[blackstallion76]

Friends,

I am planning to drive from Bangalore to Gangapur and cover pandarapur-kolhapur during Nov 1- Nov 4 days. I am trying to check if own car is better or booking a bus or train is more meaningful.

We are 2 adults and 1 kid (9yrs) small family.

DAY 1 - BLR - GOOTY - ADONI - RAICHUR - Javargi - Ganagapur
630 kms
DAY 2 - Temple darshan and prasad in noon. Halt
DAY 3 - Drive to Pandarapur through solapur. Halt
DAY 4 - Drive to Kolhapur, finish darshan and drive back to BLR

Driving by Fiat Punto MJD and need suggestions on road conditions and hotel stay. I know its too late for planning but need inputs.

All buses and trains are booked due to festive season.

Please advice.

[roamingrao]

Originally Posted by blackstallion76

DAY 1 - BLR - GOOTY - ADONI - RAICHUR - Javargi - Ganagapur
630 kms
DAY 2 - Temple darshan and prasad in noon. Halt
DAY 3 - Drive to Pandarapur through solapur. Halt
DAY 4 - Drive to Kolhapur, finish darshan and drive back to BLR

Had done this circuit clockwise in 2009. road conditions may be different now.

First, I would prefer Bangalore - Hiriyur - Bellary - Siruguppa - Sindhanur - Raichur route over Anantapur - Gooty route. Reason - Better facilities.

Raichur - Kalmala - Devadurga - Shahapur stretch is always bad. Instead, continue to Lingsugur and turn right towards Shorapur. That road is good.

Jevargi - Jeertagi ( on the sindgi road ) is good. Jeertagi - Ganagapur is a single lane rough road and is confusing. Very few villages in between. A GPS navigator may be handy. Of course, Jevargi - Gulbarga - Ganagapur is a long alternative. I would prefer Jeertagi route if done during daylight.

On Day 3, Jeertagi - Sindgi - Bijapur is always good. Please ask locals at Zalki if Zalki - Mangalwedha - Pandharpur stretch is good. Else, drive through Solapur

Day 4, Pandharpur - Miraj - Kolhapur is the shortest but lonely and without much facilities.


Stay options (though very basic). Please check for changed phone numbers. There are be other hotels / ashrams around

Ganagapur : Shree Dattatreya Annadan Trust, Near Bus stand. 08470 274309, 9901752097

Pandharpur : Bangalore Yathri Nivas, Sangola Road, Pandharpur. 02186 24416


Hope this helps. Have a great drive and darshan.

[blackstallion76]

@roamingrao: Thanks for quick response.
After lot of discussions with friends below is the final route i am taking:

DAY 1:
BLR - NH4-Tumkur-Sira-Hiriyur-Chitradurga-NH13-Kudligi-Hospet-Kushtagi-Mudgal-Lingsugur-Shorapur-Shahapur-Jevargi-Mandewal-Ganagapur - 620kms
Visit Temple, Pallaki Utsav.
DAY 2:
Morning Lepan seva and Rudrabhishek. Lunch in temple.
After lunch, leave to Badami.
Ganagapur - Mandewal - Sindagi-Bijapur-NH218-Bilgi-Bagalkot-Kerur-Badami
220kms. Reach Badami for evening halt
DAY 3:
Visit Badami temple/Pattadakal/Aihole
Halt in Badami
DAY 4:
Depart to Hospet/Hampi. Visit Virupaksha temple and few others.
Back to Bangalore - 320kms

[deehunk]

Originally Posted by blackstallion76

After lot of discussions with friends below is the final route i am taking:

DAY 1:
BLR - NH4-Tumkur-Sira-Hiriyur-Chitradurga-NH13-Kudligi-Hospet-Kushtagi-Mudgal-Lingsugur-Shorapur-Shahapur-Jevargi-Mandewal-Ganagapur - 620kms

Why do you want to take the long tiresome Kushtagi-Mudgal route to reach Jewargi, you can continue on the NH13 itself upto Bijapur then onto Sindagi and Ganagapur. NH13 after Hospet is a beautiful road upto Bijapur and even Bijapur to Sindagi is a decent 2 lane. You will reach fast and the route is secure compared to Lingasugur-Shahpur-Surapura route.

[Oppanna]

I am planning to visit Ganagapur - Pandharapur - Kolhapur and back to Bangalore on last week of this month.

Any pointers on the road condition, stay, what to look out for while at these place will be helpful.

[condor]

Originally Posted by Oppanna

I am planning to visit Ganagapur - Pandharapur - Kolhapur and back to Bangalore on last week of this month.

Any pointers on the road condition, stay, what to look out for while at these place will be helpful.

You can do Gulbarga-Gangapur-Gulbarga-Solapur-Pandharapur-Kolhapur and back.

There is an alternate route from Gangapur to Solapur, but comparatively interior roads.

[arundeepbv]

Originally Posted by Oppanna

I am planning to visit Ganagapur - Pandharapur - Kolhapur and back to Bangalore on last week of this month.

Any pointers on the road condition, stay, what to look out for while at these place will be helpful.

This weekend, I have planned a trip that will take me from Bangalore to Mantralaya, Gangapur, Shirdi, Pandharpur, Bijapur, and then back to Bangalore.
Upon completion of the trip, I intend to share updates on the road conditions. While I can't guarantee the usefulness of this information for you, I hope it may be of some assistance.

[Oppanna]

Originally Posted by condor

You can do Gulbarga-Gangapur-Gulbarga-Solapur-Pandharapur-Kolhapur and back.

There is an alternate route from Gangapur to Solapur, but comparatively interior roads.

Originally Posted by arundeepbv

This weekend, I have planned a trip that will take me from Bangalore to Mantralaya, Gangapur, Shirdi, Pandharpur, Bijapur, and then back to Bangalore.

Thanks both of you. This helps. @arundeepbv, looking forward for your pointers on the route, food and accommodation at Ganagapura, Pandharapura.

Wishing you Happy Journey and Drive Safe

[arundeepbv]

Originally Posted by Oppanna

Thanks both of you. This helps. @arundeepbv, looking forward for your pointers on the route, food and accommodation at Ganagapura, Pandharapura.

Wishing you Happy Journey and Drive Safe

Hi Oppnna,

The road from Gangapura to Solapur is in a bad shape. There are many broken patches. I did not make it to Pandrapur due to lack of time so , I do not know how the roads are from Solapur and Pandrapur.

Have a nice trip

[condor]

Originally Posted by arundeepbv

The road from Gangapura to Solapur is in a bad shape. There are many broken patches.

There is more than one way from Ganagapur to Solapur. Which one did you take ?

[arundeepbv]

Originally Posted by condor

There is more than one way from Ganagapur to Solapur. Which one did you take ?

I took Gangapur-Afzalpur-Dudhani-Akkalkot-Solapur route

[condor]

Originally Posted by arundeepbv

I took Gangapur-Afzalpur-Dudhani-Akkalkot-Solapur route

This is exactly why I had mentioned in my earlier post to go back via Gulbarga. The route you mentioned goes thru an area that I am quite familiar with.