[--9--]

Completed Bengaluru - Kolhapur - Pune - Alibag drive yesterday. Started a week later than initially planned because of some work.
Day 1 - Started at 5 a.m. from Whitefield. Reached Kolhapur at 3 p.m with 4 breaks.
Day 2 - Started at 9 a.m. from Kolhapur - reached Wakad at 1 p.m. Started from Wakad at 3 p.m reached Alibag at 5:45 p.m.

Here are observations:

- STRR is no brainer for anyone starting from East BLR. Smooth road - very less traffic.
- Be prepared to be frustrated at these patches : Road leading to Tumkur, Hubali - Dharwad, Belgaum - Kolhapur, Kolhapur - Satara.
- Apoorva resort at Davangere is must spot for yummy Bene Masala dose, Dehaati at Kolhapur for authentic thalis.
- Lot of roadworks / diversions along entire route. Adds couple of hours at least when compared with drive in 2023 December.

[autoweirdo]

Originally Posted by bbv

I am going from Hyderabad to Mumbai and Mumbai to Bengaluru a week later. I read in an earlier post that for route via Solapur, if we go via Pandharpur, it isn't good from Pandharpur till Zalki.

So, when going from Mumbai to Bengaluru, any idea if from Pandharpur we connect back to Pune-Solapur highway at Mohol and from there get on NH52 to reach Vijayapura, is it good?

For 1st leg of my journey, I anyways have no choice but to go via Solapur. But for this too, I was thinking of taking Solapur-Mohol-Pandharpur-Phaltan-Shirwal route, mainly to avoid crossing Pune East-west in afternoon time. Please suggest if this parallel route to Solapur-Pune highway is better?

Roads from Pandharpur to Zalki are quite good just that its 2 laned, you can easily maintain 80-100kmph for this stretch. Just a small patch of 200m near KA-MH border was patchy few months back rest was quite good. Pandharpur to Mohol doesnt make sense as it will add too much distance and also toll booths.

[bbv]

Originally Posted by autoweirdo

Roads from Pandharpur to Zalki are quite good just that its 2 laned, you can easily maintain 80-100kmph for this stretch. Just a small patch of 200m near KA-MH border was patchy few months back rest was quite good.

Thanks, this would be helpful for my 2nd leg of journey (mumbai->blr).

Originally Posted by autoweirdo

Pandharpur to Mohol doesnt make sense as it will add too much distance and also toll booths.

For my first leg of journey (Hyderabad->Mumbai) , I will have to go through Solapur towards Pune. So, for this one, would you say it is a good idea to take Solapur-Mohol-Pandharpur-Phaltan-Shirwal route to avoid crossing Pune?

I heard that Pandharpur bypass isn't completed, also looks from the Google map route. It shows the route that gets on the bypass midway somewhere. Any information on that by any chance?

[amolpg]

Originally Posted by bbv

Thanks, this would be helpful for my 2nd leg of journey (mumbai->blr).


For my first leg of journey (Hyderabad->Mumbai) , I will have to go through Solapur towards Pune. So, for this one, would you say it is a good idea to take Solapur-Mohol-Pandharpur-Phaltan-Shirwal route to avoid crossing Pune?

I heard that Pandharpur bypass isn't completed, also looks from the Google map route. It shows the route that gets on the bypass midway somewhere. Any information on that by any chance?

I don't see any time saving in taking Pandharpur - Shirwal route coming from Hyderabad. If you can time your entry into Pune a little and avoiding morning or evening rush hours you should be able to cross Pune in an hour or so. Pune is hovering around 40C so people avoid going out between 11am to 5pm.

[swparth18]

What is best route from Bangalore to Panvel? I'm driving on 1st May morning and planning an early exit by 4.30-5 AM.

[amolpg]

Originally Posted by swparth18

What is best route from Bangalore to Panvel? I'm driving on 1st May morning and planning an early exit by 4.30-5 AM.

I would recommend a stop over in Kolhapur and continue the next day, if not possible then you would be reaching Pune late evening 9pm ish if you drive non stop, no matter which route you take (NH48 or via Solapur)
Passing through Pune from east to west at 9pm would take about 60 minutes since its a public holiday in Maharashtra.
I don't see much gain by taking Solapur route for anything going to the west of Pune or onwards to Mumbai since you would end up passing through the city.

[JMaruru]

Originally Posted by swparth18

What is best route from Bangalore to Panvel? I'm driving on 1st May morning and planning an early exit by 4.30-5 AM.

If you could start at around 4AM and route via Chitradurga > Vijayapura > Zalki > Pandharpur > Shirwal > Pune > Panvel, you could do this in a day. You might arrive late evening at Panvel.

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by amolpg

I would recommend a stop over in Kolhapur and continue the next day, if not possible then you would be reaching Pune late evening 9pm ish if you drive non stop, no matter which route you take (NH48 or via Solapur)

Starting at 4.30 am it will be easy to reach Pune by 6 pm max and Panvel by 9 pm if there are more than one driver driving. It will depend upon the appetite to take breaks. More the breaks, longer will be the duration. Also considering the heat on the route, it will be prudent to break the journey if one is not accustomed of the route or the outside conditions. Kolhapur would be an ideal stop.

[swparth18]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Starting at 4.30 am it will be easy to reach Pune by 6 pm max and Panvel by 9 pm if there are more than one driver driving. It will depend upon the appetite to take breaks. More the breaks, longer will be the duration. Also considering the heat on the route, it will be prudent to break the journey if one is not accustomed of the route or the outside conditions. Kolhapur would be an ideal stop.

Your estimates are correct for me. I have done this route 3-4 times already. Generally I do it take 4 breaks ( breakfast @ apoorva, lunch @Amar Veg + tea break at one of the kamats and one dinner break at the food court before panvel) and one diesel break just after satara flyover at the HP petrol-pump. And a couple of 5 mins stretch / coconut water breaks here and there. Generally in not that much of hurry as I'm the solo driver.

Originally Posted by JMaruru

If you could start at around 4AM and route via Chitradurga > Vijayapura > Zalki > Pandharpur > Shirwal > Pune > Panvel, you could do this in a day. You might arrive late evening at Panvel.

Will this route have lesser fatigue as compared to NH48 one?

Can you recommend meals stops for breakfast and lunch?

Lunch at Kamat Vijayapura (~1 o'clock)? And breakfast at kamat/pakashala in Sira (~ 7AM)?

Can you also recommend a petrol bunk with good quality diesel?

Thanks a lot for the inputs! Really appreciate it

[litesaber]

I have been driving annually to my village near Dapoli in Konkan (Maharashtra) from Bangalore via NH48 to Karad and then Kumbharli ghat to Chiplun. Given the condition of NH48 between Belgaum to Karad, would it be better to take Mumbai - Goa highway via Belgaum -> Amboli ghat to reach Chiplun?

I usually complete this drive in a single day starting early morning 3am and reaching by 5pm. I am thinking of now starting after lunch and stopping overnight in Belgaum or Kolhapur. Would the morning drive from Kolhapur to Karad be tolerable?

[JMaruru]

Originally Posted by swparth18

Will this route have lesser fatigue as compared to NH48 one?

Can you recommend meals stops for breakfast and lunch?

Lunch at Kamat Vijayapura (~1 o'clock)? And breakfast at kamat/pakashala in Sira (~ 7AM)?

Can you also recommend a petrol bunk with good quality diesel?

Thanks a lot for the inputs! Really appreciate it

This routing has good roads all the way. No diversions and road works as in NH48. Also, you get to join back into NH48, and bypass pune from the west.

The restaurants are few and far between, and needs to be planned. Please scroll this thread below for some of the recommendations.

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by swparth18

Will this route have lesser fatigue as compared to NH48 one?
Can you recommend meals stops for breakfast and lunch?
Lunch at Kamat Vijayapura (~1 o'clock)? And breakfast at kamat/pakashala in Sira (~ 7AM)?
Can you also recommend a petrol bunk with good quality diesel?

Here is a list of eateries options on the Bangalore Solapur route.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route...ml#post5870743 (Bangalore - Pune - Mumbai : Route updates & Eateries)

For fuel there is a BPCL COCO before Vijaypura
https://maps.app.goo.gl/cndupAeNCXbDsRKs6

Just before Vijaypura, you will see a lot of fuel bunks of HP, Jio BP IOCL etc.

Look out for the turn to Vijaypura after Hitnal toll, chances are you would go straight after toll on NH67 but you have to keep left to access the ramp and the bridge to Vijaypura on NH50. Many miss this and then have to take a U turn again.

[Pathika]

Hello fellow travellers,

I am planning to go from South east Bangalore to Loni Kalbhor on the 4th of May. Planning to drive in my Innova. Have gone through many of the threads and travelogues on Bangalore - Pune. Looks like NH 50 is the preferred route, especially since Loni is east (eastern part?) of Pune. Are roads still good? Planning to leave at 5am and expect to reach by 7-8pm. Is this realistic?

I have a few questions if anyone can help:

1. Is it ok to go through the city and avoid Nice Road at 5am?
2. Any recommendations for Breakfast and Lunch breaks? I saw many recommendations for Apoorva resort - but that wouldn't be there in the NH50 route. Is Paakshaala good? But how much extra time would be required for 2 U-turns while going?
3. Any recommendations for fuel stops (diesel)? I generally fill in IOC / Shell?
4. Looks like the return via NH48 is to be avoided. Any recommendations for meals and fuel on return trip?

Thanks in advance!

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by Pathika

1. Is it ok to go through the city and avoid Nice Road at 5am?
2. Any recommendations for Breakfast and Lunch breaks? I saw many recommendations for Apoorva resort - but that wouldn't be there in the NH50 route. Is Paakshaala good? But how much extra time would be required for 2 U-turns while going?
3. Any recommendations for fuel stops (diesel)? I generally fill in IOC / Shell?
4. Looks like the return via NH48 is to be avoided. Any recommendations for meals and fuel on return trip?

1. I assume you would start from Sarjapur side if you mean by South East Bangalore, then STRR would be the best choice instead of cutting through the city and you can avoid the early morning traffic at Nelamangala. NH50 is the correct route to reach Loni Kalbhor.
2.Since you mentioned starting at 5 am (suggest to start even earlier say 4 am), you should be at Chitradurga for breakfast, try to get the breakfast before Chitradurga since there aren't eateries after that. Anand Vihar doesnt open up before 10 am and the next decent stop would be at Nandagokula Kushtagi. You can try this. https://maps.app.goo.gl/BMCq6qQG7axzkkfN8
Lunch should be somewhere near Vijaypura or Solapur (before or after based on time you reach). See post#4077 for more options.
3. IOC bunks are plenty closer to Vijaypura if you can manage till then or else there are BPCL COCO, Jio BP pumps before Vijaypura.
4. If you are returning from Loni Kalbhor, NH50 Solapur-Vijaypura-Chitradurga through NH50 is the better alternative.

[swparth18]

Thank you @ghodlur and @Jmaruru, for all the inputs ! It was really helpful

I completed the drive yesterday. Started at 4.30 AM from my home in OBMR layout, banaswadi. There was some traffic till dabaspete. Still managed to reach Hospete by 9AM. Had breakfast at Mayura near TB dam. Took 1/2 hr break.

Reached @ Bijapur at 12.30 PM and took a Lunch break at Kamat which was again 1/2 hr break.

Based on google map route, I did not like the first 2 kms of the route to Pandharpur, as it was a single lane road with quite a few trucks and some really bad patches. I was already slightly tired and so, I did a u-turn and took the Solapur route. It was fantastic to drive to up till 30 kms till Pune.

It was burning hot from 11 to 4 throughout the drive and just no shade on the highway side. So, although this route had lot of options to eat I did not venture out. Just had sugarcane and coconut water break which was enough to refresh and hydrate the body.

I think, Pune- Solapur toll road ended Loni which I hit at ~ 17:00. After this it was all traffic. Followed google maps to cross the city. I did not know that you are allowed go when the signal is red! Happened at couple of signals as I was only guy waiting patiently. But beautiful city, mostly I must driven through the heart of the city. It was already ~18.30 and had no clue where I was. Landed at this place called Abhiman Veg (saw a few folks enjoying their tea here) on Homi Bhabha rd. I had excellent chai, vada pav and pav bhajji. Again 1/2 hr break. Completely refreshed. Turns out it was an apt stop just before hitting NH48 on baner side.

Reached home by 21:00 Hrs. So, overall grand scheme of things, it took the same time. When I left in the morning, google showed ETA as 21:15.


Return drive on Sunday.