My wife and I did a roadtrip from Mumbai – Trichy – Chennai – Mumbai in our Alto K10 car.

Route: Thane – Pune – Satara – Kolhapur – Belgaum – Hubli – Davangere – Chitradurga – Tumkur – Bangalore – Krishnagiri – Namakkal – Srirangam – Thanjavur – Kumbakonam – Chidambaram – Chennai – Bangalore – Tumkur – Chitradurga – Davangere – Hubli – Belgaum – Kolhapur – Satara – Pune – Thane

Day 1:

We started sharp at 3 AM from Thane. We did non-stop till Satara and we reached at 7:30 AM. We wanted to avoid morning traffic so we started as early as possible. The best part was all tolls were waived due to demonetisation effect. This helped us in saving a lot of time as well.

We stopped somewhere in the outskirts of Satara for breakfast. Had some Idly, Poha & Tea. Our next target was to reach Kolhapur. The roads were perfect NH4 highway after Satara. 4 laning of Pune – Satara is on so there were diversions in between.

We reached Kolhapur at 9 and our next destination was Belgaum and ahead. We reached Dharwad at around 11. There are not many options for eating on this highway. The best restaurant we found was Kamat Upachar just before Dharwad.

Since we reached at 11:15, the lunch was not yet ready so we had to settle for tiffin dishes. We had Vada sambhar, Pooris. We also purchased famous Dharwad peda. It was yummy and chocolaty!

We pushed ahead and we never stopped till Tumkur. One can easily maintain speeds of 100 kms safely on those highways. The drive was a breeze. We got a little exhausted when we reached outskirts of Tumkur at 5:00 PM. We stopped for nature’s call somewhere and we decided to drive till 8:00 PM.

We had made reservations for Hotel at Krishnagiri. A thought popped up to cover as much as possible and maybe stay at Salem. We decided to take a call after reaching Bangalore.

We reached Bangalore NICE road by 6:00 PM. We encountered a bit of traffic while exit. We were somewhat tired and hungry since we did not eat much after our lunch.

We stopped at Adyar Ananda Bhavan for dinner. We decided to reach Krishnagiri and stay for the night and not to go further.

Return Journey: We left again at 3:00 AM from Chennai. We covered a 1000 kms and reached Kolhapur at 8:00 PM. We stayed there overnight somewhere near the temple. Next day morning we had darshan at Mahalakshmi Temple and had famous Misal Pav (Expected it to be very spicy) but it ended up a normal one.

Things to keep in mind for roadtrip:

1. Get your vehicle serviced before your trip

2. Ensure air pressure is correct

3. Take couple of cloths to tie up at back window to avoid sun heat during afternoon time

4. Carry a lot of water

5. Drink Coconut water on the highway

6. You can stop at any petrol bunk for nature call as we found all to be clean

7. Try to maintain average speed of 80-90 kmph.

8. Do not race at 120-140 kmph as your average will only come down.

Here’s a simple pricing breakdown for the Mumbai – Chennai Road Trip:

Duration: 6-7 Days (One-way)

Pricing (Per Person):

1. Budget Package: ₹12,000 to ₹18,000
   • Accommodation: Budget hotels or guesthouses along the route
   • Inclusions: Shared transport, basic meals (breakfast, some lunches/dinners), and sightseeing stops
   • Activities: Visit to Pondicherry, Mahabalipuram, and coastal towns on the way
2. Standard Package: ₹20,000 to ₹30,000
   • Accommodation: 3-star hotels or resorts
   • Inclusions: Private transport, meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and guided sightseeing
   • Activities: Explore coastal and cultural spots, visit Chidambaram, Pondicherry, Mahabalipuram, and local attractions
3. Luxury Package: ₹40,000 to ₹60,000+
   • Accommodation: 4-5 star hotels or boutique stays
   • Inclusions: Premium transport (SUV or luxury vehicle), meals, and exclusive experiences
   • Activities: VIP experiences at historical sites, private tours, and luxury dining along the route

Best Time to Visit:

• November to March (ideal weather for a long road trip).

This road trip offers a great mix of coastal beauty, cultural landmarks, and road adventures, all while driving through iconic towns and beaches along the east coast!

“To get an itinerary prepared for your trip, connect with me on Whatsapp @ +91 95945 58457.”