[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

I didn't have to fill fuel enroute, got there in one full tank that I did at Blr and the A6 had a combo of quick, super quick, sedate, very sedate and enthusiastic modes through the drive.

Thats phenomenal, this is the second car I recently come to know which can cover 850 odd kms in one tank fill. The other one was Kia Seltos. Even with cruise control in KA, I never was able to reach Pune in one tank.

Good to know that you can cover the distance in 12 hrs, I hope this was including breaks.

I somehow found the no of diversions in MH to be lesser than that in KA when I travelled from Pune to Bangalore a month back. The 50+ kms from Kognoli till Hattargi will test your patience as it will be service roads all through but if you pass that through then its a smooth ride till Bangalore.

[jkrishnakj]

Yes Ghodlur, total time including breaks was 12 hours. One breakfast and one lunch break is all we had. Lucky to have not been stopped even once at the various election checkpoints post stops. I think it was just one of those days where everything came together for me on the drive.

And agreed, the areas between Kognoli to Hattargi is the most painful.

[Axe77]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

I did Bangalore - Pune trip yesterday. Left home at 4.45 am and were at Tumkur Road Nice exit by 5.30 am. We decided to take the regular NH 48 all through.

Curious. What’s the speed camera situation like in the KA section of NH 48, specially post Tumkur when the highway is quite smooth, fast and wide.

I recall it being a frustratingly low 80 kmph in many places where I felt 100 kmph would have been more apt but I can’t recall specifically.

[GeeTee TSI]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

I did Bangalore - Pune trip yesterday.

Exceptional stats indeed! Interested to know the trip summary (FE, average speed), extent of cruise control and (only if you don't mind) maximum speed achieved.

I do find the progress from Belgaum onwards astounding!

[RAKMAN_BABA]

That's super impressive indeed! To do the journey in 12 hrs (hopefully without falling prey to any speed traps!) with break/s and yet in under a tank full of fuel is a mean feat even for a diesel in a reasonably heavy car (assuming its the 190bhp, 2L diesel!). Especially, given the current state of the road, which would require a rather heavy foot on the open sections to make up time, these stats are more a testament to the driving than the car itself.


I personally am too chicken to do any 'road trip' in a sedan on our roads, which even if you only stick to national highways, can still throw up a challenge or two to the ground clearance of one.

[Bigzero]

Originally Posted by ostreichwein

Worth noting that XP 95 availability is also slightly sparse up to Vijayawada. We filled up XP 95 at Chikmagalur before starting off, and had to top up once with Jio BP on this route.

XP 95 is available at Ilkal - one would need to get off the highway and go 500 m or so inside.

[ViRaSh]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

I'm now tempted to get back home through the same route itself. I drive back on Monday and shall update here.

This is damn impressive. Reaching Pune in 12 hrs and I've never achieved an average speed of nearly 70 in MH except on the great Samruddhi Mahamarg.

A Vadodara-Pune-Bangalore trip is a checkbox that needs to be ticked off in my bucket list. The only obstacles lies that the time taken for Pune-Banglore. Google says it takes about 15-16 hours and if you add the breaks and factor in the traffic of bangalore total travel time reachs 19-20 hours for completing the journey.

We always thought we will require to make another stop before banglore and reach there the next day.This travelogue assures me that it is possible in single trip.

Waiting for your update on the return leg of your journey.

Happy and Safe Travels!!!!

[jkrishnakj]

Originally Posted by Axe77

Curious. What’s the speed camera situation like in the KA section of NH 48, specially post Tumkur when the highway is quite smooth, fast and wide.

I recall it being a frustratingly low 80 kmph in many places where I felt 100 kmph would have been more apt but I can’t recall specifically.

I did see a few over head cameras fixed on masts high up, but i doubt if those ever worked. Been on those stretches several times and have not got any issues yet

Originally Posted by GeeTee TSI

Exceptional stats indeed! Interested to know the trip summary (FE, average speed), extent of cruise control and (only if you don't mind) maximum speed achieved.

I do find the progress from Belgaum onwards astounding!

Cruise control was used, but on and off. There is always a truck or two or someone ahead that you can't manoeuvre in cruise control. I have attached pictures of the summary of my return journey, which was a little over 12 hours.

Originally Posted by RAKMAN_BABA

That's super impressive indeed! To do the journey in 12 hrs (hopefully without falling prey to any speed traps!) with break/s and yet in under a tank full of fuel is a mean feat even for a diesel in a reasonably heavy car (assuming its the 190bhp, 2L diesel!). Especially, given the current state of the road, which would require a rather heavy foot on the open sections to make up time, these stats are more a testament to the driving than the car itself.
I personally am too chicken to do any 'road trip' in a sedan on our roads, which even if you only stick to national highways, can still throw up a challenge or two to the ground clearance of one.

Had filled up the XP95 right next door to where i live and i managed the entire trip, though, i was tempted to fill in post Katraj, towards Pune.

I did not see any speed traps towards Pune, but on my return, i spotted a Bolero parked on the sides, just after Kolhapur with a speed camera. I have checked for challans online, and i don't see any yet. I clearly was 88 or so, on a 80 limit road when i passed that interceptor.

Originally Posted by ViRaSh

This is damn impressive. Reaching Pune in 12 hrs and I've never achieved an average speed of nearly 70 in MH except on the great Samruddhi Mahamarg.

A Vadodara-Pune-Bangalore trip is a checkbox that needs to be ticked off in my bucket list. The only obstacles lies that the time taken for Pune-Banglore. Google says it takes about 15-16 hours and if you add the breaks and factor in the traffic of bangalore total travel time reachs 19-20 hours for completing the journey.

We always thought we will require to make another stop before banglore and reach there the next day.This travelogue assures me that it is possible in single trip.

Waiting for your update on the return leg of your journey.

Happy and Safe Travels!!!!

The timing becomes key. Having read thru Parag's many endeavours on this route, i had a rough idea. It worked both ways for me.

I started our return journey at 12.40 noon, Monday, the 18th. Clearly, the objective was to cross Kolhapur before 5 pm, lest you get caught in the evening traffic there. Covered a full 262 KM without a break.


A good break at Nippani for 15 minutes, and we were traversing thru the diversions. We were thinking if it makes sense to do a halt at Belgaum or Hubli or even Davangere, but decided to keep pushing till i feel the comfort to drive. Reached Hubli, the Shell fuel station at 7.55 PM, a good 200 KM drive



Post Hubli, the speeds were much better given the road conditions. Did a full 280 KM non-stop. Idea was to try and get to Pakashala, Sira, for dinner, but we somehow missed the turn off to that restaurant and we ended up at the Kamath, Sira. We arrived and they shut shop, so, we had to do without dinner. Thankfully, we had a lot of fruits and knick-knacks in the car to get us home



The last stretch was perhaps the most painful, largely due to heavy truck traffic and also the fact that i was slowly getting a bid jaded due to the drive. All i knew was that we wanted to get home to the comfort of our beds and that kept us going.



Return was good, with 3 breaks though. Left at 12.45 PM and got home at 12.54 AM.

[KK2001]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

I did see a few over head cameras fixed on masts high up, but i doubt if those ever worked. Been on those stretches several times and have not got any issues yet

Hi jkrishnakj,

Three and a half hours from Wakad to Nipani is simply impressive, for a sedan that too. I take 7 hours to reach Nipani from Bombay, that too in the Fortuner and I'm still very careful of the diversions between Karad and Kognoli.

Wishing you many more safe travels and Happy Mile Crunching

KK2001

[Auto_guy_101]

Hi All,

As a part of a larger road trip plan, I will be covering Bagalkote - Shirdi - Nashik - Bijapur - Bangalore. I'm familiar with the last stretch but need your help with the rest.

For Bagalkote - Shirdi and Nashik - Bijapur, I find 2 route options on maps:

• Option 1: The shorter route via Ahilyanagar (erstwhile Ahmad Nagar) and Solapur. I would like to know the route conditions. Also this route uses:
  • NH 61 up to Takli Dhokeswar, then SH 50 and then NH 60. Is the SH alright?
  • I see an option to go to Bhele and Alpheta to avoid the SH, is it worth it?
• Option 2: The longer route with strangely the same travel time where I take the Samruddhi Mahamarg from Nashik to Aurangabad, get on NH 52 to Beed and then to Solapur. Is this route better?

Any lunch (veg) and snack stops en route that are recommended? This is my 1st time on the roads in the thick of Maharashtra, so I'd be happy to take any tips like travel times, routes to avoid, any worthwhile stops/ shops, local products or produce etc.

Thanks in advance!

[shatananda.k]

I will be visiting Pune via Kolhapur in Dec end. Will be starting from Bangalore.

For initial stretch, route taken will be B'lore -> Bijapur -> Kolhapur. This is majorly to avoid NH48 chaos. Any suggestions for restaurants in this route?

For Kolhapur -> Pune, how bad are the roads? I believe NH48 is the only option. Google shows 4.5 hours. Is this valid

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by shatananda.k

I will be visiting Pune via Kolhapur in Dec end. Will be starting from Bangalore.

For initial stretch, route taken will be B'lore -> Bijapur -> Kolhapur. This is majorly to avoid NH48 chaos. Any suggestions for restaurants in this route?

For Kolhapur -> Pune, how bad are the roads? I believe NH48 is the only option. Google shows 4.5 hours. Is this valid

You are better off reaching Kolhapur via NH48 on the way to Pune assuming you would take a halt in Kolhapur. The roads till Hattargi in KA are all good. The diversions from Hattargi till Kognoli/Kagal might test your patience, if you can see through that then you can reach Kolhapur without a sweat.

Taking the Bijapur route to reach Kolhapur is longer in time and distance.

[napster]

Originally Posted by Auto_guy_101

Option 2: The longer route with strangely the same travel time where I take the Samruddhi Mahamarg from Nashik to Aurangabad, get on NH 52 to Beed and then to Solapur. Is this route better?

Not aware of the road conditions between Solapur - Ahilya Nagar (Ahmednagar) and roads between Ahilya Nagar to Shirdi were just average (namesake 4 laned) when I travelled 2 years back. I am from Aurangabad and have used the route between Vijayapura to Aurangabad few times in last 4 months so I can tell the road condition is very good in this stretch and traffic is very less plus Samruddhi mahamarg and the bypass for Aurangabad has pretty smooth transition while travelling to Shirdi or back from Nashik, hence though the distance is significantly higher the travel time is almost the same. In fact you might even be able to cover this sooner as majority of the road you can easily cruise at higher speed and without much hassle.

Regarding food options, I could see decent food options present between Solapur - Aurangabad stretch.

If you want to experience cruising and relax drive on highways then you can consider this route option.

[amolpg]

I drove from Belgavi to Pune yesterday via NH48, Belgavi to Kolhapur is using service road for 85% of the route but due to this traffic is only 50% of what it used to be. It took me little under 2 hours to cover 107 kms. Kolhapur to Satara is about 50% service road and 50% main road. It took me little over 2 hours to cover 120 kms. Satara to Kothrud - Pune took me another 2 hours to cover 106 kms. So in total it took me about 6 hours to cover 340 kms with 2 small breaks.
I started early 5:30am and crossed both Belgavi and Kolhapur and even most of the Karad before 10am so very little city traffic.

[shatananda.k]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

You are better off reaching Kolhapur via NH48 on the way to Pune assuming you would take a halt in Kolhapur.

Thank you.

Plan is to stay in Kolhapur. We will take NH48.
I understand NH48 is best route for Kolhapur -> Pune in-spite of deviations. This seems like the only option.