[Drivethru]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

NH9 between Hyd and Solapur is plain horrible.It is carpet bombed as shown in my pictures above.

The route is as follows:
Pune-Solapur(dont take the flyover at solapur,take the upper ramp and cut across the road and climb down towards ur right)-Shivaji Chowk-Samrat Chowk-Pani Tanki Chowk-Left Turn-Akkalkot Road-Akkalkot-Wagdari-Hiroli-Aland-Gulbarga-Sedam-Ripponpalli-Ravulapally-Kodangal-Parigi-Manneguda-Chevella-Moinabad-ORR-Nanal Nagar X Roads-Langar Houz X Roads-Mehdipatnam

Roads are tolled and maintained by KSRDC between Hiroli(KA MH border) and Ripponpally and roads beyond are also very well maintained.Overall an excellent alternative to the regula NH9.Distance is exactly the same (310 odd kms).Travel time is reduced drastically,almost by 2hours to 3.5 to 4hrs.Eating options are also better.

The border section between Akkalkot and Wagdari is gravelled and horrible,but dont lose hope,the GQ style Tolled road abruptly appears out of nowhere.

Thanks to ranjitp1 and bigzero for this info. Hope to use it on my next trip to Hyderabad. Remember the sad roads from solapur to Hyderabad last time I went to Hyderabad. If it saves 2 hours and reduces wear and tear of your car it's a blessing.

[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

On my return I tried an alternate route and it was excellent roads all the way except for a small section of 18kms which was gravelled and looks like a case of neglect by the respective state govts because of the fact that the road falls at the border.

Distance is exactly the same (310 odd kms).Travel time is reduced drastically,almost by 2hours to 3.5 to 4hrs.

The border section between Akkalkot and Wagdari is gravelled and horrible,but dont lose hope,the GQ style Tolled road abruptly appears out of nowhere.

Originally Posted by Drivethru

Thanks to ranjitp1 and bigzero for this info. Hope to use it on my next trip to Hyderabad. Remember the sad roads from solapur to Hyderabad last time I went to Hyderabad. If it saves 2 hours and reduces wear and tear of your car it's a blessing.

Thanks for the lovely alternative, Ranjit. I had heard about this route a few years back from an ex-colleague, but at that point of time the regular NH 9 was not this bad, except a small stretch of 20 kms around Homnabad.

But my question to you is how bad is that 18 kms stretch near the MH-KA border? How long does it take to cross that stretch, and is it drivable at night?

Further, depending on the time of the day, won't crossing Solapur and Gulbarga take time? If Solapur is crowded, then perhaps it is good to take the bypass and turn right at the Junction to merge with your route, instead of turning left towards Hyderabad. I am talking of the junction where the bypass ends, and normally the place where greedy cops stand.

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by vnabhi

Thanks for the lovely alternative, Ranjit. I had heard about this route a few years back from an ex-colleague, but at that point of time the regular NH 9 was not this bad, except a small stretch of 20 kms around Homnabad.

But my question to you is how bad is that 18 kms stretch near the MH-KA border? How long does it take to cross that stretch, and is it drivable at night?

Further, depending on the time of the day, won't crossing Solapur and Gulbarga take time? If Solapur is crowded, then perhaps it is good to take the bypass and turn right at the Junction to merge with your route, instead of turning left towards Hyderabad. I am talking of the junction where the bypass ends, and normally the place where greedy cops stand.

Solapur and Gulbarga both have ring roads and not crowded.the mentioned roads connect directly onto the ring roads,so easy to negotiate.

18kms can take upto 45mins.its an isolated stretch but the main route from gulbarga to solapur so frequented by all state transport buses etc,but night time visibility can be an issue.

[hyd_traveller]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

NH9 between Hyd and Solapur is plain horrible.It is carpet bombed.

On my return I tried an alternate route and it was excellent roads all the way except for a small section of 18kms which was gravelled and looks like a case of neglect by the respective state govts because of the fact that the road falls at the border.

The route is as follows:
Pune-Solapur(dont take the flyover at solapur,take the upper ramp and cut across the road and climb down towards ur right)-Shivaji Chowk-Samrat Chowk-Pani Tanki Chowk-Left Turn-Akkalkot Road-Akkalkot-Wagdari-Hiroli-Aland-Gulbarga-Sedam-Ripponpalli-Ravulapally-Kodangal-Parigi-Manneguda-Chevella-Moinabad-ORR-Nanal Nagar X Roads-Langar Houz X Roads-Mehdipatnam

https://maps.google.co.in/maps?saddr...via=3&t=m&z=14

How would you rate this route for doing Hyderabad-Gulbarga-Bijapur-Belgaum ( http://goo.gl/maps/YyxkI ) ?

[travelwriter]

Anyone knows of a good place to stay in Solapur?

I am planning to drive from Bombay to Hyderabad and am looking at leaving Bombay in the afternoon around 3.

Any other place to stay put for the night is also ok since I will be driving alone.

I plan to take the alternate route mentioned by ranjit in his post as under.

Pune-Solapur(dont take the flyover at solapur,take the upper ramp and cut across the road and climb down towards ur right)-Shivaji Chowk-Samrat Chowk-Pani Tanki Chowk-Left Turn-Akkalkot Road-Akkalkot-Wagdari-Hiroli-Aland-Gulbarga-Sedam-Ripponpalli-Ravulapally-Kodangal-Parigi-Manneguda-Chevella-Moinabad-ORR-Nanal Nagar X Roads-Langar Houz X Roads-Mehdipatnam

In case of any newer route discoveries, please let me know.

I plan to leave tomorrow.

Travelwriter

[udiboy]

Hi,

I am planning a trip to HYD this Thursday night. I wish to drive to Pune in the night, rest in Pune and start early again on Friday morning.

I did this trip 3 months ago (Pune to hyd took 8.5 hrs excluding breaks) - but I now wish to know from the experts if the sugarcane traffic is something that has to be looked at? If yes, are there any suggested detours. I dont mind the solapur - hyderabad highway and do not wish to take a detour on that leg of the journey as I am ready to negotiate the 40km pothole ridden stretch near Humnabad, unless it has further deteriorated since mid August.

Regards,
Uday

[zen91]

Originally Posted by udiboy

Hi,

I am planning a trip to HYD this Thursday night. I wish to drive to Pune in the night, rest in Pune and start early again on Friday morning.

I did this trip 3 months ago (Pune to hyd took 8.5 hrs excluding breaks) - but I now wish to know from the experts if the sugarcane traffic is something that has to be looked at? If yes, are there any suggested detours. I dont mind the solapur - hyderabad highway and do not wish to take a detour on that leg of the journey as I am ready to negotiate the 40km pothole ridden stretch near Humnabad, unless it has further deteriorated since mid August.

Regards,
Uday

I did Solapur- Hyderabad on 10th Nov and to say the least, this stretch is plain horrible. The misery starts after 50 Kms from Solapur at Naldurg. Be very very careful of the craters on this road, more so if you are travelling in a sedan and try and avoid driving in the night.

We stopped before Humnabad to have tea and inquired on the 30kms stretch after Humnabad knowing very well that further misery would start from here. On asking for the road conditions, the hotel owner asked, what road condition..as I can tell you on the condition if there is a road..he said..there is no road.

He advised us to get into Humnabad and take the route to Bidar and then to Zaheerabad. Believe you me..next time I travel via Humnabad, I will take a sweet box to offer it to him. This road is pure bliss. The distance is 86Kms which is 30kms more but you will never regret the extra distance. You would need to ask for directions to Zaheerabad once you enter Bidar as you have to cross some part of the city.

At Zaheerabad, I again stopped for tea to celebrate the heavenly drive and saw a man parking his Honda City-(GJ registered) and I casually asked him on the drive from Humnabad to Zaheeerabad..he said it took 3 hrs to cover this distance of 55 Kms.

Zaheerabad- Hyderabad has no detour options and you will have to continue to bear the misery..though of less intensity, as some patchwork has started here.

[hyd_traveller]

Originally Posted by udiboy

I did this trip 3 months ago (Pune to hyd took 8.5 hrs excluding breaks)

After reading various reports on the condition of the highway between Naldurg and Zaheerabad, I cannot believe it that you did it in 8.5 hours. I do admire your driving skills.

See what Zen91 has to say :

Originally Posted by zen91

I did Solapur- Hyderabad on 10th Nov and to say the least, this stretch is plain horrible. The misery starts after 50 Kms from Solapur at Naldurg.
We stopped before Humnabad to have tea and inquired on the 30kms stretch after Humnabad knowing very well that further misery would start from here. On asking for the road conditions, the hotel owner asked, what road condition..as I can tell you on the condition if there is a road..he said..there is no road.
He advised us to get into Humnabad and take the route to Bidar and then to Zaheerabad. Believe you me..next time I travel via Humnabad, I will take a sweet box to offer it to him. This road is pure bliss. The distance is 86Kms which is 30kms more but you will never regret the extra distance. You would need to ask for directions to Zaheerabad once you enter Bidar as you have to cross some part of the city.
At Zaheerabad, I again stopped for tea to celebrate the heavenly drive and saw a man parking his Honda City-(GJ registered) and I casually asked him on the drive from Humnabad to Zaheeerabad..he said it took 3 hrs to cover this distance of 55 Kms.

On the "Pune to Hyderabad" thread, I read these :

1) http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post3265129

2) http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post3281398

3) Do not misss viewing each and every photo posted by GTO here : http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post3282667

[udiboy]

Originally Posted by zen91

I did Solapur- Hyderabad on 10th Nov and to say the least, this stretch is plain horrible. The misery starts after 50 Kms from Solapur at Naldurg. Be very very careful of the craters on this road, more so if you are travelling in a sedan and try and avoid driving in the night.

We stopped before Humnabad to have tea and inquired on the 30kms stretch after Humnabad knowing very well that further misery would start from here. On asking for the road conditions, the hotel owner asked, what road condition..as I can tell you on the condition if there is a road..he said..there is no road.

He advised us to get into Humnabad and take the route to Bidar and then to Zaheerabad. Believe you me..next time I travel via Humnabad, I will take a sweet box to offer it to him. This road is pure bliss. The distance is 86Kms which is 30kms more but you will never regret the extra distance. You would need to ask for directions to Zaheerabad once you enter Bidar as you have to cross some part of the city.

At Zaheerabad, I again stopped for tea to celebrate the heavenly drive and saw a man parking his Honda City-(GJ registered) and I casually asked him on the drive from Humnabad to Zaheeerabad..he said it took 3 hrs to cover this distance of 55 Kms.

Zaheerabad- Hyderabad has no detour options and you will have to continue to bear the misery..though of less intensity, as some patchwork has started here.

Thanks a lot for your prompt response - I now have to make a decision regarding either taking the NH9 till Humnabad, then going to Zaheerabad via Bidar or completely abandon NH9 after solapur and go to hyderabad via akkalkot and gulbarga as suggested by ranjit sir in one of his recent posts on this topic. can someone help me with making this choice!!!

Originally Posted by hyd_traveller

After reading various reports on the condition of the highway between Naldurg and Zaheerabad, I cannot believe it that you did it in 8.5 hours. I do admire your driving skills.

See what Zen91 has to say :

On the "Pune to Hyderabad" thread, I read these :

1) http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post3265129

2) http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post3281398

3) Do not misss viewing each and every photo posted by GTO here : http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post3282667

Hi hyd_traveller - thanks a lot for the input; I was somehow averse to take detours, but in one of the posts attached above, I see ranjit sir explaining that going from akkalkot and gulbarga the distance was the same as NH9 and took 3.5 -4 hrs. This stuff is encouraging.

Also, I rate myself as a moderate driver - and have to say that the roads would have further deteriorated since August. Clearly, I found the stretch between Zaheerabad and Hyderabad very manageable then and had a duel with a red accent viva while mainting speeds of 90-110 on this road. I guess this is no longer possible. But I am more than keen to take the route suggested by ranjit sir and relish the drive




Moderator's Note: Do not make so many back to back posts. Use the Multiquote option to respond to multiple people.

All the back to back posts have been merged.

[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by udiboy

I now have to make a decision regarding either taking the NH9 till Humnabad, then going to Zaheerabad via Bidar or completely abandon NH9 after solapur and go to hyderabad via akkalkot and gulbarga as suggested by ranjit sir in one of his recent posts on this topic. can someone help me with making this choice!!!

I'd pick on Ranjit's route, provided it is during the day. The one suggested by Zen91 is the other alternative, but bear in mind that you'd have to bear with horrible roads from Naldurg till Humnabad, and again from Zaheerabad till Sadashivpet.

[udiboy]

Originally Posted by vnabhi

I'd pick on Ranjit's route, provided it is during the day. The one suggested by Zen91 is the other alternative, but bear in mind that you'd have to bear with horrible roads from Naldurg till Humnabad, and again from Zaheerabad till Sadashivpet.

Thank you all for the prompt responses. But I have decided that Solapur-Gulbarga-HYD can all wait for a week or two because its now time to see the GOD of cricket in action - Just got a confirmation on the match ticket, that I have been trying so hard to procure - going to wankhede to watch the man bat for the last time. I had asked my friend to fly from Hyderabad tomorrow, so that I could pick him up from the airport and heads back towards Hyderabad (crazy stuff, I know - but we both love driving and he wanted to drive the 1.6 tdi engine as he is speculating to book the Polo GT TDI). I am super excited to watch my demi-god

Thanks again for the route - I will make the trip next week!!!

[zen91]

Originally Posted by vnabhi

I'd pick on Ranjit's route, provided it is during the day. The one suggested by Zen91 is the other alternative, but bear in mind that you'd have to bear with horrible roads from Naldurg till Humnabad, and again from Zaheerabad till Sadashivpet.

I had taken the route suggested by Ranjit on 8th Nov'13 from Hyderabad to Solapur via Gulbarga.

The only problem is the 18 kms stretch from the end of toll road in Karnataka to Akkalkot. It took approximately 1 1/2 hours to cover it, as the average speed seldom exceeded 10 kms. It is heavily graveled and pot holed. Looks like nobody is even bothered to look at this road, forget repairing it. The balance road between Solapur-Gulbarga-Hyderabad is very good.

The reason I took the Solapur-Humnabad-Hyderabad option on the return journey on 10th Nov was this stretch. My family and friends were not willing to endure the pain of those 18 kms again.

[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by zen91

I had taken the route suggested by Ranjit on 8th Nov'13 from Hyderabad to Solapur via Gulbarga.

The only problem is the 18 kms stretch from the end of toll road in Karnataka to Akkalkot. It took approximately 1 1/2 hours to cover it, as the average speed seldom exceeded 10 kms. It is heavily graveled and pot holed. Looks like nobody is even bothered to look at this road, forget repairing it. The balance road between Solapur-Gulbarga-Hyderabad is very good.

The reason I took the Solapur-Humnabad-Hyderabad option on the return journey on 10th Nov was this stretch. My family and friends were not willing to endure the pain of those 18 kms again.

Thanks for the update. Now that you've done both routes in the recent past, which one would you suggest?

[zen91]

Originally Posted by vnabhi

Thanks for the update. Now that you've done both routes in the recent past, which one would you suggest?

But for that 18 kms road from Karnataka border to Akkalkot, I would have suggested the Hyderabad-Gulbarga-Solapur road. Another issue is lack of clear sign boards and taking advise on most junctions around Gulbarga/Akkalkot/Solapur might be an issue for a newbie on this road.

I would suggest the Solapur-Humnabad-BIDAR-Zaheerabad-Hyderabad route with an advise to do it during daytime only.

[udiboy]

I am back from Hyderabad - and have a few points to share with the forum on the routes and my observations!!!

Onward Journey : Thakur Village, Kandivali Mumbai to Ramanthapur, Hyderabad
Date : 14 Nov'13
Started from Mumbai at 11:30 and reached expressway at 1 a.m.
Expressway to Hadapsar Pune 2:45
Hadapsar to Solpaur Bypass towards Hyderabad 5:45
Solpur Bypass to Homnabad 7:45 (the last 10 kms of this 140 km drive are pretty bad)
Homnabad to Bidar 7:45 to 8:10 (50 kms drive in 25 mins - the roads are awesome)
Bidar to Zaheerabad 8:10 to 8:30
Zaheerabad to ORR 8:30 to 10:15 (worst stretch of road - huge craters that can easily break your car down - the sad part is the road encourages to drive you a little fast and suddenly lays out a carpet full of deep and sudden scoops, there is no transition of getting in and getting ot of the pothole - it is abrupt like a small well)
Patancheru ORR to Ramanthapur 10:15 to 11:20

Total Drive time door to door 11 hrs 50 mins (no breaks taken, not even for loo or tea - drove non stop with a friend)

Return Journey : Ramanthapur, Hyderabad to Thakur Village, Kandivali Mumbai
Date : 17 Nov'13 (Sunday)
Ramanthapur to Mehdipatnam - 7:45 to 8:15 a.m
Mehdipatnam to Gulbarga Bypass (via Chevela, Sedam) - 8:15 to 10:20
Gulbarga Bypass to KA-MH Border (70 kms) - 10:20 to 11:15 (traffic on gulbarga bypass affected the pace)
KA-MH Border to Akkalkot - 22 kms - 11:15 to 12:30 (virtually there is nor road on this stretch, I wanted to take the option of coming from here in my return journey and felt, i should have taken the road from Bidar, but alas! In addition to the horrbile road conditions, there are quite a few sugarcane tractors plying on this route - I will not recommend this route to anyone, who does love his car one bit!!!)
Akkalkot To Solapur Bypass towards Pune - 35 kms - Its a busy road, but good speeds can be maintained - road quality is patch to decent. 12:30 to 1:15

Solapur Bypass to Pune Magarpatta (Amanora Mall) - 1:15 to 4:00 pm - pretty fast corridor - there was a huge line of trucks at the railway crossing near tembhurni; I got off the road and went under the under-construction flyover to join at the beginning of the pack, while the gates were just opened - so saved a lot of time here. Tembhurni town was not a problem, hardly any traffic onthe turn towards Delhi. Lot of bike and Trax traffic after Indapur though.

Magarpatta to Shell Petrol Pump on NH4 before expressway 4:00 to 5:10
Expressway to Panvel : 5:10 to 6:15 (some traffic at the khalapur toll gate, due to the weekend crowd going back to bombay, I guess).
Panvel to Thakur Village : 6:15 to 7:40.

Total Time taken : 11 hrs 55 mins (Solo Non Stop Drive, stopped for refueling at Shell Pune)

The point worth noting is even though I took the same amount of time for both legs of the journey - this is not really and apples to apples comparison as the drive via Gulbarga was done in the day with lots of traffic along the route. But please note, I am a little hesitant to recommend this route only because the18-20 kms from MH border to Akkalkot can seriously wreck your car!!!