| Trip Log : Mumbai-Goa-Belgaum-Mumbai
Dear Members,
Last week (16.02.2011-20.02.20011) I did trip to Goa, Belgaum from
Mumbai in my Indica Vista Quadrajet Aura. Here is my travelogue:
We started from Eastern Suburbs at 4.55 a.m. & reached Kalamboli at
5.45 a.m. just before Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The delay was due to
breakdown of Container in Airoli, which resulted in heavy traffic jam
early in the morning. As there was not much traffic on Expressway, we
were able to cross it in just 50 minutes. But real nightmare started
once we crossed Pune on Pune-Bangalore Highway. At every Toll Plaza,
there was huge que of vehicles. We had to spend at least 15 minutes
at every Toll Plaza. Govt. has increased Toll by almost 30%. Reached
Kolhapur at 10 a.m. In between I was searching for McDonald near
Khambatki Ghat. But it seems to be disappeared these days ! So went
to Hotel Opal on old Pune-Bangalore Highway in Kolhapur for breakfast
@10.10 a.m. If you are looking for tasty Kolhapuri Misal then have it
in Opal. As my diesel tank was getting empty, I decided to top it up
at IBP Petrol Pump in Sankeshwar. I was shocked to see that IBP
Petrol Pump, which was there a year ago, was not there. I found
under-construction BPCL Pump. So asked the local people who advised
me to drive for 10 km towards Gadhinglaj as there are 3-4 petrol
pump. At last I found HPCL Petrol Pump just before Gadhinglaj. The
road condition from Sankeshwar-Gadhinglaj junction upto Ajra is not
good. At places, you have to bring speed to 10 kmph. I don't know
When We are going to see excellent roads like Goa, in Maharashtra,
especially State Highways. Continued journey towards Sawantwadi,
without any halt. At Amboli Ghat, there is very bad patch of 5 min.
Road is almost disappeared under debris of landslide. I wonder even
after 6 months of rain, nothing much has been done to improve Ghat
Road condition. Rest of the Ghat Road is in good condition. We took a
one hour halt at Sawantwadi for Lunch & started onward journey at
3.45 p.m. Be careful while crossing Maharashtra-Goa Border as
Construction of Road is full swing & one or two places you have to
drive in opposite direction. Rest of Goa roads are like heaven.
Reached Panaji at 4.45 p.m. & proceeded towards Mangeshi, our final
destination. I advise to take Old Goa/ Rai Bandar Route than By-pass
while going in South Goa from Panaji as it remains empty almost all
the time.
Spent three days in Mangeshi & started our further journey to
Belgaum from Mangeshi on 19th February at 9.30 a.m. As I never
have been to Belgaum by road, many regulars gave me two
options. viz. via Panaji-Mapusa-Sawantwadi-Amboli-Belgaum &
via Ponda-NH4A-Khanapur-Belgaum. I decided to take later. As I
was not interested in taking any chance, I filled up fuel tank
just outside Ponda (towards Belgaum side) at HPCL Pump. After
driving for few kms, we came across with at least 1000 trucks
standing in que, some trucks were also coming in a wrong
direction towards Ponda. It was very testing time as I had to
drive off the road to avoid head-on collusion. Later it was
absolutely deserted road with huge Ghat Section (Anmod Ghat).
This is ghat section is absolutely fun to drive as road was in
superb condition with side markings. After crossing level
crossing gate on the route, we came across with small bad
patch of road for few seconds. Otherwise road condition is
superb. So finally we reached Belgaum at 12.20 p.m. after
crossing 127 kms. I suggest to take this route while coming
from Goa to Pune/ Mumbai as it save almost 3 hrs of journey
than if you take
Panaji-Sawantwadi-Amboli-Ajara-Gadhinglaj-Sankeshwar Route.
We started our return journey from Belgaum on Sunday 20.02.2011
at 11.30 a.m. & Reached Hotel Opal, Kolhapur at 12.32 p.m. One
can cruze at 140-150 without any tension on NH4. After having
heavy lunch & some rest, we started our onward journey at 3.00
p.m. from Kolhapur. But we faced huge ques at every Toll Plaza,
which increased our travel duration. So finally we reached Joshi
Wadewale, 6 kms before Expressway at 6.48 p.m. After having some
nashta, we started Expressway at 7.20 p.m. & managed to reach
Kalamboli at 8.15 p.m.
Overall, except Maharastra State Highways, it's really fun to
drive on Indian Highway. My suggestion is to try
Mumbai-Pune-Kolhapur-Belgaum-Anmod-Ponda Route if you are going
to South Goa. It save lot of time.
Happy & Safe Driving
Thanks & Regards
Chetan Bordawekar
Mumbai. | 
28th February 2011, 22:33
