[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by JMaruru

Could you please let me know what's the best time to leave Mumbai, so that I can be at the least, around the outskirts of B'lore by the same evening?

No later to 0400 will be a perfect time to leave Mumbai. By doing this, except for some crawling trucks on the Ghat sections of the expressway, you will have an easy run all the way till you get into Karnataka.

You might encounter some traffic between Isalampur and Kagal (KA Check post) due to morning hours when most industries open. This will be between 0900-1000.

Post this, it gets even better as you drive in KA as traffic thins down drastically. You can then plan for a refuel at either Kagal (560 Km from Bangalore) at this COCO or at IOCL COCO before Dharwad (440 km before Bangalore).

For lunch you have couple of choices depending on the time of departure.

• Sankam at Belgaum (Would be tad earlier for lunch thtough)
  
• Kamat at Belur Industrial Estate Dharwad (attached to the same IOCL above)
  
• Kamat at Varur (380 Km before Bangalore)
  
• If average speeds are really good, then Apoorva Resorts at Davanagere can be an option too.

Ideally, a 0400 Departure from Bangalore will assure you to enter NICE Road from Tumkur Road side between 1700-1800 for sure.

If I can NOT do this on the same day, any good budget overnight stay options around Belgaum OR Hubli preferably on the Highway?

• At Belgaum, Sankam still remains a popular choice to stay[Refer link above]
• At Hubli there is President Clarks Inn
• At Davanagere, Sankama Boutique Hotel is a popular choice as its quite new and many BHPians have stayed too.

[JMaruru]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

No later to 0400 will be a perfect time to leave Mumbai.
You might encounter some traffic between Isalampur and Kagal (KA Check post) due to morning hours when most industries open. This will be between 0900-1000.

Would the industries be open on a Sunday?

Also, I have to carry some 5-6 KGs of chocolates in the car. What would be the best way to preserve its structure during this drive?
Obviously, the run would be on full a/c, but worried about the pit stops and the one for lunch!

Please advise!

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by JMaruru

Would the industries be open on a Sunday?

Few of them yes but Sunday also witnesses higher number of 2 wheeler traffic too along with those who want to do a full tank in KA and return back to MH. This is a normal trend here which you will notice if you tank up at the said COCO near the border. That said, you need not worry about it.

Also, I have to carry some 5-6 KGs of chocolates in the car. What would be the best way to preserve its structure during this drive?

Under the seats is a good idea, and the co-pax seat in front that is. But that depends on what you are driving. I mostly use that place to preserve anything that won't like heat.

Or else, place these bags as the first thing in the boot closer to the rear seats and then place your baggage beside it. The baggage will offer the required 'Insulation' for the chocolates.

[selfdrive]

Originally Posted by JMaruru

I have to carry some 5-6 KGs of chocolates in the car. What would be the best way to preserve its structure during this drive?

If you have a thermal bag, that would be the best option. If not, you could freeze up a couple of medical gel packs or even some tetrapaks like frooti. Keep the chocolates wrapped between these frozen packs inside a cloth. Keep this contraption inside a bag under rear seat.
Please do not forget to put frozen frooti packs in plastic bag to keep any dripping water to spoil the chocolates.
If you can put this entire pack including chocolates in the freezer overnight, it would be better.
I have carried ice cream this way in my checking luggage in an overnight flight. Don't ask why

Originally Posted by paragsachania

For lunch you have couple of choices depending on the time of departure.

Sankam at Belgaum (Would be tad earlier for lunch thtough)
...
At Belgaum, Sankam still remains a popular choice to stay

Sankam is under renovation. Food was being served in the atrium when we went last month. Which is also ok, but thought you should know. Rooms are still available is what they told me. We were there only for a quick lunch.

Other options for food are Hotel Ramdev or Tumkur thatte idli or Niyaaz biryani depending on your choice.
For stay, a fellow bhpian had recommended hotel Ramdev over Sankam recently. Though I have no first hand experience.

[JMaruru]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Under the seats is a good idea, and the co-pax seat in front that is. But that depends on what you are driving. I mostly use that place to preserve anything that won't like heat.

Or else, place these bags as the first thing in the boot closer to the rear seats and then place your baggage beside it. The baggage will offer the required 'Insulation' for the chocolates.

Swift VDi. I can try placing it under co-passenger seat at the front. But the long drive of 15+ hours is the issue. Hope it retains its shape n texture.

Does the ICE packs available at pharmacies, help? Usually, it is used for carrying medicines.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by selfdrive

Sankam is under renovation. Food was being served in the atrium when we went last month. Which is also ok, but thought you should know. Rooms are still available is what they told me. We were there only for a quick lunch.

I think I did recollect somewhere on the forum itself that it was under renovation. May be it was you? Thanks for the info through.

Originally Posted by cyberwhizs

2. Sankam was undergoing some minor renovation work. So didn't stop there though the restaurant was open as the passageway was strewn with a fair amount of rubble/dust .

So its nearly 10 months since it is undergoing 'Renovation' as per this post.

In fact, Sankam might be way too early for lunch if one starts from Mumbai at 0400. Sai International and Amar make an idea choice for breakfast and for lunch you are better off nearing Hubli anyway.

For stay, a fellow bhpian had recommended hotel Ramdev over Sankam recently. Though I have no first hand experience.

This one is one of the oldest Hotels at Belgaum and we have often stopped here mainly for a meal. A decade ago or before that, this was the defacto choice for Private operators to stop for that early morning breakfast or night lunch.

But like you, I have never stayed here although I myself have recommended this as an option along with Sankam right on this thread itself.

The reason to mention Sankam was keeping in mind the fact that one would continue driving to Bangalore and hence options closer to the highway were suggested. If one decides to stay at Belgaum, all the options can be tried anyway.

Originally Posted by JMaruru

Does the ICE packs available at pharmacies, help? Usually, it is used for carrying medicines.

Ice packs would help to certain extent but here we are talking about at least 14 hours of drive. All said and done, you should worry less about this and follow few options suggested and am sure the chocolates will remain chocolates and don't end up becoming 'Shakes' at the end of the trip :-)

[vivek95]

Originally Posted by JMaruru

Would the industries be open on a Sunday?

The thing about this part of Maharashtra is routine business traffic plus the tourist traffic. Umpteen touristy spots around Mumbai and Pune like hill stations, forts and beaches call for a day's drive from these two cities. So on a Sunday, especially as you cross over Pune all the way till Kolhapur, you may or may not get heavy traffic depending on the general mood of the public that day. A few times on a normal Sunday ( not on extended weekends ), I was stuck in long queues at toll plazas post Pune due to this kind of traffic as early as 7 a.m, but not everytime. You don't really have to be bothered about all this though.

And as Parag said, I too would highly recommend Hotel Sai international, 30 kms before Kolhapur, for a breakfast stop. Its very ideal considering that a 0400 hrs departure from Goregaon would get you to this hotel by around 0930. If you want to stop around 0800, plenty of food joints galore on Pune--Satara sector.

[ankan.m.blr]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

The CCD near Dabaspet remains open 24x7.

Then you have one before Davanagere bypass that also remains open 24x7 and attached to IOCL outlet.

After this there is one at Shiggaon attached to Garuda Hotel that remains open 24x7. All of these on the left hand side.

There are few on the right hand side as well but I guess these 3 will suffice for your needs as they are placed at 50, 200 and 360 Kms from Bangalore in the order mentioned above.

Parag bhai, need your advice. I am planning to start either today 2 AM or tomorrow 2 AM (relatives accompanying us have not reached Bangalore due to 'Titli' ). I have very recently fixed fastag on my car but did not get a chance to use it. Nightime, does the fastag dedicated lanes operate in the toll booths between Bangalore & Hubli? Or we need to go through the regular lanes and pay cash to the booth operator? In general how to proceed with fastag? Do I wait at the toll booth for the sensor to read the chip ?

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by ankan.m.blr

Nightime, does the fastag dedicated lanes operate in the toll booths between Bangalore & Hubli?

• NBTL (Parle Factory) - One Dedicated lane
• JAS - Nelamangala - All lanes
• JAS - Khyatasandra - All lanes
• Guilalu - One dedicated lane
• Karjeevanahalli - One dedicated lane
• Chalagere - All lanes
• Hebbalu - All lanes
• Bankapura - One dedicated lane

This was as on July 2018 since I last drove to Pune. Hope this helps.

[KK_HakunaMatata]

Guys, have a family trip with kid coming up this month end. We would be leaving Bangalore on 27th Oct by about 12.30 (can't leave any early or previous day due to some commitment on Saturday) in the afternoon and have to drive to Ganpatipule straight.

Can someone let me know the road condition from Belgaum/Kolhapur to Ganpatipule, I think this goes from Malkapur - Amba Ghat route.

Also is it fine to drive overnight on this route as I have no other option since bookings have already been done at Ganapatipule.

[Ertigiat]

Originally Posted by KK_HakunaMatata

Guys, have a family trip with kid coming up this month end. We would be leaving Bangalore on 27th Oct by about 12.30 (can't leave any early or previous day due to some commitment on Saturday) in the afternoon and have to drive to Ganpatipule straight.

Can someone let me know the road condition from Belgaum/Kolhapur to Ganpatipule, I think this goes from Malkapur - Amba Ghat route.

Also is it fine to drive overnight on this route as I have no other option since bookings have already been done at Ganapatipule.

Hello,

Yes. The route to Ganaptipule from Bangalore is via Belgaum – Kolhapur – Malkapur – Amba ghat – Hathkhamba – Jakadevi (or take coastal route from Ratnagiri) – Ganapatipule.

One of my friends, who traveled recently from Kolhapur to Ganapatipule, mentioned there is nothing alarming about the road condition & it is drivable.

From Bangalore till Kolhapur it is 4/6 lane road. From Kolhapur onward it is two lane road with ample traffic for one to travel during night.

But since you are traveling with kid I would recommend you to take a break at Kolhapur. If you leave Bangalore by 12.30 PM, you should be in Kolhapur by 10 PM.

Start from Kolhapur next day by 6 AM will take you to Ganapatipule before 9.30 AM.

[hrman]

Dear All, can anyone who has recently travelled from Bangalore to Mumbai or vice versa post the excel table of tolls and toll amount at each location? In my estimate, it would take around 1200 bucks one way for toll.
I plan to travel from Bangalore to Mumbai in the first week of November.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by hrman

Dear All, can anyone who has recently travelled from Bangalore to Mumbai or vice versa post the excel table of tolls and toll amount at each location?

Add another 92/- (Expressway second half) and around 70/- (Hubli Bypass).

So all in all 1175/- should be good enough till the end of expressway.

[This was as on July 27th]

[NPV]

Originally Posted by hrman

In my estimate, it would take around 1200 bucks one way for toll.

Rs.1200 is a fair estimate.

You can check the tolls and charges on this site:
http://tis.nhai.gov.in/tollplazasonmap?language=en

Select "Toll between two stations" and enter Bangalore, Mumbai as source, destination.

*The result for Bangalore, Mumbai says Rs.972 upto Khedshivpur, but you need to add the Mumbai-Pune Expressway as well which is ~200+ I think.

Unless there have been any recent revisions that aren't updated on the site, this should be fairly accurate.

*Also Add Hubli-Dharwad toll of Rs.70

[rajinibm]

Hey guys- planning to drive down to Mumbai this week on a weekday - Thursday. I would be driving from Yelahanka and destination is Seawoods in Navi Mumbai.
Its a solo drive and I plan to drive down non-stop ( excluding eat and bio stops).
What would be a good time to leave from yelahanka to beat the traffic all the way till Mumbai? I don't mind driving in the night but any day time departure suggestions is the first choice else am open.
Also in the return journey what would be the ideal time to drive down.pls let me know.thanks