Jump to content
TriFOD
  • Welcome!

    Welcome to TriFOD, Hyderabad discussion platform for Travel, Housing, Food etc. Please register to join us for free.

Hyderabad to Mahabaleshwar & Panchgani, Road trip, Monsoon Drive


sagar
 Share

Recommended Posts

'Hyderabad to Mahabaleshwar , Panchgani' - Monsoon Drive Meetup - October 8th and 11th 2016
 

Start point - Gachibowli (ORR)

End point - Panchgani hill top (Accommodation)

Start time - 4 :15 a.m.

Total Distance - ~610 kms

Objective - A monsoon drive meet to Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani during a long festive weekend.

 

Participants:

 

1) Maruthi Suzuki Swift

2) Volks Wagen Polo

3) Hyundai Creta (Red)

4) Hyundai Creta (White)

 

Route Taken:

Option 1 

Hyderabad (Gachibowli) --> Pargi --> Kalaburagi (Gulbarga) --> Baramati (Via Akkalkot) --> Solapur --> Indrapur --> Panchgani (Via Wai) --> Mahabaleshwar

Single lane road till Solapur, but some sections are super good and some are average, no potholes. 

 

Option 2

Hyderabad (Gachibowli) --> Zaheerabad --> Solapur --> Indapur--> Panchgani (Via Wai) --> Mahabaleshwar

Last 100 kilometers before Solapur is pathetic, road is filled with potholes.

 

Option 3

Hyderabad (Gachibowli) --> Zaheerabad -->Humnabad --> Kalaburagi (Gulbarga) --> Baramati (Via Akkalkot) --> Solapur --> Indapur --> Panchgani (Via Wai) --> Mahabaleshwar

Smoothest and longest of all. 

 

While you are coming back, would suggest you to take following route, so that you can cover KAS, valley of flowers.

Mahabaleshwar --> KAS --> Satara --> Pandharpur --> Solapur --> Kalaburagi (Gulbarga) --> Humnabad --> Zaheerabad --> Hyderabad (Gachibowli)

Cover Pic: 

image_3224.jpg

 

Places to visit in Panchgani:

Panchgani is a pseudo head quarter for the parasailing which is conducted through out the year except during the monsoons.

1) Table Land

2) Parsi Point

3) Sydney Point

4) Devil's Kitchen

5) Mahabaleshwar

 

Places to visit in Mahabaleshwar:

There are as many as 30 viewpoints in Mahabaleshwar. Few of the major places are,

1) Elephant's head point

2) Arthur's seat

3) Kate's point

4) Kaas Plateau (Valley of flowers)

5) Venna Lake

6) Panchganga Temple

7) Mapro garden

8) Lingmala waterfalls

9) Pratapgad fort

10) Elphinstone point

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Having all the recipe ready for the meetup on a long weekend, the drive had begun on a rainy morning when the clock swept 5:15 a.m. It's perhaps surprising but true that driving on a rainy day is more dangerous than driving on a snowy one. Knowing the statistics of how tough the start of the drive was when the visibility showed zero, the convoy was as cautious as it could get until the sun showed up. Pacing up the track towards Kalaburagi (Gulbarga), we took our first pit stop at 'Lumbini's Grand Hotel' for breakfast by 9:30 a.m 

 

After a decent drive in the heavy rain until we reached Kalaburagi, the condition of the road was pretty good.

image_3187.jpg

 

It is a decent 4 lane track with less traffic where you can cover quite a distance in a short while.

image_3188.jpg

 

The track of the road is excellent after you cross Kalaburagi and it starts to deteriorate as you reach a town named Akkalkot. The road from Akkalkot to Solapur is an average track where you come across frequent ditches and pot holes.

image_3189.jpg

 

The moment you get on to the Solapur-Pune Highway, the road is just bliss. We had come across many decent restaurants for families all along the highway and we stopped by the 'Athithi' restaurant for lunch for another pit-stop around 12 30 p.m.

image_3190.jpg

 

After a 100 km drive on this flawless highway, you bifurcate towards 'Indrapur' and proceed towards Baramati. This road is a decent 2 lane track with less potholes and more than decent for a comfortable drive.

image_3191.jpg

 

Having covered most of the distance in quite a decent amount of time, we started taking frequent pit-stops to live the beauty the nature and we proceeded towards Wai before we reached our stay at Panchgani.

image_3192.jpg

 

image_3193.jpg

 

We got off the road track to explore more of the offbeat and untouched side of the western ghats on our way to Panchgani

image_3194.jpg

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

All the cars have lined up for a photo session

image_3195.jpg

 

After the first leg of enjoying nature, we started to pace up towards our stay at Panchgani and we reached our destination by 8:00 p.m.image_3196.jpg

 

image_3197.jpg

 

image_3198.jpg

 

image_3199.jpg

 

Panchgani - A quaint Hill station..Panchgani is a small town on the way to Mahabaleshwar with an unhurried relaxed charm with its strawberry farms, boarding schools and old British buildings. Panchgani is set at the foot of five hills and blessed with pleasant weather around the year which is an ideal weekend destination from Mumbai and Pune. The five hills surrounding Panchgani set atop a volcanic plateau opens up numerous vistas making Panchgani a photographer's paradise! Major attractions of Panchgani are Sydney Point,Table Land, Parsi Point, Devil's Kitchen.

image_3200.jpg

 

Day : 01 - In Panchgani, we wanted to check out some off-beat locations and explore the untouched sights around the place and hence our drive begun post breakfast

image_3201.jpg

 

As we started our drive towards the Kaas plateau to explore the Kaas pathar and the Kaas lake bed, we had come across a beautiful sight filled with a lot of fog and green land full of flowers... Yes the mother nature started to show good on us as we climbed the Panchgani ghat.image_3202.jpg

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Kas Plateau - The Valley of Flowers..Kas Plateau or as popularly called Kas Pathar is a vast plateau in Satara district which during most parts of the year is just a hinterland on the way to Tapola and Mahabaleshwar. It's a plateau situated amidst high hills and grasslands which turns into a 'valley of flowers' during monsoon season, especially in the month of August. The valley of flowers of Kas pathar even overshadows Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani in popularity as a weekend destination during the months of July and August when the vast plateau of Kas transforms itself into a bed of flowers with more than 150 varieties of flowers.

 

We had taken quite a lot of pitstops to cherish the beauty in nature on our way towards the Kas pathar (valley of flowers) 

image_3203.jpg

 

We started to explore the untouched beauty of the Kas plateau. Ask the people of India-Drive about how it is enjoy nature when there is no crowd.. Calm.. Serene and Blissful.. !!!

image_3204.jpg

 

A look down to sight the whole of Panchgani when you stand high above the clouds :rolleyes:

image_3205.jpg

 

Those amazing times when your foot couldn't stand still to cover all the distance and sight every single bit in the scene.. :cooler:

image_3206.jpg

 

And we felt prey to capturing some memories of the place

image_3207.jpg

 

image_3208.jpg

 

image_3209.jpg

 

image_3210.jpg

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

With a score of this beautiful valley offering a panoramic vista, the whole team excites to pose at this natures artistry! 

image_3211.jpg

 

With salubrious weather throughout the drive, we enjoyed every bit of it craning out and cherishing all the beauty that nature had offered

image_3212.jpg

 

image_3213.jpg

 

image_3214.jpg

 

image_3215.jpg

 

We have taken the roads less traveled to absorb all the untouched beauty in and around Panchgani

image_3216.jpg

 

image_3217.jpg

 

How much ever freedom the open roads had offered us, we never miss out on driving in a convoy.. 

image_3218.jpg

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

The visibility factor has almost become zero as we moved towards Bamnoli ghat section. We had enjoyed this phase of nature too.

image_3219.jpg

 

Pretty soon, the weather got even colder and the fog turned so intense that we could hardly sight the other end of the lake..The Happy Couple - Tej and Sruthika :)

image_3220.jpg

 

We have waited until the fog got cleared and commenced our drive ahead towards the top most point of the Kas pathar

image_3221.jpg

 

We have lined up for a short photo session at a beautiful view point to stretch ourselves

image_3222.jpg

 

image_3223.jpg

 

Towards the south of the Kas Plateau is the Kas Lake which adds to the beauty of the flower carpet the plateau adorns. Kas lake looks like a bowl carved out of the green verdant mountains. With mist all around, we hardly found another colour to sight except white.

image_3224.jpg

 

They never miss out on any drive 'India-Drive' does.. 'The fantastic 4'

image_3225.jpg

 

Ascend the ghats from Bamnoli and you are at the beautiful seasonal flower beds of Kas Pathar which is a must do especially in Aug - Sept. For the first time we felt that the mist was spoiling our sight at the 'Valley of flowers' 

image_3226.jpg

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On our way back from the Kas plateau, we had stopped by numerous view points which were not on the commercial end 

image_3227.jpg

 

Few glimpses of the beautiful Kas Plateau :D

image_3229.jpg

 

Without these cheerful souls, the trip wouldn't have been so much fun

image_3230.jpg

 

End of Day 01, We have closed down the night with some fun filled interactive games and BBQ ..

image_3228.jpg

 

Day - 02, The next morning started off with a small hike around the valley in the backyard :)

image_3231.jpg

 

And then our drive on Day 02 had begun to explore the places around Mahabaleshwar

image_3232.jpg

 

Mahabaleshwar - The Queen of Hills

Mahabaleshwar is a vast plateau, bound by valleys on all sides. Celebrated as the Queen of Hills Mahabaleshwar truly lives upto its reputation with its mesmerising beauty. It is a perfect getaway and is well known for its panoramic viewpoints. There are as many as 30 viewpoints in Mahabaleshwar.

image_3233.jpg

 

Mahabaleshwar has different shades during different seasons and offers a delectable experience in all the seasons. The best time to visit Mahabaleshwar is Sept - Nov.

image_3234.jpg

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

 

There is lots to see and experience in Mahabaleshwar. Amongst the major attraction in Mahabaleshwar are the Venna Lake and Old Mahabaleshwar with the Panchganga temple. If you want to see strawberry farms a good place would be the Mapro gardens. 

image_3235.jpg

 

Our drive towards Tapola was chosen as the first leg to be covered for the day

image_3237.jpg

 

image_3238.jpg

 

Tapola - The Mini Kashmir

Tapola famously called the mini Kashmir of the west. It is a rustic hamlet with a magnificent lake - Shivsagar. It is at the end of the road and practically a dead end! From Mahabaleshwar Tapola is 25 kilometres away and the drive to Tapola is a picturesque one with vistas galore on either side of the road.

image_3239.jpg

 

image_3240.jpg

 

The primary attraction in Tapola is the Shivsagar Lake - a 90 km long water body infact the reservoir of the Koyna dam. If you are a water sports enthusiast Tapola is the place to head to. Be it boating, water scooter rides, kayaking or swimming Tapola. image_3241.jpg

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The whole team pose cheers by the Venna Lake before we drove down to the restaurant for lunchimage_3243.jpg

 

image_3244.jpg

 

image_3245.jpg

 

Our 2nd leg of drive post lunch was to checkout the famous view points of Mahabaleshwar which the dense fog around the place had pulled us aback.. The visibility factor turned out to be absolutely zero which had given us zero possibility of sight at all the view points. A dense fog filled conjuncture which takes us to the Elphinstone point and the famous Arthur's seat view points each..

image_3246.jpg

 

As the sky turned dark, we waited for the fog to clear out which turned out to be of no help and we drove back home for the day.

 

The next day, our drive was all set to hit back to Hyderabad and we followed the same track which felt was apt. :D

image_3247.jpg

image_3248.jpg

 

On the whole, the drive turned out to be a successful meet-up with a beautiful team all along.. We lived the Dream, We Drove the places to Discover the untouched side of the Western ghats.

image_3249.jpg

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very nicely composed sagar.

A wonderful meet, Kids to elders everyone contributed to make the drive a success.

4 days and 1600 kilometers in a convoy was fun.

Even though the drive was hectic, It was great to see the high energy levels and lifted spirits.

Thoroughly enjoyed the meet. Looking forwards for the pictures from other cameras as well.

Dream Drive Discover. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

driveking said:
Nice pictures Guys.Climate is looks very good from the pictures.

How is road condition between Solapur and Mahabaleshwar?

Road is fine 

We took the longer route

Solapur --> Indapur --> Baramati --> Lonand --> Khandala (not the main Khandala) --> Wai --> Panchgani --> Mahabaleshwar.

Solapur to Indapur : 4-lane excellent.

Indapur to Wai : 2-lane average , but we get a 4-lane road for 15 kilometers which is amazing.

Wai to Mahabaleshwar : 2-lane Ghat section, Beautiful views.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Lovely write up there, great images and they have come out foggy in bits, given the post monsoon situation in that belt... I have planned to visit the place last month, but had to drop the plan at the last moment.. Will the flowers still be blooming if I visit it in coming days?

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi I have done the Mahabaleshwar drive last week...The trip was truly satisfying and enjoyable. Sure will share the travelogue and photos sometime as time permits. Kaas was a bit of a disappointment, Though sceneries and vistas around are pretty good, we did not see many flowers as expected, nothing like coloured landscapes. I would suggest you to start early as the crowd multiplies by around noon.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Gowtham changed the title to Hyderabad to Mahabaleshwar & Panchgani, Road trip, Monsoon Drive
  • Gowtham featured this topic
  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...
3 hours ago, veeran said:

planning to do this trip during this  coming monsoon 

 

Don't miss it. Try the routes mentioned here from Panchgani.. IT will be isolated and you can enjoy the nature in peace. Usually other places and routes around Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani are a way too commercial and crowded.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 1/19/2018 at 4:47 PM, sagar said:

 

Don't miss it. Try the routes mentioned here from Panchgani.. IT will be isolated and you can enjoy the nature in peace. Usually other places and routes around Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani are a way too commercial and crowded.

thank you sagar gaaru.... 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
  • Gowtham unfeatured this topic
  • 8 months later...
36 minutes ago, uday said:

We are planning a drive along with my office mates. We are considering Goa. But I have shown this post to them. Now they are inclined towards Mahableshwar. Is it right time to visit?

Any recent road condition update from Hyderabad to Mahabaleshwar? 

 

This is not the right time to visit this region. The place looks all dried up with absolutely no greenery. August to October would be perfect to plan your trip to Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar :) 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 hours ago, uday said:

Is it right time to visit?

 

Evenings and mornings are good. Don't expect greenery. Grass is completely dry during our visit on feb. If it is a relaxing drive. Book a resort with view and enjoy. 

If you are planning to explore, avoid till monsoon. 

 

19 hours ago, uday said:

Any recent road condition update from Hyderabad to Mahabaleshwar? 

 

Hyderabad to Solapur is excellent except for 40 kilometres patch, road work under process. 

Solapur to Mahableshwar is not so great. Most of it is a single lane road. But roads are manageable. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎2‎/‎26‎/‎2019 at 4:52 PM, uday said:

We are planning a drive along with my office mates. We are considering Goa. But I have shown this post to them.

 

 

Hey @uday, You can check out the link below to know how the greenery turns its colours to dry grass in the western ghats region from late October until the rains begin :) 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 9 months later...
On 2/27/2019 at 12:07 PM, driveking said:

 

Evenings and mornings are good. Don't expect greenery. Grass is completely dry during our visit on feb. If it is a relaxing drive. Book a resort with view and enjoy. 

If you are planning to explore, avoid till monsoon. 

 

 

Hyderabad to Solapur is excellent except for 40 kilometres patch, road work under process. 

Solapur to Mahableshwar is not so great. Most of it is a single lane road. But roads are manageable. 

What's the best rout now from Hyderabad to Mahabaleshwar?

Is it a good time to visit in the last week of December?

Any good stay options?

Or the areas need to be considered for stay near Mahabaleshwar and Panchagni?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Hi Sahil,

 

I completed Hyderabad-Mahabaleswar trip day before yesterday. Let me try to answer your queries.

 

1. Best Route : BHEL - Zaheerabad - Humnabad - Solapur - Mohol - (Take left from Mohol) - Pandharpur -  Phaltan - Wai - Panchgani & Mahabaleswar . ( You will find more than 80% good roads ). 

2. You will get lot of strawberries in December and you can directly pluck them in the fields. Moreover you will get great views from each view points. Clear blue sky all the time. Temp around 12-15 Degree at night.

3. We stayed in Evergreen Holidays ( 3kms from Mapro Garden towards Mahabaleswar) , Got a very good price  since it was weekday. From Dec 21st, the prices of the hotels will be high for year end. 

4. Metgutad and Bondarwadi are the places, you will get less prices for sure. 

 

Moreover, I would suggest anyone to travel to Mahabaleswar and Panchgani after Jan 10 till March end, to get the cheapest prices for hotesl and Sweetest Strawberries. Its off-season time there, confirmed by the property where I stayed. If you need any more information, I can help. 

Edited by PareshBhinde
  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

A member to this forum.

Hi,

I am planning a drive to Mahabaleswar next week. (Jan 12 to 15).

Going to take  BHEL - Zaheerabad - Humnabad - Solapur - Mohol -  - Pandharpur -  Phaltan - Wai - Panchgani & Mahabaleswar  route as mentioned by PareshBhinde.

Expecting your valuable suggestions.

Thanks

Murali.

 

 

 

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/19/2019 at 9:50 AM, PareshBhinde said:

I completed Hyderabad-Mahabaleswar trip day before yesterday. Let me try to answer your queries.

 

Thank you for the update.

 

15 hours ago, Murali205 said:

Expecting your valuable suggestions.

 

Once you divert from Solapur, roads are average to bad. 

Very limited food options as well (once diverted from four lane) 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎12‎/‎19‎/‎2019 at 9:50 AM, PareshBhinde said:

completed Hyderabad-Mahabaleswar trip day before yesterday. Let me try to answer your queries.

 

Thanks a lot for sharing your valuable inputs @PareshBhinde.

 

18 hours ago, Murali205 said:

Expecting your valuable suggestions.

 

I Murali, I would recommend you to choose some airbnb stays around panchgani instead of hotels as they are economical, well maintained and as well as offer very good views.

Mahabaleshwar is again more commercial towards tourists and crowded.

Try Strawberry cream (Panchgani's special desert)

 

Try and explore less travelled roads between Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar as they offer more scenic views and less crowd.

Most importantly, when you visit view points in Mahabaleshwar, make sure you pay your visit during the early hours around 11 AM and the views might be blocked with fog in the evenings.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

36 minutes ago, sagar said:

 

Thanks a lot for sharing your valuable inputs @PareshBhinde.

 

 

I Murali, I would recommend you to choose some airbnb stays around panchgani instead of hotels as they are economical, well maintained and as well as offer very good views.

Mahabaleshwar is again more commercial towards tourists and crowded.

Try Strawberry cream (Panchgani's special desert)

 

Try and explore less travelled roads between Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar as they offer more scenic views and less crowd.

Most importantly, when you visit view points in Mahabaleshwar, make sure you pay your visit during the early hours around 11 AM and the views might be blocked with fog in the evenings.

Thanks for your valuable inputs Sagar. I think it is a good point what you mentioned  about fog.

Let me see if i can find a good airbnb option there.

Will update in forum during/after journey.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Ranger said:

 

Thank you for the update.

 

 

Once you divert from Solapur, roads are average to bad. 

Very limited food options as well (once diverted from four lane) 

Thanks Ranger.

I am thinking about solapur-mohol- indapur - phaltan road or solapur- bhigwan - baramati - phaltan route as i can utilize the mumbai highway maximum.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Murali, 

 

I would suggest you to take diversion from Mohol, rather than travelling upto Indapur. I travelled through indapur-Baramati-Phaltan for onward journey and found it not good but I liked Wai - Phaltan - Pandharpur - Mohol  route which I took while returning!  Roads till Phaltan are better than average. Its double road with moderate traffic.Phaltan - wai is single lane, not too bad road. 

 

Moreover, One can visit , Mapro food park just out of Wai and spend an hour there, they have a nice restaurent, Organic Vegetable shop and they have some free factory tour as well.

 

Thanks

Edited by PareshBhinde
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...