Many of my friends have asked me which road they should use when going from Pune to Goa ?
I drive to Goa with my wife and kid at least once a year from Pune and I always use the following route and halts.
Pune - Kolhapur - Nippani - Ajra -> Amboli -> Savantwadi -> Banda -> Goa North -> Goa South
Google Map Link - http://goo.gl/XroC0d
Things to remember when you follow this route
1-> McD Kolhapur is on the Other Side of the road when going to Goa.
2->Its very easy to miss the Ajra turn on the NH4 so slow down as you approach the Nippani Ghat and keep your car on overtaking lane of the road.
(Landmark - There is a place called Hotel Goa Ways bang on that turn )
3-> Just after Amboli ghat you will see a board and a Y cut indicating to take left turn to go to Goa - DO NOT take this road . ( That road is very bad and my car got underbody hits at many points. Also its is very lonely route and not marked on Google Maps.) . Go till Sawantwadi and then follow the directions as per map.
Here are the 5 reasons I take the above mentioned route :
1-> Road till Nippani is NH4, mix of 4 and 6 lanes. . Quality and Traffic till Kolhapur is ok-ok but after Kolhapur its very smooth.
2-> Ajra road does not have heavy traffic . You can find ST buses but very less number of trucks . So movement of cars is easy.
3-> Amboli Ghat is just run down while going to Goa. That means you get only downhill when going to Goa and only uphill when coming from Goa. Ghat section is only 17 KM
4-> There are good places to take breaks on this route .
Mc Donalds (Kolhapur ) - Why ? - Hygienic food and Clean Washrooms .
Hotel Minerva (Ajra) - Why ? -Good food and Clean Washrooms .
5-> No dangerous and high speed breakers on this route. You may find some small ones when crossing the villages.
Important note :-
I have never driven at night via this route and I will not recommend to take this road at night time as the road passes through some forest areas.
I have heard that Amboli road close down in heavy rains due to land slides at Amboli section. So if someone is going in rainy season, better talk to Hotel Goa Ways or Minerva Hotel before reaching that far .
Drive Safe - Not Fast ....
All the best. ...
I drive to Goa with my wife and kid at least once a year from Pune and I always use the following route and halts.
Pune - Kolhapur - Nippani - Ajra -> Amboli -> Savantwadi -> Banda -> Goa North -> Goa South
Google Map Link - http://goo.gl/XroC0d
Things to remember when you follow this route
1-> McD Kolhapur is on the Other Side of the road when going to Goa.
2->Its very easy to miss the Ajra turn on the NH4 so slow down as you approach the Nippani Ghat and keep your car on overtaking lane of the road.
(Landmark - There is a place called Hotel Goa Ways bang on that turn )
3-> Just after Amboli ghat you will see a board and a Y cut indicating to take left turn to go to Goa - DO NOT take this road . ( That road is very bad and my car got underbody hits at many points. Also its is very lonely route and not marked on Google Maps.) . Go till Sawantwadi and then follow the directions as per map.
Here are the 5 reasons I take the above mentioned route :
1-> Road till Nippani is NH4, mix of 4 and 6 lanes. . Quality and Traffic till Kolhapur is ok-ok but after Kolhapur its very smooth.
2-> Ajra road does not have heavy traffic . You can find ST buses but very less number of trucks . So movement of cars is easy.
3-> Amboli Ghat is just run down while going to Goa. That means you get only downhill when going to Goa and only uphill when coming from Goa. Ghat section is only 17 KM
4-> There are good places to take breaks on this route .
Mc Donalds (Kolhapur ) - Why ? - Hygienic food and Clean Washrooms .
Hotel Minerva (Ajra) - Why ? -Good food and Clean Washrooms .
5-> No dangerous and high speed breakers on this route. You may find some small ones when crossing the villages.
Important note :-
I have never driven at night via this route and I will not recommend to take this road at night time as the road passes through some forest areas.
I have heard that Amboli road close down in heavy rains due to land slides at Amboli section. So if someone is going in rainy season, better talk to Hotel Goa Ways or Minerva Hotel before reaching that far .
Drive Safe - Not Fast ....
All the best. ...
