[Exhaust_Note]

Thanks Ranjit! This is what I will do. Start with the sankeshwar - sawantwadi plan and reconfirm at Kolhapur and then decide whether to take the Belgaum route.

Is the Londa route not infested by miner trucks? Or am I misinformed?

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by Exhaust_Note

Thanks Ranjit! This is what I will do. Start with the sankeshwar - sawantwadi plan and reconfirm at Kolhapur and then decide whether to take the Belgaum route.

Is the Londa route not infested by miner trucks? Or am I misinformed?

yes,but if the road is good,then you can do good speeds.

[deutscheafrikar]

Ranjitp1 Exhaust_note, as of now I aim to drive via belgaum. As I said in an earlier post I was able to do good speeds on the road from amboli to belgaum with no need for having to cross on the other side due to this half being rough with pot holes. Since I am doing it the again it will be a good test as to whether it really is better than taking the shorter ajra route via uttur or gadinglaj. I believe that the road from belgaum to vengurla is used to transport various goods and hence is mantained more than the gadinglaj route. As for the Ajra route the very fact that it is narrower compared to the gadinglaj route means that the authorities are least bothered about this one. Having said that I see a lot of GA and Mh vehicles use this route. To me the extra distance is immaterial if I can save on tyres, suspension, brakes and other critical parts. I used to drive regularly down the Nh17 to Goa but it's been ages since I've done that. Maybe I will again when I have a sturdier car just to enjoy the drive.

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by deutscheafrikar

Ranjitp1 Exhaust_note, as of now I aim to drive via belgaum. As I said in an earlier post I was able to do good speeds on the road from amboli to belgaum with no need for having to cross on the other side due to this half being rough with pot holes. Since I am doing it the again it will be a good test as to whether it really is better than taking the shorter ajra route via uttur or gadinglaj. I believe that the road from belgaum to vengurla is used to transport various goods and hence is mantained more than the gadinglaj route. As for the Ajra route the very fact that it is narrower compared to the gadinglaj route means that the authorities are least bothered about this one. Having said that I see a lot of GA and Mh vehicles use this route. To me the extra distance is immaterial if I can save on tyres, suspension, brakes and other critical parts. I used to drive regularly down the Nh17 to Goa but it's been ages since I've done that. Maybe I will again when I have a sturdier car just to enjoy the drive.

Hi DF,what car are you driving?NH17 is still very good,so you could still do it.Why dont you try taking the NH4A,you would love it for the sheer sights that the route has on offer,especially the drive through the ghats & forests,best would be to ask @ Belgaum and then proceed.

[deutscheafrikar]

ranjitp1 I'm driving a five year old indigo marina. I've had it a year and a half but I still feel I don't know it as my other cars. I've even driven NH17 on a maruti 800 too and a few times on a van. I find Nh4 better since I have to concentrate less, only one up one ghat and down another going, getting back just the amboli ghat. I don't know if NH4A makes sense sicne I need to go to candolim so I will have to do that via old goa and Panjim on NH4A. And then the NH4A has the mining trucks. What are the timings for these trucks?

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by deutscheafrikar

ranjitp1 I'm driving a five year old indigo marina. I've had it a year and a half but I still feel I don't know it as my other cars. I've even driven NH17 on a maruti 800 too and a few times on a van. I find Nh4 better since I have to concentrate less, only one up one ghat and down another going, getting back just the amboli ghat. I don't know if NH4A makes sense sicne I need to go to candolim so I will have to do that via old goa and Panjim on NH4A. And then the NH4A has the mining trucks. What are the timings for these trucks?

I personally feel the TATAs should exit the car business and let others do it(nothing personal but somehow the TATA cars just dont inspire confidence in me,maybe because I have had personal experiences of TATA cars' engines giving up for no good reason in the middle of a good drive )

Yes true on the NH4 part,its a delight to drive and till Kolhapur is an absolute breeze.

Makes no sense to go via NH4A if you are going to Candolim,if the urge to discover something new still exists,then you could try the Gagan Bawda or the Phonda routes.Both have been reported to be in good shape now.

No timings for the trucks,they run throughout the day(they get paid for the number of trips they make,hence the mad rush,pickup-unload-turn around-pickup.thats the routine)

[deutscheafrikar]

ranjitp1 only going via the tried and tested. maybe the gaganbavda or phondaghat on the way back. are you sure the routes are ok now. Should be as it's been a long time since the rains last year.

[COUGAR]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

yes,but if the road is good,then you can do good speeds.

I made the mistake of taking this Londa route last time (i was heading to Polem), guided mainly by the temptation of clicking some photographs of freighter trains crawling up the Ghats. boss NEVER AGAIN!! Horrible road with ore laden trucks making life miserable.

And i was on the bike which still allowed me to zig-zag my way past these pests.

better to stick to the Amboli route if headed to central or north goa, or the Anshi route if headed for South Goa.

PS I am riding down for a weeklong vacation in Goa starting tomorrow. Headed for Palolem as always. Will post updates.

[deutscheafrikar]

Originally Posted by COUGAR

better to stick to the Amboli route if headed to central or north goa, or the Anshi route if headed for South Goa. Will post updates.

Cougar
what bike are you riding down on? And whats this Anshi route? yep post updates about the route you've taken and conditions.
Regards

[Exhaust_Note]

Originally Posted by COUGAR

better to stick to the Amboli route if headed to central or north goa, or the Anshi route if headed for South Goa.

PS I am riding down for a weeklong vacation in Goa starting tomorrow. Headed for Palolem as always. Will post updates.

Thanks for the update. It is now only my wife and 5 year old daughter and my self. BIL has office commitments. So taking the safer option of Pune - Nipani - Sankeshwar - Amboli - sawantwadi route.

Guys can't thank you all enough for your help. None of the routes feel like "new" any more, after reading the detailed updates and seeing the pictures.

@COUGAR: Hope Goa was NOT TOO HOT? I am there for teh week starting 2nd May. Staying near Panjim.

[COUGAR]

Originally Posted by deutscheafrikar

Cougar
what bike are you riding down on?

I ride a Bullet.

Originally Posted by deutscheafrikar

And whats this Anshi route?

From Belgaum, turn towards Londa on NH4A. Around 35 kms down, take a left turn where boards point towards Ganeshgudi. The road from Ganeshgudi leads via the Anshi ghat which is a tiger reserve. Road conditions are average with spotty conditions in some places, but bike riders will have a blast.

Originally Posted by Exhaust_Note

@COUGAR: Hope Goa was NOT TOO HOT?

South Goa(Palolem/Gajlibaga) was VERY pleasant. But Baga/Calangute/Anjuna were/are hot. And even as i type this from my resort in Baga, the skies have opened up and its POURING by the bucketful!

Route update:
I took the Sankeshwar-Amboli route. Pune to Sankeshwar ofcourse is 4 laned heaven, if a little boring. Sankeshwar-Amboli-Sawantwadi was 1.5 laned road with patchy condition: nice roads alternating with sections where the freshly laid gravel was not tarred over. Howver not too bad for the bike though cars might take a beating.

After Amboli top, roads improve dramatically and I had a blast taking peg scraping turns down the ghat.

PS: My fastest time to Goa BTW: 6 hours 50 mins NONSTOP! THe fantastic Pune to Sankeshwar section helping keep the averages up.

[deutscheafrikar]

Originally Posted by COUGAR

I ride a Bullet..

I forgot about your bullet. Good to hear you had a great time. Thanks for all the info. That half tarred gravel is a bad thing to drive on, can just imagine the tyres take a beating.
Hearing this I think I will drive to belgaum and go from there to amboli. No such bad road patches there. Unless I cange my mind and drive on NH17
Regards
P.S. Enjoy the weather. It was thundering and lightning in Bombay early morning.

[Hudson]

Just travelled to Sawantwadi yesterday via Gaganbawda. The road conditions are very good. There are just 3 patches of about 100-200 metres where work is in progress.

[deutscheafrikar]

Originally Posted by Hudson

Just travelled to Sawantwadi yesterday via Gaganbawda. The road conditions are very good.

Hudson thanks for the Info. I have a few questions. After Gaganbawda did you turn left to SH115 which exits onto NH17 at talere near to Dipiti Hospital or did you turn Right to SH114 which exits on to Nh17 near/before Kharepatan after Madhuban Hotel?

How do I get to this road from the NH4 at Kolhapur. (read somewhere that we can bypass Kolhapur if we take a right turn after durga badi on the highway. ) where is this? My map shows me that I when I come into the city on NH204 I need to take a left at the roundabout after Basant Dada Satepuri Shekari Bank then left at Muncipal corp, go to Rankala bus station and take a left. I think there is a lake there.

How long would it take to reach Talere from Kolhapur NH4? I believe the distance is about 90 odd Kms.

[Hudson]

Originally Posted by deutscheafrikar

Hudson thanks for the Info. I have a few questions.

Typed a long reply on my cellphone on the 3rd but it didnot go through. Looks like a bug in the Reply form.

Anyways got access to dialup today so sending the same again. Won't be able to send a google map though.

I don't know if you can bypass kolhapur city to reach the Gaganbawda road. I entered Kolhapur via the Station road and asked for directions to Rankala lake.

There are two roads alongside Rankala lake. The road towards the right side(west side) of the lake goes to Gaganbawda ghat. Descending down the ghat you will reach Vaibhavwadi. From there you will need to proceed to Talere which joins to NH17.

The distance from Warje(Pune) on NH4 highway to Sawantwadi is 407 kilometres.