Mumbai - Karla- Lonavala - Khandala -Mumbai

Mumbai Pune Express Highway

Gang : Kshitij, Pankaj, Ashish,Saswat,Mohit, Kartikaye aka Goa

Photo courtesy : Kartikaye Gomber's sony erricsson cell phone

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page."

This ride has everything what any biker will love. Long straight roads, nice curves towards the end, a small stretch on express highway and off course beautiful scenery.
We started at morning 6 AM Kshitij was pillion this time. Early morning is joy to ride nice atmosphere and empty roads. We took early stop at Mc-Donalds at panvel which opens as early as 6 in morning. After a burger and coffee started again and committed one big mistake without looking at any sign board took a flyover and that turned out to be EXPRESS HIGHWAY !!!!!!!!! realized that very soon but was already too late, a policeman came on bike and asked to stop. He told us that we have been captured by video camera …GOD !!!!!! really technology has made its way in our country. Policeman also informed that fine of doing such kind of act is 2200 Indian rupees !!!!!!! that was about twice the budget I had planned for entire trip. After much persuasions issue was settled for 500 bucks but that itself was big amount. A bad start for any kind of trip indicating omens are not right. Anyway I thought not to think more about it and vowed to read every sign board carefully.

Finally got off the Express or Expensive highway and took NH-4. After some traffic near Panvel the road was all ours. There are lot of long straight stretches with ups and downs till khopoli and one really enjoys the landscapes. After khopoli roads get stepper and speed dies down but the beauty of the view is mesmerizing. After driving for few kilometers NH-4 merged with express highway and that ride was a treat with few rising elevations. Express highway is perfect example of what comes out when sophisticated human engineering meets supreme nature. Roads gels perfectly with the beautiful mountains.



After taking khandala exit point we were back on NH-4 within few minutes we reached MTDC resort at Karla. This resort located near karla caves is ideal place to live lush green site unmatched peace and very economical. Saswat and Kartikaye joined us and we moved to Karla caves. Karla caves are some 3-4 Kms from MTDC resort and has steepest elevation in shortest distance. I had few problems negotiating elevations but finally managed to conquer the altitudes required. Karla caves date back to 160 BC these beautifully carved caves take you a journey back in past narrating glorious Indian history. These caves have Chaityas (halls) and viharas (monasteries) built in time of Hinayana sect. Hinayana means “the low or inferior vehicle” yana means vehicle Hinayana was older path in Buddhist sect. Mahayana being the later one which means “greater vehicle”. All these vehicles signifies what kind of yana or vehicle one need to used to achieve enlightment or nirvana.


MTDC resort at Karla


View from Karla Caves

On our way back to MTDC resort stopped at a dhabha for lunch but that turned out to be pathetic its service was worst ever seen. Finally returned to MTDC resort and took a short nap. At around 5 we all except Pankaj and Mohit (both drunk by now) went about exploring the resort. We found an old wrecked bridge Karikaye took lot of snaps with his new mobile camera while Mohanty kept coming up with some creative poses for snaps (at least he claimed them creative). We chatted for about three hours, there was little drizzle and that made things better. This chatting session continued after dinner also and by the time we decided to sleep it was already 2 AM. It was wonderful to remember good old college days.

Next day we checked out of the resort at 9 AM and hired a Tata Sumo for sight seeing. We covered all points in lonavala and khandala guess I don’t need to say anything more about breathless beauty these two hill stations posses. Enjoyment touches its zenith if you are in company of your friends. After covering all the points we purchased famous lonavala chikki and jelly. I left alone on bike and covered entire stretch without any stop except for one for the couple who had a flat I hitch hiked mechanic for them. They were highly obliged by the gesture.


Tiger Point Lonavala


This was one of the most wonderful trip I hope more such are on cards. Need to visit again lonavala during monsoons.