[Rajesh K R]

Originally Posted by Rambo65

Hi, I drove from Marthahalli (in BLR) to Pune on Oct 2. Better to plan timing so as to avoid the Peenya traffic jam. Once you clear Peenya, it is a nice drive. I took the Vijaypura-Jath-Vita-Satara route. Upto Vijaypura it is excellent road (except some road humps between Hospet and Ilkal). As far as breakdown facilities Jath and Vita are reasonably equipped towns, should you have an unfortunate malfunction / flat tyre etc. in between, the options are very less; so check spare tyre condition etc. Tank up before the Vijaypura-Jath road. As far as eateries are concerned, when you take the Vijaupura - Jath road, within 6 Kms, there is a junction where there is a fairly large Udupi joint for breakfast or lunch as the case may be.

However, like someone else posted, this route has a couple of small hills to climb and get down and hence better to avoid night driving; also remember that the entire stretch is single road with no divider (SH and not NH). Overall the road condition is good, except some road work before Jath and a small patch just after Jath. You can average about 60kmph until Satara. Forget about "Cruise mode" due to single road and many blind turns. Enjoy your drive!

What vehicle were you driving? i read in ghodlur's post that sedans & cars with low GC will find it difficult to negotiate the bad patches. How many kms are the broken roads? i drive an Elite i20, do you think it will be difficult for this car?

Trying to gather info as i would be venturing this side for the first time having driven in the regular NH48 earlier. [/list]

[rakesh_r]

Originally Posted by Rambo65

The Solapur route was such a breeze and considering that it was my "Maiden, solo" drive, I enjoyed it so much (of course, I did not do any night driving and stayed at KSTDC Maurya at TB Dam for the night).

Many thanks for the update, your post just cleared my confusion as I will be doing a Pune Kerala road trip somewhere post Diwali. I was trying to chalk out the best route as this will be my 10 month old son's first long road trip. I intent to stay at KSTDC TB Dam, how was your experience in terms of cleanliness, hygiene and food availability, TIA.

[chhotagujju]

Originally Posted by Rambo65

Hi, I drove from Marthahalli (in BLR) to Pune on Oct 2. Better to plan timing so as to avoid the Peenya traffic jam. Once you clear Peenya, it is a nice drive. I took the Vijaypura-Jath-Vita-Satara route. Upto Vijaypura it is excellent road (except some road humps between Hospet and Ilkal)....

...You can average about 60kmph until Satara. Forget about "Cruise mode" due to single road and many blind turns. Enjoy your drive!

Thank you for the update Rambo65. I also did the Bangalore to Pune drive on 2nd Oct.

I took the regular NH48 route. Started from Kadugodi at 5.15 am and took the STRR which was butter smooth and no traffic at all. Roads are good all the way till Belagavi with one or 2 small diversions in between. However after Belagavi till Satara, there are lot of diversions. You need to travel on service roads. Condition of the service roads are somewhat ok with few potholes here and there and lot of speed breakers which will slow you down considerably. From Satara to Pune again the roads were good.

We reached home in Kothrud by 9 PM. which was about 16 hours including the 3 breaks in between for morning breakfast (@A2B around 8 am just after Sira - https://maps.app.goo.gl/8trbZzbdEM7UxX8k9 It was quite crowded though), Lunch (we carried along lunch so stopped at Shell petrol pump - Dharwad at 12.30 PM) and evening snacks (Sai International after Kolhapur at 4.30 pm). Between Satara and Pune there are lots of options for eateries on both side of the highway. But the traffic is quite dense.

Earlier without all these diversions it used to take us about 14-14.5 hours. But this time it took us 16 hours. Our average speeds were around 60 km/hr with max being 110-115 kmph.

[Rambo65]

Originally Posted by Rajesh K R

What vehicle were you driving?

Sorry to have missed out to mention that I was driving my Grand Vitara Hybrid; the GC is much higher. To answer your questions, the bad road part is for about 6 - 8 Kms in two or three patches! Basically road work is on and what they have for us to drive on is just mud road, but somewhat strengthened! Well with i20, you will have to be a bit careful.

Originally Posted by rakesh_r

Many thanks for the update, your post just cleared my confusion as I will be doing a Pune Kerala road trip somewhere post Diwali.

KSTDC TB Dam is fine in terms of access, cleanliness and hygiene. Food is a bit average with little choice! But the best part is if you wish to take a break and visit TB Dam, it is just across the road from the Hotel. The TB Dam does offer some entertainment for the family and kids (music fountain, lot of eateries etc.). Alternative accommodation could be Hotel Kyriad Prestige, Ilkal (about 90 Kms before TB Dam when you drive towards BLR). This is a much better hotel with choice of restaurants.

Originally Posted by chhotagujju

I took the regular NH48 route. Started from Kadugodi at 5.15 am and took the STRR which was butter smooth and no traffic at all.

Thanks! So, as I understand, the Satara - Belagavi diversions and service roads are not "that bad" as it was made out to be in this forum, a few months back? Is it that they have "worked on" it?

Originally Posted by Rambo65

KSTDC TB Dam is fine in terms of access, cleanliness and hygiene.

One additional word of caution: Upto Solapur, the actual speed limit is 90 kmph and it is not very well displayed; I was fined after my return to Pune for a over speeding (The Speed Cam image of my car with data showed 98 kmph against the permissible 90); and I had to pay the fine of INR 2000!!

So, watch your speed, atleast in this section!

[chhotagujju]

Originally Posted by Rambo65

Thanks! So, as I understand, the Satara - Belagavi diversions and service roads are not "that bad" as it was made out to be in this forum, a few months back? Is it that they have "worked on" it?

Looks like they may have relaid the surface of the service roads. I saw in couple of diversions where they were doing road work.

Also another point could be that we travelled on a holiday which could have resulted in less traffic. As there can definitely be a traffic pile up while entering the diversions.

Not sure of the road conditions from Pune to Bangalore. I plan to drive back on the 12th. Will post an update here once done.

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by chhotagujju

Looks like they may have relaid the surface of the service roads. I saw in couple of diversions where they were doing road work.

That's some heartening news. Hope the Pune to Bangalore side service roads are attended to and without any potholes.
An acquaintance who travelled recently from Pune to Belgavi mentioned about non existent national highway between Kolhapur to Hattargi in KA and only service roads exists. The 3 laning in most places between Karad and Kolhapur is completed but there is an un even start and end to such sections causing the vehicles to bounce as they come unannounced.

I am starting on Friday i.e 11th Oct for my return leg to Bangalore from Pune, will update.

[chhotagujju]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

The 3 laning in most places between Karad and Kolhapur is completed but there is an un even start and end to such sections causing the vehicles to bounce as they come unannounced.

Even we faced this on our way to Pune. Some stretches where roads are completed are at a higher level and then sudden step downs where roads are not yet laid. Then again step ups. And these are not easily visible giving those bounces. But you wont feel it much in SUV's. Probably in Sedans it can be felt.

[Rajesh K R]

Originally Posted by chhotagujju

Even we faced this on our way to Pune. Some stretches where roads are completed are at a higher level and then sudden step downs where roads are not yet laid. Then again step ups. And these are not easily visible giving those bounces. But you wont feel it much in SUV's. Probably in Sedans it can be felt.

so, how is it inside Karad? traffic moves in the service road only na? is is it a big pain to pass thro Karad or is it bearable?

[chhotagujju]

Originally Posted by Rajesh K R

so, how is it inside Karad? traffic moves in the service road only na? is is it a big pain to pass thro Karad or is it bearable?

Traffic moves through Service lane only. We didnt face much traffic. Maybe because it was a holiday. But it wasnt smooth sailing either. Average speeds of 20-30 kmph passing through Karad.

[Rajesh K R]

Can this route, Vijayapura-Pandharpur-Satara be tried as an alternate to Vijayapura to Satara via Jath & vita?

Has anyone from the forum driven on this stretch? This way, we can avoid driving thro Pune city - if your destination is Mumbai.

No idea about the road conditions as on date.. but G-Maps street view and some videos showing the road in good shape.

[ghodlur]

I completed the Pune Bangalore drive yesterday vis the NH48 and let me pen down my experience. Total distance covered was 850 kms and time take was 12 hrs for me. Started at 4.30 am in the morning and reached Bangalore at 4.30 pm including 3 halts totaling 50 mins.
Pune-Kognoli BPCL Coco pump:
The roads till Satara are ok with a couple of diversions now. The diversion before Khed Shivpur toll is pathetic and needs to traversed carefully. The no of diversion between Karad and Kolhapur arent many but the road condition is improved making it easy to move on. The 3 lane concrete sections are opened in patches but what makes difficult to drive is the ramp given at start and end of these concrete patches. If one is not careful the vehicle may kind of fly and land in a thud at either ends. Reached the Kognoli BP COCO pump in 3 hrs 15 mins for a tea break of 15 mins. A delay of 15 mins from the usual time.
BPCL COCO pump to Shell Pale Hubli:
The pain starts after Kognoli and continues to torment for 50 off kms till Hattargi. The diversions are too many, in fact the travel in this stretch is in the service road only. The service road condition is good to Ok to bad to worse in patches. Watch out for the unmarked speed breakers, they come unannounced. Tavandi ghat which was abottle necj now gets 2 laned concrete road. After 50 odd kms the real road of KA starts from Hattargi onwards. Speeds can be made up here for the lost time in the diversions and cruise control can be used for fuel average. Unfortunately the 27 kms single lane road between Dharwad and Hubli still exists although one can see the second 2 laned road being built but at a snail's pace. Covered the stretch to Shell Pale Hubli in 3 hrs which was 40 mins more than the usual time taken. Had breakfast at Kamath's Chabbi, Hubli.
Shell Pale Hubli to Kamath's Sira:
This is the stretch when one can free arms even more, could see vehicle zipping at 150 speeds as well while i maintained a sober triple figure speeds. Few diversions have sprung up in the stretch but nothing that can slow down. Reached in 3 hrs 30 mins.
Kamath's Sira to Devanahalli:
Nothing to write about except the traffic at Tumkur and potholes before tumkur could be something one didnt wish. The STRR from Dabaspete is a boon in disguise for the North Bangalore residents. Covered the stretch in 2 hrs.

I was told that the few tolls in KA where the diversions are there are charging half the toll, need to confirm the toll transactions. There is nothing of this half charge in MH.

Conclusion: If one can peaceful cover the diversion section in KA and be careful of the concrete sections in MH, NH48 is still the route to be taken. The sheer driving pleasure and the rest for the right leg with cruise control is unmatched by any other route.

[comfortablynumb]

I am planning to stay in Belgaum (en route to Goa) in a couple of weeks, and continue to Goa the next morning via Chorla. The last time we stayed in Belgaum was 2-3 years ago in Hotel Ramdev, but the experience wasn't so good. So, seeking recommendations for a decent family hotel to crash for a night.

[jkrishnakj]

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

I am planning to stay in Belgaum (en route to Goa) in a couple of weeks, and continue to Goa the next morning via Chorla. The last time we stayed in Belgaum was 2-3 years ago in Hotel Ramdev, but the experience wasn't so good. So, seeking recommendations for a decent family hotel to crash for a night.

Fairfield by Marriott, Belgaum is a really good one. It's on the highway too.

[vivek95]

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

I am planning to stay in Belgaum (en route to Goa) in a couple of weeks, and continue to Goa the next morning via Chorla. The last time we stayed in Belgaum was 2-3 years ago in Hotel Ramdev, but the experience wasn't so good. So, seeking recommendations for a decent family hotel to crash for a night.

Couple of new hotels have opened up in Belgaum in last 2 years. For enroute to Goa, I would suggest Hotel Adarsha palace ( College road,Belgaum - old trusted premium hotel that falls on left side on the way to Goa ). Newer ones are Landmark by Pai and Native hotel ( on right side near 3rd railway gate, opposite D-Mart ).

Not sure if Chorla road is a good option, as some stretches in Karnataka limits have been horrible last few years.

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

Fairfield by Marriott, Belgaum is a really good one. It's on the highway too.

Thank you! Will call them and check availability.

Originally Posted by vivek95

Couple of new hotels have opened up in Belgaum in last 2 years. For enroute to Goa, I would suggest Hotel Adarsha palace ( College road,Belgaum - old trusted premium hotel that falls on left side on the way to Goa ). Newer ones are Landmark by Pai and Native hotel ( on right side near 3rd railway gate, opposite D-Mart ).

Not sure if Chorla road is a good option, as some stretches in Karnataka limits have been horrible last few years.

Thanks for the reply Dr. Vivek! Good to see you active on the forum after a while.

Will check out Landmark and Native, though from a cursory reading of their online reviews, it seems both these places don't have their own secured parking (will have to park on the road). Still, will confirm this point by calling them.

Reason for choosing Chorla is that we need to visit our family deity at Narve (near Bicholim) on 25th Oct morning, and for that Chorla seems to the more appropriate route. As per GMaps, taking Anmod would add an hour to the journey.