A ride to Panvel from Andheri is a great route to do about 100 kms with reasonably good road conditions, unless you choose to deviate from the main highways - and that's what I like to do!
Video Summary
Route Map
Statistics
Total Distance:
104.4 kms
Total Riding Time:
6 hours 20 minutes
Trek Hill Altitude:
153 mts
Trek Duration:
1 hour
Ride Details
I started my ride early Sunday morning without a specific destination, generally riding towards Panvel.
The morning air was crisp and cool, with just a hint of rain - perfect weather for a long ride!
I rode via Airoli and took a detour from Thane Belapur road at Nerul towards Belapur.
At Ulwe, I took another detour on the Dapoli Targarh road. Initially the road surface was quite good and I was hoping for a great ride through beautiful countryside
But I was horrified to see that after I reached the hills, the road surface had been butchered by these giant earth moving machines that were carving out the entire hillside and leaving gaping wounds in it
As I reached closer to Panvel, the bike and me, both were completely coated in mud - the blood of the mountains :( - I requested a boy who had a water spray to wash us both
At Panvel, I headed to my favorite place - Shree Datta Snacks - to enjoy freshly made Sabudana Khichdi and buttermilk
From Panvel, I rode along the JNPT road back towards Belapur. On the way, I noticed a beautiful unspoilt hillside nestling a small village called Nandgaon.
I rode into the village, not knowing what I would find. After a few conversations with the cowherd who was tending to his buffalo, I came to know of a temple on the hill that the villagers had built. He advised me to climb up to see it.
I pushed my bike up the slope till about half way up the hill, then parked it hidden in some bushes and trekked the rest of the way up
Once I reached the top, I got a breathtaking view of Panvel, and the JNPT road down below, seemingly with toy cars and trucks plying on it
I spent some time near the temple, enjoying the rain and the beautiful views - alone and peaceful with Sai Baba watching over me.
I trekked back downhill to where I had parked the bike. All around me, there were wild flowers of all colors and shapes!
A short but thrilling downhill ride got me back to the village of Nandgaon.
I took a break at the side of a pond and saw the reflections of the palm trees while resting
I rode back on JNPT road and then towards the Mumbai-Pune highway at Kamothe. From Kamothe I rode along the highway back to the Thane Belapur road and then back home
