[chittybang]

I ended up taking the Amboli route because Novotel front desk informed me to avoid Chorla ghat. Glad I trusted her cause the roads were pretty decent. There were some bad patches but not more than 5 km. Even these patches were covered easily by my City.

There was a lot of speed checks once I hit Goa. Some of these speed limits were absurd. Good straight roads have speed limits of 50 or 70.

[R-Six]

Originally Posted by chittybang

the roads were pretty decent. There were some bad patches but not more than 5 km.

Thanks for the update, chittybang! So much more relieved after hearing this most recent update. I'll be driving through this stretch on Sunday.

Also, regarding the speed check, how is it monitored? Interceptors with speed guns or cameras installed on these stretches? 50KMPH is plain absurd unless you are crossing a town or city limits.

Drive Safe,
R-Six

[chittybang]

Originally Posted by R-Six

Also, regarding the speed check, how is it monitored? Interceptors with speed guns or cameras installed on these stretches? 50KMPH is plain absurd unless you are crossing a town or city limits.
R-Six

It's mostly interceptors. They are always at blindspots or just after an incline. The speed limits was mostly 50 - 70.

There are some places where it shows 80 and then a board pops up 50 and even before we can slow down an interceptor is waiting. I mostly trusted the speed of the vehicles ahead as a reference point.

Most of the cameras installed are at signals where speeding won't be a concern. Have a good drive.

[Rocketqueen22]

Hey guys... Heading out to South Goa diwali weekend. Super confused about which route to take. Can you pls suggest best route into Goa and out of Goa especially since I've heard at the karnataka side of chorla is pretty bad. Done both routes a couple of times but conditions change with every monsoon. Also plan to break at belgaum since I will leave mumbai only post 9am. Will be driving an Ignis.

[sahil624]

Hi, I am going to North Goa from Vashi this weekend. I will be starting at around 2PM fro here and want to make a stop near Kolhapur for the night and then continue further. Can anyone recommend a place to stay near the highway I near Kolhapur? Thanks.

[bhavik.1991]

Have a Pune - Agonda (near Palolem) drive planned for coming Friday.
Will be driving a Jetta with 2 people on board. I have taken Anmod ghat thrice in past three years and didn't find any major issue with the route.
How is the condition now? Any information will be really appreciated.

[denzdm]

Originally Posted by sahil624

Hi, I am going to North Goa from Vashi this weekend. I will be starting at around 2PM fro here and want to make a stop near Kolhapur for the night and then continue further. Can anyone recommend a place to stay near the highway I near Kolhapur? Thanks.

Sayaji Hotel in Kolhapur - around 4 kms (good city road) from the main highway is a good stay option. Its a 4 star hotel with great rooms and view. Another added bonus is Dehati restaurant famous for thalis next to the hotel.

[R-Six]

Originally Posted by R-Six

I'll be driving through this stretch on Sunday.

Just finished my Ahmedabad-Goa-Ahmedabad drive.

Here are some quick notes (I'll stick to the stretch which is relevant to this thread):

1. After my night halt in Mumbai, left for Goa on October 2nd. I was greeted with the weekend traffic on the Ghat section as well as while crossing the Lonavla town. Was stuck for quite some time. Second, the Chandni Chowk bridge demolition on the Pune Bypass was planned for the night before. Which meant, I had to wade through the Pune city traffic to get to the other side. All this meant that, even with a 6am start, I merely made it to the Vittal Kamat in Shivare for lunch.
   
2. The roads beyond Pune is in great shape. I found the occasional 40KMPH - 60KMPH speed limit at some places extremely weird. You actually need to drive with a leg on the break pedal if you really want to keep your vehicle within the limit. And as we all know, there are people who zip past at unmentionable speed and I'm constantly checking the rear view mirror worrying if someone is going to bang into me for driving so slow.
   
3. Ajra-Amboli stretch as discussed is in bad shape. Well, there are no craters but almost 30 kilometers of broken roads will again eat up your driving time. If you are a cautious driver, nothing to worry about your car. You should do fine.
   
4. Also, after Amboli ghat, you will be treated with some random bad stretches until Sawantwadi. But then, that is just one of instances and won't impact the overall driving experience in general.
   
5. Once you are back on the Panvel-Kochi highway, it is pure bliss. Well laid out roads all across. Again, you will find it hard to keep your vehicle within the stipulated speed limits. While 80KMPH is okay, some flyovers have 40KMPH limit and it will be a struggle to stay in that range.
   
6. When in Goa, be vigilant about interceptors. During my drive from Arambol to Benaulim (hardly 80 KMs), I would have encountered around 4 of them. Just keep an eye out on the traffic ahead, as well as, for white cars (Innovas?) parked by the side with their rear hatch opened

Drive Safe,
R-Six

[cedricgonsalves]

Hi folks,
Planning for a drive to Goa next weekend by my Wagon R autogear.
I'll be starting at 4:30 to 5 am from Mumbai and I intend to take the Belgaum - Chorla Ghat - Hathkhamba Road - Ponda route.
Since this is my first time there any recent travellers on that route?
The last time (Dec 2021) I took the Bhimgad forest road and had a very terrible experience.
I want to know how bad are the potholes on Chorla route or by some miracle if the Bhimgad road has been done up.

Thanks,
Cedric

[denzdm]

Originally Posted by cedricgonsalves

Hi folks,
Planning for a drive to Goa next weekend by my Wagon R autogear.
I'll be starting at 4:30 to 5 am from Mumbai and I intend to take the Belgaum - Chorla Ghat - Hathkhamba Road - Ponda route.
Since this is my first time there any recent travellers on that route?
The last time (Dec 2021) I took the Bhimgad forest road and had a very terrible experience.
I want to know how bad are the potholes on Chorla route or by some miracle if the Bhimgad road has been done up.

Thanks,
Cedric

I was directed by the Belgaum - Chorla route by Google too. I planned to stick to usual Ajra Amboli route, however, missed the Nipani turn and then thought of proceeding with that Google suggestion as it was just 11:45 am. Got into some bad traffic after exiting Belgaum though internal road. Then i was directed towards the Bhimgad forest road and wasn't surprised to see no road at all. A km after crossing the Bhimgad gate straight, i was told by a helpful villager on my opposite side that the road is closed ahead. Imagine my plight.

He told me to take the road opposite to Bhimgad gate and proceed towards Ramnagar (Belgavi-Panjim road) and then right towards Anmod Ghat. The Belgavi Panjim road is in bad state with no road after ever 500-600 meters. Avoid at all costs.

The Anmod Ghat itself is in pristine condition. However, not recommended due to the roads (craters) leading to it.

[amoghchaphalkar]

Originally Posted by denzdm

A km after crossing the Bhimgad gate straight, i was told by a helpful villager on my opposite side that the road is closed ahead. Imagine my plight.

The Anmod Ghat itself is in pristine condition. However, not recommended due to the roads (craters) leading to it.

+1. It would be best to avoid Anmod.

I had a similar experience yesterday. Crossed Khanapur and was driving towards Bhimgad. A villager stopped me and told me the road was closed to four-wheelers. He then escorted me to another route, and eventually, I entered Bhimgad and went on to Anmod. There is also a 3 km patch in Bhimgad that is treacherous.

None of this is marked on Google Maps, so those following navigation will be in for a nasty surprise.

My suggestion would be to avoid Anmod, especially if it requires passing through Khanapur, Bhimgad. Stick to Chorla if heading South.

[vvidhate]

Hello All,

Planning a trip to South Goa from Pune on the Weekend after Diwali. I plan to take my Honda Jazz along. I am pondering to take overnight pit stop in Kolhapur and then proceed for remaining journey in the morning with target to reach the destination by afternoon next day. Which route will help me - one via Kolhapur - Amboli or via Belgaum - Bhimgad or via Belgaum - Chorla ? Recent posts suggests Chorla is not in good shape and one of my colleagues mentioned that Kolhapur - Amboli also is in pretty bad state (based on his travel 3 weeks back).

Will be really helpful if anyone can suggest route and halt options.

Thanks,

[amoghchaphalkar]

Originally Posted by vvidhate

I am pondering to take overnight pit stop in Kolhapur and then proceed for remaining journey in the morning with target to reach the destination by afternoon next day. Which route will help me - one via Kolhapur - Amboli or via Belgaum - Bhimgad or via Belgaum - Chorla ?

Thanks,

Pit stop at Belgaum would make more sense compared to Kolhapur (unless you are leaving Pune really late in the evening and want to avoid night driving)

I would recommend Chorla or Amboli (in that order). Your Jazz will definitely bottom at multiple places on the Bhimgad route. So avoid.

[Rocketqueen22]

Originally Posted by Rocketqueen22

Hey guys... Heading out to South Goa diwali weekend. Super confused about which route to take. Can you pls suggest best route into Goa and out of Goa especially since I've heard at the karnataka side of chorla is pretty bad. Done both routes a couple of times but conditions change with every monsoon. Also plan to break at belgaum since I will leave mumbai only post 9am. Will be driving an Ignis.

In line with my post above .. i bit the bullet and took the Chorla route... There were quite a few craters to maneuver through.. but these were at specific spots....the Karnataka side much worse than the Goa side for sure....some roads i could drive through continuously and ofcourse lost time getting stuck behind an occasional truck or bus.
Since there was no rain was easier to anticipate the depth of these craters..
Pls do try and take this route when there is adequate light... Completed the Belgaum to Varca stretch in 4 hrs driving at a comfortable pace.
Honestly what's more unnerving than the bad roads are bad drivers.. who come in at high speeds and honk continuously to overtake on the single lane bends on the ghats... Like..heloooo where's the fire?
Safe drive everyone.

[vvidhate]

Originally Posted by amoghchaphalkar

Pit stop at Belgaum would make more sense compared to Kolhapur (unless you are leaving Pune really late in the evening and want to avoid night driving)

I would recommend Chorla or Amboli (in that order). Your Jazz will definitely bottom at multiple places on the Bhimgad route. So avoid.

Yes, idea is to avoid drive at night. I am tempted to take the Chorla route but Google Maps is confusing me by suggesting sometimes Amboli Route and some times Belgaum via Sangli route.