DAY-1
We started from Tarnaka, and then got on to NH-9 at Gymkhana Grounds. From there the drive was a breeze. Even the likes of kukatpally, patancheru areas were empty and before we knew we were in sangareddy. NH-9 is famous for high traffic with lots of Trucks and Buses, but that day we hardly found any traffic. So we were cruising at 80-90 Kmph constantly. We entered and exited the Karnataka boarder quickly and by the time we entered the MH boarder it was getting dark. There were some really nice curves before solapur and really enjoyed driving there. Finally reached solapur by 8:30PM and it took us almost 20 minutes to reach the hotel.
NH-9 (kukatpally - patancheru road)
NH-9 (hyderabad outskirts)
Some where on NH-9 - Thats me driving
NH-9 - one of the rare overtakes we saw that day
NH-9 - You got to be real lucky to see an empty stretch on this highway
NH-9 - We had company. These cranes were flying above the road at arms length from the car windshield. We follwed them for about 2km. This shot is taken right out of the windshield with NO zoom.
NH-9 - Sun goes down as we drive through Maharastra.
Fortunately this hotel had parking and we parked our car and went to the lobby. Got a non-AC room with early check-out for 450Rs. We were very hungry by then and we wanted to check in after having dinner. Hotel kitchen is under renovation. Here is the conversation with the receptionist.
Me: Any good hotels where we can go by walk?
Receptionist: There is a Kamath hotel, but it is very far to go by walk.
Me: How far?
Receptionist: It will take 8 minutes
Then he showed us the way to Kamath hotel and we reached in less than five minutes. Food was just OK and then we came back to the hotel and checked into our room. This hotel is under renovation and there was paint smell all over. Fortunately the rooms did not smell and we slept immediately.
DAY-2
Next day woke up at 5:45AM and after having a nice hot water bath checked out from the hotel. Checked the tyre pressure at a BP pump near the Hotel and headed to Bijapur. For some reason I am always insecure about my tyres as they get punctured at odd places.
Early morning shot of Solapur station road from our room.
Road to bijapur was very good with very less traffic dotted with an odd tractor carrying sugar cane. After half-n-hour we entered the Karnataka state and the road conditions deteriorated a bit, but it was drivable. Then we stopped at a roadside Udipi hotel at 8:30 to have breakfast. Idli, Vada was pretty good. Then we resumed our journey and reached bijapur at 9:35AM
NH-13 - There was sugarcane everywhere. Each tractor engine pulling two trolleys fully loaded.
NH-13 - Sunrise over river Krishna.
NH-13 - This bridge seperates Karnataka from Maharastra
NH-13 - Bad patch as we enter karnataka
NH-13 - No problem overtaking these huge trucks as traffic was lite.
NH-13 - Nice South Indian breakfast available here.