Dear friends this is my first solo bike ride from Mumbai to Shivneri



The reason of this exciting and adventurous trip was my Hero Honda Hunk, I have bought this bull on December, 2011 from December to June I have clocked 3600 kilometers the contribution in this figure was of my local ride in mumbai roads and some western express highway riding from Churchgate to Andheri (Andheri at my office and in Churchgate i stay) a thought came into my mind why not to add a big contribution of kilometers to my bike trip meter and this can be only possible with a long bike trip, and on other hand I can test my bull performance on highway

So I chose destination as shivneri the reason of choosing shivneri fort coz it is a birth place of grate Shivaji Maharaj, from many days I was willing to visit this place, second thing was malshej ghat which is a beauty in rainy season and last but not the least national highway 222 I have heard good biking experience on this road so was desperately willing to burn my bike tyres on this highway

The date of ride was decided 30th June 2012, planning started week before the ride. Since it was my first long distance solo bike trip I was now familiar with the routs, so what google maps zindabaad got the routs on the Google. Studied the rout properly by the way the route from mumbai to shivnery is not much complicated easy and straight road

The day of ride was saturday so as usual excitement started from previous day which was friday, finished office work and left from office to home with happy feeling which always comes on friday.

On the way from office to home I decided to fill petrol in my bike for tomorrows ride this can save my time tomorrow so went at Bharat petroleum fill petrol of 500Rs checked tyre pressure now my bike was all set for tomorrow’s ride. As soon as I reached home I decided to have my dinner early and go to bed as early as possible so that I can get up with fresh mind to enjoy the beauty of the ride.

Got up at 7:30am in morning quickly had a bath and fresh up myself, quick packing of my bag carried rain gear, cam and lunch box as I have decided to have lunch on Shivneri fort and not at any road side dhaba.

Everything was set went near my bike cleaned it and now ready to roar the engine. It was 8:48am at the time I started my trip



It was bit late to start the ride so decided to ride continuously till kalyan, I took JJ hospital rout towards byculla, lalbagh, king circle and straight towards thane, since it was saturday the road was clear with very less traffic and the straight road toward thane is in good condition and what else a rider wants, maintained constant speed of 80-90 in 45min I crossed thane and started moving towards kalyan straight and smooth road maintaining speed of 85-90 I reached kalyan, now at kalian main signal u need to take right towards NH222 but since till kalyan it was a straight road for me I keep on riding straight missed the left sign board indicating towards NH222, I was on Indore road 8 - 10 kilometers later I stop near a petrol pump just to inquire about NH222 there I came to know that I was on wrong highway, and now have to ride back towards kalyan so took a U turn and back to kalyan signal took left at NH222, went through kalyan toll naka just to double checked I asked a person at toll naka for the route towards malshej ghat he told me it is a straight rout towards malshej, I was happy to know that is I’m on correct route.

I took me 1:30 hour to reach kalyan and now I was on start of NH222, I decided to take a small break over a bridge where a nice lake view was available perfect for a photo session



The climate was good with cool breeze, I was hoping for some little shower of rain to make the climate more pleasant but no sign of rain

After a short break I started again towards malshej at a speed of 55-65 enjoying the greenery on both side of the road, after riding for 10 to 15 kilometers I decided to stop at road side dhaba to buy a mineral water and one five star to gain some energy for my further journey.


After refreshment again starter towards malshej, the NH222 what to say about the beauty of the road truly dream road with exciting curves, beautiful turns trees on both the side of the road was making it more pleasant, the smoothness of the road was like makhan, my Hunk was performing as per my exception the sitting posture of hunk is design so well that I was having zero back pain and shoulder pain, the stability of my bike at curve road was superb which helped me in increasing my confidence while taking sharp turns

It was worth riding on NH222 below are some pic of the road.









After a small photo session a start towards Malshej, after riding 50 - 60 kilometers I was at the start of malshej my dream was going to be true the ghat is natural beauty and the turns and twist was making it more exciting it was the most enjoyable movement for me to ride on malshej ghat the road of the ghat are in good condition which keeps you going. Few pic of the ghat.









A small temple is situated in middle of malshej ghat I took the darshan and moved ahead for my further journey I have decided to reach near shivnery fort around 1:00pm so accordingly I continued nonstop ridding at a speed of 70-80 till junnar, saw a sign board indicating right towards shivneri fort 16 kilometers, it made me happy to know that I’m just 16kilometers away from my destination , but I was not knowing that my happy movement are going to end at NH222 and now the small road towards Shivneri will be a pain for me the road condition is not at all good many potholes and narrow road reduced my speed to 30 - 40 , the road till shivneri was show spoiling, finally with lot of struggle reached near foot of shivneri fort at around 12:30pm, parked my bike near the entrance of the fort

Now another difficult task to complete, climbing shivneri fort
Before entering the fort you need to register you details to the person sitting at the entrance of the fort, I registered my name and details and asked that person about the approximate time in reaching the top of the fort, he informed me that it will take 1 hour to reach on top of the fort.

Below are some pics of fort.





As you cover half the distance of the fort you will see a sign board directing towards shivae devi temple, I went as per the direction shown to take the darshan.

I took dershan and started moving ahead towards the birth place of shivaji, the place is on top of the fort and more than half of distance yet to cover. I was tired as well as hungry so decided to have my lunch before moving towards top of the fort it was 1:30pm, sat on one the bench the view was awesome opened my lunch box and enjoyed the food, it was really a nice feeling and a great experience to have you food in an open place, this feeling you will not get in any of the luxurious hotels.



Finished my lunch and moved towards top of the fort, there are seven gates you need to pass through the structure of the gates and not in a good shape, well they are not maintained in the way they should be

Finally reach near birth place of Shivaji Maharaj at around 2:30pm, wow what a place all my tiredness vanished after seen that wonderful place





After taking rest for 1 hour to regain my energy, I decided to start my return journey towards mumbai. Getting down from the fort was an easy task within half an hour I reached near foot of shivneri fort, The climate was moist and I was feeling dehydrated, there was a person was selling lemon juice and kokaam sharbat on a small tapre, i had a glass of kokaam sharbat 10rs per glass but it was truly refreshing.

My initial plan was to only visit shivneri fort and then return back to mumbai, but the person who was selling sharbat insisted me to visit ozar ganpati temple which was just 15kilometers from shivneri fort, I thought for a while and decided that since I had traveled so long it will take me few minutes to reach near the temple and there is enough time with me to get back home, asked that person about the direction towards the temple, the road was of same condition I reached near temple parked my bike near a lake side and went inside to take the darshan.








Took the darshan, checked the time it was showing 4pm on my clock so now time to move towards mumbai, asked some locale people about the direction from where I can get towards NH222 my dream road with the help of the locale people I was on NH222 haaaa wow the beauty is back I was enjoying the ride. I was praying that God plz shower little rain to make my rain gears useful but no sigh of single drop of rain

But the happy movement yet to start as I was near to reach malshej ghat it started raining not big rain but small showers but I was happy with that (some thing is better than nothing)

I parked my bike off road removed my rain gear from my bag and ready to start towards malshaj ghat.













Rain made my day the trip was worth got a chance to see some beautiful site seen.

As the ghat finish the rain stopped, I think rain was in the mood of gaving me company only till malshaj ghat, but no problem I enjoyed the ride a lot.
Now since the rain stopped I was feeling hot and sweaty coz of rain gears, I parked my bike of road to remove my rain gears.





Done now moving forward towards mumbai, I ride continuously 60-70 kilometers and then decided to take a small break to stretch my body





I saw my bike fuel indicator went down, so on the way stopped at bharat petroleum fill petrol of 200RS, started my bike and now decide to stop directly in mumbai as I was running out of time, with full throttle on I maintain speed of 90+ till kalyan

Now the city roads started but I think it was my lucky day I encountered with very less traffic, I was ridding on yashwantrao chavan marg towards king circle , lalbag, bhaykhala , croferd market and straight to my home parked my bike below my building. Total kilometers done 399.5



Went home took bath had dinned went to bed and in no time I went to sleep dreaming about my wonderful day next day was Sunday got up late from bed

But truly it was a pleasure to ride my Hunk