[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by JMaruru

I have a trip coming up next week from Mumbai > B'lore and am wondering which routing to take, as there are couple of options now.

Could I do this journey in one single day, if I leave at around 4AM? Earlier, I used to do this(B'lore <> Belgaum <> Mumbai) in about 16 hours and now am not sure seeing many posts about road works between Satara and Belgaum.

If you have the capacity, you can still do the trip in a single day. If you start at 4 am from Mumbai (depends where you are starting from), you will possibly reach Bangalore around 10.30-11 pm time even if you drive on the NH48 with all the diversions. Else add another hour and half if you use the Solapur route. You can make up on the Belagavi Tumkur stretch with some good speeds.

16hrs is the minimum driving time, add the break times to that.

[vivek95]

I had driven from Mumbai to Belgaum last week and here are some observations -

1. Mumbai -- Pune expressway remains excellent except for some patchwork post monsoons nearby Lonavala. Anyhow this section will soon be bypassed in next 4-5 months once the new Missing link is opened for traffic.

2. Pune to Satara is decent with some rough patches but reasphalting work is ongoing. The completed newly surfaced roads are awesome. Not sure if this resurfacing work will be carried out for the entire 130 kms.

3. Satara to Kolhapur which is undergoing 6 laning has decently surfaced diversions. Completed 6 lane cement stretches are nice. Diversions are short and do not have speedbreakers.

4. Kolhapur to Belgaum was irritating to drive. Long diversions with rough surface and potholes and to make matters worse, there are unmarked speedbreakers. These bad diversions are as long as 2+ kms at some places. Even at midnight 1 a. m, I took 2 hours 15 mins for 100 kms. Completed 6 lane cement stretches are nice but they are very few and far in between. Overall this sector is better than earlier but still the most painful part to drive from Mumbai/Pune to Belgaum.

Entire Satara--Belgaum 6 laning is easily 2 years away from full fledged completion. As an immediate measure, decently smooth diversions with removal of speebreakers should solve the problem.

Strongly recommend driving Kolhapur to Belgaum sector before 9 a.m in the morning. Night drive can be undertaken but keep in mind the unmarked speedbreakers. It will surely be frustrating during daytime with local traffic and wrong side traffic. Plus there are crawling sugarcane tractors and trucks ( season lasts till March ).

[krrisdrive]

Originally Posted by vivek95

I had driven from Mumbai to Belgaum last week and here are some observations -


Strongly recommend driving Kolhapur to Belgaum sector before 9 a.m in the morning. Night drive can be undertaken but keep in mind the unmarked speedbreakers. It will surely be frustrating during daytime with local traffic and wrong side traffic. Plus there are crawling sugarcane tractors and trucks ( season lasts till March ).

Thanks Vivek95 for the update.

Usually, I start at 9 PM from Navi Mumbai, crossing Kolapur around 4 AM and reaching Ganesh Hotel after Hubli on NH4 by 9 AM for breakfast. Last trip was in May 23, before start of road works.

Recently, in July 24, I had solo driven through Solapur (based on posts from this thread) to Bangalore and back comfortably.

So I am basically torn between Solapur and Kolapur for my family trip in December 4th week to Bangalore and beyond in HyCross.

What is your recommendation?

[W@SIM]

Originally Posted by krrisdrive

So I am basically torn between Solapur and Kolapur for my family trip in December 4th week to Bangalore and beyond in HyCross.

What is your recommendation?

Problem i saw in the satara to Hattargi stretch of NH48 are the bumps when new tarmac starts or ends specially from satara to kolhapur. you need to slow down as these are unmarked and if ignored ends up in a bad back/neck. so i will either slow done or stick to solapur route.

[vivek95]

Originally Posted by krrisdrive

Thanks Vivek95 for the update.

Usually, I start at 9 PM from Navi Mumbai, crossing Kolapur around 4 AM and reaching Ganesh Hotel after Hubli on NH4 by 9 AM for breakfast. Last trip was in May 23, before start of road works.

Recently, in July 24, I had solo driven through Solapur (based on posts from this thread) to Bangalore and back comfortably.

So I am basically torn between Solapur and Kolapur for my family trip in December 4th week to Bangalore and beyond in HyCross.

What is your recommendation?

For Bangalore I would recommend the Solapur-Hospet-Durga route. NH4 Kolhapur route will drain you out by the time you cross Belgaum given these road works spanning 240 kms and the ascent of 3 major and 1 minor ghat in the Mumbai to Bangalore direction upto Belgaum. For return Bangalore to Mumbai though, you can still consider sticking to NH4.

Also, for a 9pm start from Navi Mumbai, you will face the everyday massive traffic snarls at Khandala ghat on Mumbai--Pune Expressway.

[krrisdrive]

Originally Posted by W@SIM

Problem i saw in the satara to Hattargi stretch of NH48 are the bumps when new tarmac starts or ends specially from satara to kolhapur. you need to slow down as these are unmarked and if ignored ends up in a bad back/neck. so i will either slow done or stick to solapur route.

It seems like same as Mumbai-Vapi road work

Originally Posted by vivek95

For Bangalore I would recommend the Solapur-Hospet-Durga route. NH4 Kolhapur route will drain you out by the time you cross Belgaum given these road works spanning 240 kms and the ascent of 3 major and 1 minor ghat in the Mumbai to Bangalore direction upto Belgaum. For return Bangalore to Mumbai though, you can still consider sticking to NH4.

Thanks W@SIM and Vivek95, then via Solapur it is.

Originally Posted by vivek95

Also, for a 9pm start from Navi Mumbai, you will face the everyday massive traffic snarls at Khandala ghat on Mumbai--Pune Expressway.

Yes, I know. But I prefer it than the day time drive from Pune to Kolapur hugged by 2 Wheelers and sugarcane tractor trailers.

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by W@SIM

Problem i saw in the satara to Hattargi stretch of NH48 are the bumps when new tarmac starts or ends specially from satara to kolhapur. you need to slow down as these are unmarked and if ignored ends up in a bad back/neck. so i will either slow done or stick to solapur route.

This road condition which you have mentioned is between Karad and Kolhapur only and is for the concrete 3 laned sections which have been made operational abruptly. One has to navigate this stretch a bit more carefully than normal. The patience testing stretch is the Kognoli - Hattargi one where one travels mostly in the service roads. If one can do this stretch without getting hyper or irritated then the journey becomes pleasurable after Hattargi (for a small distance of 27 kms between Dharwad and Hubli its single laned road).

[zodiac01]

Did a Bangalore - Pune / Nasik round trip last week. We had done this stretch a few months ago when we took the Solapur route and it appeared a bit time-consuming, so we chose to take the Belgaum / Kolhapur route for the onward journey this time. Some recent reviews on this thread also inspired me to try another shot at this old trusted route... sharing my findings.

We did an early morning start at 4:15 am from Bangalore, with an equally early breakfast at A2B, Sira at 6:30 am. This place has excellent fresh breakfast options for early starters if you happen to get hungry in this wee hour. We took a quick refuelling break at BP COCO, Kagnoli, around 1:30 pm; followed by a lunch break at Rau Wada, Karad at 3:30 pm and finally reached Pune at 7:30 pm. It took us a good 15 hrs inclusive of three breaks.

Overall road conditions are pretty good between Bangalore - Hubli and Satar - Pune. But the rest will try your patience, predominantly the one-and-a-half service lanes where we encountered moderate to significant traffic. Take extra care when passing slow-moving trucks along these service lanes. Service roads between Belgaum and Kagnoli are not in great shape as these have loose gravel and several undulations. Hopefully, they fix it soon as the construction is going to take longer time.

The return journey from Nasik on a Wednesday afternoon, via the Samruddhi Mahamarg Aurangabad - Solapur - Chitradurga route. Started at 2 pm and drove up to Tuljapur, and took an overnight break at 10 pm. Resumed the following day at 9:00 am after having a darshan and breakfast at Tuljapur, encountered moderate commuter traffic. A quick refuelling break at BP COCO, Zalki. An evening snack break at Pakshala, Sira 6 pm and reached Bangalore at 9:30 pm. With my parents accompanying us on the return trip, we took multiple quick breaks every 2 to 3 hrs to keep them comfortable through the journey. It took us about 8 hrs on day 1 & close to 12 hrs on day 2 summing it to a drive of 20 hrs. Roads are excellent on this route, just keep a watch on those speed humps on the stretch between Vijapur - Hospet.

I would suggest trying out the satellite ring road to ease your entry and exit to Bangalore, especially during peak traffic hours.

With the prevailing construction, unless there is a pressing need to do so, I would avoid driving either of these routes until the majority of construction on the Kolhapur route is complete. Nonetheless, at times all of us have last-minute unexpected travel and we have no options but to go for it.

I will be sharing some stops between Bangalore - Pune route and the Nasik - Solapur - Bangalore route, I hope it helps a few folks planning to travel along these routes.

[vivek95]

Originally Posted by vivek95

I had driven from Mumbai to Belgaum last week and here are some observations -

Drove back Belgaum to Mumbai 2 days ago and road conditions are same as above. Belgaum--Kolhapur was the irritating part but once into Maharashtra, drive was as enjoyable as it could be. Belgaum--Kagal diversions are bad but Kagal--Kolhapur--Satara diversions were smooth sailing. Started at midnight 12:20 a.m from Belgaum and reached Vashi, Navi Mumbai at 8 a. m including a 30 mins break in between.

[rg12]

I have an upcoming drive from Bangalore to Navi Mumbai next week. Planning to start early from Bangalore at 4 am.

1) What's the latest update on BLR - Hubballi - Belagavi - Kolhapur - Satara - Pune - Navi Mumbai route?
2) Is this the fastest route (inspite of the diversions and ongoing construction work on NH48)?

Any other suggestions which can help.

Thanks in advance.

[jkrishnakj]

1. Belgaum to MH will be a pain. You'll see from the previous messages here from others.
2. This still is the fastest route.

[SafariMan]

Starting from Sion, Mumbai towards Whitefield, Bangalore NH48 at 10.30pm today. Will update the time taken and condition of sections on a real-time basis between Mumbai and Bangalore. There is a lot of literature above. Just updating the on ground situation.

[Capri89]

There is an upcoming Mumbai - Solapur - Bangalore travel in a weeks time.

For ETD 5.30 am Mumbai (Prabhadevi) which is the best route to cross Pune ?

I average around 70 with breaks. Can I cross Pune by 8 am ?

[Mi17_Rider]

Originally Posted by SafariMan

Starting from Sion, Mumbai towards Whitefield, Bangalore NH48 at 10.30pm today. Will update the time taken and condition of sections on a real-time basis between Mumbai and Bangalore. There is a lot of literature above. Just updating the on ground situation.

Any inputs after your travel??

[JMaruru]

I did the Mumbai > Hubli > B'lore run in 2 tranches. Started from Mumbai(Goregaon) at around 5AM and could reach Hubli at around 6PM for a halt.

On 14/12 started from Hubli at around 7AM and could reach B'lore(JP Nagar) at around 3PM.

The road conditions are terrible between Satara and Belgaum. Innumerable diversions, with varying degree of undulations makes it tiring for any. As mentioned by other members, the road diversions are much worse between Kagal <> Belgaum. Now I am repenting that I should have taken Mumbai > Pune > Solapur > Vijayapura > Chitradurga > B'lore routing.

Has any traversed on Zalki <> Shirwal routing which avoids going through Solapur and Pune City. This could be a better alternative until the NH48 is restored to it's original glory.