[aryashiv1]

Hi Guys,

Have been planning Ashvinayak Yatra for many days but due to time constrain, kiddos school was not able to spare three days in a go. Infact it was in my agenda for so many days. In between did Bhimashankar, Trimbhkeshwar, Shirdi and Ashtvinayak is still pending.

So have finally decided to excute it next weekend. Planning to leave on Friday morning and come back Sunday evening via Malshed ghat. I think I am familiar with these roads so wont be much of a problem. Will be driving in my i10 Kappa sports with self, wife and two kids.

Just wanted to know apart from the Ashtvinayak anything else I can see in and around Pune (temples only). Also how is swine flue scare in Pune now?

suggestions and ideas please...

[naren_gs1]

Hi,
I can suggest following:
1) Day 1: Pali first and then Mahad - halt Pune
2) Day 2: Theur, Morgaon, Siddhtek & Ranjanagaon (or the other way around) - halt Pune
3) Day 3: Ozhar and then Lenydri & back to Mumbai via NH-222

#1 and #3 can be swapped.

Of course, sequence is probably not what is recommnded in comon beleif.

Regards

[carboy]

Planning to do one of my 2 remaining temples (Sidhatek & Pali) this weekend.

Can someone give approximate number or kms from Pune for each of them - also detailed directions would be great!!!

Ashish Pallod, you there :-)

[ASHISHPALLOD]

Originally Posted by carboy

Can someone give approximate number or kms from Pune for each of them - also detailed directions would be great!!!

@carboy,
pali and siddhtek are 100 km at west and east direction of pune respectively.
you can't do both in a day otherwise it will be too hectic.

1] pali-
pune-expressway-lonawala-expressway-just 300 meter before khopoli toll plaza, there is hidden left turn road toward pali. look out carefully otherwise you will miss it-pali-return-expressway-pune.[ better look this turn near khopoli toll plaza on google earth so that you will get idea about its location]

2] siddhatek-
pune-nh9-solapurroad-yawat-choufula-patas[63 km from pune]-left turn toward daund-railway overbridge-toll plaza in daund-daund town-siddhatek.
take same route to return.

be careful in daund. that town is really ugly place.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by ASHISHPALLOD

be careful in daund. that town is really ugly place.

What do you mean?
Can you elaborate?

[ASHISHPALLOD]

Originally Posted by carboy

What do you mean?
Can you elaborate?

as you know, daund is major railway junction and major place for anti social elements.
if any mishap happens during drive, people are waiting for such mishap to extract money from driver. these mishap can happen due to driver fault or created by anti social elements.
don't afraid, just be extra careful.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by ASHISHPALLOD

1] pali-
pune-expressway-lonawala-expressway-just 300 meter before khopoli toll plaza, there is hidden left turn road toward pali. look out carefully otherwise you will miss it-pali-return-expressway-pune.[ better look this turn near khopoli toll plaza on google earth so that you will get idea about its location]

Ashish, Khopoli toll plaza is the same as the Khalapur Toll Plaza, right?

i..e When I drive from Pune to Bombay, I pay toll at the Talegaon Toll Plaza while entering. Then I cross Lonavala etc & then the ticket gets checked at the Khalapur Toll Plaza - this is the one you are referring to, right?

[ASHISHPALLOD]

Originally Posted by carboy

Ashish, Khopoli toll plaza is the same as the Khalapur Toll Plaza, right?

i..e When I drive from Pune to Bombay, I pay toll at the Talegaon Toll Plaza while entering. Then I cross Lonavala etc & then the ticket gets checked at the Khalapur Toll Plaza - this is the one you are referring to, right?

yeah,
khopoli and khalapur toll plaza are same.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by ASHISHPALLOD

yeah,
khopoli and khalapur toll plaza are same.

Tx, Ashish - visited Pali today.
Roughly 110 kms from Aundh to the temple.
Even after you get of the expressway, roads are mostly decent - maybe only a couple of kms of bad roads.

Also there was a clean restaurant just outside the temple - sukhsagar or shivsagar or something. Had a nice Misal & Kothambir Wada. All in all, a nice trip.

[ASHISHPALLOD]

Originally Posted by carboy

Also there was a clean restaurant just outside the temple - sukhsagar or shivsagar or something. Had a nice Misal & Kothambir Wada. All in all, a nice trip.

thats sukhsagar hotel. its only descent hotel in pali.
now, for siddhatek, you expect bad roads with heavy traffic.
good luck.

[schitre05]

Hi Ashish,
I have copy pasted your suggestion down here. Can you please elaborate On the routes and suggest few hotels on the way i would be travelling with my parents, my wife and kiddo (30 months).
i suggest,
day 1. mumbai-pali-mahad-pune.
day2. pune-theur-morgaon-siddhatek-ranjangaon-bhimashankar
day3. bhimashankar-ozar-shivneri fort-lenyadri-malshej ghat-mumbai

Also dont you think the first day is very less driving where as the other two days will be touch and go at each temple.
If i m not mistaken you have to take a detour for bhimashankar.... also what kind of accomodation can i expect at bhimashankar
Sorry for too many questions
Cheers!!!

[ASHISHPALLOD]

Originally Posted by schitre05

1]Also dont you think the first day is very less driving where as the other two days will be touch and go at each temple.
2]If i m not mistaken you have to take a detour for bhimashankar.... also what kind of accomodation can i expect at bhimashankar

1] yes, you are right. first day has very less travel on assumption that you will start from mumbai in the afternoon. what time you will start from mumbai? if you start early from mumbai, then i suggest
day1----mumbai-pali-mahad-pune-theur-morgaon-halt at baramati.
or mumbai-pali-mahad-pune-theur-pune[ halt.
day2--baramati-daund-siddhatek-ranjangaon-bhimashankar.
or-----pune-jejuri-morgaon-choufula-daund-siddhatek-ranjangaon-bhimashankar/ozar.
day3---bhimashankar-junnar shivneri fort-ozar-lenyadri-malshej ghat-mumbai.

2] hotel accomodation at bhimashankar
blue mormon jungle resort
9822667149, 02135-560038, 9860226026.
this resort is 2 km off the road 5 km before bhimashankar. i had stayed there two times with my family and my friends.

[aryashiv1]

I did Ashtvinayak last month and my travel was like this and very very comfortable. Infact I started quite late from Mumbai.

Day 1: Mumbai - Pali - Mahad - Rajangoan - Pune
Started at 2 PM from Mumbai and reached Pune at 10 PM. Halt at Pune

Day 2: Pune - Theur - Moregaon - Sidhtek - Pune
Started at 11 AM from Pune and reached Pune back at 6 PM

Day 3 : Pune - Lenyadari - Ozhar - Mumbai via Kalyan

Started at 12 From Pune and reached Mumbai at 7 PM.
Last day you can easily cover Bhimashankar also.

[ASHISHPALLOD]

Originally Posted by aryashiv1

I did Ashtvinayak last month and my travel was like this and very very comfortable.

That is also nice itinerary.
in this itenerary, i will suggest
day 2 pune-kapurhole temple-narayanpur temple-jejuri[ if possible, visit the temple]-morgaon-siddhtek-theur-pune.

[schitre05]

@ thanks ashish & aryashiv1
will take your suggestions and keep you posted on the developments
now one more thing... please help if you know any good hotels in pune!
dont want to enter the city if its not necessary.
clean and good budget hotels would do. (dont want to splurge as we would be there just for the night).
Cheers!