We started at around 6 am on wednesday from Pune. We drove through NH4 (Mumbai - Bangalore route.) The first target was Satara which is around 110km away. The roads are not that great. There are lot of over bridge construction happening. We took almost 2 hours to reach. After reaching Satara took a break for our breakfast. Had the traditional Maharashtrian Poha.
After Satara, the roads are much better. We were cruising at 140km/hr at one point.
There are atleast 3-4 tolls till Hubli which is around 325 km. We stopped for lunch at Kamat restaurant just before deviating from NH4 to Sirsi through Hubli-Sirsi state highway. Initial 20-25 kilometers is having really bad road with lot of potholes. As we go further, the roads became better. There were lot of trees on either side of the road. Looks like a good portion of this road is through forest area.
The village nearest to Jog falls is Siddapur. It is a small village where you can get almost all the basic things. By the time we reached Jog falls, it was around 5 pm. Immediately, we realised the big mistake we did. November is not the right time to visit the falls.
There are not much options to stay. There is a KSTDC hotel (Mayura) but it was fully reserved. Luckily, we got a room in PWD guest house which is in the same compound as the hotel. There are not much options for the food also. There was a nearby restaurant -- Alankar which is around 5 minutes drive from the falls. We had our dinner from there.
In the morning, the plan was to go to the bottom of the falls which is around 1200 steps down. After taking few pictures of the sun rise we were ready to go down.
But then we realised that, due to some accident that happened the previous week, visitors are not allowed to the bottom of the falls. That was yet another disappointment.
Without wasting much time we left to Gokarna. The roads were mostly through the forest and after reaching Honnavar, we got NH 17 (Edapally - Mumbai). But it is a two track highway where you need to have lot of overtaking skills. The roads were also not in good condition is some parts. After reaching Gokarna, we visited the main beach and OM Beach. OM beach is less crowded and the beach is more clean.
We didnt spend much time in Gokarna. After having our lunch we left to Palolem beach, Goa. Again it was through NH 17, with lot of narrow roads, turns and traffic. There were areas we got confused whether that was actually a National Highway. Another thing to be careful about are cattles in the middle of the road. Earlier in our trip, we had the experience of cattles in the middle of the road but not on a NH.
We reached Palolem beach by around 4.30pm. We took room in a shack in the beach itself.. Pappilon. It was spacious and clean. We went for a dip in the sea. Spent around 30-45 minutes in water. Had dinner and walked in the beach till late.
Next morning, we went to Mollem national park. Had to take NH 17 for around 20 km and turn in the direction of Quepem. After Quepem, we had to ask directions because there were not much direction boards. On the way to Mollem national park, there is Doodhsagar water falls (Chennai Express fame) near collem. There are only limited tokens available for visiting that falls. By the time we reached, the tokens were finished (we reached by 11 am). The locals say, it was because of Diwali holidays and because of the movie "Chennai Express". Other wise they don't face this much rush.
We left to national park which is near by. You can drive in the national park. There is a 7 km mud road for the tourists. Spotting any animal is hard.
We talked to the forest guard and he said, the animals will only come out either early in the morning or in the evening when the sun is not that hot. They have a camping facility and a 5km jungle trail (Booking needs to be done in the forest department office in Panjim).
We reached back to the Palolem beach, just in time to click few sunset snaps.
Next day, we started early to spot the dolphins.(by 7.30 am). We could see some even though not very clearly
Went to "honeymoon" island and saw butterfly island. (There is nothing much to see or do there). Came back. Had break fast and checked out from the place we were staying. Our next target was Candolim beach. Reached by 12.30. Just had a look at the beach. It was so crowded. Had lunch from there and left without wasting much time.
Our next target was to stay in Amboli which is on the way to Pune. We drove through NH17. Maharashtra part of NH17 was in good shape (atleast the part which we came). But we didint get chance to go much in that good road. Had to turn from a place called Sawantwadi. The roads are not in good shape. Has lot of twists and turns. Amboli water fall was another disappointing scene.
We changed our plans of staying in Amboli. Instead we decided to go straight to Pune. Drive from Amboli to NH4 was tough because of bad road and by that time.. it became dark. With the bright lights straight to the eyes and the potholes it took us some time before we reached the NH4.(we got NH 4 from Sankeshwar). From there Kolhapur was 60 km away. We stopped in Kolhapur for our dinner. Had the famous Kolhapuri Special Mutton curry. Took the long drive back through NH4. Reached Pune safely.
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