[S_U_N]

Originally Posted by thumpingheart

Hi Guys. Planning to go for a bike ride to Bhimashankar and surrounding areas. Any update on the Wada route? Anybody been there recently? Our priorities are Less traffic, scenic route and good twisty roads to drive on. And are there any other places of interest around? We are not necessarily going for the Mandir, so deviation is okay.

Thank you guys!

I had been through this route in July. There were no rains, so the route was fine, but now, it would be difficult to judge the condition after rainfall.
However, if you are on bike, then it is perhaps OK.

Even if you get stuck in slush, maybe you can pull out the bike using a rope or something?

[driverace]

Originally Posted by S_U_N

I had been through this route in July. There were no rains, so the route was fine, but now, it would be difficult to judge the condition after rainfall.
However, if you are on bike, then it is perhaps OK.

Even if you get stuck in slush, maybe you can pull out the bike using a rope or something?

Digging up on an old thread since this is relevant:

We are planning a bike trip to Bhimashankar (and around) this weekend.
Now, there shouldn't be any problem on the route (no slosh n stuff).

Our interests:

Nature/Forts/Waterfalls/river rafting/lakes/(light adventure) -- 50%
Chill places/camping/ alike -- 30%
Temples/ -- 20%


Any update on route - destinations to check, stay places?
Thinking of staying at Blue Mormon resort.
All of us making the trip are from Pune & it's going to be a 3 day trip (Fri/Sat/Sun).
Can start early morn (Fri) like 5 AM. Prefer to be back by Sunday noon/early evening.

Inputs, suggestions appreciated.

Thanks,

Ace.

[rrswift]

Planning a day trip from Pune to Bhimashankar during mid of next week with family.
Please suggest the route with good roads.

[lnreddy]

Hi

I am planning to drive from Bangalore to Bhimashankar on weekending 9-Jan-2016 and on 10-Jan-2016 i will be driving to Bhimashankar. Please let me know the best route to take.

Regards,
LN Reddy

[vikram31]

Hi Guys, I realised the forun had not been updated on Bhimashankar in a long while. I was there on the weekend of 14-15 Jan 2017 and had an excellent driving expirience. Here is a route map for your reference:



The onwaqrd journey was via the Mumbai-Pune expressway. Nothing needs to be mentioned about God's own highway. At the second toll exit, you need to take the Talegaon/Chakan exit (The extreme left one) and take the left kink to join the old Mumbai-Pune road. When at the crossing where you can go right to go to Pune, keep driving straight towards Narayangaon. The Vits on the Talegaon Chakan road is a great breakfast pitstop:

Vits Courtyard
Address: Plot P-7, MIDC, Chakan Industrial Area Phase-1, Talegaon Chakan Road, Khalumbre, Pune, Maharashtra 410501
Phone: 02135 666 666

Onwards to Bhimashankar, please check the above map. If you want to make an overnight stop, you can try a simple lodge called Hotel Neelayam at Narayangaon, a small town in the plains. Clean rooms for 800-1000 INR.

Address: Pune-Nashik Highway, Narayangaon, Pune, Maharashtra 410504
Phone:02132 243 936

The next day, we wanted to come via a different route so came via Malshej Ghat per the map above.

Overall spotless drive, zero bad roads, and the sharp twisty curves to Bhimashankar are an absolute drivers delight. Well paved throughout.

Cheers!

[ragh_bhushan]

Originally Posted by vikram31

Onwards to Bhimashankar, please check the above map. If you want to make an overnight stop, you can try a simple lodge called Hotel Neelayam at Narayangaon, a small town in the plains. Clean rooms for 800-1000 INR.

Hi Vikram,

Thanks for the update. I intend to do this as solo drive. Do you think it would be safe to stay there alone?

[vikram31]

Hi ragh bhushan yes perfectly safe. Its a highway pitstop but very clean and orderly. They even accept card payments!

FYI I stayed with my family - wife and 2 daughters

[comfortablynumb]

Hi Folks, for a Pune - Bhimashankar drive, which route is preferable as of today (less traffic/scenic etc.)?

1. Pune - Left turn at Rajgurunagar - Wada - Bhimashankar

OR

2. Pune - Left turn at Manchar (20 kms after Rajgurunagar) - Ghodegaon - Bhimashankar

Cheers,
Vikram

[silverado]

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

Hi Folks, for a Pune - Bhimashankar drive, which route is preferable as of today (less traffic/scenic etc.)?

1. Pune - Left turn at Rajgurunagar - Wada - Bhimashankar

OR

2. Pune - Left turn at Manchar (20 kms after Rajgurunagar) - Ghodegaon - Bhimashankar

Cheers,
Vikram

The route via Wada takes longer time since road is narrow but scenic.
It passes through many small villages, and traffic is low.
I had google maps taking me via this path last year.

The fastest route is via Manchar IMO.

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by silverado

The fastest route is via Manchar IMO.

Thanks silverado, I took the Manchar route, and it is in decent shape for the most part. Took me 3.5 hours both ways, including tea breaks. Started at 6 am from home, and was back by 2 pm in time for lunch

[driverace]

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

Thanks silverado, I took the Manchar route, and it is in decent shape for the most part. Took me 3.5 hours both ways, including tea breaks. Started at 6 am from home, and was back by 2 pm in time for lunch

Hi comfortablynumb,

So, you drove right to the temple?
No trek?

If I want to do the 'lightest/easiest' trek to Bhimashankar & spend more time around waterfalls or at the peak, what would you suggest?

Any more pointers, to spend the entire day at Bhimashankar?

Thank you,

Ace.

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by driverace

Hi comfortablynumb, So, you drove right to the temple? No trek?

Yes, I drove to the temple for darshan and back; no trekking, as I had my 3 year old daughter with me This was my 1st visit there, so not very familiar with the options for trekking. Sorry couldn't be of much help to you.

Cheers,
Vikram

[carlosTHEjackal]

Latest update on Route - 15 Nov 2021

Pune - Bhimashankar:

Vehicle : Skoda Rapid

Total Drive time : 4:00 hours with Fuel / Breakfast breaks.

Start Time: 0630 hrs from Pune;
End Time: 1030 Bhimashankar.

Route Taken :

Pune (Kalyani Nagar) - Dighi - Alandi - Alandi Fata - Chakan - Shiroli - Rajgurunagar - Chas - Gudalwadi - Tifanwadi - Valad - Wanjale - Shirgaon - Tale Ghar - Bhimashankar

Conditions:
Pune (Kalyani Nagar) - Dighi - Alandi - Alandi Fata - Chakan - Shiroli - Rajgurunagar
4 Laned highway till Rajgurunagar. Roads are good, bit of more traffic density but conditions are good.

Rajgurunagar - Chas - Gudalwadi - Tifanwadi - Valad - Wanjale - Shirgaon
Two laned narrow roads. Average roads conditions, less traffic. Rural areas so limited resources of fuel pumps and breakfast points.

Shirgaon - Tale Ghar
Very worse roads. Can’t even say that its a road. The 16 Kms took more than 45 minutes to cover. In some areas, its just pebbles and no tarmac. Though this is very scenic, the road conditions are worse.
After driving through this stretch, I felt I made a mistake taking this route to Bhimashankar.

Tale Ghar - Bhimashankar
Good road conditions till 3 Kms to Bhimashankar. Concrete road is being laid for the last 3 Kms in this road.

I would not recommend this route to any one. Even though if you have time don’t take this route. Its a shame to call this as SH54.

On the return journey had to travel to Nashik, so took the route
Bhimashankar - Tale Ghar - Shinoli - Landewadi - Manchar

So I recommend that always take the below route to Pune - Bhimashankar:
Pune - Alandi - Chakan - Rajgurunagar - Peth - Manchar - Landewadi - Shinoli - Tale Ghar - Bhimashankar

[abhi_tjet]

Originally Posted by carlosTHEjackal

Latest update on Route - 15 Nov 2021

Pune - Bhimashankar:
Pune (Kalyani Nagar) - Dighi - Alandi - Alandi Fata - Chakan - Shiroli - Rajgurunagar - Chas - Gudalwadi - Tifanwadi - Valad - Wanjale - Shirgaon - Tale Ghar - Bhimashankar

I would not recommend this route to any one. Even though if you have time don’t take this route. Its a shame to call this as SH54.

Thanks for the update Carlos.
I took this route to Bhimashankar during last monsoon(2020). It was manageable and nothing too bad. I was on my Linea Tjet.

Seems the monsoon this year gave a heavy beating to the road. I am glad that I took the usual route of Pune - Manchar- Landewadi- Bhimashankar this year when I visited in late October on my bike.

[yatesh.92]

Hello Bhpians,

I'm planning a drive to Bhimashankar with my friend sometime next month. We would be taking my Ignis. Can anyone suggest the best route from Pune in terms of road conditions in case anyone has visited this year. We plan to leave around 9:30-10 ish as we would be doing an overnight stay in Karjat and return to Pune the next day.