By Mukund Sathe
Diary of a cyclist – a summary of mini Ashtvinayak solo cycling expedition – Part 2.
Day 1: 25th December, 2025 Thursday (153 KM) –
During the 2023 Christmas vacations, I completed a solo cycling expedition to Lenyadri, Ozar, Ranjangaon, and Theur Ashtvinayak Ganapatis. Last year, I spent time on the Munnar expedition. It was Tuesday noon when I realized that I hadn’t planned anything this year. That’s where the plan for the remaining four Ganapati darshans was drawn. I checked with Yogesh. He confirmed his presence on Wednesday. We had a couple of calls for planning, and he reached my home with a cycle at night. Thursday at 5:45 AM, we were in the saddle to take off. Driver Vijay in the support vehicle was expected to catch us around lunchtime.
We hit the palm beach road, took a newly built airport boundary road connecting JNPT panvel highway and reached Shedung to capture a beautiful sunrise.
A few water and nature’s call breaks on the Mumbai – Pune old highway, and we reached our first milestone of Mahad Ganapati. The ride to Mahad Ganapati is always a special ride for me. When I restarted cycling after a gap of almost 25 years, my first 100km ride on a non-geared cycle was to Mahad Ganapati. It gave me the confidence to upgrade myself to a geared cycle. Subsequently, I had another ride to Mahad Ganapati with my wife Lata and a few rides with other friends. After reaching the temple, we realized that it’s Chaturthi today. There was a long queue for darshan. We dropped the idea of joining the queue due to a paucity of time, prayed at the entrance, and moved to the next target.
As still some energy was left without having breakfast, we moved to Pali. Some bad road patches in Pali village and reached Khopoli-Pali road. Around 10 AM, we finally took a breakfast break near a restaurant at Imagica. The temperature was rising. The winter effect was only in the morning; the days were bright and sunny. Passed through the dense forest of Umberkhed, but the further road was a highway without trees. Reached Pali temple by 12:30 PM. Again, due to Chaturthi rush, prayed at the gate.
Took a lunch break at Gadre khanaval near the temple. Vijay had reached Pali with the support vehicle. Refilled snacks in the cycle pouch and left Pali by 2 PM. The further journey was through the hilly regions with small ups and downs. Had a tea break at a restaurant at Varchiwadi. It was 4 PM and 50km remained to Mulshi, our planned stop. It seemed to be a difficult target with the climb of Tamhini ghat on the way. Slow and steady, we started climbing Tamhini. The gradient was steady, and hence we were able to climb with a constant gear combination. It was sunset time when we reached the top.
Though the major climb was done, due to the hilly region, it was all an up-and-down ride, reducing the average ride speed. Every hill you crossed had an amazing view.
Soon the daylight vanished, and it was getting pitch dark. Mulshi was far away. The cars were zooming with bright headlights, causing blindness. The headlights of our cycles were not very effective. We decided to use the support vehicle. No, not for carrying our cycles. We started riding ahead of the support vehicle in its headlight. We crossed Garudmachi, a management development center. I had attended a two-day program here in the year 2006, where I experienced game-based management learnings.
After driving in the dark for a few kilometers, finally we saw some tubelights showing signs of civilizations. We dropped the idea of reaching Mulshi and decided to stay at the first resort we see on the way. By 8PM, we checked in the resort. It was getting cold. Took hot water bath, had dinner and hit the bed. We had covered 153 KM with elevation gain of 1.6KM.
Day 2: 26th December, 2025 Friday (122 KM) –
It was a chilly December morning. We left at 6AM in the dark. It was a pleasant ride on the banks of Mulshi dam backwater. Had a tea break on the way and moved towards Paud. On the way had a pleasant surprise. My elder brother Milind spotted me on the way. He was driving from Pune to our hometown Varandh. Renu vaini gave us ‘Poli ladu’ for more energy 🙂
Had a thalipeeth for breakfast near Paud. Again the temperature started raising and came across steep climb at Pirangut. As it was working day, lot of office traffic was there on the road. The route was all through Pune suburb’s traffic of Bavdhan, Warje to Katraj. Took a lunch break at New Ekadashi restaurant at Katraj. When you go for long rides, you want to explore the nature. Here we ended up spending half day in the city.
Post lunch we moved towards Bopdev ghat in the scorching sun. Initial climb towards ghat was too steep. An hour and half of climb and we were on the top of Bopdev ghat. Further ride was all free fall towards Saswad. We crossed the Karha river at Saswad and took a tea break.
With fresh energy and evening cool weather we began our journey towards Jejuri. It being Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palakhi marg, the road had almost 12′ of shoulder (designed for Palakhi). It was a fun speeding on the entire stretch. We prayed to Jejuri Khandoba hills and took exit to Morgaon by sunset. Again it became dark in the last stretch towards Morgaon. The road was 4 lane road with a divider and also had a good shoulder. Though it was safe to ride, we repeated the previous night’s strategy. We continued in the lights of support vehicle tailing us.
We reached Morgaon by 8PM. Headed straight to the temple. Had bappa darshan. Thanked him for the safe ride. Checked into temple’s bhakti-niwas. Took hot bath water bath, had dinner at nearby Ganesh lunch home. Nights were pretty cold. Today we had covered distance of 122 KM with elevation gain of 1.1KM. This is the first time I completed 100+ km on two consecutive days.
Day 3: 27th December, 2025 Saturday (59 KM) –
It was the last day of the expedition. We left by 6:30 in the pleasant cool weather. Had a tea break at Supe and moved to Patas. Spotted a peacock on the way. Lot of area was marked as reserved forest.
Came across a beautiful Bhanoba temple at Kusegaon before reaching Patas. Crossed Pune – Soalpur highway. A few months back we had traveled on this highway for Pandharpur cycle wari. Took a breakfast break for having matki bhel.
It was a sugarcane season. Spotted some sugar factories on the way. Lot of tractors were carrying sugarcanes to these factories. The tractors were well decorated and some having loud music system installed on them.
Crossed Daund, a major railway junction. A few kilometers more and reached Siddhtek on the bank of Bhima river.
Since morning I wished to have sugarcane juice. But could not locate a single shop, though the roads were filled with sugarcane tractors, like ‘Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink’. When we reached the Siddhtek temple, the entrance was fully surrounded by sugarcane juice shops. Gulped a glass of tasty juice and entered the temple. Visited the final Ashtvinayak Ganesha, Siddhivinak of Siddhtek completing today’s 59 KM of journey.
Put the cycles in the support vehicle and headed back to Vashi. Two and half days of amazing cycling experience covering total of 334KM and elevation gain of almost 3KM. Fulfilled the wish of visiting Ashtvinayak on a cycle. Thanks to Yogesh, had a good company. On the way back in the vehicle, was thinking of next winter expedition of “11 Marutis’ 🙂
Ganapati Bappa Moraya !!!
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