kolhapur city.

[Figopian]

Originally Posted by ASHISHPALLOD

If one is going via phonda ghat, then i will suggest new route.

Continue on NH4, do not enter in kolhapur city, continue till kagal.
Just after crossing liitle flyover at kagal, turn right toward radhanagri road.[ ask for direction], you have to travel on service road backward for 100 meter to get on radhanagari road. Drive slow at kagal on flyover and turn right on service road through the gap of road divider, look out for oncoming traffic from Belgaum side.
I don't know if there is any underpass to cross the road to reach to the service road.
From kagal, there is direct road to radhangari, thats 2 lane good road, i had traveled on that road six months back.
By taking kagal-radhanagari road, you will save lot of time that may be wasted to cross kolhapur city.

This is a good option, but now a days you don't really have to worry about Kolhapur city traffic. You have a 2 lane concrete road all the way till Kalamba jail from where you take exit to get into Kolhapur. After Kalamba jail, you have a small road (which is not really in good shape) that will take you directly to the Radhanagari road on the ourskirts of Kolhapur (Vashi Naka). Of course one has to know this road, maybe I will update with a google map picture later.

[ASHISHPALLOD]

Originally Posted by Figopian

You have a 2 lane concrete road all the way till Kalamba jail from where you take exit to get into Kolhapur. After Kalamba jail, you have a small road (which is not really in good shape) that will take you directly to the Radhanagari road on the ourskirts of Kolhapur (Vashi Naka).

I think this Kalamba jail is on Gargoti road.
Though the roads are good in city, outsider will not know exact roads.
Last week, i was in kolhapur, the city traffic is worsened since my last visit.

[Figopian]

Originally Posted by ASHISHPALLOD

I think this Kalamba jail is on Gargoti road.

Yes, that is correct and then this road connects to Radhanagari road.

Originally Posted by ASHISHPALLOD

Though the roads are good in city, outsider will not know exact roads.

I agree, I will provide detail map. Apart from the right after Kalamba jail, there is nothing that can be missed.

Originally Posted by ASHISHPALLOD

Last week, i was in kolhapur, the city traffic is worsened since my last visit.

Again, I agree. It's always better to avoid getting into Kolhapur city if you just want to pass through.

[deutscheafrikar]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

Phonda route is absolutely safe and very scenic as well.The road passes through India;s only Bison reserve at Radhanagari.Divert into Kolhapur town from NH4 and ask for directions to Radhanagari road.The road is along the Rankala Lake.

Kolhapur-Radhanagari-Phonda ghat-Phonda-Kankavli-NH17-Sawantwadi-Mapusa.

Ranjit, Im thinking of going this weekend. on your link the turn to get to Kolhapur seems to be after Menon Pistons Ltd. Is there any other landmark so I can keep a watch for this. Or distance from last well known place?


Regards

[bigwheelz]

Called up a guy in Amboli to get exact dates and timings of Amobli ghat closure. He said the ghat will be closed for few hours for the next 3 days. He didnt know the exact timings and also added that this being govt work one can never be sure if the timings or the number of days.

Originally Posted by ASHISHPALLOD

If one is going via phonda ghat, then i will suggest new route.Continue on NH4, do not enter in kolhapur city, continue till kagal.

Ashish, Is this the right turn at Kagal you are referring to? The star on the map.

[deutscheafrikar]

Ashish any idea of whats the distance to this turn from the Konduskar pump?

[ASHISHPALLOD]

Originally Posted by bigwheelz

Ashish, Is this the right turn at Kagal you are referring to? The star on the map.

Thats the road one has to take for radhanagari.
You can't turn right at the star mark, travel 100 meter forward , turn right, cross the opposite lane, go on service lane, travel backward for 100 meters and take that road.

Originally Posted by deutscheafrikar

Ashish any idea of whats the distance to this turn from the Konduskar pump?

No idea!

[selfdrive]

Originally Posted by deutscheafrikar

Ashish any idea of whats the distance to this turn from the Konduskar pump?

Originally Posted by ASHISHPALLOD

No idea!

The distance from Konduskar petrol pump (BPCL) on NH4 to D R Mane college (at the turn mentioned by Ashish) shows up as 9.6km on Google maps. I am not sure if this is the same pump though, some one with more frequent visits there can confirm.

[deutscheafrikar]

Originally Posted by selfdrive

The distance from Konduskar petrol pump (BPCL) on NH4 to D R Mane college (at the turn mentioned by Ashish) shows up as 9.6km on Google maps. I am not sure if this is the same pump though, some one with more frequent visits there can confirm.

Originally Posted by ASHISHPALLOD

Thats the road one has to take for radhanagari.
You can't turn right at the star mark, travel 100 meter forward , turn right, cross the opposite lane, go on service lane, travel backward for 100 meters and take that road.

No idea!

Thanks Ashish & Selfdrive
So is this the route then?

[bigwheelz]

Updates on my goa trip last week.
From Pune to Goa, took the route through Kagal as suggested by Ashish. Good roads throughout. Route passes through villages but roads are wide and traffic is sparse. You can maintain speeds around 70-80km/hr on this route.
The road between MH and Goa checkpost are now in excellent condition. Remember to take the upper route.
The only traffic I got was moving from North Goa to South Goa.
I started at 4 am from Nigdi and made it to Varca at 1pm with around 1 hr of stop time.

I took the Varca-Collem-Mollem-Khananpur-Belagum route while coming back. I did not go via Ponda but took the route suggested by Google maps. The route was good, no pot holes or traffic till Mollem. Being a Sunday, the mining trucks were off road. After Londa, the NH4A is bad for 2-3 Kms then its a little patchy in between. Overall its in good condition. Repairs going on at few places. Very scenic though.
I started at 12pm from Varca and reached Nigdi at 10pm with 1.5 hrs of stop time.
The city roads through Belgaum slow you down and then driving after Satara was a pain due to trucks.
Thank you Ashish for the Kagal route suggestion.