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**sunilg** · 12-23-2010, 01:25 AM

Travelogue approved.

**jovara** · 12-23-2010, 02:46 PM

Hey boss congrats. Pls post the log fast bcoz iam too planning to do the same route next week

**erbalaji** · 12-23-2010, 02:53 PM

Coming saturday we are planning to go Mahabaleshwar.
can you address some points, tourist spots, waterfalls at where we can by bike?..

**RAK** · 12-23-2010, 04:50 PM

Here’s the complete log. Also I will keep adding the pics as I get it. Currently I only have few of them:
DAY 1: 16th Dec 2010
Total Kms Covered: ~300 Kms
Route: Mumbai – Pune - Satara
5 of us were confirmed to start for Satara on Thursday morning (8 AM was decided). Since no one believed to start on time we started at 9 AM from Ghatkopar.
Myself (on my Fazer)
Abhishek (on 200F) and Amol (Abhishek’s pillion)
Aditya (on Karizma R), Premya –we called him that way (Aditya’s Pillion)
Tied mine and Abhishek’s bags with a bungee cord on my rear seat and started the journey. All of us filled up the tanks with 500 Rs of Petrol each and took Mankhurd road till Vashi. Reached Vashi at around 9:30 AM and took Palm Beach road. As usual the road was awesome and with very less traffic. Keeping the cruising speed at around 90 KMPH took the JNPT road. JNPT road always has slow moving truck movement on it. Kept a decent speed and reached Panvel at 10:15 AM where Premya was waiting for us.

Had a short breakfast break and again started on the Mumbai – Pune NH4 road at 10:30 AM. We decided that we would not stop before lonavala as it we were already late and wanted to reach Satara by 4 PM. Mumbai – Pune NH4 is in good condition and we already knew it since we were been to lonavala on the weekend rides many times. All 3 of us cruised over 90 KMPH continuously on this highway. Took the nice ghat roads and corners after Khopoli then reached the Mumbai-Pune Expressway where the old highway share the same road. Before entering the Expressway saw a huge group of bikers taking rest just near the entry. There were around 25 of them. Reached Lonavala at around 11:30 and took a smoke break after the toll booth which comes after lonavala.

Again started riding from Lonavala to Pune and I must say that the roads are also nice on this patch. Almost all the times we were above 95 KMPH on this stretch and took the Mumbai-Pune bypass road just before Dehu road. While passing through bypass road this was the first time we encountered fast moving traffic. Later on joined the Pune-Bangalore road which is truly awesome. Took a short Susu break on this road.

It was around 12:30 that we started on the Pune-Bangalore highway and never expected such good roads. All of us were feeling the heat now. Myself and Aditya were wearing just jackets. Whereas Abhishek was having Jacket + Gloves to protect him from heat. I know we didn’t carry any protective gear but none of us had it. Also our stomachs were responding to our hunger and planned to stop somewhere on the highway. Saw some board of a hotel named ‘Amhi Satarkar’ and parked the bikes under their shed. The hotel looked new and to our surprise it was a vegetarian one. No worries, we ordered some veg food. The food quality was pathetic for the amount they were charging for the dishes. Also I had my encounter with some stones in it and that’s it. My lunch was over. Decided not to have food in hotels which we are not aware of.

After a long lunch break left the hotel and back on Banglore highway at 2:45 PM. Most of us were felling sleepy so decided not to keep the high speeds. Decided we would keep our average speeds around 80 KMPH. Took the ghats which didn’t had oncoming traffic on it. When we reached the top of the ghats we saw trucks and many cars taking a U-Turn there. Cursing these guys (how can they take a U-Turn in ghats) we went ahead and saw a complete traffic jam in ghats. To our rescue we stopped at a police van and asked them what it was all about. They said that the road is jammed ahead and you need to take the other road which will be having oncoming traffic and which would be wrong way. We asked them to show us the road and the refused to co-operate with us. A nice guy in a car then helped us saying that since we were from Mumbai we woudnt be knowing the roads. He lead us to the road (it wasn’t a road but a muddy one. Complete Off-road experience on that one). Put our visors down as the dust from the trucks ahead of us was creating problems. So then started the wrong way with the help of buses and rucks ahead of us entered the tunnel and then after it came back on the correct road. Then we didn’t stop anywhere.

At around 4:20 we reached the outskirts of Satara but missed the entry to it and went ahead thinking that there would be some board ahead to indicate the directions. But there wasn’t any of it. Went ahead of Satara exit for around 4 Kms and asked a villager who explained us that we came ahead and need to go back 4 Kms and take left from highway to enter Satara city.
So searching for the left we finally reached the road which would lead us to Satara City at 4:30. All of us started calling our friends for help to get hold of a nice hotel to stay. I got a list of hotels. We stared with the first one on our way. Don’t remember the hotel name but the rooms were pathetic. Abhishek and me went to see the rooms and they were in bad condition. Decided to look for some other option. Then we entered the Satara city and saw a hotel which was there on our list ‘Rajathadari’ saw the room and it was nice and decent. It was 1000 Rs for a room of 5 people. We were tired and finalized the room and took our luggage to it.
It was a nice room with 2 balconies and complete view of Powai Naka in Satara. We saw from our balcony and were surprised that no one (I must say no one) was actually wearing the helmets. Lit up a smoke in the balcony and started looking at the scene outside. Everyone was getting freshen up one by one. After all of us were refreshed we planned to go to Ajinkyatara fort which is in Satara city and just 4 Kms from our hotel. So we left out hotel at 5:30 and went to explore the fort. It was nice and saw old people were going their evening walks, young people exercising in the Gym on the fort. Explored & took a few snaps on the fort and left at 6:45.

Came back to city had some snacks outside, explored the bazaar on foot and went back to room.
Everyone was lying on their beds and suddenly one of us realized that its 9:15 and since its not like Mumbai there is a possibility that the hotels might get closed by 10. Called up my friend and asked him to suggest a nice place to eat (especially non-veg). He suggested a new place that’s recently opened called ‘Maratha Palace’ which was around 3 Kms from our hotel. Started for the hotel to eat something on our bikes and were stunned by the cold winds which we encountered during our ride. Without gloves our hands were going numb. We were not able to accelerate and brake properly due to that wind. Finally reached the hotel and everyone had the same suggestion that we would sit in a non-AC part of the hotel.

I ordered spicy chicken handi for 3 of us and 2 of them ordered veg. The spice was so much that 2 of my friends left the food and drank only water. I was the one who was sweating but eating that spicy food. Ordered some Gajar Halwa after that which was awesome. All in all food was very good. We returned back to hotel in those worst conditions of chilled temperature, reached our hotel and went down on the beds.

Day 2 will continue later.

**RAK** · 12-27-2010, 12:53 PM

Few more pics from DAY 1 :

Hotel where we stayed on 1st Day in Satara

On Ajinkyatara Fort:

View of Satara City from Ajinkyatara fort:

Parking our bikes outside the fort:

Day 2 log coming up in sometime.

**RAK** · 12-27-2010, 03:03 PM

DAY 2: 17th Dec 2010
Total Kms Covered: ~150 Kms

Finished our breakfast at 9:30 and started for Sajjangad fort. This was the fort where Saint Ramdas the spiritual Guru of Shivaji Maharaj stayed. The road to Sajjangad was nice and with scenic view.

So with our tummies full we started to leave Sajjangad and again hit the road for Thoseghar waterfalls. We heard a lot about this waterfall and everyone told that it can be seen throughout the year. So again started for Thoseghar at 2 PM, It was a 20 mins drive from Sajjangad and reached the waterfalls at around 2:30 PM.

The flow of water was not amazing but we heard that it is mind blowing during the monsoon. Took a few snaps and went to parking had a sip of tea and again started for Chalkewadi at 3:30 PM.

Reached Chalkewadi at around 4 (roads were in bad shape) Chalkewadi is famous for the Windmills and as per the watchman there are around 800 windmills in that area and is spread across large location. The windmills were very huge. We never expected that they would be so huge as they looked very small from a distance. Took some rest there and snaps.

Started from Chalkewadi at 4:30 and we knew we were behind schedule. So taking the corners of the Ghats and again passing by Thoseghar and Sajjangad reached our hotel in Satara at around 5:30 PM. Some of us started to pack our bags while some of us were getting fresh and ready as the next destination which by this time we were aware that it would be a night ride. We bought some woolen gloves from Satara market which later proved to be useless in the wind we were facing during our night ride. So checked out from our hotel and stopped for some snacks in Satara. It was started getting dark by now.

There were two routes from Satara to reach Mahabaleshwar. One was via Medha and the other was via Wai. So unaware of the roads we decided to ask our friends and all of us suggested us to go via Medha as the roads were good. So finally we started from Satara to Mahabaleshwar at 6:45 PM.

As everyone suggested the roads were really good. Riding in ghats during night time was nice as we were able to see the headlight of the vehicle which was on the other side of the turn. We maintained the rule of keeping 220 ahead (complete use of projectors) followed by Karizma (as the headlights are weak) and finally me on Fazer (Headlights are good enough). Finally reached Mahabaleshwar at around 8:30 PM. Hands were numb and the temperature was really low as compared to Satara. Got nice 2 rooms for 5 people in 1000 Rs. Dumped our luggage in there and started our search for some hotel for our dinner. Our hotel owner suggested some hotel in Mahabaleshwar market. All of us went to the market and to the suggested hotel for Dinner. Hotel was not so good, taste was also ok.

Finally finished our dinner, explored the market for some time and then left for our room which was around 2 Kms away from the Market. All of us planned to get up early the next day. Everyone was in a mood to get into beds as the temperature was as low as 5 degrees. I tried to have a smoke outside our room in that temperature but was shivering like hell and it was impossible to continue. Left the smoke and returned to bed as we planned to wake up early to see the sunrise.

DAY 3 to continue.

**pavan_cin** · 12-27-2010, 08:56 PM

Good Pics..... Nice ride ....

**jovara** · 12-28-2010, 11:20 AM

Good Ride, pls continue, Mahableshwar must be chilling right now

**RAK** · 01-05-2011, 03:24 PM

So finally here it comes
DAY 3: 18th Dec 2010
Total Kms Covered: ~300 Kms

The sunrise point was around 10 mins drive from our place. On our way cold winds were making our destination tougher. Not taking enough warm clothes and proper gloves was a bad decision. On the way saw a lot of groups heading toward the sunrise point. Finally reached the point and we were early. Only 2-3 people came before us. Came in the chaiwala and had we had our first tea of the morning. Sipping tea and having smoke along with it was enough to keep us warm for some time.

And so finally here it comes. Early morning sunrays and sky started to fill in Amber color. Few pics here and there and it is all up.

We finally reached that point after complete off-road experience. The roads were in pathetic condition. It was full of potholes. Took few snaps from that point and then went to another point which was just beside it (forgot the name of this one too). With this point we decided to finish our Mahabaleshwar sightseeing and return back to our hotel and get started for our return journey.

The search for mechanic started and it was a very short one. He was just nearby. Got the chain fixed and returned to the hotel. Now there was a big task awaiting me, tying up the bags to my rear seat. With some struggle we finally did it and the journey back home started at 12 PM. We had planned to stop at Mapro gardens first and then at Wai. Finding roads in Mahabaleshwar is a tough task. Road to wai was a hidden one as we were unable to find it for 10 mins. Going back here and there we finally got it.

With our tanks and stomach almost empty we were in search for food for us and for our bikes. Saw and HP petrol pump and all of us went inside. Everyone filled around 300 Rs of fuel which was more than enough to take us back home, and then started the search for our stomachs. Saw a decent hotel on the way and stopped there. Told the guard out there to keep a watch on our bags and make sure no one fiddle with it. With 2:30 PM on the clocks the hotel was getting almost empty. Ordered some veg food as it was pure veg and it took some time for our order to come. In the meanwhile we started to get relax for the ride ahead. We took out time to complete the lunch and started again at 4 PM.

Everyone cursing me for such a long break and in turn I was cursing the hotel guy for taking so long for 3 cups of tea. Finally after 15 mins our tea came and we finished it quickly. We started from there at around 5:50 PM and the next stop was Lonavala. We maintained a speed above () KMPH since there was some sun light to help us. Now when we were around 20 Kms from Lonavala there was an end to sunlight and we were riding in dark. Reached Lonavala at around 7:15 PM and stopped as Premya wanted to take home some Chikki (for which lonavala is famous) for his kids. All of is again started from Lonavala at around 7:30 PM taking the Expressway for some time and then the Khopoli exit.

So we started the journey back home from Khopoli after that long argument. I knew the roads were nice after Khopoli till Panvel and was crusing at around 80-85 KMPH constantly. Reached outskirts of Panvel at around 8:30 PM and took the JNPT road. Now I was feeling tired and started keeping low speeds. Took the Palm Beach Road exit and then to Sion-Panvel Highway. Finally dropped Amol home and I reached home at around 9:45 PM. Had a nice hot water bath, got some fresh clothes, finished dinner and bang on bed.

All of us enjoyed every moment on that road. Thanks for your patience to read such a long log. I am sure we will make one more trip but this time it would be beyond Satara. Lets see.

Announcement

Mumbai-Satara-Mahabaleshwar-Wai and back to Mumbai

Mumbai-Satara-Mahabaleshwar-Wai and back to Mumbai

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