[Swapnil4585]

Originally Posted by ShashankM

Hi Friends

I am planning a trip from Pune to Bhopal in the last week of this August.
I am planning to take Pune - Nagar bypass- Shirdi - Manmad - Dhule - Indore route as suggested by JoshMachine and updated by mm403.
In case any one has any update about this route please do update.
I am planning to start by 5 PM at night.
Any clues/suggestions on a night drive on this route in this season is welcome.

You may want to give a try to Pune - Ahmednagar - Aurangabad - Jalgaon - Burhanpur - Indore route. I hear that due to the ongoing Kumbhmela at Nashik, roads leading to and from Dhule are crowded.

[mm403]

Originally Posted by Swapnil4585

You may want to give a try to Pune - Ahmednagar - Aurangabad - Jalgaon - Burhanpur - Indore route. I hear that due to the ongoing Kumbhmela at Nashik, roads leading to and from Dhule are crowded.

Originally Posted by ShashankM

Hi Friends

I am planning a trip from Pune to Bhopal in the last week of this August.
I am planning to take Pune - Nagar bypass- Shirdi - Manmad - Dhule - Indore route as suggested by JoshMachine and updated by mm403.
In case any one has any update about this route please do update.
I am planning to start by 5 PM at night.
Any clues/suggestions on a night drive on this route in this season is welcome.

Shashank,

As you are planning to start at 5 PM from Pune, it will be heavy traffic till Nagar in the evening. Nagar - till - Shirdi via Nagar bypass should not be a problem, but from Shirdi to Maleagon, the road doesnt have a divider so need to be careful at night. Malegaon onwards should not be a problem

If starting at 5 PM from Pune, expect you to reach Nagar by 8 PM, Shirdi by 10 PM and Malegaon by 1 AM.

As suggested by Swapnil, you can take Ahmednagar - Aurangabad - Jalgaon - Burhanpur - Indore, but Aurangabad - Jalgan Burhanpur- Indore stretch is 2 lane so will not advice for night travel

[Swapnil4585]

Originally Posted by mm403

Aurangabad - Jalgan Burhanpur- Indore stretch is 2 lane so will not advice for night travel

The 2 wheeler / yellow black cab traffic nuance between Aurangabad to Jalgaon is considerably reduced post 10pm. However on a safer side Shashank, you can stay at Aurangabad for the night.

Coming onto Indore, another alternative is to go to Bhusawal from Aurangabad.

You drive Pune - Ahmednagar - Aurangabad. From Aurangabad, take the 2 lane road to Jalgaon. You'll pass through Sillod, Ajanta-gaon, Ajanta Ghat, Fardapur and Pahur. At Pahur, there are 2 diversions, take the one to right and you'll go to Bhusawal. From Bhusawal you go to Raver - Burhanpur - Indore.

[M35]

Originally Posted by ShashankM

e last week of this August.
I am planning to take Pune - Nagar bypass- Shirdi - Manmad - Dhule - Indore

Just did Indore from Kerala via Pune a couple of weeks back.

Pune – Nagar – Shirdi – Malegaon- Dhule- Indore.


Nagar road is 4-laned. You will take your left towards Shirdi about 5 km or so before Nagar. A newly laid but a bit bumpy 2-lane stretch will take you soon to a more less 4-Lane until Shirdi where the smooth and wide 2-Lane stretch will take you to Malegaon where you join NH-3 [4-Lane] to Indore.



The entire stretch is as safe/unsafe as any other route in our country. I wouldn't recommend a night drive though, but then its just me.


Not many good eateries on the entire stretch, more so after Dhule until Indore.



Safe drive

[mercedised]

Originally Posted by ShashankM

Hi Friends

I am planning a trip from Pune to Bhopal in the last week of this August.
I am planning to take Pune - Nagar bypass- Shirdi - Manmad - Dhule - Indore route as suggested by JoshMachine and updated by mm403.
In case any one has any update about this route please do update.
I am planning to start by 5 PM at night.
Any clues/suggestions on a night drive on this route in this season is welcome.

The route you have chosen and as is suggested by bhpians is best. Pune to Indore (4 laned from NH-3) then Indore to Bhopal (4 laned). If you need any help in Indore then PM me.

[JoshMachine]

Originally Posted by ShashankM

Hi Friends

I am planning a trip from Pune to Bhopal in the last week of this August.
I am planning to take Pune - Nagar bypass- Shirdi - Manmad - Dhule - Indore route as suggested by JoshMachine and updated by mm403.
In case any one has any update about this route please do update.
I am planning to start by 5 PM at night.
Any clues/suggestions on a night drive on this route in this season is welcome.

Shashank - yes this route is optimal if you are starting early (pre-dawn) from Pune. That way, you get to avoid most of the Pune-Nagar traffic and also the tourist cab commotion before Shirdi.
However if you start in the evening from Pune, then you need to be prepared for heavy traffic on this route. Just reaching Nagar might take upwards of 3 hours. And to add to it, you might not be fresh enough to start driving after a busy day's routine.
Best option IMHO is to avoid all the chaos and start next day early morning, if it can be worked out.

regards

[Swapnil4585]

Under normal circumstances, I'd have suggested for the Dhule - Indore route. However, this time round, the ongoing Kumbhmela traffic on the N H 3 from and towards Dhule should be taken into account.

The best way, as you're starting at evening from Pune, would be to stay at Aurangabad for the night, and then do Aurangabad - Bhusawal - Raver - Burhanpur - Indore.

[ShashankM]

Thank you Swapnil4585 for sharing alternate routes and relevant information about current situation on NH3 to Dhule.

Thank you mm403 for providing traffic insights and a feeler on how much time it should take in case I start in evening.
This will help me in keeping a check on my night halt.

Thank you M35 for sharing experience on Pune-Indore route.

Thank you mercedised for sharing your opinion on this route.
I will surely get in touch with you for any help in Indore.

Thank you JoshMachine for sharing experience related to traffic congestion and best time to travel on this route.
I still want to utlize sometime in the evening to cover some distance, most probably till Shirdi; but again this depends on how I feel after day's work.

Again, thank you all for taking time out and sharing your valuable feedback.

Almost everyone has suggested not to drive at night.
So, I have given up on my thoughts on driving after 11 PM.
Though the alternate routes are good option due to traffic conditions mentioned by Swapnil4585, I am inclined towards taking Pune-Nagar-Shirdi-Malegaon-Dhule-Indore route. This is because :
1. I want to stick to popular highways this time.
2. I have been thinking about doing a night halt in Shirdi, if I can reach their around 11 PM.
3. Since I still have 15 days to go, I am thinking about visiting a places or two that may fall near this route like Mandu, Maheshwar depending on how much detour will be required.

I will update this thread with the route I will take and conditions faced on this trip.

[Rahul Rao]

If you are going to Indore via Aurangabad Burhanpur you have to take the Jalgaon route, and turn right at Pahur towards Jamner, and bipass Jalgaon Bhusaval and go via Muktainagar.
The rode is not 4 lane, but low traffic, and comparitively pot hole free.

Rahul

[nvldvr]

Just did Goa Delhi via Pune/Shirdi/Malegaon/Manpur/jaipur.

Update on Pune Indore stretch as follows( Did not travel the small distance between Manpur and Indore).

Pune- ahmadnagar - good 4 lane road.

Ahmadnagar-shirdi - good 4 lane road. Only issue was that road through shirdi town was closed due to the rush of pilgrims. A small detour of around 20 kms cost about half an hour or so.

Shirdi - Malegaon - Majority 2 lane. 4 lanes in streches. But road condition good and traffic reasonable.

Malegaon - Manpur - Ratlam - Mandsaur - Neemuch - Beautiful 4 lane NH 3. As good as any NH in india.

Cheers.

[Rahul Bhalgat]

Originally Posted by nvldvr

Just did Goa Delhi via Pune/Shirdi/

Thanks nvldvr.

How much time shall we consider for Pune-Indore?

[nvldvr]

Should take you around 11 hours or so, plus or minus one hour depending upon what time you start, the speed at which you drive etc.

[mm403]

Originally Posted by nvldvr

Should take you around 11 hours or so, plus or minus one hour depending upon what time you start, the speed at which you drive etc.

Anything between 10-12 hours depending on the number and duration of breaks

[pjbiju]

Originally Posted by Rahul Bhalgat

Thanks nvldvr.

How much time shall we consider for Pune-Indore?

With sedate driving (max speeds of 80/90 on 4-laned highways) and breaks for breakfast and lunch, you should be able to reach close to Rau (outskirts of Indore) in about 12 hours following the Pune-Shirdi-Malegoan-Dhule-Indore if you start early from Pune like 4-4:30 a.m.

[Rahul Bhalgat]

Originally Posted by Rahul Rao

If you are going to Indore via Aurangabad Burhanpur you have to take the Jalgaon route, and turn right at Pahur towards Jamner, and bipass Jalgaon Bhusaval and go via Muktainagar.
The rode is not 4 lane, but low traffic, and comparitively pot hole free.

Rahul

Hi Rahul Rao,
How much time shall I consider from Aurangabad to the outskirts of Indore, if I start early morning (5 am) from Aurangabad?