Hyderabad to Western Ghats drive meetup

[Gowtham]

Drive details and RSVP:

https://www.india-drive.com/Home/events-2/?event_id=6

 

[sahil]

Drive details and RSVP:
https://www.india-drive.com/Home/events-2/?event_id=6
 

confirmed dates or any change to the dates possible?

[Gowtham]

19 minutes ago, sahil said:

confirmed dates or any change to the dates possible?

 

Accommodations are confirmed. 

There wont be any change in the dates.

[sahil]

 
Accommodations are confirmed. 
There wont be any change in the dates.

Ok. Thank you!

[RajG]

I will update you guys by next weekend. 

 

We will be driving from Pune to destination and coming back?

[sagar]

16 minutes ago, RajG said:

I will update you guys by next weekend. 

 

We will be driving from Pune to destination and coming back?

 

Hi @RajG, It will be a total exploration drive and Pune will be our base for the drive everyday.. We will be exploring the western ghats for Day2 and will be doing a fort trek for Day3 and drive back to Hyderabad. Details of which fort to be covered will be updated shortly  You are free to share your opinion on which to be done based on the difficulty levels amongst many of the forts available around pune  

[RajG]

thank you  sagar for the quick response. 

I will update my status, want to join the drive badly. 

Just now gone through last year Mulshi drive post. 

You guys are rocking, great team. 

 

Will try to be part of it this time. 

[ksa171983]

do have the latest update on the roads there?

I heard that lot of stretches are damaged a lot ..

 

have been checking out some ghats in and around..

https://www.tripadvisor.in/Attraction_Review-g297654-d3537816-Reviews-Western_Ghats-Pune_Pune_District_Maharashtra.html

[sagar]

15 hours ago, ksa171983 said:

have been checking out some ghats in and around..

https://www.tripadvisor.in/Attraction_Review-g297654-d3537816-Reviews-Western_Ghats-Pune_Pune_District_Maharashtra.html

 

Let me share the list of forts that I've covered in the western ghat region around Pune which are absolutely brilliant during monsoons  

1) Rajgad

2) Torna

3) Raigad

4) Sinhagad

5) Lohagad

6) Harishchandragad

7) Tikona

 

Amongst the above, Raigad is one fort which I had done during summer but, it was no less than great place.. Western ghats display altogether a different beauty during different seasons  

[sahil]

1 hour ago, sagar said:

 
Let me share the list of forts that I've covered in the western ghat region around Pune which are absolutely brilliant during monsoons [emoji4] 
1) Rajgad
2) Torna
3) Raigad
4) Sinhagad
5) Lohagad
6) Harishchandragad
7) Tikona
 
Amongst the above, Raigad is one fort which I had done during summer but, it was no less than great place.. Western ghats display altogether a different beauty during different seasons [emoji3] 

 

You can add Ratangad to the list. 

[Gowtham]

17 hours ago, ksa171983 said:

do have the latest update on the roads there?

 

Road are always bad around Pune Westernghats also less crowded. 

But never faced blockage issues.

 

 

[sahil]

 
Road are always bad around Pune Westernghats also less crowded. 
But never faced blockage issues.
 
 

2 weeks back I went to Andharban trek near Pune. There are lot of pot holes on the roads in many places. In Some streches pot holes are very big. Vehicles has to stop and go slow. Due that we took some 3.5hrs to travel 90km on a mini bus. Driver said in some days the traffic is even worst. So, expect lot of damaged roads and good traffic.

[sagar]

1 hour ago, sahil said:

2 weeks back I went to Andharban trek near Pune. There are lot of pot holes on the roads in many places. In Some streches pot holes are very big. Vehicles has to stop and go slow. Due that we took some 3.5hrs to travel 90km on a mini bus. Driver said in some days the traffic is even worst. So, expect lot of damaged roads and good traffic.

 

Yeah, They are always like that  . Especially when you travel during the monsoon, you wouldn't know if that's a bigger pot hole or a smaller one as it's all filled with rain water   But, the green valleys around always made me forget the pain on driving these roads. Long weekends spoil the scene with more crowd at all the places.

[ksa171983]

4 hours ago, Ranger said:

 

Road are always bad around Pune Westernghats also less crowded. 

But never faced blockage issues. 

 

 

Liked it when you said "less crowded" brought a smile to my face

[Gowtham]

2 hours ago, sagar said:

But, the green valleys around always made me forget the pain on driving these roads.

 

Agree on it.

 

2 hours ago, sagar said:

Long weekends spoil the scene with more crowd at all the places.

 

Long weekends are mess across all the tourist destination in the country.(few exceptional) 

 

10 minutes ago, ksa171983 said:

Liked it when you said "less crowded" brought a smile to my face

 

Reason why we avoid drives on long weekends. ?

[RedCruiser]

A great initiative by ID members again. it will be truly a great drive. Among all these Raigad fort looks promising as it is around 130kms from Pune with a travel of 3 to 4 hours. The route is scenic and the fort is in a natural forest reserve making the views breathtaking.

[Gowtham]

On 9/1/2018 at 12:35 PM, RedCruiser said:

A great initiative by ID members again. it will be truly a great drive. Among all these Raigad fort looks promising as it is around 130kms from Pune with a travel of 3 to 4 hours. The route is scenic and the fort is in a natural forest reserve making the views breathtaking.

 

We are considering Lohagad fort on day-2.
Also we will be covering the scenic route around Pavna lake and Mulshi. 

 

[varunc]

6 hours ago, Ranger said:

Lohagad fort on day-2.

 

How much do we need to climb for Lohagad?  Difficulty level? 

Heard it is scenic during monsoon. 

[Gowtham]

Plan

 

Day 1:

05:00 am - We start the drive from the meet up point.
08:00 am - Breakfast break
01:00 pm - Lunch break (After Solapur)
05:00 pm - Tea break
07:00 pm - Reach Pune accomidation 

 

Day 2:
07:00 am - Drive to Lohaghad fort (breakfast enroute) 
10:00 am - Start Lohaghad fort exploration 
12:00 pm - Start from fort to lunch 
02:00 pm - Explore places around Pavna lake  
06:00 pm - Reach accommodation 

Day 3:
08:00 am - Post breakfast. Drive to Karla caves
11:00 am - Drive to Visapur fort 
1:00 pm - After lunch explore visapur fort 
03:00 pm - Explore bhaje caves   
06:00 pm - Reach accommodation

 

Day 4:

06:00 am - We start the drive from hotel
08:00 am - Breakfast break
01:00 pm - Lunch break (before Solapur)
05:00 pm - Tea break
07:00 pm - Reach Hyderabad

[BORNDRIVER]

Hello Ranger,

 

It is very difficult to be part of such meet-ups in working days.

Though I am always very excited for such long trips.

 

I understand that the main reason could be to avoid the crowd on weekends and holidays. 

The main reason for me for not able to join is my kids schooling.

 

All the best and have a safe trip to all of you and hope some day I could be a part of such wonderful meet-ups.

Waiting for lovely pictures and update from all of you.

[Gowtham]

On 9/3/2018 at 7:45 PM, BORNDRIVER said:

It is very difficult to be part of such meet-ups in working days.

 

Drives on long weekends are not worth it.

Places are crowded and accommodation has unreasonable pricing. 

 

On 9/3/2018 at 7:45 PM, BORNDRIVER said:

All the best and have a safe trip to all of you and hope some day I could be a part of such wonderful meet-ups.

Waiting for lovely pictures and update from all of you.

 

Thank you

[Gowtham]

List of cars joining the drive:

1) Sagar + Ranger + Prem
Hyundai Creta

2) Pavan (2)
Suzuki Ertiga

3) Ashwin (2)
Volkswagen Polo

4) Noel (2)
Volkswagen Polo

5) Shivanand + Prasad + Rakesh
Jeep Compass

6) Srikanth + Anil
Suzuki SX4

7) Phani Raja Gopal
Volkswagen Ameo

8.) Ashok (4)
Suzuki Swift

9) Srinivas
Toyota Fortuner

 

 

Few points:

1. Make sure your wipers are in good shape.

2. Make sure you have full tank fuel, our first fuel break will be after 200 kilometres.

3. Check air pressure, make sure alignment and balancing are done recently. 

 

Don't forget to get Umbrella/Raincoat. 

If you guys have queries/place suggestions you can post them here. 

 

Meetup point:
Gachibowli ORR entrance (near flyover)

 

[Gowtham]

Thank you all for making the drive successful.

 

Members : 23

Cars : 9 

 

I think this is the first drive where most of the members are new. 

Everyone contributed in their own way to make the drive successful!

 

Sharing few memories from my end,

 

Lohagad fort trek 

 

Driving into the clouds (Lonavala) 

 

Drive between Pune to Matherean on the expressway with lush surroundings is super fun.
Not talking about the bad patch once we divert form the expressway. ?

 

Can't forget the episodes between Ashwin(Rana) and Kids.

It was great fun.

Sarcastic guide in Matheran(Raj)

 

Night drive from Matheran to Pune

 

List goes on..

All the pictures are captured from mobile(s9), Ignore the quality.

Quick regroup at waterfalls

Trek to the Lohagad fort

 

 

[Gowtham]

Climb

Valley view

Built to last

 

 

Water source for the fort 

View point 

Group shot at Lohagad

 

[Gowtham]

My favourite click!

Lonaval, no view at the view point!

What is your favourite?

Old is gold

Drive into the clouds

Group picture

 

 

Full report will be out soon!

[sagar]

It definitely has been a fun drive... It was a wonderful crew who carried great spirit throughout the drive. Thanks one and all for making this drive a successful meet  

[prabhum]

Missed all the fun...... Post us few more picks

[sagar]

10 minutes ago, prabhum said:

Missed all the fun...... Post us few more picks

 

Missed you in this drive @prabhum..  The final report will be out soon  

[Sridhar Tandra]

oh yeah! I think I will be on top of the list for who missed this trip badly, waiting for pictures and report while cursing my manager! 

[SPG]

5 hours ago, Ranger said:

What is your favourite?

 

Without any Doubt Jeep Compass

[SRI420]

On ‎9‎/‎28‎/‎2018 at 6:45 PM, SPG said:

Without any Doubt Jeep Compass

 

For you then[emoji6][emoji6]

 

[sagar]

On ‎9‎/‎28‎/‎2018 at 6:59 PM, SRI420 said:

 

For you then

 

Nice Gesture and a great hoarding  This highway looks like the Mumbai - Pune Expressway  

[SRI420]

Nice Gesture and a great hoarding [emoji3] This highway looks like the Mumbai - Pune Expressway [emoji4] 

Ya this is the Mumbai Pune highway, immediately after the end of ghat section. It's was a lovely place for a tea break. [emoji4][emoji4]