[CJP]

Thanks for the update @Condor, I am planning to drive to Mumbai BKC this coming weekend, departing Bangalore on the 2nd Aug., stopping overnight at Satara and then continuing onwards to Mumbai on the next day. This will help us get an early start to drive into Mumbai and hopefully avoid Pune's weekend traffic on Saturday morning.

Returning on the 7th Aug. take an overnight break at Vijayapura for the night and then drive on to Bangalore the next morning. Leaving Mumbai BKC fairly early about 4:30 am, hopefully beat the morning rush and get out of Pune by 8:30-9:00 am

The idea is to drive at a relatively relaxed pace and get adequate rest, as we are not pressed for time both ways.

Based on our reading on this forum so far, the best route seems to be the following:

Bangalore > Chitradurga > Hosapete > Satara > Pune > Mumbai thru the Atal Sethu to BKC and return pretty much the same way, just that the break point switches to Vijayapura - giving us about 8+ hours of drive on both sides.

Would appreciate updates about the weather, any issues on the roads due to the ongoing monsoon and anything to watch out for.

Also feedback about Hotels - The Fern Residency at Satara and The Town Palace at Vijayapura.

Appreciate recommendations about good places along the route for meal breaks - breakfast, lunch dinner, preferably vegetarian.

Thanks for your help on this folks.

[ghodlur]

Has anyone driven Vijapura - Tikota - Jath - Vita - Karad route using NH166E? How's the road and traffic condition? I am told this is a concrete road all the way from Vijapura to Karad and could be the bypass to the Karad-Kolhapur-Belgaum mess.

Gmaps shows 4 hrs travel time which adds to the 8 hrs to Vijapura from Bangalore and another 1.5 hrs to Pune from Karad making it around 13.5 hrs journey as against the standard 12 hrs when driven on Bangalore-Davangere-Hibli-Belgaum-Kolhapur-Satara route.

[KnightRider77]

Originally Posted by CJP

Would appreciate updates about the weather, any issues on the roads due to the ongoing monsoon and anything to watch out for.

Also feedback about Hotels - The Fern Residency at Satara and The Town Palace at Vijayapura.

Appreciate recommendations about good places along the route for meal breaks - breakfast, lunch dinner, preferably vegetarian.

I drove to Pune via the Chitradurga - Hosapete - Solapur with an overnight break at Vijayapura on July 20th. I'll provide a more detailed post about my journey to and fro when I'm back in Bangalore but here is the condensed version:

I found this route mostly excellent with light traffic most of the times and moderate after Solapur when heading into Pune. There are plenty of petrol bunks along the route although you may have to get off the highway for some of them. As for eateries, I stopped only at Anand Vihar for lunch and restroom break. The hotel had only South Indian thali and Lemon Rice (decent) for lunch, so the fare is pretty limited. I did notice a few other eating joints and lots of dhabas along the route but that's all I can attest to as regards meal breaks.

I stayed overnight at The Ferns Residency, Vijayapura and found it an excellent hotel to stay. The check-in was quick, the rooms were large and clean. Ditto for the bathrooms and - for those who swear by it - the toilet had an effective "health faucet" (aka bum jet spray which I believe is the technical term). The hotel provides laundry and wake up service. The hotel has a decent restaurant with a wide variety of cuisine. Finally, the staff is excellent and friendly. The fare is on the higher side admittedly, but I highly recommend this hotel for anyone looking for an overnight stay at Vijayapura.

[condor]

Originally Posted by CJP

Would appreciate updates about the weather, any issues on the roads due to the ongoing monsoon and anything to watch out for.

Weather we can know better when closer to your travel date. On a general note for next few days - it looks like rains will continue along the coast, including Kolhapur, Pune and Bombay.

When we shared our plans to travel to Pune, we were told to hold off for another week at least. Khadakvasla dam filled to the brim, and water is being released everyday - the river flows through the heart of Pune city. The excess rains have caused problems in the northern parts of the city (Pimpri-Chinchwad etc). I think a good check on the conditions beyond Pune upto and in Bombay will be useful.

*

There look to be more diversions on the Belgaum-Kolhapur than in the reverse due to the on-going work. Rain related issues are separate.

On the Pune-Solapur sector, please expect extra cars on weekends - looks like lot of folks go from Pune to Akkalkot. Trucks, everyday.

Again, trucks on the Hospet-Chitradurga sector.

Not much food options between Hospet to Solapur. We did have lunch at Gandhi Dhaba just north of Bijapur. But this is a truckers stop with limited food options. But the food was tasty in a way familiar to us North KA & MH folks.

*

Have a safe journey ! Will update anything more I get till your travel date.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Rev2Serenity

We visited Nasik and Shirdi on our return journey and took Ahmednagar - Solapur - Bijapur - Chitradurga route. From Shirdi to Ahmednagar that road is slightly in bad shape in patches. But after Ahmednagar it was breeze to drive till Bangalore.

Oh my gawd! Shirdi-Nagar is just slightly in bad shape? Has it improved so much?

Also which route you took from Nagar to Solapur? Am curious to know.

The de-facto route is Shirdi-Samruddhi Mahamarg-Aurangabad bypass-Solapur which is mostly flawless except the 8.5 km stretch from Shirdi town to Samruddhi cloverleaf.

[Rev2Serenity]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Oh my gawd! Shirdi-Nagar is just slightly in bad shape? Has it improved so much? ....

Ha. Ha. My view was in comparison to the Belgaum - Satara Road. This seemed far better.

We took Shirdi - Pimpri Nirmal - Kolhar - Rahuri - Ahmednagar. Stayed overnight at Ahmednagar. From Ahmednagar we took - Ahmednagar - Karmala - Kurduvadi - Solapur - Bangalore.

Originally Posted by narayans80

The de-facto route is Shirdi-Samruddhi Mahamarg-Aurangabad bypass-Solapur which is mostly flawless except the 8.5 km stretch from Shirdi town to Samruddhi cloverleaf.

Well, we just took the route as suggested by Google and from Ahmednagar it was good road throughout. Had no idea about Samruddhi Mahamarg though.

[condor]

Originally Posted by CJP

I am planning to drive to Mumbai BKC this coming weekend, departing Bangalore on the 2nd Aug..

@CJP, are you still planning to drive to Bombay this weekend ? Bombay looks to be seeing rain almost 24x7 at this time - light or heavy.

[CJP]

@condor, yes this trip is now on.

We are kind of prepared for a very wet Mumbai, will update as we get closer to our destination. Leaving early morning tomorrow from Kengeri. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are our key days in Mumbai. We will depart from BKC on Wednesday AM.

[krrisdrive]

Anyone looking for update:

Started from Panvel on 28th July (Sunday) 5:15 AM.
Reached Yavat Vithal Kamat's (160KM) at 9:30 AM for breakfast amid slight shower throughout. (40 KMPH average)
Reached Bijapur via Solapur (290KM) at 2:15 PM for fuel fill amid very slight shower throughout. (70KMPH average)
Reached Hospet (190KM) at 6:15 PM for overnight stay amid few slight showers (60KMPH average)

Stayed at Priyadarshini Classic. Very decent and economical stay. (recommended in one of the Hampi thread)

Next day (29th July, Monday) started from hotel at 8:00 AM after a quick breakfast at Naivedhyam. (They didn't have all items at 7:30 am)
Aimed for Nandi Upchar at Hoskote STRR exit through Hospet > Chitradurga > Tumkur > STRR but found that hotel is abandoned. Took lunch at Sri Annapurna a few kms towards Kolar but on opposite side at 2 PM. 360 KM distance with 60KMPH average.
Filled fuel at Mulbagal HP at 4:00 PM. 64 KM with 60KMPH average. There is a long diversion in between which goes through village with heavy traffic.
Reached Vellore at 6:15 PM (105 KM, 50 KMPH average)

A very, pleasant wholesome drive throughout 2 days.

Pune to Solapur is mostly dominated by cars.
Solapur to Chitradurga is with heavy truck traffic on the 4 lane route, (being the most widely used road from North to South especially Bangalore, Kerala and Part TN). Most truckers have a good driving sense in this route. But watch out for herds of sheep/goat/xxx appearing from nowhere and especially in median.

STRR is pleasant to drive and further to Vellore via Chittor is fantastic. There was no issues between Chittor to Vellore.

Hoskote dam across Tungabatra is overflowing and it looked like a sea.

Fuel tip: In this route, lowest diesel price is at Bijapur and Kolar.

[condor]

Originally Posted by CJP

We are kind of prepared for a very wet Mumbai, will update as we get closer to our destination. Leaving early morning tomorrow from Kengeri. .

Suggest the Chitradurga-Hospet-Solapur-Pune route. (caveat - less food options, as has been mentioned). Traffic is disrupted on the Kolhapur route, with water from the Hiranyakeshi river coming onto the highway. Plus the existing road expansion work that has been going on for quite some time.

Have a safe trip !

[CJP]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Has anyone driven Vijapura - Tikota - Jath - Vita - Karad route using NH166E? How's the road and traffic condition? I am told this is a concrete road all the way from Vijapura to Karad and could be the bypass to the Karad-Kolhapur-Belgaum mess.

The Vijapura to Satara route is driveable, but at significantly lower speeds, it is a two lane road, ruined by the heavy truck traffic and the monsoon. The concrete road is worn and has some big potholes that can catch you by surprise. The scenery at this time of the year is great however and compensates for the long drive. This stretch requires attentive and agile driving and a cautionary foot hovering above the brake pedal due to local traffic, potholes and the occassional farm animals esp. herds of goats.

[CJP]

Originally Posted by condor

Suggest the Chitradurga-Hospet-Solapur-Pune route. (caveat - less food options, as has been mentioned). Traffic is disrupted on the Kolhapur route, with water from the Hiranyakeshi river coming onto the highway. Plus the existing road expansion work that has been going on for quite some time.

Have a safe trip !

Thanks @condor, will try this route on our return. The Vijapura to Satara route was somewhat slow, but the route from Satara to Pune was slower still - mostly due to the terrible condition of the road, slow moving truck traffic and the rains. Lots of road repair works at several points further increase travel time due to lane closures and piled up traffic.

[krrisdrive]

Returned to Mumbai (Panvel) via Chitraduraga>Hospet>Bijapur>Solapur>Pune on 3/4th Aug 2024.

Took dinner at Anand Vihar, almost halfway between Chitradurga and Hoskote. https://maps.app.goo.gl/PbDY9vX3fGoHAi8u7
Tasty food with quick service despite their prominent notice "No Hurry Service"
Seems that they close at 11 PM sharply. They also have a good collection of organic packed food items.

In this entire stretch, Hospet to Bijapur road is difficult to drive due to pathetic maintenance and unwelcoming speed bumps. The early morning drive (4 am to 7 am) also didn't help.

Crossing Pune between 2 to 3 PM on a Sunday was not at all a hassle.

[tharian]

I am planning to ride to Davengere and back in the coming days. It has been a while since I travelled on this highway and wanted to check if there are any road works between Bangalore and Davengere that I need to be aware of.

[ramanan.skr]

Originally Posted by krrisdrive

Crossing Pune between 2 to 3 PM on a Sunday was not at all a hassle.

Can you please provide Google Maps link to cross Pune along this route?

Tx in Advance!