Drive from Kalyan to Khajuraho in my Ford EcoSport Ecoboost in May 2017

[Sashi]

Started from Kalyan at 5 AM via Malshej Ghat, Alle Phata Ahmednagar, Aurangabad. 

 

Road from Kalyan to Ahmednagar is good though Single. But very less traffic. It's 210 KM's and reached in around 3.3 hour's. Nagar to Aurangabad is 4 lane. Some traffic in Nagar but in around 1.45 hour's reached Aurangabad.

 

Stopped for Petrol in Aurangabad for some time and for freshning up. After filling the tank started the Jalna road. 8 KM's before Jalna took left turn and took Mehkar road. Road is single but less traffic and decent. Was driving at around 80-100 km speed. Only thing is you will not get a decent restaurant to eat with your family. We were two myself and wife and finally halted at Mehkar for lunch around 2.30 pm. 

 

After lunch again on road to Nagpur. Took the Pulgaon route upto Nagpur and reached around 6.50. Had booked in Hotel Centre Point near Airport Nagpur. 

Best part of this route is I didn't get any tolls upto Nagpur. Stayed for a night.

Next day morning started for Kanha via Jabalpur. Was informed will take atleast 6 hours. Reached Jabalpur station in sharp 3.45 hour's via Shivani. Roads are good with intermittent road works and diversion. Pl. tank up on this route and carry enough cash if you have to fill up as most of the time Credit card's are not functional due to network issues.

From Jabalpur picked up my Brother in laws family of 4( he, his wife a d 2 kids of 5 and 10). So total we were 6 in my EcoSport. 

 

After having lunch at Jabalpur started for Kanha. Road was ok. Could drive around 80. But for stretch of around 20 KM's which was really very bad. There was hardly any road with big gadhas. But has to say this vehicle is sturdy and good road clearance faced no issues. Finally reached Kanha around 6 Had started at 1.30 from Jabalpur. Took nearly 5 hour's for around 140 KM's. Overnight stayed at a resort. It was a decent stay. Next day morning did tiger safari. By afternoon 2.45 after lunch left from there for Maihar. Road's are ok. Reached by 9 Maihar. Next day morning had darshan of Maa Durga and after BF(10.30 am)  left for Singrauli. Road's are single and ok. You can drive at around 80. Has to be careful as it's very narrow roads. Evening reached at Singrauli. Stayed there for 3 day's. From there again two of us started at 5 AM for Khajuraho. Road's upto Satna were good though Single. But from Satna to Khajuraho it's hell. Horrible road. Infact there's no road it's only mud. Since it was summer we could see red dust flying. Reached Khajuraho around 2.30 PM. 

Checked in at Hotel Ramada. Very nice hotel. Had a beautiful room. Good food. After a good night sleep visited the marvelous structures of template. Kya karigari hai. Infact the present day engineering students should visit this place to learn about Architecture. 

 

Next day after a good BF at Ramada started around 8 for Indore. Was not sure to take which route. I was thinking of taking Nagpur route but the hotel manager advised me to take Chhatarpur, Sagar, Vidisha, outer Bhopal to Indore. Road from Khajuraho to Bhopal is single lane but good. One can drive at around 80km . From Bhopal to Indore is 4 lane and can easily go upto 130. Reached Indore at around 6.30. Stopped for Lunch at Vidisha. Only drawback of this stretch is there is no good place to freshen up. Hence used the petrol pumps bathroom to freshen up. Also u don't get good restaurants in this lane upto Bhopal. From Bhopal to Indore no issues. Had 3 break's for attending nature call, food and tea. At Indore stayed for overnight in ShreeMaya. Nice hotel. Next day morning after a sumptuous BF started at 8.30 for Kalyan. 

4 lane road. Can easily drive upto 120-130 and reached Kalyan at around 4.30 with 3 break's of tea, lunch and loo.

 

Overall drove approximately 3500 KM's over a period of 10 day's. 

One thing I would like to add is People of MP specially in these areas are quite good and helpful. Got stuck on the way to Maihar because of breakdown of a truck in the middle of a small bridge. People helped us in navigating through a small village road. 

[sagar]

Hey @Sashi.. It must have quite been quite an experience exploring through the western ghats especially during this monsoon which I feel has arrived a little late. And I imagine how you must have felt driving through the Malshej ghat  

Please do share some pictures of your drive if available  

 

[Sashi]

Yes Sagar, it was an experience. This is of May. Unfortunately I lost my mobile and the photos. Had not backed up. Again is planning a road trip from Kalyan to Hyderabad, Vizag, Puri in November.

[sagar]

2 hours ago, Sashi said:

Yes Sagar, it was an experience. This is of May. Unfortunately I lost my mobile and the photos. Had not backed up. Again is planning a road trip from Kalyan to Hyderabad, Vizag, Puri in November.

 

I would love to suggest to you some beautiful places for making your monsoon drive memorable since you are staying in Kalyan. You can do these places in a day's drive.

Bhimashankar hills, Karnala, Tungareshwar, Karjat, Matheran  are a few which fascinate me to do monsoon drives  I hope you have covered these too and if had not done, this is the right time.

[Sridhar Tandra]

Matheran is on my mind! do we have any activities / places to visit around Matheran Hill Station?

[sagar]

14 hours ago, Sridhar Tandra said:

Matheran is on my mind! do we have any activities / places to visit around Matheran Hill Station?

 

Doing a Trek is the only best activity around Matheran @Sridhar. If you are looking at doing activities, Rajmachi is the place for it. A trek at this place follows up fox-flying across a waterfall and also waterfall rappelling. Activities more on the adventurous side  

[sahil]

 
Doing a Trek is the only best activity around Matheran [mention=354]Sridhar[/mention]. If you are looking at doing activities, Rajmachi is the place for it. A trek at this place follows up fox-flying across a waterfall and also waterfall rappelling. Activities more on the adventurous side [emoji4] 

Trek to Matheran via Ambewadi village is very nice. 8km trek. You can see lot of view points. At the end it's like Bahubali trek on the waterfall to reach Matheran. Even in Matheran there are many places. Total you need to do a trail walk or the horse ride for 14km.