[vigsom]

Originally Posted by shb19

Route : Bangalore → Chitradurga → Hosapete → Ilkal → Vijayapura → Solapur → Indapur → Pune


Very few family-friendly eateries along the way. Plan your food stops carefully—carry snacks and water, especially if you're traveling with family.

Rightly said - very few family friendly eateries. To add, I'd say the best bet for washrooms all along this route are the ones attached to fuel stations.

In fact, after Chitradurga, good family eateries with washrooms are hard to come by. If good desi food alone is what folks are looking for, here are a few suggestions, but among all the below locations, ok washrooms are existent only at S Lounge Vijayapura.

1. S Lounge at Vijayapura Bypass - this is on the service road https://maps.app.goo.gl/NMYswyP1R7aozm4Y6?g_st=aw

2. Jyoti at Bhigwan for a good morning snack https://maps.app.goo.gl/bfXrvRopHr79JpWR9?g_st=aw

3. For some top class Vada Pav and tea in the morning hours, Gurudatt Vada Pav at Choufula between Kurkumbh and Yavat
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QpiZzXYktM4GZaCh8?g_st=aw

[Game_of_Roads]

Originally Posted by shubham_2206

I will be travelling on this route next week (Thursday). Will share my experience here. Since you're travelling before me, may I request you to share your experience if you end up going via this route?

I stuck to the regular NH48 and did not take the detour around Sangli.

Bangalore - Dharwad -> No fuss highway drive. My main gripe would be it takes at least 100+ well past Tumkur for the good Highway drive to start, Bangalore - Tumkur is still a bit annoying with traffic and the roads are not the best either.

Dharwad -> Belgaum -> Kohlapur -> Satara -> Pune -> Navi Mumbai
TBH, the deviations and the road conditions are tolerable. There were no major potholes etc and on a weekday this route is definitely all right. Food and bio break halts are plenty, and so is car related help if needed. I had a small mechanical issue after Kolhapur and suprisingly found a very helpful and capable garage who fixed the issue quickly.

The major issue is traffic, in my case I was fine till Karad, crossing Karad was as expected with a ~10-15 min jam at the deviation. But between Karad - Pune it was hell. Every single deviation out of the ~10 odd deviations had a ~15-20 min jam due to the funneling of all the inbound traffic from a wide 3 lane to a narrow 1.5 lane and this easily added 2 hours and a LOT of frustration to the trip.

Though there was constant rain and deviations, I think these are manageable. The real issue is the combination of traffic choking up at the deviations.

[shubham_2206]

Originally Posted by Rolwynj

I had taken this route 1 year back to divert from the roadworks. Was very happy because of scenic route (chikodi, shiraguppi, kagawad) but this was shortlived after I crossed Maharashtra. Roads were narrow from Miraj to Tasgaon with deep potholes ( i scrapped my Glanza/ Baleno) and from Tasgaon to Karad, u will find roads with market and railway crossing, 2 railway stations etc. Depends on what time you are crossing this village.

I'll be driving through this stretch (Gotur to Satara) in the evening (around 4-5 pm). Do you think going further from Tasgaon towards Vita and then taking SH 73 towards Satara will be better? Instead of Tasgaon to Karad and Karad to Satara. Google Maps gives similar ETA for both routes but the former completely bypasses all diversions till Satara (see attached pic).

Originally Posted by Rolwynj

I will plan to join satara from gotur bridge ( actual name of the diversion place) instead of Karad diversion. But this will cost you 45 mins. ( 5 hours from Gotur bridge to Fern hotel, Satara via NH160) Vs 4 hour 10 mins on NH48).

An additional 45 mins is fine with me as my main objective is to avoid driving through a congested stretch with endless honking.

Originally Posted by Game_of_Roads

But between Karad - Pune it was hell. Every single deviation out of the ~10 odd deviations had a ~15-20 min jam due to the funneling of all the inbound traffic from a wide 3 lane to a narrow 1.5 lane and this easily added 2 hours and a LOT of frustration to the trip.

Ah, this is what I'm trying to avoid. On my drive last year, from Kolhapur to Satara, it was very unpleasant, lots of honking and congestion. It was a Saturday evening, though this time it will be a Thursday evening, so might be a relatively less painful drive.

[Rolwynj]

Originally Posted by shubham_2206

I'll be driving through this stretch (Gotur to Satara) in the evening (around 4-5 pm). Do you think going further from Tasgaon towards Vita and then taking SH 73 towards Satara will be better? Instead of Tasgaon to Karad and Karad to Satara. Google Maps gives similar ETA for both routes but the former completely bypasses all diversions till Satara (see attached pic).

I agree with you here. You can go to Vita from Tasgaon and then connect to Satara via SH73. I never did this because once you reach Tasgaon, you will be tempted to take left to Karad because of 20-30 mins savings. Another plus point is you will save 250 rs in tolls with your route. With diversions in NH48, I feel it's clear looting the public from NHAI with bad infrastructure and roads. So definitely I will take an alternate route. Let us know after your journey.

[shantanumishra]

Originally Posted by shb19

So this time, I decided to take the lesser-known NH50 route, and honestly, it was a game-changer.

Route taken:
Bangalore → Chitradurga → Hosapete → Ilkal → Vijayapura → Solapur → Indapur → Pune

Just a quick check pls, I am planning a family trip from Bangalore to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and around areas in the week of 16-20 Jun, but curious about the Central Maharashtra floods, specially in the mid-Deccan region.

Anyone who can help me gauge this risk or shall I cancel it out?

[shb19]

The current waterlogging on highways is primarily due to continuous rainfall and is expected to clear within a day or two. Rain should ease off in some days, conditions should improve. You can make a more informed decision closer to your travel dates.

[napster]

Originally Posted by shantanumishra

Just a quick check pls, I am planning a family trip from Bangalore to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and around areas in the week of 16-20 Jun, but curious about the Central Maharashtra floods, specially in the mid-Deccan region.

Anyone who can help me gauge this risk or shall I cancel it out?

The road to Ch. Sambhajinagar was not affected by the recent intense rains, the Pune-Solapur highway was impacted momentarily near bhigwan due to cloud burst like situation. The Route from Solapur-Ch. Sambhajinagar is in good condition. Since there is still time for your travel date, I'd suggest just to keep track of weather forecast on this route around your travel dates.

If there is no intense rainfall like it happened last week, the drive would be beautiful with lush green surroundings.

[amolpg]

Originally Posted by shantanumishra

Just a quick check pls, I am planning a family trip from Bangalore to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and around areas in the week of 16-20 Jun, but curious about the Central Maharashtra floods, specially in the mid-Deccan region.

Anyone who can help me gauge this risk or shall I cancel it out?

Current storm situation would clear in the next 48 hours, 16th june is still 2 weeks away.

Solapur - Aurangabad usually do not get heavy monsoon rains it only affects Konkan, Western Maharashtra and Vidarbha. But climate change is showing up, you should check closer to the date.

[1lokesh]

Hi all,

Taking the Bangalore-Mumbai trip on coming Friday. Plan to have 2 stops since will be with the family- 1st in Belgaum and the next in Pune before we reach Mumbai. Saw on Google maps that there’s a lot of diversions on Kolhapur Satara route (as also mentioned by members on this thread). What would be the best and most comfortable route considering a sedan, neat and clean stops on the way and current rainy conditions. Any recent update would help. Thanks

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by 1lokesh

Hi all,

Taking the Bangalore-Mumbai trip on coming Friday. Plan to have 2 stops since will be with the family- 1st in Belgaum and the next in Pune before we reach Mumbai. Saw on Google maps that there’s a lot of diversions on Kolhapur Satara route (as also mentioned by members on this thread). What would be the best and most comfortable route considering a sedan, neat and clean stops on the way and current rainy conditions. Any recent update would help. Thanks

By 2 stops did you mean night halts or coffee/fuel/meals break? In any case the NH50 would be a better option if travelling with family. Ride till Zalki on NH 50 and then move to NH48 to meet at Shirwal, continue the journey till Mumbai. If you are planning night halt then suggest to drive till Pune via Solapur using NH50/NH65, take rest and then start early next day to cut through Pune city to touch NH48 onward to Mumbai.

[1lokesh]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

By 2 stops did you mean night halts or coffee/fuel/meals break? In any case the NH50 would be a better option if travelling with family. Ride till Zalki on NH 50 and then move to NH48 to meet at Shirwal, continue the journey till Mumbai. If you are planning night halt then suggest to drive till Pune via Solapur using NH50/NH65, take rest and then start early next day to cut through Pune city to touch NH48 onward to Mumbai.

Sorry should’ve been clearer- planning on 2 night halts. So the earlier plan of halt in Belgaum seems to be off table I guess. Are the rains still heavy on NH50 as well or have subsided now.

[sam_babushka]

Just got back last week from a Mum - Hubli - Mum trip. Travelled to Hubli on a Friday via Mum-Satara-Kolhapur-Belgaum by-pass - Hubli, and took 14 hours with an hour's break. Return on a Sunday took the same amount of time.

One needs to have loads of patience to drive this route. There are diversions every 4-5 kms between Satara and Kolhapur and every 10 kms approximately after Kolhapur. The issue on the Maharashtra side is that the service roads one takes due to diversion are in pathetic condition with massive potholes. On the return, was stuck before Lonavala on the Mumbai-Pune expressway in standstill traffic for more than 40 minutes.

Though, after reaching Mumbai, learnt of the terrible flood condition on the Pune-Solapur highway - the alternate route recommended - due to unseasonal rain.

So, take this highway if you can leave the fate of your arrival time to the Gods are are one of the those who simply enjoy being inside a car and on the not-so-open road

[1lokesh]

Leaving today for Mumbai. Any fresh updates please. NH50 or regular Belgaum Kolhapur Satara route? Travelling with family with planned 2 night halts if needed. Thank you in anticipation

[amolpg]

Originally Posted by 1lokesh

Leaving today for Mumbai. Any fresh updates please. NH50 or regular Belgaum Kolhapur Satara route? Travelling with family with planned 2 night halts if needed. Thank you in anticipation

Traveling with family I always prefer sticking to NH48 even though its painful for driver but better options for food and cleaner rest rooms than NH50, also better options for night halts. 1 night halt should be enough, Belgavi or Kolhapur are probably the best options for night halt.

[Arka]

Originally Posted by 1lokesh

Leaving today for Mumbai. Any fresh updates please. NH50 or regular Belgaum Kolhapur Satara route? Travelling with family with planned 2 night halts if needed. Thank you in anticipation

If you plan to stop for the night at Kolhapur, then I will recommend Grand Indu (map link : https://maps.app.goo.gl/vKgS1bLuvCfxDSSB9). Location is less than a km from the highway making it highly accessible. Rooms are very well maintained. Breakfast is okay-ish. I stayed here while going in both directions, onward and return, about a couple of weeks ago.

Completely agree with Amol, that when traveling with family, especially small children or elderly, (who need more frequent bio breaks) the NH48 route is the best choice. With a plethora of good quality restaurants and cafes and clean washrooms.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Arka.