Driving on the NH4 and NH4A. Review on Pune

We drove from Pune to Goa last week. We took the NH4 from Pune to Belgaum via Satara and Kolhapur. The drive was a dream! The NH4 highway was spectacular, with 6 lane roads and smoothly flowing traffic. Being part of the Golden Quadrilateral, the roads are well-maintained as the frequent tolls tell you! Being first-timers on this route, we decided to stay on the NH4 till Belgaum and then take the NH4A via Khanapur, Londa, Molem and Ponda to Panaji.

This was a BAD idea! First off, the road is narrow and slows you down considerably. Secondly, the rains often wreaks havoc on the road as we discovered. There were intermittent strips of road connecting a series of potholes for well over 40 kms. Thirdly, the route takes you through forest, ghats and past the Mahaveer Sanctuary. Combined with the high truck traffic, the winding roads means that you drive slow and carefully. But, the route is extremely scenic and would have been a pleasure to drive through at a different time of year. All up, from Pune to Belgaum on the NH4 - a distance of about 336 kms - took us 5 hours. The remaining approx. 190kms took us almost the same time!

We tried a different route on the return going through Amboli Ghats, Ajra, Sawantwadi, and rejoining the NH4 before Kolhapur. The road is way better but still narrow, taking you through small villages which means you drive at about 50 kms/hour. I still recommend it for this time of the year though - much kinder to your car and way easier on your nerves! And then what pleasure to get back on the NH4! Really - actually makes long-distance driving in India fun!

Can't understand why there isn't a major highway right up to Goa given that it is a major destination and there is enough traffic to it to warrant it.