The Official Pune Offline Meet(G2G) Thread

[nav75]

Anyone been to Goa lately...?

How are the roads these days....? (from Pune)

Any suggestions for worthwhile places in South Goa..?

A few days back, went for lunch.

Pune - Belgaum (NH4 - no need to say anything about the road conditions) - Chorla Ghat(Initially the road is awesome and then some really bad stretches till you start descending, once you start descending the road improves and is a nice ghat road - if for one Mulshi/Tamhini road is "bad", avoid this road) - Mapusa(Took the internal road from Sanquelim and they are narrow but little traffic and nice) - Banda(Good section of NH17 just starts to get bad as approaches Banda) - Amboli(though normally one goes to Sawantwadi and then turn for Amboli, I prefer this short cut as Sawantwadi section is under construction at places and has a bit more traffic. This short cut right now is in a bit of bad condition at places. Once you join Sawantwadi - Amboli road the tarmac is good until you start climbing and it gets bumpy at places) - Gadhinglaj(Though for the shorter route you turn towards Uttu, a bit before Gadhinglaj, & join NH4 at top of Tavandi ghat, near Nipani, but that road is a bit more bumpy & pot holed as compared to Gadhinglaj section. and via Gadhinglaj it is a bit longer) - Sankeshwar(you join NH4 here) - Pune.

Total distance around 950km's.

[Devilpulsarian]

Thanks Nav, Satyen


Last year I took the NH4 till Nipani - Uttur - Amboli -Ajara - Sawantwadi route....(most probably suggested by Satyen)
Liked it a lot...


My plan is to go with a scenic route and yes my drive would be in daylight (at least while going)

Would you suggest the Belgaum - SH31 route...?
Or the Belgaum - SH748 route (which is further down the SH31 route)
Or shall I go with the same Nipani - Uttur - Amboli -Ajara -Sawantwadi route again...

[nav75]

My plan is to go with a scenic route and yes my drive would be in daylight (at least while going)

Would you suggest the Belgaum - SH31 route...?
Or the Belgaum - SH748 route (which is further down the SH31 route)
Or shall I go with the same Nipani - Uttur - Amboli -Ajara -Sawantwadi route again...

If its a drive then avoid Chorla ghat and avoid going any more South of Belgaum as then you will enter the trucks territory that ply around Londa - Ponda area.

I'll rate Sankeshwar - Gadhinglaj - Amboli above Tavandi - Uttur - Nipani(the one that you have taken before).

[satyenpoojary]

Where in South Goa are you planning to stay... if its in the souther most tips then why not take the longer route via dharwad-hubli - ankola - karwar. This is a VERY scenic ride a bit traffic prone but you will have company till ankola and awesome fun beyond that!

For North Goa, you could prefer the Amboli route, its fun and Amboli in light is fun.

The last I went from 748 was early last year. My dad is fond of that route. I have never seen that road in good condition and after every visit someone or the other goes by the route and tells me that the routes been repaired :P
Its an eerie route if you ask me... even scarier than Amboli for all the wrong reasons


Edit: He he me and Nav would now probably confuse you! I suggested the route purely from a bike POV...

[AntiqueBlue]

Pune- Ahmedabad

Hey guys,
any road construction work going on this (Pune - Ahmedabad)route ?
I have planned to take JNPT-Airoli-panvel sion expressway-godhbundar road for going through mumbai. Is this route good, and moreover safe as I will be travelling at night during this stretch ?
Also has anyone who has travelled before made logs of good reliable petrol pumps on way ? (approx)

[Viper1089]

In a day, Pune - Karwar via NH17 all the way will be on the tougher side, as compared to NH4+Amboli.
While going to Karwar (though I didn't stop there), I did Pune - Goa, via NH4 & Amboli.
It was on the way back that I didn't want to repeat the same route & also I wanted to visit Jog Falls, that I took the route via Yellapur.

I am thinking more on the Pune-Kolhapur-Belgaum-Khanapur-Ponda-Margaon-Karwar route.
Till Belgaum I think the roads are straight and boring but in pretty good condition. This route is 20-30kms less than the NH17 all the way.

@Antz. I am going there just for a ride and a 3 day stay. Nothing else. Other than that I don't think there is anything else to see in Karwar other than the beach.

PS: The plan is still tentative. May or may not happen. A lot of factors can cancel the ride...(like wife, parents, work..etc )

[satyenpoojary]

Hey guys,
any road construction work going on this (Pune - Ahmedabad)route ?
I have planned to take JNPT-Airoli-panvel sion expressway-godhbundar road for going through mumbai. Is this route good, and moreover safe as I will be travelling at night during this stretch ?
Also has anyone who has travelled before made logs of good reliable petrol pumps on way ? (approx)

Here you go

http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/20133-updates-road-condition-maharashtra-4.html

Pune - Panvel/JNPT Old NH4 - As good as ever.
Adequate fuel bunks around Pune exit, 2 in Lonavala and then a few beyond Kalamboli (but on the other side of the road)

You have two options from here
1. Stick to JNPT beyond the toll booth for a few KMs and then jump of to the other side of the road to go to Palm beach road (Avoid this if unsure as you might not find help on this route)
2. Take first right from after the toll booth and you would be in Kalamboli. A board will show you Thane to be straight. DONT go there. Rather take left and proceed for Vashi-Airoli-Mulund-Thane-Ghodbunder

Ghodbunder road is a urban city road and hence has no markers and surprise potholes (or patches or both)

From there take a right and keep going straight for Ahemedabad.
Hotel Fountain to Manor has a lot of new flyovers, they seem inviting but remember new flyovers have brilliant finishing in India. So expect a hump out of the blue.

Beyond Manor the roads are very good

[antz.bin]

I am thinking more on the Pune-Kolhapur-Belgaum-Khanapur-Ponda-Margaon-Karwar route.
Till Belgaum I think the roads are straight and boring but in pretty good condition. This route is 20-30kms less than the NH17 all the way.

@Antz. I am going there just for a ride and a 3 day stay. Nothing else. Other than that I don't think there is anything else to see in Karwar other than the beach.

Arre don't go via that ponda-Margao route. It is truly s#itty. Really extremely time consuming due to a combination of bad roads and bad driving. As I told you, keep off KA roads as much as possible. You will be much better off entering from North Goa and sticking to NH17 all the way through. Goa is a tourist destination so the govt. has to keep at least the roads in its best condition at all times.

IMO Best way is to get off NH4 at Nippani itself, take the Amboli Ghat and enter through Goa via Sawantwadi -> NH17 all the way to Karwar.

If you want to go further and are the religious type, head over 60km further to Gokarna Shivji Temple which is of immense mythological importance and our Biru's favorite, Om Beach .

@AntiqueBlue Seriously how much fuel would you really need till Ahmedabad? Its 660km. Tank up once at RTO Chowk Pune, Next Tank-up can be scheduled in Surat, Gujrat (AFAIK, there is a Shell bunk in Surat) and that should probably be enough .

[Viper1089]

Arre don't go via that ponda-Margao route. It is truly s#itty. Really extremely time consuming due to a combination of bad roads and bad driving. As I told you, keep off KA roads as much as possible. You will be much better off entering from North Goa and sticking to NH17 all the way through. Goa is a tourist destination so the govt. has to keep at least the roads in its best condition at all times.

IMO Best way is to get off NH4 at Nippani itself, take the Amboli Ghat and enter through Goa via Sawantwadi -> NH17 all the way to Karwar.

If you want to go further and are the religious type, head over 60km further to Gokarna Shivji Temple which is of immense mythological importance and our Biru's favorite, Om Beach .

Oh Ok. Then the Nippani-Sawantwadi route sounds good.

[kartikpai]

I am thinking more on the Pune-Kolhapur-Belgaum-Khanapur-Ponda-Margaon-Karwar route.
Till Belgaum I think the roads are straight and boring but in pretty good condition. This route is 20-30kms less than the NH17 all the way.

@Antz. I am going there just for a ride and a 3 day stay. Nothing else. Other than that I don't think there is anything else to see in Karwar other than the beach.

PS: The plan is still tentative. May or may not happen. A lot of factors can cancel the ride...(like wife, parents, work..etc )

Not to demotivate - But karwar has got nothing in terms of 3 days ! It would be super -duper hot & humid during the day time at karwar. And if you are very insistive on the above route, you actually do not need to go to margao , you can at least try the below route which one of the locals said is "ok" .

Pune-Kolhapur-Belgaum-Khanapur-Ramagara-Dandeli-Ulvi-Anshi-Karwar

Note : This the route from ulvi , and its an internal forest route you would need to make sure that you cross the forest gates well before dark !

There are some nice islands in and around karwar. If you dont mind spending some bucks
An Island Resort, Kurumgad Island, Off Karwar, Karnataka
Devbagh Beach Resort, Karwar, Karnataka

[satyenpoojary]

Arre don't go via that ponda-Margao route. It is truly s#itty. Really extremely time consuming due to a combination of bad roads and bad driving. As I told you, keep off KA roads as much as possible. You will be much better off entering from North Goa and sticking to NH17 all the way through. Goa is a tourist destination so the govt. has to keep at least the roads in its best condition at all times.

IMO Best way is to get off NH4 at Nippani itself, take the Amboli Ghat and enter through Goa via Sawantwadi -> NH17 all the way to Karwar.

If you want to go further and are the religious type, head over 60km further to Gokarna Shivji Temple which is of immense mythological importance and our Biru's favorite, Om Beach .

Oooh! This is factually true, but If I were you, I would rather ply with trucks than with tourists.

The exit from Nippani is in a bad shape with the roads being relaid at some places as mentioned in the posts above , so it will kill time and you would end up at Amboli during night which isnt a smart thing to do. NOT AT ALL a smart thing if you are heading to Karwar!

The ONLY reason why I would think twice about Anants route is that fuel is cheaper in Goa!

[antz.bin]

Oooh! This is factually true, but If I were you, I would rather ply with trucks than with tourists.

The exit from Nippani is in a bad shape with the roads being relaid at some places as mentioned in the posts above , so it will kill time and you would end up at Amboli during night which isnt a smart thing to do. NOT AT ALL a smart thing if you are heading to Karwar!

The ONLY reason why I would think twice about Anants route is that fuel is cheaper in Goa!

So which, currently is the least pothole infested route to go from NH4 to NH17? Panchgani - Poladpur ?

[satyenpoojary]

Why NH17. Karwar Jaana hain na? or is Goa the piggy back destination?

For Karwaar
Nh4 - and then 67 to come up. Longer but has some traffic till Yellapur. And the ride from Ankola to karwar is small but very scenic... (also you end up avoiding Mr Veerappans forests)

For Piggy back via Goa, what you said is perfect. But Amboli is night is pretty scary..

[AntiqueBlue]

Here you go

http://www.xbhp.com/talkies/tourer/20133-updates-road-condition-maharashtra-4.html

Pune - Panvel/JNPT Old NH4 - As good as ever.
Adequate fuel bunks around Pune exit, 2 in Lonavala and then a few beyond Kalamboli (but on the other side of the road)

You have two options from here
1. Stick to JNPT beyond the toll booth for a few KMs and then jump of to the other side of the road to go to Palm beach road (Avoid this if unsure as you might not find help on this route)
2. Take first right from after the toll booth and you would be in Kalamboli. A board will show you Thane to be straight. DONT go there. Rather take left and proceed for Vashi-Airoli-Mulund-Thane-Ghodbunder

Ghodbunder road is a urban city road and hence has no markers and surprise potholes (or patches or both)

From there take a right and keep going straight for Ahemedabad.
Hotel Fountain to Manor has a lot of new flyovers, they seem inviting but remember new flyovers have brilliant finishing in India. So expect a hump out of the blue.

Beyond Manor the roads are very good

I am not much familiar with route (to know which toll booth you talking, but I guess its the one that comes crossing panvel. Just after which a road turns to right ??? )
I have planned this route.. this is the same as second option you suggested right ? Pune-Ahmedabad

[nav75]

So which, currently is the least pothole infested route to go from NH4 to NH17? Panchgani - Poladpur ?

Pune - Umbraj - Chiplun - Sawantwadi - Goa.
Or
Pune - Karad - Amba Ghat - NH17 - Goa.

But the fastest for me would be:
Pune - Sankeshwar - Gadhinglaj - Amboli - Banda (bypassing Sawantwadi).

and the shortest (but not fastest is):
Pune - Tavandi (after Nipani) - Uttur - Amboli - Banda (bypassing Sawantwadi).