A road trip from Mumbai to Pune is the ultimate urban touring experience that can be completed in 2 days. All petrol heads like to undertake this super fast and super smooth journey that connects two of Maharashtra’s most cosmopolitan cities. This exciting road trip is what a real traveller plans whenever there is time on hand. The best part of this journey is that it can be undertaken on a long weekend. You can plan the food stops and shopping halts all along the way. You can take an overnight break at Lonavala as well. Western India is full of fun-filled trails that are ideal for a memorable road trip. Bikers and automobile aficionados are always on a lookout for newer routes for a road trip. The excitement of setting out on a road trip is simply incomparable.
One of the most famous routes for an enjoyable and comfortable road trip starts in Mumbai and ends at Pune. The historically famous places amaze the tourists with fantastic things to see en route. Della Adventure Park, Lohgad Fort, Rajmachi Fort, One Kiss Tunnel, Neelkantheshwar Temple, Ekveera Devi Temple, Bhimashankar, Karla Caves, and Pawna Lake are some of the most beautiful places that you can plan to visit on your way to Pune. Plenty of superb restaurants and dhabas will take care of your food cravings. This exciting trip will expose you to the hustle-bustle and razzle-dazzle of two of the most glamorous cities of western India. Let us look at all the important aspects of this amazing journey.
Best Time To Visit
The most ideal time period is between October to January and June to August as the climate is pleasant during the winters and the monsoon is breathtakingly beautiful. The drop in the temperature gives a much needed relief to the bikers and drivers on this road trip. The Western Ghats present a magnificent view all through the year. However, winter and monsoon are two of the best seasons to enjoy the weather and natural beauty through the road trip. Maharashtra’s warm and robust culture can be witnessed when you undertake a road trip from Mumbai to Pune.
Places To Eat
Maharashtrian cuisine is delicious and there are a lot of amazing places to explore the local dishes like Misal-Pav, Vada-Pav, Kande Pohe, Upma, Thalipeeth, Sheera, and Maharashtrian Veg or Non-Veg Thaali. There are at least 5-6 restaurants with options for all preferences of cuisine. It is a great idea to sample local dishes made from local ingredients. Rama Krishna, Rudra’s Kailash Parbat Restaurant, Golden Wada Pav Food Stall, Manashakti Research Centre Restaurant, Homely Food Joshi’s Sanatorium, Sheetal Da Dhaba, Sunny Da Dhaba, Kinara Village Dhaba, La Boulangerie Bakery, Ganesh Pav Bhaji Center, and Blue Water are some of the best restaurants en route Pune. Sheetal Da Dhaba has friendly and warm staff. The chicken biryani at this joint is simply delectable. You can even enjoy their famous gajar-ka-halwa. Blue Water is famous for Paneer Makhanwala and Prawn in Butter Garlic. At Manshakti, you can enjoy Maharashtrian delicacies like Sabudana Khichdi, Pohe, and Vada Pav. Please make sure that you have informed the restaurant owner about your preferences. Many eateries serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is also advisable to pack some snacks for the journey. The various Dhabaas are a great choice for planning your meals with your friends and fellow travellers on the road trip.
Route
The highways of Maharashtra are smooth and safe for a road trip. A road trip from Mumbai to Pune will cover a distance of 148 km. A road trip from Mumbai to Pune will take around three to four hours depending on the detours undertaken by you. The usual routes between Mumbai and Pune (around 140 to 160 kilometres), a route with detours will be around 340 kilometres or more if you take an overnight halt at a hotel. If you are travelling in a car then you can use the super fast and super smooth Expressway. However, if you are planning to travel on the bike then you will have to use the Old Bombay-Puna Highway. Since it is a journey that can be undertaken in a day, you can plan it over a long weekend of 2-3 days. The route will make you witness the warm and cosmopolitan culture of Maharashtra. Rural Maharashtra is rugged and it is exciting to explore the forts, temples, and local food. You will begin at the Megapolis called Mumbai and travel to a historically significant city of Pune which is a distance of about 148-155 kilometres from Mumbai which can be covered in around 3 h 10 min via Bengaluru - Mumbai Highway/Mumbai Highway/Mumbai - Pune Highway. Get on NH 48 in Mukai Nagar, Pimpri-Chinchwad from Bengaluru-Mumbai Highway/ Mumbai Highway/ Mumbai-Pune Highway. Head southwest on Dadar TT flyover. Use the left lane to merge with Dr.babasaheb Ambedkar Road. Take the exit towards Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar Road. Make a U-turn at Dadar TT. Continue onto Dadar TT flyover. Continue onto King Circle flyover. Continue onto Sion Hospital flyover. Continue onto Rashtrsevika Laxmibai Kelkar Marg. Keep right to continue on Chunabhatti flyover and Sion flyover. Continue onto Eastern Express Highway / Mumbai – Agra National Highway. Turn right onto Ghatkopar Mankhurd Link Road. Slight left onto Kachra Depot Road. Slight Right. Slight right toward Ghatkopar - Mankhurd Link Rd/Jeejabai Bhosale Marg. Continue straight onto Ghatkopar - Mankhurd Link Rd/Jeejabai Bhosale Marg. Turn left. Merge with Bengaluru - Mumbai Hwy/Mumbai Hwy/Mumbai - Pandharpur Rd/Mumbai - Pune Hwy/Sion - Panvel Expy. Keep right to continue on Bengaluru - Mumbai Hwy/Mumbai Hwy/Mumbai - Pune Hwy. Keep right and merge onto NH 48. Continue on NH 48 to your destination in Shobhapur, Pune.
What To Eat And Stopovers
The road trip from Mumbai to Pune will present you with many gastronomical delights. There are at least 5-6 restaurants with options for all preferences of cuisine. Maharashtrian cuisine is delicious and there are a lot of amazing places to explore the local dishes like Thalipeeth, Sheera, and Maharashtrian Veg or Non-Veg Thaali, Misal-Pav, Vada-Pav, Kande Pohe, and Upma. It is a great idea to sample local dishes made from local ingredients. The food mall en route expressway is a good place for a quick bite. There are the usual options like MacDonald and KFC. The Vada Pav at the food mall is fresh and popular. There are washrooms and parking facilities at the food mall. You can even try a variety of fruit juices. Rama Krishna, Rudra’s Kailash Parbat Restaurant, Golden Wada Pav Food Stall, Manashakti Research Centre Restaurant, Homely Food Joshi’s Sanatorium, Sheetal Da Dhaba, Sunny Da Dhaba, Kinara Village Dhaba, La Boulangere Bakery, Ganesh Pav Bhaji Center, and Blue Water are some of the best restaurants en route Pune. Sheetal Da Dhaba has friendly and warm staff. The chicken biryani at this joint is simply delectable. You can even enjoy their famous gajar-ka-halwa. Blue Water is famous for Paneer Makhanwala and Prawn in Butter Garlic. At Manshakti, you can enjoy Maharashtrian delicacies like Sabudana Khichdi, Pohe, and Vada Pav.
Reaching There And Places To Visit
Pune is an ancient city with great historical importance. During your journey, you can take a detour and visit Della Adventure Park, Lohgad Fort, Rajmachi Fort, One Kiss Tunnel, Neelkantheshwar Temple, Ekveera Devi Temple, Bhimashankar, Karla Caves, and Pawna Lake. Once you reach Pune, there are amazing things to see, visit and explore. Aga Khan Palace – A Palace built in the 19th century by Aga Khan and it is also the site of Mahatma Gandhi's two year imprisonment in the 1940s. Sinhagad Fort, a historically significant fort that attracts hoards of visitors all throughout the year. Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum is a three-storey building that is home to various sculptures dating back to the 14th century. Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple in Pune is dedicated to Ganesh. It is one of the most popular temples in Maharashtra and is visited by thousands all through the year. The annual ten-day Ganeshotsav festival is vibrant and a thing of great pride for the people of Pune. Pune has plenty of amazing locations that visitors can explore. You can visit Khadakwasla Dam, Lal Mahal, Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, Pashan Lake, and Mulshi Dam. Make sure you have all the necessary information about timings and entry fees before visiting the museums and parks.