[krrisdrive]

Originally Posted by ramanan.skr

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

Tx in Advance!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/STA4LiUoTqtnQbpM8

Route between Hotel Kanchan Veg, Yavat to Talegaon Toll Plaza on MPE

[shubham7799]

Hello Folks,

I am planning on doing the the Pune - Bengaluru stretch on the coming Tuesday (August 20). This is going to be my maiden drive on this route.
Car - Ignis K12(Manual)
Occupants - 5
Request the members to share their valuable inputs on the following from their recent experiences.
1. Road condition
2. Any diversions in place
3. Possibility of flooding, if any
4. Tentative travel time to reach Bengaluru (Koramangala) if we leave Pune (Kharadi) early (05:00 AM). We may have to attend a few work calls.
5. Any other suggestions/precautions that we need to consider

Thanks
Shubham

[napster]

Originally Posted by shubham7799

Hello Folks,

I am planning on doing the the Pune - Bengaluru stretch on the coming Tuesday (August 20). This is going to be my maiden drive on this route.
Car - Ignis K12(Manual)
Occupants - 5
Request the members to share their valuable inputs on the following from their recent experiences.
1. Road condition
2. Any diversions in place
3. Possibility of flooding, if any
4. Tentative travel time to reach Bengaluru (Koramangala) if we leave Pune (Kharadi) early (05:00 AM). We may have to attend a few work calls.
5. Any other suggestions/precautions that we need to consider

Thanks
Shubham

Since you are starting from Kharadi, I think going via Solapur - Vijapur - Hospete - Chitradurga woudl be better option for you. The road is smooth (just watch out for unmarked speed bumps at few junctions between Bijapur and Hospete). I have came from Bangalore via this route last Saturday and it was pretty good to drive (4 lanes throughout).

The original Pune-Bangalore highway (via Satara - Kolhapur - Belgaum) is in terrible state between Satara to Belgaum. There are diversions every 4-5 KMs and the state of the roads around diversions has become worst with the rains.
I drove between Pune and Nipani on 1st August and it was painful to drive and we just wanted to get off the highway as soon as possible.

[blackwasp]

Originally Posted by shubham7799

Hello Folks,

I am planning on doing the the Pune - Bengaluru stretch on the coming Tuesday (August 20).

Hi Shubham, just did this trip in my Ignis AMT on 14th Aug.

We started from Baner at 5 am.

Breakfast halt at 8.00-8.30 am - Sai International Yelur. (Google maps link)

Lunch halt at 12.30-1:45 pm - Ananth the Grand, Hubli (Google maps link)

Coffee break 4:30-4:45 pm - Paakshala Chitradurga (Google Maps Link)

Reached home at 8 pm. (Magadi main road exit on NICE road)

All in all it took us 15 hours including 2 hr 15 mins of total breaks (food + fuel). Went at a relaxed pace and didn't aim to reach Bangalore at any fixed time. 854 km door to door with an average speed of 65 kmph (driving time) and 56 kmph (total time with breaks) is not bad. It is possible to do it a little faster by figuring out a better arrival time in Bangalore city, and reducing break times.

We had planned to leave by 4 am, and that would have been better. Roads till Satara are smooth, you can touch Sai International in 3 hours. Then it'll be slow speeds with many diversions all the way till Belgaum.

Another slow section is the Hubli-Dharwad single carriageway. Stick to 40 kmph speed limit as cops will flag you (esp out of state car number). We were stopped just 500 m before Ananth Grand (outside Infosys campus). Some broken Kannada saved me, but cops are there to make a quick buck.

Once you exit the Gabbur Toll plaza, it's pretty much fast progress till Tumkur / Nelamangala. You can maintain 90-95 kmph. Watch out for speed cams with lower speed limits (80 kmph IIRC in towns / crossings)


Edit - If you are not used to driving / sitting in the car for such a long time, I will recommend you break the journey at Marriott Belgaum / Ananth the Grand, Hubli. This is what my parents do when they drive down to Pune. As this is your maiden trip on this route, my suggestion will be to take a break. Also, are you going to be the solo driver or someone else can also take over the driving duties to give you a break?

[Ays7]

Originally Posted by blackwasp

We had planned to leave by 4 am, and that would have been better. Roads till Satara are smooth, you can touch Sai International in 3 hours. Then it'll be slow speeds with many diversions all the way till Belgaum.

Another slow section is the Hubli-Dharwad single carriageway. Stick to 40 kmph speed limit as cops will flag you (esp out of state car number). We were stopped just 500 m before Ananth Grand (outside Infosys campus). Some broken Kannada saved me, but cops are there to make a quick buck.

Hi, how bad is the stretch between Satara and Belgaum? Does it slow you down significantly and is there too much traffic? I am planning a Mumbai - Hampi trip in first week of September. My plan is to start from Mumbai at 5:00 AM, and have a stop at Hubli (Fortune Park). I have a toddler with me and hence I am leaning towards this route.

Are the diversions manageable? My only fear is to be get stuck in a non - moving traffic or proceed at a snail's pace. I do not mind the diversions as long as the average speed of 55-60 kmph can be maintained. How is the road quality of the diversions?

Thanks in advance.

[W@SIM]

Originally Posted by Ays7

Hi, how bad is the stretch between Satara and Belgaum? Does it slow you down significantly and is there too much traffic? I am planning a Mumbai - Hampi trip in first week of September. My plan is to start from Mumbai at 5:00 AM, and have a stop at Hubli (Fortune Park). I have a toddler with me and hence I am leaning towards this route.

Are the diversions manageable? My only fear is to be get stuck in a non - moving traffic or proceed at a snail's pace. I do not mind the diversions as long as the average speed of 55-60 kmph can be maintained. How is the road quality of the diversions?

Thanks in advance.

If Hampi is the destination take the solapur bijapur route, you may reach hampi is lesser time than you would reach hubli as per initial plan. Breakfast can be planned around pune, and lunch around vijayapur.

[Ays7]

Originally Posted by W@SIM

If Hampi is the destination take the solapur bijapur route, you may reach hampi is lesser time than you would reach hubli as per initial plan. Breakfast can be planned around pune, and lunch around vijayapur.

Hello,

Right now from my place in Mumbai, Hubli shows 12 hours and Hampi 15 hours regardless of route. I usually make it a point to not drive in the night. I also have a toddler with me, and will need frequent food breaks. Hence stopping over at Hubli on first night with hope that I can reach there before it gets too dark. On second day i can easily leave from Hubli by 9 AM and reach by Noon which is around time of check in at the Hotel.

[rockettech5]

I did Navi Mumbai to Bangalore yesterday. Google maps was showing too many constructions in the main highway (via kolhapur) so I took the highway via Solapur.

Navi Mumbai > Pune > Indapur > Solapur > Vijayapura > Hosapete >Chitradurga > Tumkuru > South Bangalore (via Nice road)

Started from Navi Mumbai at 5 am, reached Bangalore at about 10pm ( about 1060 kms total and 17 hours trip which includes approx 1.5 hours of stoppage for breakfast and lunch.

There are many places to eat between Mumbai and Solapur but after that till Chitradurga its scarce but still some options are there if you are not very picky.

Roads are great between Pune and Chitradurga, just a couple of diversions about 500m each, can easily maintain 100kmph for the most part.

[CJP]

Quick update of our trip to Mumbai and back. Please go forgive my tardiness, been a bit preoccupied with stuff at home. Our route to Mumbai was as follows; Bangalore to Vijayapura (Bijapur) to Satara to Mumbai via Pune.


Bangalore to Satara

Since we planned for a relatively relaxed drive, the plan was to take a break at Satara, stay overnight at the Ferns Residency at Satara (thanks for the feedback on this hotel that helped us make a decision to stay there). And then travel from Satara to Mumbai the next morning. Since our check in at Mumbai BKC as toward the afternoon, we planned for a leisurely drive from Satara to Mumbai. That in short was the plan.

Since we had no time constraints we planned to leave on Friday, 2nd Aug., starting from our home at Kengeri at 4:30am. We actually left home almost an hour past at 5:20am and made it quickly across town to Tumkur Road through the NICE Road, relatively sparse traffic on the NICE Road we covered this first leg quite quickly.

We covered the next leg of about 122km in 1:50 hrs., stopped at Pakashala Sira for a quick breakfast, stretched our legs and used the rest room etc.. and changed drivers. My son took over, while I relaxed at the rear, and caught a quick nap.

From Sira to Vijayapura it was all on the multilane highway, with lots of truck traffic, sights of giant windmills through Chitradurga, saw the Tungabadra Dam almost full to its brim, and the Almatti Dam too, full of mud coloured water flowing at a ferocity that was completely scary and awe inspiring at the same time. Frequent rain along the route also added to the need for caution and some sane focused driving.

We stopped for a quick packed lunch of sandwiches just outside Vijayapura and headed on toward Satara. A friend called and advised us not to take the route to Satara as it was a narrow two lane road with lots of truck traffic and the road from Satara to Pune was also rain damaged and chock a block with trucks. Since we already had bookings at the Ferns Residency at Satara, we continued on.

The road from Vijayapura to Satara was a relatively narrow concrete road, that was damaged in places and we had to maintain relatively sedate speeds and dodge the potholes and the trucks that seemed to dominate this route. We pulled into the Ferns Residency at Satara at 5:30pm in the midst of heavy rain. We relaxed at this really nice hotel, with friendly staff and attentive service.

We left Satara at about 8:00am on Saturday morning, got a Maharashtrian breakfast of Misal Pav at a foodcourt called 'Maharastra Food Flavours' just off the Khed Shivpur Toll Plaza. Chased the spicy Misal with some delicious lassi and we set off toward Pune.


Satara to Mumbai BKC

The drive from Satara to Pune was somewhat tedious due to broken roads, heavy traffic, lots of repair works and diversions and our first encounters with Pune traffic.

The drive through Lonavala was breathtaking - lots of great scenery on this side of the highway and lots of traffic on the other side heading into the hills. Bumper to bumper traffic in the opposite lane, just crawling slowly like a giant worm up the hill was bewildering to see. It reminded us about why we now do not step out during the weekends in Bangalore!!

Driving on the Atal Sethu was a great experience, but the rain damaged roads leading onto the bridge and off it was not. But nothing can beat the sight of the South Mumbai skyline rising up through the haze as we crossed the bridge through pouring rain.

We reached our accommodation at BKC by 2pm and just relaxed in the spacious apartment. We got a taste of Mumbai's monsoon, the humidity and of course the traffic, which even on a Saturday afternoon was pretty dense.

The next couple of days were spent driving thru Mumbai - some sightseeing, some shopping and visiting. We also got the full taste of driving in Mumbai traffic, the incessant honking (that drove us mad), the constant hustling and of course the pouring rain. We even got flipped off by a lady driving a BMW 7L for stopping to let a pedestrian cross the street! One thing though - it was good to see two wheelers sticking to the left most lane, and most traffic following lane discipline even through the congested streets. It was a welcome relief, not having to dodge pesky autos and two wheelers - unlike Bangalore traffic! But the honking was difficult to deal with, even at traffic lights, several 100 meters of traffic all lined up at the light and the moment it turns green, drivers from the rear just lean on their horn with a vengeance - this was unnerving at first but we quickly got used to it

I will post the return journey separately, after this.

Some pics from our onward trip

The Tungabadra River


The Tungabadra Dam


The Almatti Dam across the Krishna


The car getting a well deserved rest in Mumbai.

2nd Aug. - Distance covered - from Bangalore to Satara : 733 km driving time of 11hrs 35 mins
3rd Aug. - Distance covered - from Satara to Mumbai BKC : 238 km driving time of 5 hrs 20 mins

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by CJP

The road from Vijayapura to Satara was a relatively narrow concrete road, that was damaged in places and we had to maintain relatively sedate speeds and dodge the potholes and the trucks that seemed to dominate this route.

I had raised a query few days back reg this particular stretch and had started a thread as well enquiring this route. How much time did it take to cover the distance from Vijaypura to Satara, was the route through Tikota, Jath, Vita, Rahimapur? Any pics available for the route? Any information you can share of the eateries and fueling options in this stretch?

[CJP]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

I had raised a query few days back reg this particular stretch and had started a thread as well enquiring this route. How much time did it take to cover the distance from Vijaypura to Satara, was the route through Tikota, Jath, Vita, Rahimapur? Any pics available for the route? Any information you can share of the eateries and fueling options in this stretch?

Sorry - no pics. And we did not stop at any eatery on this leg. There are a few nice restaurants in Vijayapura, but beyond that all we saw were the occassional tea shops and way side dhaba type eatery. And we did not stop at any of these places.

This is the route we took and yes it covered all those way points you've mentioned. From my Google Maps logs -

From the HP Fuel Station at Nidgundi (ref maps above) on the outskirts of Vijayapura, to the Ferns Residency at Satara, the distance was 272 km, and it took us 5 hrs and 19 mins to cover in moderate to heavy rain.

Hope this answers your questions.
Cheers!

[CJP]

The return journey from Mumbai BKC to Bangalore.

Given our experience on the onward drive to Mumbai, the family took a unanimous decision to use the Mumbai > Pune > Solapur > Vijayapura > Bangalore route. We could have made this in one go, but decided to break journey at Vijayapura, and booked rooms at the Ferns Residency, at Vijayapura. We planned driving duties in shifts of 2 to 3 hours each, and since two of us were driving, we would not be as tired.

We packed and hit the bed early on the evening of the 6th Aug., we had to drop off my daughter at the airport for her flight and then start our drive. Given the early flight, we checked out of the apartment, and hit the road relatively early at about 3:40 am on the 7th. A quick trip to the airport and we drove back toward South Mumbai to the Atal Sethu to commence our drive back home.

Google Maps struggled to make sense of the numerous flyovers and bridges to Atal Sethu and almost led us into the Atal Sethu's exit on this side. A friendly policeman advised us to make a U turn and go back a bit to make the entry into the Atal Sethu. The roads near the harbour area are just a system of interconnected holes deep enough to swallow entire cars, even at that time in the morning there was significant truck movements in the harbour area.

Past the Atal Sethu, we got set for our journey to Pune. We managed to escape Pune's rush hour but did get some early school traffic and the buses to the numerous factories along the highway. This leg was somewhat tedious, dodging the inevitable potholes, small local traffic and the trucks plodding along, in the midst of light rain.


Route from Mumbai BKC to Vijayapura


Navigating Pune

We stopped for a quick breakfast at Vithal Kamat near Yavat and continued toward Vijayapura. This leg was 520km and it took us 9 hours and 40 mins., in sporadic moderate to heavy rain along the route. We checked into the Ferns Residency at Vijayapura at about 1:30pm in the afternoon. A quick and delicious lunch at the Ferns, followed by a much needed nap was just right.


The route to Bangalore

The next morning, we left Vijayapura for Bangalore at 6:00 am. The roads were relatively in good shape, but there are some monstrous axle and suspension destroying rumbler strips, actually these are massive road humps, three to five in quick succession that are very specifically designed to break spines, axles, wheels and shake tooth fillings! We hit the first one, completely unawares coasting behind a KSRTC bus, the bus nonchalantly hit this monster head on and bounced around and scooted off. And we hit this thing at 85kmph - nasty surprise. Thank God that Mercedes is built well, else we would have sustained significant damage. After this nasty surprise, I was a lot more cautious. This route from Vijayapura also has heavy truck movement - long trailers carrying windmill parts and equipment.

Please use caution when driving between Vijayapura and Hosapete to Chitradurga.

A quick break at Sai Grand, just outside Chitradurga and we continued on toward Bangalore. Road condition near Tumkur was really terrible, much rain and traffic damage, but the rest of the route was relatively good. We broke off from Tumkur Road to take the NICE road to Kengeri and home.

Overall, we covered the distance of 503km from Vijayapura to our home in Kengeri, in 7 hours and 3 mins.

[CJP]

Summary

This was our first drive away from South India and we learned and experienced much in terms of culture, language, food, interactions with the local folks along the route. That was an enriching experience.

Taking it easy, rather than rushing from Point A to Point B through the most efficient route also gave us some unique insights. The drive from Vijayapura to Satara was on a very narrow highway, however we passed through very interesting villages, farm lands and driving through the lush green of the countryside was serene.

The car was a dream, just kept purring along, took all the potholes, rutted roads and the axle breaking road humps with quiet dignity. We drove in Mumbai as well, the proximity alarm did go completely crazy at some points, we managed quite well, with not a single scratch or issue with the car. However, when we gave the car to Mercedes in Bangalore for a quick once over, they did discover some rat footprints under the bonnet - most likely this was from parking in the apartment's parking lot, out in the open.

Overall, we averaged between 16 to 17 kmpl, our average speed for the entire speed was just a shade under 60 kmph. Final numbers:-


And the car has now rolled through its first 10K KM.

and for those of you who track tolls



Thanks very much to fellow BHPians for your assistance, feedback and advise that helped us take decisions about hotels, places to eat, and most importantly the route.

Cheers!!

[mohan41]

Google maps is showing that NH48 is closed near Hiriyur till Nov 2024. Can someone confirm if this is true?

[condor]

Originally Posted by mohan41

Google maps is showing that NH48 is closed near Hiriyur till Nov 2024. Can someone confirm if this is true?

The service road is open. The entire road can not be blocked.