[amrutmhatre90]

Hey BHPians!

My wife and I just got back from a tightly packed yet deeply satisfying 4-day road trip that checked off both spiritual and wild experiences—from divine darshans to thrilling tiger sightings. The main goal was to visit Tadoba Tiger Reserve, but we made the most of the route by adding Shirdi, Sula Vineyards, and Trimbakeshwar to the itinerary. Here's a detailed account of the drive, stay, experiences, and tips for anyone planning a similar route.



Got the idea and inspiration to do this 4-day loop thanks to this helpful travelogue I came across on Team-BHP: Mumbai to Tadoba and Back via Samruddhi Mahamarg – Mini Travelogue. Big thanks to @vivek95 for sharing such a well-documented trip.

Total Drive: ~1,400+ km
Vehicle: Thar Roxx AX7 4x4 AT

In love with the car after this road trip. It effortlessly eats up miles, whether on good or bad roads. Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, and ADAS features worked together seamlessly, making this a fatigue-free drive.

The car performed flawlessly through highways, village roads, and a few rough patches near Tadoba.

Fuel Efficiency:

14 kmpl with 100 kph on Samruddhi Highway
11 kmpl with 120 kph on Samruddhi Highway

This trip made me appreciate the Thar Roxx even more—it’s not just about its presence, but its performance. The car remained composed on long highway stretches, and the steering assistance systems gave confidence even with single-lane overtakes. On the rugged, dusty, and under-construction roads near Tadoba, the car showed its true colors—this is what it’s built for. The commanding driving position, suspension tuning, and power delivery just made it a joy to pilot.




Planned Route & Itinerary:

Day 1: Mumbai → Shirdi → Chandrapur (Tiger King's Resort)
Day 2: Morning & Afternoon Safaris in Tadoba
Day 3: Chandrapur → Sula Vineyards (Nashik)
Day 4: Trimbakeshwar Darshan → Return to Mumbai

Link: Google Maps


Day 1: Mumbai to Shirdi to Chandrapur

We left Mumbai early in the morning around 5 AM to beat traffic but got bogged down near Bhiwandi for an hour due to horribly parked trucks blocking the roads. We reached Shirdi by 9:00 AM. A quick and peaceful darshan at Sai Baba Mandir, followed by breakfast, and we were back on the road by 10:30 AM sharp.

Next stop: Chandrapur – a long but non-fatiguing drive on the Samruddhi Mahamarg with good roads until we took the Sindi Dry Port interchange. Word of advice: carry your own food when traveling via Samruddhi Mahamarg. The food and toilet facilities are in poor condition. Luckily, we carried enough snacks and sandwiches. The lack of shade or trees on this stretch was disappointing. We also got some rain on the way, which was refreshing after the crazy heat. Maintained 100 kmph using cruise control to check what mileage the Thar Roxx could achieve—got around 14 kmpl, with some bursts in between.

The roads while entering Chandrapur were under construction and covered with grit or red sand. Thar Roxx performed as it should here—literally came alive in this location, showing why this vehicle is the best for such conditions. Didn't need to slow down; the car was just gliding.



We arrived by 6:30 PM at Tiger King’s Resort, conveniently located just 5 minutes from Kolara Gate—one of the core zones of Tadoba. The resort is well-maintained, with good food and helpful staff. Highly recommended for those booking Kolara safaris.

Day 2: Tadoba – The Jungle Beckons



Morning Safari: Just as we left the resort gate, we saw a deer right in front of our car. Entered through Kolara Gate around 5:30 AM. The air was crisp, the jungle alive with sounds. Within an hour, we hit the jackpot—a majestic tiger lounging near a watering hole! It was sleeping initially, then woke up to drink some water, and I managed to get some great pictures. While waiting for him to move, I also captured some bird shots.





















Our hotel staff had packed a nice breakfast of sandwiches, poha, eggs, and bananas for us to enjoy in the wild.



Afternoon Safari: Entered via Shedegaon Safari Gate at 2:30 PM. It was a hotter ride, but worth every minute. This time, we ventured deeper into the park and were rewarded with a fleeting glimpse of another tiger crossing the trail—pure adrenaline! We also saw a few tigers resting in ponds.













Pro Tip: Book core gate safaris in advance (via the Mahaecotourism portal) and request experienced guides—they make all the difference in spotting wildlife. Just to add, we are searching and finding tigers in the wild here; this is not a zoo where you're guaranteed to spot one. It's pure luck. I know someone who has done this 10–12 times but never saw a tiger. My wife and I feel lucky we could see it during both safaris.

The Gypsy drivers are superbly skilled and know the jungle inside out. They helped spot the tigers along with the guides. There was one Gypsy that had been converted to electric, and it seems most Gypsys might go electric soon.

Day 3: From Wilderness to Vineyards – Chandrapur to Sula

We left the jungle behind early at 5 AM and began our drive to Sula Vineyards, Nashik. The hotel staff packed breakfast and lunch with lots of sandwiches and parathas. We ate mostly in the car and just stopped for fuel. Adaptive cruise control came in handy—this time we locked the speed to 120 kmph. Reached by late afternoon around 2 PM. Took a short nap and then left for Sula just in time for the sunset tour. Enjoyed the wine tasting, relaxed ambiance, and a delicious meal at their on-site restaurant.

A perfect way to unwind after back-to-back safaris.





Day 4: Trimbakeshwar Temple Visit & Return



Early morning around 5 AM, we headed to Trimbakeshwar Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Smooth darshan experience, helped by reaching before the rush. Got back to the resort around 7:45 AM. After a quick breakfast and tea, we started the final leg back to Mumbai, reaching Thane by 11 AM for a function—not tired or fatigued, but with hearts full.

Closing Thoughts:

Tadoba is a must-visit for any wildlife lover—raw, wild, and teeming with life. Combining it with spiritual stops and a vineyard visit added variety to the trip. If you're short on time and want a mix of nature, divinity, and leisure, this 4-day route delivers on all fronts.

Happy to answer questions or help with planning. Until the next drive—cheers!

[captrajesh]

Very well articulated and a crisp write up. Enjoyed reading it. And thanks for sharing the lovely pics. Your photography skills are as good as your driving skills I.guess.

[anup_av]

Nicely penned, crisp travelogue @amrut.

if you could please elaborate on the highway mannerisms of Thar Roxx, i've been in love with it. My drive typically involves lot of highway rides, typically at 100-120kmph and I would like to know your experience on the stability and wind noise as you have recently done long trip on Samrudhhi Highway.

[Ricks_3007]

Very nicely written and great pics. It is useful for others to plan better.
Keep

[Stryker]

Nice travelogue and some lovely images! The park looks very dry, understandable given the season.

Originally Posted by amrutmhatre90

We also saw a few tigers resting in ponds.

This line cracked me up! "Oh yeah we saw some" thrown in casually like it wasn't the reason you visited in the first place!

[amrutmhatre90]

Originally Posted by captrajesh

Very well articulated and a crisp write up. Enjoyed reading it. And thanks for sharing the lovely pics. Your photography skills are as good as your driving skills I.guess.

Thank you Rajesh, photography was my hobby but slowly shifted now to Audio.

Originally Posted by anup_av

Nicely penned, crisp travelogue @amrut.

if you could please elaborate on the highway mannerisms of Thar Roxx, i've been in love with it. My drive typically involves lot of highway rides, typically at 100-120kmph and I would like to know your experience on the stability and wind noise as you have recently done long trip on Samrudhhi Highway.

Sure,
Yes, there is some wind noise around 100 km/h, and it increases with speed due to the design, but it wasn’t bothersome. My wife and I were able to converse in normal tones throughout the trip — in fact, we barely even listened to music this time.

In terms of stability and high-speed behavior, I was quite impressed. The car feels planted even at triple-digit speeds. Coming from the Ertiga and other smaller SUVs, I felt right at home. In some ways, it actually felt more stable in a straight line. That said, there is noticeable body roll in corners due to the car's height, but with regular driving, you quickly get used to its limits and handling characteristics.

One thing to watch out for is those large rumble strips that act like speed breakers — if you turn the steering slightly while going over them, the Roxx tends to lose rear grip rather easily.

Performance-wise, the power delivery is excellent. I absolutely love the engine and gearbox combination. Engine noise is well-contained and rarely intrudes into the cabin. Steering and overall maneuverability are also very good — in fact, these two factors were the main reasons I chose the Roxx over other SUVs.

Originally Posted by Ricks_3007

Very nicely written and great pics. It is useful for others to plan better.
Keep

Thanks to the Samruddhi Mahamarg, a lot of new travel options have opened up. Next on our list are Ajanta, Ellora, and Lonar.

Originally Posted by Stryker

Nice travelogue and some lovely images! The park looks very dry, understandable given the season.

This line cracked me up! "Oh yeah we saw some" thrown in casually like it wasn't the reason you visited in the first place!

Hahaha, it is the other way round.
Best time to visit is Dec-Jan. But it wasn't so dry as it looks in the images.