Re: Chandigarh to Chennai

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The man who rode non-stop from Delhi to Leh! I am sure daily riding hours won't be a problem

Still 7 days will be a mad dash from C to C and it wouldn't be really possible to see a lot en route. You could of course take the best highways and cross country it.

Re: Chandigarh to Chennai

Thanks, BTW which are the best highways that you reference?

I am aware of the road conditions till Mumbai on the GQ. After that, its all foreign territory for me.

Re: Chandigarh to Chennai

Super smooth sailing from Pune all the way to Chennai via Bangalore. Everyone and their grandfathers use this stretch to attempt Saddlesores!

Re: Chandigarh to Chennai

Ah! Thanks. So I guess this can be done in a day; no saddlesores here, just want to spend a couple of days in Goa.

Re: Chandigarh to Chennai

100's of possibilities; but I'm not sure what's that you're looking for...
You can visit Wagah or skip it; tour de RJ; take NH17 from Panvel to Kochi; from Mumbai via Chorla towards Panaji & then come back via Molem, Dandeli, Belgaum; take a border drive via Wagah & Jaisalmer (little tough though)...

If you like Konkan then...
D1 - Sandigar (captain shtyle) - Gurgaon - Jaipur
D2 - Jaipur - Udaipur - Bhilwara - Chittorgarh - Udaipur - Rishbdev - Shamlaji - Godhra - Halol - Baroda - Ankaleshwar
D3 - Ankaleshwar - Surat - Bombay - Pune
D4 - Pune - Mangaon - Mahad - Khed - (bad roads) Ganapatipule - Ratnagiri
D5 - Ratnagiri - Vijaydurg - Malvan - Vengurla - Sawantwadi - Panjim - Madgaon - Karwar - Gokarna - Honavar
D6 - Honavar - Murudeshwar - Bhatkal - Maravanthe - Udupi - Mangalore
D7 - Mangalore - Nellayadi - Shiradi ghat - Sakaleshpur - Hassan - CR Patna - Kunigal - NICE - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Vaniyambadi - Ambur - Vellore - Kanchipuram - Chennai

Misconception!! Not anymore sir!! Kholapur stretch from Satara is being relaid; but yes from Kagal or say Nipani all the way upto Chitradurga...max till Tumkur is good; then NICE & then from Krishnagiri to Ranipet are the only stretches that speeds up

Re: Chandigarh to Chennai


Hey RG, thanks for the detailed reply!

I could have ridden through the heart of India, all the way to Chennai via Agra and Hyd. But my assumption (I might be wrong, but then again, ignorance is bliss ) is that the shortest route might not be half as exciting as the western ghats.

On Day 1, I am thinking of taking the mega highway from Hanumangarh all the way till Kishangarh. Its around 90 kms longer than the usual, but its devoid of traffic. So quite possibly I might be staying around Kishangarh for the first day.
Day 2 - Is there a reason why you list ankaleshwar, or is it just a pit stop.
Day 4 - Should I take the Pune - Ratnagiri route or on day 3 head on NH-66? I have read mixed reviews. Some folks simply prefer to head to Goa via the NH-4 while the rest love the hills on the NH-66?
Day 5 - Never been to Goa, so was hoping to stay 2 nights, in a place with relatively less tourists. Also planned on visiting the doodhsagar falls.
Day 6 & 7 - Either this or Doodhsagar - Blr - Chennai. What do you suggest? The last two days, I would have to speed up, clock more miles per day.

Re: Chandigarh to Chennai

Not assumption, but is a fact

Yes, another possibility

Another pitstop as you don't want to do saddlesore; it took about 11 hours for me from Jaipur to Surat & Ankaleshwar was perfect place to stop; if you like, you can continue like I did from Jaipur to Bombay, takes about 16 hours

If you come via Bombay, I suggest taking coastal MH; nothing like it especially in Oct/Nov, still looks green when it turns brown in Dec. Here's a sample of how it looks - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81vAB2JFDFo

South GA, avoid North GA; Doodhsagar takes 1 day; you're talking about Malanad...it takes about 3-4 days exploring the entire Malanad

GA to Chennai via Ankola - Karwar - Yellapura - Belgaum - Hubli - Davangere - Chitradurga - Tumkur - NICE - Hosur - K'Giri - Vaniyambadi - Ambur - Vellore - Ranipet - Kanchipuram - Chennai takes 12+ hours min (I've done in <10 hours out of necessity, but wouldn't recommend nor would do again) & totals nearly 1000 Km

From what I see your 7 days from Chandigarh to Chennai, keep aside 3 days of saddlesore ride from DL to Chennai, so, you've only 4 days. So the options are...
1. KA, Malanad
2. MH, Coastal
3. Ride through NH17 covering beaches
4. Pune - Lavasa - Mahabaleshwar etc
5. RJ, like Chittorgarh, Jaisalmer, Bhangarh etc
6. GJ, ROK
7. GA, South + Cape Rama, Sanquelim, Benaulim, Cola etc

Re: Chandigarh to Chennai

Thanks again! That's an awesome info.

The MHS4 looks it is for me, after looking at your video.

Few questions -

1) Could you assist me in the route taken from Mumbai?
2) I see that at many places you have taken a ferry; I assume that the road is in bits and pieces. Is the ferry readily available?
3) Is it safe, solo? Considering that to cover 500 kms it might take around 14 hours.

R: Chandigarh to Chennai

Since you are keen on doing a coastal ride, which I think you should considering you are riding from so far, then my suggestion would be from Pune head to Wai (80km) then go via Mahabaleshwar down to Poladpur on the old Mumbai Goa highway, then Ratnagiri, Ganpatiphule, Sawantwadi and your overnight destination Goa. From Pune to Goa via this route budget around 12 hours.

After your break in Goa you have 2 options. 1) Continue from Goa south on the coastal Mangalore highway, then take the Honavar Banaglore highway and head to Mysore and then Bangalore, this will be a slower route and should you decide to do this suggest you stay South Goa. Also you should time your entry / exit for going through Bangalore to escape the horrendous traffic that plagues the city. 2) Go via Chorla Ghat to Belgium and hit the Pune Bangalore highway, this is the faster, smoother and higher speed route, if you decide to take this route, suggest you stay North Goa.

What bike do you intend to take for this ride?

Re: Chandigarh to Chennai

Once again, 100s of possibilities...
For instance, you can take Bombay to Alibaug to Kashid to Murud & then choose to take a ferry to Dighi & then ride towards Velas to Diveagar (not to be missed) or take the Mandad - Mangaon - Diveagar - Srivardhan. If you don't intent to take the ferry route in MH coast, here was my timing...
D1 - Chennai to Honavar (~ 16 hours)
D2 - Honavar to Ganapatipule (~13 hours)
D3 - Ganapatipule to Bombay (~15 hours, started late though)
But again, this will vacuum your experience taking a ferry route

My suggestion would be, keep your options open, just roam around, take a call (be it ferry route or non ferry route) when you've got just 1.5 to 2 days in hands (1 day buffer) & then explore based on maps. Consider this fact that, once you're on NH4, you can do towards Chennai in one shot. So the moment you feel you've to reach Chennai, simply ride towards NH4 (say half a day) & next day by evening you can reach Chennai easily.

Crossing Bangalore is no big deal, you can choose to take "not so nice" (feel wobbling after 120 Kmph that's all) tolled NICE road

Yes every 45 min or so worst case, however, if you choose to skip the ferry, you can still do it; I've done both ferry as well as non ferry routes & if you intent to take every coastal road of MH, pls keep aside 5 days only from MH to GA coast.

Entire MH, GA, KA, TN, KL, GJ & RJ are very safe.

PS - If you got Airtel connection, please keep in mind MH coast don't like Airtel signal so good; best will be BSNL/MTNL & Tata Docomo

Re: R: Chandigarh to Chennai

Thank you for the information, though a lot to digest for now, primarily as I have never even heard of most of the cities you mention. I will refer to gmaps first to make a mind-map of the route.

I would most likely not be taking the Mangalore highway, it will be pushing it too much. So from somewhere in Goa, I would turn left towards Bangalore, preferably on the NH-4 after visiting the doodhsagar falls (have heard a lot about them, but a bit skeptical on the volume of flow in early december )

The bike is a CBR250R.

Re: R: Chandigarh to Chennai

Charting the broad plan on Google Maps would be the prudent thing to do. Wish you a successful and safe ride.

Re: Chandigarh to Chennai

I have been thinking for a few days now, since our last discussion.


I have 7 days, exactly 7 days. Sunday to Saturday. I have to be in Chennai by the Saturday, as I fly back the next day.

To think of it, the coastal highway needs atleast 2 days to cover, and 3 days to enjoy. I feel that, in the urge to cover a lot of places, I might me missing the essence of being there.

So how about I keep the konkan highway out, and do it separately some other time, exclusively?

Then, should I still take the Kishangarh - Udiapur - Pune - B'lore - Chennai route, or should I ride through the heart of India?

I am a bit confused to be honest. If I have to cover the GQ, I plan to do this then -

Day 1: Chandigarh - Bhatinda - Hanumangarh - Suratgarh - Sardarshahar - Kishangarh - Chittorgarh [In case, I lose daylight, I would stop anywhere after Kishangarh]
Day 2: Chittorgarh - Godhra - Vadodara - Ankleshwar - Vapi
Day 3: Vapi - Thane - Pune - Wai - Mahabaleshwar - Ganapatipule
Day 4: Ganapatipule - Rantagiti - Back to NH66 - Goa
Day 5: Goa
Day 6: Goa - Bangalore
Day 7: Bangalore - Chennai

Sounds right?

Re: Chandigarh to Chennai

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