New Route for Traveling from Bangalore to Pune: A Guide with Navigation Tips and Cautions

This new route took approximately 15 hours with three breaks, longer than usual but with fewer traffic jams compared to NH48.

Travelers heading from Bangalore to Pune can now consider a new route that bypasses some of the heavy traffic along the usual NH48. Here’s how to navigate this route, which takes a detour near Pandharpur and Mangalwedha and reconnects with NH50 through several single-lane roads and village stretches.

Route Overview and Navigation Tips

1. From Pandharpur to NH561A:

After reaching Pandharpur, you’ll need to briefly enter the city on a single-lane concrete road before accessing a bypass to connect to NH561A towards Mangalwedha. This stretch has frequent speed bumps, especially in the villages you’ll pass through, so expect slower speeds.

2. Through Mangalwedha to Zalki:

Once you reach Mangalwedha, you have two options:

• Bypass Option: A longer bypass route that avoids the main town.

• Town Route: A direct road through Mangalwedha, allowing a shorter path towards Zalki.

Note that the road to Zalki is single-laned and broken in many sections. Signage between Mangalwedha and Zalki can be sparse, so be cautious, as it’s easy to mistakenly veer towards Vijayapura. Make sure to use a GPS or map to stay on track.

3. Zalki to NH50:

After Zalki, the route connects to NH50, a four-lane highway that allows for faster travel. However, this highway has very few restaurants or rest stops along the stretch from Zalki to Chitradurga, with minimal dining options, especially during festival days.

Travel Tips and Cautions

• Food and Rest Stops: Only one open restaurant, Savji Swagat Hotel in Ilkal, which offered mainly non-vegetarian dishes and limited vegetarian options. For those traveling along NH50, it’s best to pack food and snacks in case local restaurants are closed.

• Traffic Jams on NH48: Advise to divert from NH48 due to severe traffic jams and lane squeezes, particularly around Nelamangala and Yeshwantpur. These bottlenecks can stretch the journey considerably.

In Summary:

If NH48 traffic is overwhelming, this alternative route offers a manageable, albeit slower, option. However, travelers needing a quicker return may consider the Kolhapur-Belgaum route for smoother travel and faster arrival.