[micky]

I had the same experience in 2016. The bikers waving that there's something wrong with the tyre. I was travelling with my wife and mother. I didn't find anything wrong but still decided to go to the puncture shop as I was heading to mahabaleshwar and didn't want to take a risk. The puncture guy told me the tyre had 9 punctures on the sidewall and charged 900 for it.

My sense is that either the bikers do it at the midway or the puncture guy only does it when he comes to check.

After this I never stopped at these places again. Best way is to ignore and move on.

[Suryendu87]

I have a Bengaluru - Pune trip coming up towards end of February. Will start from Whitefield side around 4-4.30 AM and plan is to reach the airbnb near Pune airport area by 7-8PM.

What would be the best route for onward journey considering I will be accompanied with infants and elderly people.

For the return path, it would be solo, so I can explore any unconventional route as well

[Dr.AD]

Originally Posted by Suryendu87

I have a Bengaluru - Pune trip coming up towards end of February. Will start from Whitefield side around 4-4.30 AM and plan is to reach the airbnb near Pune airport area by 7-8PM.

What would be the best route for onward journey considering I will be accompanied with infants and elderly people.

I drive Bangalore-Pune-Bangalore regularly and just did a drive last week. I think the main NH48 (Bangalore-Belgavi-Kolhapur-Pune) is still your best bet, especially since you are are traveling with infants and elderly. There are plenty of services along this highway.

Yes the section between Belgavi and Karad is all under construction and it is a big annoyance. But if you are mentally prepared, it is not that bad. The diversions are OK. Also, if you start at 4:30AM from Bangalore, you will be pass this stretch before the evening traffic builds up.

For your destination near Pune Airport, theoretically the Hospete-Bijapur-Solapur route is also OK, but there are just no clean and comfortable pit stops for long stretches of that route, and I would not recommend that if you are traveling with infants and elderly who might want to stop in between and need rest and/or food etc. Further, the traffic from Solapur to Pune (more so as you near Pune and in areas such as Hadapsar), especially in evening hours is quite bad too. It negates the whole purpose if you get stuck in that traffic.

Stick to the main NH48 and be mentally prepared to drive on the diversions (which are not that bad) is my suggestion, based on my recent drives in this section.

P.S. Also, please ignore Google Maps on this route. Google maps has gone totally crazy with the road work in progress and will give you all the random directions everywhere. Ignore Google Maps for most parts and drive straight from Tumkur to Satara without looking at maps. Use Google Maps in the local areas near Pune (from Satara onward).

[ssateesh]

Travelled today 7/2 from Bellandur, Bangalore to Hadapsar, Pune. Total 11 hours driving time

Route taken : Bangalore - Tumkur - Chitradurga - Hosapet - Vijaypur - Solapur - Pune. Except total ~5-6 diversions before and after Solapur overall was a peaceful drive with less traffic.

Breakfast at Chitradurga - Upadhya veg
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zew1MFcUbaMzi4NbA

Lunch at Vijaypur - Shri Siddheshwar Cafe And Restaurant
https://maps.app.goo.gl/uSxXWTJ2r81bwDt8A

Refuel at Shell Chitradurga

[W@SIM]

Originally Posted by Suryendu87

I have a Bengaluru - Pune trip coming up towards end of February. Will start from Whitefield side around 4-4.30 AM and plan is to reach the airbnb near Pune airport area by 7-8PM.

Try to reach Pune airport by 5pm, else the evening Pune traffic will make it very painful

[Suryendu87]

Originally Posted by Dr.AD

Stick to the main NH48 and be mentally prepared to drive on the diversions (which are not that bad) is my suggestion, based on my recent drives in this section.

P.S. Also, please ignore Google Maps on this route. Google maps has gone totally crazy with the road work in progress and will give you all the random directions everywhere. Ignore Google Maps for most parts and drive straight from Tumkur to Satara without looking at maps. Use Google Maps in the local areas near Pune (from Satara onward).

Thanks. Google Maps today does not show NH48 altogether post Chitradurga. It redirects to the Vijaypura section. Will stick to NH48 then and on return journey, will take the other route.

Originally Posted by W@SIM

Try to reach Pune airport by 5pm, else the evening Pune traffic will make it very painful

Thanks for the heads up. Will try my best, but with infant and elderly onboard, might have to bear with it.

[PaceTraveller]

Hello,

Traveling from Bangalore to Ahmedabad. The route via Hosapete - Vijayapura - Solapur - Beed - Aurangabad - Saputara - Navsari - Surat - Vadodara - Ahmedabad seems tempting. Primarily because as quite a few recent travelers have mentioned that the roads on Vijayapura - Solapur route are fairly less trodden, hence expecting a less stressful driving experience in comparison to the Belgavi - Kolhapur - Pune - Mumbai route.

However some concerns that are making me doubt this road are:

1. We are driving a BMW X1 petrol, the recommended fuel is 91 Octane and we usually fill XP95. There seems to be sparse availability on this route. The one I found on this route that has high octane fuel: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6i4bR9V18WFKJtpg7, but after that no other fuel station in 600 kms on this route towards Ahmedabad (assuming I can get 600 kms in one full tank - I usually get around 650 kms in Bangalore city.

2. Roads in / around Saputara. We last drove Ahmedabad to Saputara (in a hatchback) in 2017. Its been a while, but the roads were awful back then.

Please advise. Should we just stick to tried/tested route via Belgavi / Kolhapur or am I unable to find fuel pumps that otherwise do exist, with high octane petrol?

Thanks.

[KarthikK]

Originally Posted by PaceTraveller

.

However some concerns that are making me doubt this road are:

1. We are driving a BMW X1 petrol, the recommended fuel is 91 Octane and we usually fill XP95. There seems to be sparse availability on this route. The one I found on this route that has high octane fuel: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6i4bR9V18WFKJtpg7, but after that no other fuel station in 600 kms on this route towards Ahmedabad (assuming I can get 600 kms in one full tank - I usually get around 650 kms in Bangalore city.

I have done this route purely with XP95 too, there are frequent bunks which have XP95, just note that some of these XP95 bunks will be inside the towns or just a few hundred metres into the towns, so will need getting off the main highway and getting back after the refuel stop. As long as you are okay with that small delay, XP95 availability is never an issue .

Here are some bunks which might be of use for planning refueling stops for your journey, all spaced around 200-300km apart:

Hiriyur (get off the highway and 300-400 metres into the town)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/PrYyrz68NSnCmCtR6

Hospete (there is even XP100 if you are willing to enter the town)
XP95:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3mGDyJVt7wwEdpCV6

XP100: (involves 5km detour into Hospet - Hampi road)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rDfL2qdokWtUV5VR8

Vijayapura
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jYshTWc4Xx17wEKS9

Pune outskirts
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DnUm6BJR6CYabN5v7

Do note, there are many more unmarked ones on google which you might find in person when you pass those areas. Also don't discount HPCL bunks, some of the larger ones stock HP Power95 which is similar to XP95, keep a lookout for those too in case the ones I mentioned don't have stock, etc.

P.S - Try installing the IndianOil One app on your phone and check that on the move. That has an option to filter by fuel type as XP95 / XP100, etc and will show you the closest bunks based on your current location. It is very useful to plan fuel stops this way.

[PaceTraveller]

Originally Posted by KarthikK

Vijayapura
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jYshTWc4Xx17wEKS9
P.S - Try installing the IndianOil One app on your phone and check that on the move. That has an option to filter by fuel type as XP95 / XP100, etc and will show you the closest bunks based on your current location. It is very useful to plan fuel stops this way.

Thank you. This is helpful. This Vijayapura petrol station has XP95? I am actively looking on IndianOil and have composed a Google Maps list of high octane fuels on this route. IndianOil One App doesn't show any pump w/ XP95/XP100 (filtered just the way you mentioned) in this area. Maybe not updated yet?

BTW, when you say you have traveled this route, do you mean all the way up until Ahmedabad or someplace mid way? Also if you do not mind me asking, how much distance were you able to drive on full tank? I am trying to determine how long were you able to go w/o needing a filling station?

Thank you.

[KarthikK]

Originally Posted by PaceTraveller

Thank you. This is helpful. This Vijayapura petrol station has XP95? I am actively looking on IndianOil and have composed a Google Maps list of high octane fuels on this route. IndianOil One App doesn't show any pump w/ XP95/XP100 (filtered just the way you mentioned) in this area. Maybe not updated yet?

It does have XP95. To double-check any such bunks which you open in gmaps, try opening the street view and zooming in on the bunk to check the board or the dispenser in pink showing XP95 .

You're right - sometimes the One app may not be 100% up to date. In my experience the XP95 availability has grown by leaps and bounds in the past year, many unmarked (on gmaps or One app) bunks also stock XP95 now replacing the old erstwhile XtraPremium dispensers. You are more likely to find these bunks while approaching the entrance regions of towns and not directly on the main highways, unless it is a CoCo or an IOCL Swagat bunk.

BTW, when you say you have traveled this route, do you mean all the way up until Ahmedabad or someplace mid way? Also if you do not mind me asking, how much distance were you able to drive on full tank? I am trying to determine how long were you able to go w/o needing a filling station?

Thank you.

I did it on a bike and my fuel tank range was around 400-500km, so needed to plan a bit more frequent refuel stops than yours (which is why the list I gave above was in intervals of 300 km ). I went all the way upto Rann of Kutch but there was a small difference - my route was Bangalore - Pune - Mumbai - Surat - took RoPax Ferry across Gulf of Khambat to Ghoga - Diu - Somnath - Gir - Bhuj - Kutch - Ahmedabad and then returned via Ahmedabad - Vadodara - Mumbai - Bangalore.

Between Mumbai and Ahmedabad there are plenty of IndianOil bunks with XP on the main highway and bypass roads when approaching towns, in fact I found a large bunk even with XP100 when approaching Vapi! There were a few HPCL bunks stocking Power95 too.

[Bigzero]

Originally Posted by PaceTraveller

Hello,

Traveling from Bangalore to Ahmedabad. The route via Hosapete - Vijayapura - Solapur - Beed - Aurangabad - Saputara - Navsari - Surat - Vadodara - Ahmedabad seems tempting. Primarily because as quite a few recent travelers have mentioned that the roads on Vijayapura - Solapur route are fairly less trodden, hence expecting a less stressful driving experience in comparison to the Belgavi - Kolhapur - Pune - Mumbai route.

However some concerns that are making me doubt this road are:

1. We are driving a BMW X1 petrol, the recommended fuel is 91 Octane and we usually fill XP95. There seems to be sparse availability on this route. The one I found on this route that has high octane fuel: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6i4bR9V18WFKJtpg7, but after that no other fuel station in 600 kms on this route towards Ahmedabad (assuming I can get 600 kms in one full tank - I usually get around 650 kms in Bangalore city.

Sparse availability of XP 95 and similar fuels is indeed an issue on this route - going by my experience from around 6 months back. An Indianoil pump in Bijapur was listed as an XP95 outlet at that time - we pulled up next to the XP95 dispenser only to be told that its dry. I hope the situation improves, its a lovely route to drive though its a bit longer.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ssateesh

Travelled today 7/2 from Bellandur, Bangalore to Hadapsar, Pune. Total 11 hours driving time

Route taken : Bangalore - Tumkur - Chitradurga - Hosapet - Vijaypur - Solapur - Pune. Except total ~5-6 diversions before and after Solapur overall was a peaceful drive with less traffic.

While this option has been staring in our faces, somehow I never registered this. So given Kolhapur-Pune is all under constrution, the Chitradurga-Solapur-Pune is a good alternative!

[dean5545]

Hi guys !
Planning to do Mumbai-Bangalore tommorow morning in my M340i.

Although I have done this route countless times via Kolhapur but last time in June it took me 17 hours to reach Bangalore due to road works in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Please let me know if I should take the Solapur route tommorow.
Thank you !

[PaceTraveller]

We started with a night drive from Bangalore to Ahmedabad via Kolhapur / Pune / Mumbai route.

Tl;dr version: Its painful. Its hours and hours of blockage post Mumbai. And before Mumbai, after crossing Dharwad two lane road (one lane for each side), its painful due to just so much activity on the road construction.

The earlier roads (from Bangalore up until Dharwad) are breezy breeze, fun to drive. This was first time that we started the trip at 9 pm and so w/ beautiful roads post 1:30/1:45 am when all truck drivers park themselves in lay-by roads and call it a night, its super fun to drive.

If I were to do this trip again anytime in the next 6 months (given the large stretches of ongoing work - from Belagavi onwards until before Pune and the really painful stretches of work from Thane onwards until Gujarat Border - Jalaram Restaurant just before RTO check post) I would definitely choose the Solapur route and do it via Aurangabad / Nashik / Saputara / Ahmedabad.

We ended up spending 24 hours with about 1.5 hrs of breaks from Bangalore to Navi Mumbai - Palm Beach Rd. Thankfully, I had a reliable co driver (my brother)

And then we ended up spending 17.5 hrs from Navi Mumbai to Ahmedabad. Hours and hours wasted up until we crossed the border and entered Gujarat. Post that it was all easy peasy drive. There was one 49 minute road crash caused congestion near Surat but the co driver got creative and got us through a custom route using Gujarat state highway and inter city Surat route to by pass all that traffic and then got us back to NH48 post that congestion area.

[procrj]

Originally Posted by ampere

So given Kolhapur-Pune is all under constrution, the Chitradurga-Solapur-Pune is a good alternative!

Originally Posted by dean5545

Please let me know if I should take the Solapur route tommorow.

A friend drove down from Pune (start point near airport) To BLR via Solapur today and he has very happy that I recommended this route to him.

Pune - Solapur: 5.30 am start, 8.30 am breakfast stop at Preeti dining. Roads are decent with 4-5 diversions and can easily maintain 80-90 kmph speeds during early hours.

Solapur - Sira: 9.00 am start from Solapur and non stop drive to Paakshala, Sira for Lunch, which he reached at 2.15 pm. Thats close to 500 kms in about 5 hrs 15 min. Good roads, low traffic and a fast car helped(Polo TSI stage2 tuned).

Sira - NICE road entry 3:00 pm start from Sira, 4.40 pm entered NICE road. Not much needs to be said about this stretch.

Hence Pune - BLR in 11 hours with stops. Point i'm making here is that the roads are good and not that you need to drive fast

On the whole, Chitradurga - Hospet - Vijaypura - Solpaur - Pune is a very viable option as long as you ensure that you plan your breaks.