Mumbai to Pune via road is one of the shortest yet most exciting. This route has everything to offer travellers, including natural beauty, lush greenery, forests, hills, lakes, serene trails, majestic forts and ancient architecture. You can just embark on a road trip from Mumbai to Pune on a long weekend and enjoy it to the brim. Pune is a place which has witnessed history with closed eyes and has left its trail all over Maharashtra. You can witness a glimpse of this while you’re travelling from Mumbai to Pune. Here is a compact guide with all the details about travelling from Mumbai to Pune via road.
Best Time To Plan Your Road Trip From Mumbai To Pune
Image Credit: Nikhil.kawale for Wikimedia Commons
A Mumbai to Pune road trip can be best enjoyed when the weather is suitable and the roads are good. Besides other factors, climate plays a crucial role in deciding the ideal time to plan a road trip from Mumbai to Pune.
October- January ( Winter Season)
Ideally, you should plan your trip during the cold months of October and January. Traveling in the winter season is ideal as the temperature is low, and it feels amazing during the day as the sun’s rays fall on you while you drive your way through the Western Ghats.
July to October (Monsoon Season)
The Western Ghats offer a fantastic view all year round. However, monsoons and winter are the best seasons to enjoy the natural beauty and weather when travelling from Mumbai to Pune by road. If you’re planning to travel in the monsoon season, you must be extra careful about the road conditions. Due to heavy rainfall, the roads often become very slippery, making it difficult for you to drive smoothly, and there are higher chances of accidents.
March to June (Summer Season)
The number of people visiting this season is comparatively fewer than in winter and monsoon months. If you enjoy the summer warmth and have a good tolerance to heat, you can also consider travelling during the summer months.
Must Read: Adventure Sports In Pune
Routes For Road Trip From Mumbai To Pune
If you’re considering travelling from Mumbai to Pune by road, the best answer is to go via the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The road distance from Mumbai to Pune via this route is 148 Km. Before planning the trip, you must remember that both cities are prone to traffic during peak hours. Keep checking live updates to get a rough idea about the traffic condition and plan the trip accordingly. If the traffic is just like on regular days, this trip is expected to take three hours at max.
Here’s a breakdown of the route:
- Mumbai To Thane
Image Credit: Mandar Dewalkar for Wikimedia Commons
You must start from Mumbai early in the morning to avoid the city traffic. Once you branch off from the normal route close to Chembur, you’ll start your journey to Thane. This road might feel like a usual city route to an extent but a few kilometres after Thane you’ll see the roads transforming into smooth, wide and breezy highways through lush green mountains.
Suggested Read: Beaches Near Pune
- Thane To Igatpuri
Image Credit: Kashif Pathan for Wikimedia Commons
This place is popular for its widespread vineyards, some extending near the main highway. To continue on the same route, you need to branch off the National Highway a little after Igatpuri at a place named Ghoti Bhudruk.
- Igatpuri To Ghoti Budruk
Image Credit: Superfast1111 for Wikimedia Commons
After driving on the National Highway for more than 100 Km, you can lower the speed as you start for Bhandardara, which is nearly 44 km away. This place is well-known for its scenic beauty.
Suggested Read: Trekking Destinations Near Mumbai & Pune
- Ghoti Budruk To Bhandardara
Image Credit: Ameyawiki for Wikimedia Commons
There’s another road running across the lake, which has many picnic spots. If you don’t enjoy picnics, you can keep driving around anyway to indulge in natural beauty.
- Bhandardara to Pune
Image Credit: w:user:PlaneMad for Wikimedia Commons
Starting from Alephata, the route becomes simpler. You join the National Highway sometime around evening, and you’ll find high traffic. However, keeping the traffic aside, the journey is pretty easy, with a straight route to Pune, getting into the city via the Pimpri-Chinchwad side.
Suggested Read: Pune Nightlife
Must-Visit Places En Route Mumbai To Pune
Your Mumbai to Pune road trip will make you realise that the journey is more beautiful than the destination. There are so many places along the way where you can stop, relax and even enjoy sightseeing. Short detours will lead you to some of the most amazing and spectacular spots.
1. Aadishakti Mata Ekvira Devi Temple, Karla
Image Credit: Akshat.saxena21 for Wikimedia Commons
This temple is dedicated to the Mother of Parashurama, the deathless sage and is located in Karla Caves. The goddess is also referred to as Renuka in different parts of India and Nepal. The Temple was initially constructed for the Buddhists to offer prayer, but now both Hindus and Buddhists come here and you can see the influence of both cultures.
2. Karnala Bird Sanctuary, Karnala
Image Credit: 9vineetp for Wikimedia Commons
The Karnala Bird Sanctuary is located in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. Nearly 50 km away from Mumbai, it is one of the best places of attraction for people visiting Thane, Mumbai or nearby areas. This sanctuary is heaven for tourists who enjoy bird-watching. Apart from its flora and fauna, this place is also popular amongst trekkers for its exciting environment.
Suggested Read: Beaches Near Pune
3. Bushi Dam
Image Credit: Sheetal patel17 for Wikimedia Commons
Bushi Dam is a brick-and-mortar structure built upon the Indrayani River. It is situated in the Lonavala city in Maharashtra and appears buried in the middle of the picturesque Sahyadri mountain ranges. This place is most visited by tourists during the monsoon season due to higher levels of water as the river water completely dries out during the summer months. Surrounded by lush greenery all over, this place gives out a super revitalising vibe.
4. Duke’s Nose, Khandala
Image Credit:Alewis2388 for Wikimedia Commons
Duke’s Nose is one of the most well-known viewpoints and is located near the INS Shivaji in Lonavala. This place is also known as Nagphani because of its cliff which resembles the hood of a snake. Popular for adventure-filled activities like trekking, rock climbing, zip lining etc. It receives visitors almost all year round. The trek to this cliff starts at Khandala and it takes almost 4 hours to reach the top.
Suggested Read: Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary In Pune
5. Neelkantheshwar Temple, Kondhur
Image Credit: Abhirock123 for Wikimedia Commons
This is a beautiful Shiv temple located atop a small hill amidst the Panshet and Khadakwasla Dam. You need to climb for 45 minutes to reach the temple and walking is the only way you can visit there. This place is indeed blissful for nature lovers and photographers. The temple remains open for all weekdays with free entry for all.
6. Bhaja Caves
Image Credit: Photo Dharma for Wikimedia Commons
Bhaja Caves were built by people who followed the Hinayana faith in Buddhism. Located nearly 400 feet above the village “Bhaja,” they are 22 caves carved out of huge rocks. You must climb 445 steps to reach them. Bhaja Caves are also known as Monastic Caves or Vihara Caves and are famous for their artefacts, shrines, enchanting prayer rooms, and representations of visuals from Indian mythology.
Further Read: Temples In Pune
A road trip from Mumbai to Pune is just as exhilarating as it sounds. There are majestic forts, temples and lots of ancient architecture along the way. So, next time when you plan a trip to Pune from Mumbai, make sure to set on a road trip because there is no other way to explore the scenic beauty between both cities.
For our editorial codes of conduct and copyright disclaimer, please click here.
Cover Image Source: Shutterstock
Frequently Asked Questions About Road Trip From Mumbai To Pune
How many tolls are there from Mumbai to Pune?
There are 5 toll plazas where toll is collected amongst which the main ones are Talegaon and Khalapur.
Is there any speed limit on the Mumbai-Pune expressway?
The speed limit is 100 km/hour for major parts of the route but it decreases to 60 km per hour in the ghat section.
Is there any ghat between Mumbai and Pune?
There is Bhor ghat in between Mumbai and Pune.
Which highway is the most suited for road journeys from Mumbai to Pune?
NH48 is the most suited highway for a road journey from Mumbai to Pune.
What are the starting and end points on this highway?
The starting point is Kalamboli, Navi Mumbai and the endpoint is Kiwale, Pune.
People Also Read:
Hyderabad To Gokarna Road Trip Road Trip from Mumbai Road Trips from Goa
With a passion for exploring and travelling to the roads long forgotten, experience the world through enthralling stories and adventures. Join me as I share my experiences at some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations and quench that pestering curiosity with something exciting!
