Hi.

The only time saver is the Pune-Solapur NH65 Expressway. Try to safely go as fast as you can here. I did it in a mere 2.5 hours on Pune-Solapur and 2 hours on Solapur-Pune (All 140+ kmph riding) No hurdles for a whole 240 kms of it. Watch out for the Indapur exit. It looks like the main road and the solapur highway looks like a diversion. But that is not the case. The indapur exit is on the left and the solapur highway is the right of that Y type intersection. You have to take the one on right which is the Indapur bypass. If you take the straight going road on the left, you will go through the Indapur's horrible traffic.

I suggest you take the Solapur-Akkalkot-Aland. I took this on the way to Hyd and took Aland-Omerga-Solapur on the way back. Solapur-Akkalkot-Aland is shorter and the 20-30 minutes offroading is tolerable though frustrating. Mind you, offroading means proper offroading. I had to stand on the foot pegs motocross style for some 10-15 minutes, that bad. Solapur-Omerga-Aland is longer and more boring.

As compared to the NH9(Solapur-Omerga-Zaheerabad) route where you have to be patient throughout the 300 kms, on this alt route, you have to be patient only for some 25 kms(1 hour). Please refer to GPS between Solpaur-Akkalkot-Aland. Somewhere between Akkalkot and Aland is a place called Hiroli. This is were the Karnatak SH10 starts. Awesome. In telangana, SH4 is also very good, but not awesome. This alt route is 3-4 hours shorter than NH9.

The roads are usually straight, so you will be able to see an cow herd,etc.. from a distance. As it is in blind turns and blind straights you will have to slow down accordingly. Roads There are no scary speed breakers also. Speed breakers are marked with sign boards. Being state highway, no police checking at Toll. Pune-Solapur can be done in night without much problem if you want. But I suggest you do Solapur-Hyd in daylight, easier. NH7 needs no explaination. Pure awesomeness.

Are you going to visit Belum caves as well?

Also, if you come at a junction where there are multiple roads and no direction signboard, just ask some local pan wala, chaat walal, banana wala, etc for the next immediate place. For example if you are at Akkalkot and heading towards Aland, just ask someone road for Aland. Most of them do not undertstand Hindi, so just ask Aland? If you have crossed Aland, ask for gulbarga. Also, take Gulbarga Ring road to bypass Gulbarga's horrible traffic. From Solapur side, take left on Gulbarga Ring road, go for 8.5 kms and take left again to rejoin SH10. Refer GPS as and by before taking any turn.

90Kmph on these statehighway is more than safe. I was doin a 120+kmph without much problem. Just be sure to slow down while taking turns as you may go wide. I had a freaking out experience once or twice. Being single laned, turning radius does not inspire cornering at all.

Aland-Gulbarga road is just fine. It is the Akkalkot-Hiroli stretch thats off-roading...

Vadodara-Ahmedabad Old NH8(not expressway) is very awesome. Took just 1 hour 10 minutes from Vadodara to Ahmedabad. Awesome 6 lane road.

And bikes are allowed right..I does not make sense to ask here..But lil curious as i am trying to collect as much as info as possible..

Guys, any update on Kolhapur Kankavli road?

Travelled on the stretch 15 days back from Mumbai to kolhapur n back . Faced heavy traffic jam between satara to karad both ways and the entry point at kolhapur. Road works are in progress beyond satara so lot of diversions are in place...road is smooth..no probs

Planning a trip by bike Mumbai to Goa this weekend. Any updates on which road is good or bad at this time? Which route should I take?

Help needed regarding road conditions from Khamgaon to Amravati via Shegaon and Akola. Planning to visit Shegaon. Also any info regarding good hotels for stay at Shegaon. Thanks in advance.