Road Trip (Pune-Bangalore-Mysore-Ooty-Pune) in My Chevrolet Aveo

The trip was decided but unplanned knowingly so lot of fun, confidence and experience got in this trip.

We, myself and my family members i.e. wife and daughters, elder one of 9 years old and younger one of 3.5 years old started our journey on Morning 6 O’clock from Pune. The car condition was very god just purchased brand New Chevrolet Aveo LT 1.4 L Petrol engine with Velvet Red color 8 months back and had 1 servicing and checkup before long drive. IT has building tape having good quality of sound. With Pt. Bhimsen Joshi’s Bhajan and Bhaktigeet followed with Classical and then all types of movie songs Marathi and Hindi we enjoyed the journey. We stopped at first stop at Belgam and had breakfast and became fresh.
It was very good trip but lots of things decided on the fly and took decision immediately and because of which always busy with Road condition, traffic, path finding (after B’lore) and most importantly safe journey. We were roughly planned to have one day in B’lore, two days in Coorg, one day in Ooty and if possible Kodai Kanol but last moment we decided to drop Coorg because of rainy season and day at Coorg instead we roam around and settled in Mysore for one day.

Continue with journey from Belgam we found after Hubli-Dharwar lot of road divides were there because of road construction and that makes my speed slow down and bit more careful because of worst road condition in between the two roads. If you have vehicle with good ground clearance almost like Truck then it’s ok otherwise beware to crash ‘Pata’ (Marathi word may be slates in English) or touch that to road can create a problem. Fortunately and with God’s mercy I couldn’t find such problems. Otherwise road conditions were too good to drive. Especially after Kolhapur one can drive with 130, 140 with ease and without any problem if your Car is ok with that speed. We took food in between and finally we reached at B’lore around 7 PM evening (13 hours from Pune) and stuck in traffic Jam towards Majestic Circle which is main area for all travelers. Lot of road constructions was going on for skybus.

We found one Hotel ‘Hoysala’ near Majestic Circle and found it was clean, room conditions was luxurious and with appropriate rate. The manager told us to have dinner before 9:30 pm and after becoming fresh we took Karnataka food and decided to have same in all over Karnataka state. It was marvelous and we go to sleep within time. The whole journey was very good and still I was fresh and I must say it is just because first is Aveo Car and second the Road conditions of NH4.

Next day after discussing with hotel manager and family concern we decided to drop site seeing of B’lore initially and deiced to come back in return journey if time permits and started towards Mysore. We took guide from Mysour who became family friend or more than that and still we remember him for all his hospitality and help what he did for us. In Mysour as well as in Ooty (another guide) for ooty site seeing so we saw almost most of the places but as we had decided that we don’t have to run for each and everything and will go by our own decision and by physiblility study and condition we enjoyed.

We went from Bangalore at morning to Srirangapatna and took guide. He was so nice and in helping nature we enjoyed Mysour than any other place.  We went to hotel and became fresh and then we especially saw Bird centurion Park and Chamuda Hills, Mysour Art & Craft, Mysore Silk, Brinavan Garden and went to hotel for rest. We left the guide in Mysour only.

Next day early in the morning 5 AM we went for Ooty by postponing an Idea of Coorg which was taken initially. Went to Bandipur reserved Forest for forest trip and reach at Bandipur at 7 AM but because of less no. of people trip was cancelled. Already one trip had started 20 mins back when we reach there. We went to Ooty with shortest route and roam around in ooty with another guide. It was very nice site seeing and real Hill station. Off course it was full of driving examination for me. But at the end was good. It was heavy rain fall at Ooty that night so decided to drop an idea of Coorg but wanted to confirm the same when we will reach back to Mysour.

At Mysour our guide was waiting for us for having sweet and to see Rajwada. We decided to drop Rajwada this time and started for Kolhapur. He suggested a root via Tumkur Phata which kept Bangalore away and reached at Tumkur after 71 km from Bangalore so in all saves more than 70 km distance. It was good decision because we experienced the real Karnataka village life style and found fresh Open air as well as lots of green fields, bullock car, market place and what not. The road condition was not too good so took almost 2 hours to reach at highway. We did that but because of which we couldn’t stopped at Bangalore and we caught in heavy rain fall, darkness of night and lot of fog which was again ‘Test’ of my driving skill  jokes apart but that was an eye opener experience for us and till that time we were tremendously in tension (because rain, fog and road diversions) because of which we couldn’t call to anybody.

Finally we reached at Hubli at night and next morning via Kolhapur we came back to Pune.

My Aveo LT gave me almost 15-16 KM/Ltr average and without any problem whatsoever and first time I found Comfortness of any luxurious car.

Learning from this trip was, to stopped at safe place before 6 PM or before having darkness. Do not go ahead especially when you are alone. Secondly have another family or families with you which will give you some comfort, lot of relaxation and driving tension. Have enough food with you so that even if you have to stopped at one place for more than 8, 10 hours you will have food and water with you. It should include food for small children too. Like if my younger daughter eats only rice or biscuits then I should have enough stock of same or similar food which she can eat and we can save as much as possible for next too.

In all we did approx 2800 KM running with full of scenery and lot of enjoyment and driving skills.
So Happy ending for this trip

By : Kedar Sejwalkar