[abirnale]

Originally Posted by udiboy

Plan to start around 10 pm from Goregaon - so will get off NH4 during the night - now please let me know which route should I prefer amboli or the chorla one?

Chorla one is preferred with current road conditions but you will have some twists. But if you have survived the Amboli drive, this is just a cake-walk. This goes right into Sanquelim - from there anything in north Goa is easily accessible like pernem.

Only caution - plan such that, you travel through these roads - off from NH4 (whichever route you take) during day time. It helps for taking breaks enroute to enjoy the scenery/ roads and shade and usually risk free.

[Sawyer]

I understand compulsions that lead to a night drive, but on any Indian highway these days, it is best avoided. With all the poorly marked diversions, and our driving culture, it isn't a good idea at all.

[Trojan]

Am going against the tide here, but I think a night drive on NH-4 is better - Less Traffic, Less Congestion, Relaxed mode of driving.
Usually you would only find long distance truckers at night time and they are way better than the chaotic situation that one would witness during the day.
Also, travelling during day means you have to bear the brunt of local traffic while crossing all major towns/cities plus added time on toll plazas.

Night driving though good expects you to be totally fresh and alert at all times and preferably with a spare driver along.

I always travel in the night (12am) or very early in the morning (3am) to escape the haphazard traffic and also ensures that I enjoy the early morning drive through Chorla!

[Sawyer]

Generally speaking, I agree that long distance truckers are the "good guys" on our highways. Even so, I would never take the chance given the abysmal state of our roads, including the way service roads and the like are designed even where there is no construction work in progress. And fleet operators don't adopt the practices followed by airline pilots for hours spent at the wheel.
Tongue in cheek to an extent: How many truck drivers have you seen that wear glasses? Could it be that there is something in their diet that blesses them with perfect uncorrected vision regardless of age?

[Musaafir]

Originally Posted by udiboy

Hello Bhpians,

I am planning a night drive to north goa on 28th March from Mumbai. I have a few key questions - kindly me help

Plan to start around 10 pm from Goregaon - so will get off NH4 during the night - now please let me know which route should I prefer amboli or the chorla one? The considerations are :

1. I dont mind travelling a little longer.
2. I prefer ghats that have a little more margin for error
3. Lesser the nausea - better the ghat as far as I am concerned, last time i descended amboli in November I was feeling shaken and stirred both - surprisingly did not feel nauseating while ascending!!!

Looking forward to your replied

Having done Pune - Goa via Chorla just two months back, I would recommend it to you. You would reach Balgaum by 5 or 6 AM depending on your speed and halts. Chorla then can be done early morning. Belgaum to Goa would take about 3 hrs.

[udiboy]

Originally Posted by Musaafir

Having done Pune - Goa via Chorla just two months back, I would recommend it to you. You would reach Balgaum by 5 or 6 AM depending on your speed and halts. Chorla then can be done early morning. Belgaum to Goa would take about 3 hrs.

Thanks Musafir - last time i took 5 hrs (night drive) from Panvel to Sankeshwar - so I think I should make it to belgaum by 6 am in case i start at 10 pm from mumbai.

Originally Posted by Sawyer

Generally speaking, I agree that long distance truckers are the "good guys" on our highways. Even so, I would never take the chance given the abysmal state of our roads, including the way service roads and the like are designed even where there is no construction work in progress. And fleet operators don't adopt the practices followed by airline pilots for hours spent at the wheel.
Tongue in cheek to an extent: How many truck drivers have you seen that wear glasses? Could it be that there is something in their diet that blesses them with perfect uncorrected vision regardless of age?

Man - your point about the glasses made me just wonder how we tend to miss obivious obseravtions - kudos for this excellent food for thought!!! By the way its a pre-college union (I know it sounds crazy "pre-college" union) and there are people coming from all parts of the country - i am serving my notice - so cannot take friday off, and dont want to miss the fun by arriving late on saturday - hence deiciding to undertake the route at night - i am going to be very very careful on the pune - satara strectch though, given its reputation!!!

Originally Posted by Trojan

Am going against the tide here, but I think a night drive on NH-4 is better - Less Traffic, Less Congestion, Relaxed mode of driving.
Usually you would only find long distance truckers at night time and they are way better than the chaotic situation that one would witness during the day.
Also, travelling during day means you have to bear the brunt of local traffic while crossing all major towns/cities plus added time on toll plazas.

Night driving though good expects you to be totally fresh and alert at all times and preferably with a spare driver along.

I always travel in the night (12am) or very early in the morning (3am) to escape the haphazard traffic and also ensures that I enjoy the early morning drive through Chorla!

I love night driving - and also love the way the big truckers give you the side with one flash of the dipper - they certainly are pretty well behaved as compared to the local bike and taxi traffic you encounter during the day on busy highways...

Originally Posted by abirnale

Chorla one is preferred with current road conditions but you will have some twists. But if you have survived the Amboli drive, this is just a cake-walk. This goes right into Sanquelim - from there anything in north Goa is easily accessible like pernem.

Only caution - plan such that, you travel through these roads - off from NH4 (whichever route you take) during day time. It helps for taking breaks enroute to enjoy the scenery/ roads and shade and usually risk free.

ok mate - i really wanted to get some perspective on this - i really dont want to feel completely dazed after i get off the ghats

[FlyingSpur]

Folks, this isn't exactly a Mum-Goa route query, but some of you MIGHT be familiar with the road I've highlighted below. I have used this route several times about 2 years ago to cut across quickly to the NH17 on the way to Alibaug / Kihim. I wanted to know what is the current condition of this route. Anyone used it recently?

I know that from the end of Palm Beach road (which is point A) to the JNPT road it's flawless concrete, but the road further that goes through Chirner is what I'm curious to know about. Have to ride to Pali / Roha this weekend, and I will be alone. Wouldn't have bothered much if I were driving but on the bike, bad roads get that much more painful. Any help would be appreciated.

For my info, does the Gateway-Mandwa jetty allow bikes on board? I don't want to do this, it will defeat the purpose of riding. But still, just for my information.

[bhavtol]

Originally Posted by Sawyer

Generally speaking, I agree that long distance truckers are the "good guys" on our highways. Even so, I would never take the chance given the abysmal state of our roads, including the way service roads and the like are designed even where there is no construction work in progress. And fleet operators don't adopt the practices followed by airline pilots for hours spent at the wheel.
Tongue in cheek to an extent: How many truck drivers have you seen that wear glasses? Could it be that there is something in their diet that blesses them with perfect uncorrected vision regardless of age?

Though i "have been" driven more than i have "driven" but my experience has been like below :

• Long Distance Truckers are the best amongst their kind.
• Most of the Accidents with trucks occur when somebody or something runs into them. They don't "usually" override anything (cuz they simply cant).
• To prove above, most of their accidents are head on collisions and not side cuts, or they simply run off the road.
• A person putting more than 300 kms per day to their driving experience with more than 20 days a month (thats 72000 kms per year) at the minimum has more hands on experience than i believe 95% ppl here on the forum. Some will agree that they have more experience than a Pilot anytime. (Maybe that is why they put PILOT next to their driver cabin gates all the time)
• As for the "Eyes Observation " i havent seen Long Range Car Drivers with glasses too.

[Avid trekker]

Hi,
Looking for more details on Belgaum-Goa route via Chorla -
a. Road conditions & details of where to take a turn after Belgaum
b. Any road side restaurant / dhaba for lunch?
c. Average time taken

[Trojan]

Originally Posted by bhavtol

[*]Long Distance Truckers are the best amongst their kind. As for the "Eyes Observation " i havent seen Long Range Car Drivers with glasses too.[/list]

Well put Bhavtol, precisely my observations as well and hence I always chose to travel in the night.

But then to each his own, many are not comfortable driving in the night and I would agree that it takes some getting used to.

Originally Posted by Avid trekker

Hi,
Looking for more details on Belgaum-Goa route via Chorla -
a. Road conditions & details of where to take a turn after Belgaum
b. Any road side restaurant / dhaba for lunch?
c. Average time taken

a. Road conditions till Satara and another 50kms from there is a bit tricky with plenty of diversions and unlevelled roads. Be careful of bikers crossing over from the other side and the wrong side. Post Karad its smoother, once you cross over into Karnataka, its pure bliss.

b. Where exactly you plan to start your journey from would help in getting inputs? I prefer a truckers dhaba on the left some 30kms before Belgaum (right after a ghat section) serves lip smacking stuff, else you can always stop at Kolhapur or at Nippani for some bigger restaurants
You need to cross Belgaum through n through and reach Peeranwadi junction where the road forks and you take the one to your right which takes you to Chorla Ghat, the road on the left will also take you to Goa via Khanapur albeit this road is used mostly by truckers and has moon craters

c. Where are you travelling from? From Pune to Goa via Chorla is around 480kms. If I leave at 12am, I usually reach at around 700am with 2-3 breaks.

Don't hurry, enjoy the drive!

Cheers!

[abirnale]

Originally Posted by Avid trekker

Hi,
Looking for more details on Belgaum-Goa route via Chorla -
a. Road conditions & details of where to take a turn after Belgaum
b. Any road side restaurant / dhaba for lunch?
c. Average time taken

You can refer to this route - https://goo.gl/maps/a3iuL

- The good food is in kolhapur. MacD or near goa ves after tavandi ghats on your right, few options are there. Where do you start from?
- Since you go through Belgaum city, time your trip such that you avoid peak traffic hours.
- The distance between Belgaum and north Goa border is less than 70Kms and great roads. This should never take you more than 90 minutes unless you stop to enjoy the nature

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by Avid trekker

Hi,
Looking for more details on Belgaum-Goa route via Chorla -
a. Road conditions & details of where to take a turn after Belgaum
b. Any road side restaurant / dhaba for lunch?
c. Average time taken

Back from Goa last weekend via Chorla route (on return only).

[a]Complete road from Goa all the way till Belgaum is bliss now including the KA-GA Border where there is a new layer of tarmac on KA side making this road pothole free, 100%!
You can take the Entry for Belgaum as per the signage, ask for Chennamma Cirlcle and follow the route as below:

http://goo.gl/maps/4pVbh

[b]I would prefer you to finish any lunch or breakfast within Belgaum itself (Sankam and Ramdev or anything else others may suggest). After Belgaum, all the way till Goa, you may not find anything good except one Restaurant before Chorla Ghats which has mixed reviews
[c]Pune-Satara-Kolhapur-Belgaum Bypass - 5.5-6 Hours depending on your start time from Pune.

Crossing Belgaum is a 30 minute affair during the day with lot of misc traffic and signals as well. After this, you can easily reach Goa (Sanquelim) in under 1.5 hours.

Options for Food:
1. McD at Khedshivpur (Left)
2. Vittal Kamat after Khedshivpur, Attached to HPCL and SBI (Right)
3. Vittal Kamat before Karad (Right)
4. Annapurna, After Karad Bypass (left)
5. Sai International, 30 kms after Karad (30 kms before Kolhapur) (Left)
6. McD at Kolhapur (Right)
7. Hotel Amar- Only Veg (exactly opposite to Truck lay bye before getting onto Tawandi Ghats) (Right)
8. Kaveri Dhaba (At the end of Tawandi Ghats, at Ajra Turn off) (Right)
9. Sankam, Belgaum
10. Ramdev Belgaum

[bhavtol]

Hi ,

Just wanted to mention one thing or a resturant you can say.

In Sawantwadi there are two very small Road side eateries which offer Nice and fresh Maharastrian Snacks early morning onwards.

One of them is Known as the Kaveri Restorant and if you are there in the morning you can expect nice service. Its really small place (shop converted to eatery) though being a family run business has good taste. Atleast i liked it. Serves nice piping tea with Smile.

[us.dash]

Mumbai Tarkarli Trip - Guidance needed

Monday, March 17, 2014 is a holiday in Mumbai. We, the wife and I, are driving from Mumbai to Tarkarli in our Swift Dzire for a three day trip.
Route Plan: The plan so far is to start at 5:00 AM and follow the expressway till Pune, NH4 to Satara and through to Kolhapur. Plans to stop for lunch at Kolhapur. Any suggestions for authentic kolhapuri food. Spice/ hygiene/ money are not factors

Please guide me as to the best option, in terms of time taken, from Kolhapur to Tarkarli.
Google highlights three options, one through Kankavalli, second through Radhanagari Ghat and third Amboli, Sawantwadi and Kudal (SH 121).

Which route normally takes the least time? I would love to go through Sawantwadi but don't want to cross the ghats at night.

Please do let me know your suggestions. I will update the forum with my experiences when I return.

Thanks

[abirnale]

Originally Posted by us.dash

Mumbai Tarkarli Trip - Guidance needed
....
The plan so far is to start at 5:00 AM and follow the expressway till Pune, NH4 to Satara and through to Kolhapur. Plans to stop for lunch at Kolhapur. Any suggestions for authentic kolhapuri food. Spice/ hygiene/ money are not factors

I have never been to Tarkarli but going through Kolhapur is sure thing if you are taking NH4. Or else NH17 is another option. NH4 is great and since you are going through Kolhapur, you would have great authentic marathi food like misal pav and so on. If non veg, nothing beats "Red and White Rassa" (Sorry couldn't better translate in english ) Any non veg hotels in Kolhapur would serve it. Hotels like - Hotel Woodland, Maratha Regency are good ones. Based on the route you choose and time you can spend getting in and out of city, you can choose any of these hotels.

Originally Posted by us.dash

Google highlights three options, one through Kankavalli, second through Radhanagari Ghat and third Amboli, Sawantwadi and Kudal (SH 121).

IMO, route via Kankavali is best. Amboli-Sawantwadi isn't in great shape. And radhanagari ghat is at times tricky with HGV traffic.