How the Idea Was Born
Some journeys begin quietly—with a thought, a message, or a late-night conversation. Almost 50 days before the journey, the idea of a road trip towards North India took shape. I reached out to my college friends—Mahesh, Shiva, and Naveen—and their instant agreement felt like the first green signal from the universe. That excitement didn’t allow us to wait; the very same day, we began planning. What started as a casual discussion quickly turned into something much bigger.
Choosing the Anchor: Udaipur
Every long journey needs an anchor—a place that gives direction to the plan. After multiple discussions and careful analysis, we finalized Taj Aravali Resort, Udaipur. With New Year approaching and holiday prices rising, we knew hesitation could cost us the trip itself. We didn’t want changing minds or increasing prices to derail the plan. So, on 28th December 2025, we locked the dates and booked the hotel. That single click changed everything—the trip was no longer optional. It was official.
From Dates to Details
Once the dates were locked, excitement slowly transformed into responsibility. We started building a detailed 11-day itinerary, breaking the journey down day by day. Distances, cities, lunch stops, overnight stays, sightseeing spots—every detail mattered. A checklist followed soon after, growing longer with each discussion.With every plan we made, the road ahead became clearer—and the wait became harder.
An Unexpected Turn
Just when everything seemed perfectly aligned, reality reminded us that plans don’t always move in straight lines. A week before the journey, Shiva had to drop out due to personal reasons. The news left a quiet pause in our excitement. Trips like these are about people, and losing one felt heavier than changing a route or hotel. But after that brief silence came a strong decision—the trip would not be canceled. Even if we were fewer, we would go. Some journeys demand commitment, not perfection.
Driving Realities and a New Hope
With three people left, practical challenges surfaced quickly. We planned to take Naveen’s Kia Carens, a manual transmission car. Only Naveen and I could drive it, which meant sharing the entire 11-day driving responsibility between just the two of us. It wasn’t ideal—but we were ready. Still, we hoped for one more companion. That hope led me to call Lagu
When Things Fell Back Into Place
After hearing the full plan, Lagu didn’t hesitate—he agreed to join. That moment felt like balance returning. Mahesh, who firmly believed that odd numbers bring bad luck, was especially relieved. We were four again. Even better, Lagu brought a solution we didn’t know we needed—his 7-seater automatic Toyota Rumion. Spacious, comfortable, and perfect for long distances, it solved our driving and luggage challenges in one move. To make the trip even more special, Lagu installed a dash camera in his car within two days, as if to say this journey deserved to be remembered.
Planning the First Morning
With everything finally aligned, our focus shifted to the beginning.We planned the start carefully:
- Lagu would bring his car to my home, making it our official starting point
- We would wash the car and perform a small pooja in front of my home, seeking blessings for the long road ahead
- Mahesh booked a cab and arrived at 5:00 AM, before the city woke up
- Naveen had gone to Tumkur the previous day to drop his family
The plan was simple yet symbolic—three of us would start from Bangalore, drive about 70 km, and pick up Naveen from Tumkur.
Day 1 – Bangalore to Solapur 25th December 2025 | 627 KM
Before Sunrise: Where the Journey Truly Began
The day started before dawn, when most of Bangalore was still
asleep.
As planned, Lagu reached my home at 4:30 AM with his car. The first
thing we did was wash the car and perform a small pooja in front of my
home—seeking blessings for a safe and smooth journey ahead. Soon after, Mahesh arrived by cab, and with a hot cup of tea,
excitement in our eyes, and bags packed, we finally started our journey from
home at 5:45 AM.
First Fuel, First Destination – Tumkur
We stopped near Gurguntapally to fill a full tank of petrol, officially setting the tone for a long drive ahead. Our next stop was Tumkur, where Pavithra Hotel is famous for its delicious thatte idli. Since Naveen was already in Tumkur, we asked him to come directly to Pavithra Hotel and shared our live location. He arrived by auto, and within minutes, his luggage was shifted into our car. With all four of us finally together, we enjoyed our first breakfast of the trip—simple, tasty, and satisfying.
An Unexpected Tragedy on the Highway
About 50 km after Tumkur, our journey came to a sudden halt. Traffic slowed, then stopped completely. Some vehicles were taking U-turns, others moved into service roads, but we stayed put, hoping the situation would clear soon. After 10–15 minutes of crawling traffic, we reached a nearby village and asked a local what had happened. The answer was heartbreaking. A container truck had hit a bus, causing a fire. Around 17 people had lost their lives, burned inside the bus during the early hours of the morning. Even at 10:00 AM, the road was still blocked—media, police, fire brigade, and crowds surrounded the site, while a crane worked to clear the remains. Silence filled our car. It took us nearly 2–3 hours to cross that stretch. On the very first day of our journey, we were reminded how fragile life can be.
Plans Change, Priorities Don’t
According to our original plan, we should have been in Hospet by now, enjoying the view of Tungabhadra Dam. But reality had other plans. Next on our list was Bijapur (Vijayapura), where we wanted to visit Gol Gumbaz before it closed at 5:00 PM. We were already two hours behind schedule, so we made a tough call—cancel the dam visit and prioritize Gol Gumbaz. We took some photo on the way near Dam backwater view point. Google Maps showed our arrival time as 5:30 PM, and we still needed to eat lunch. Time was running fast.
Lunch Under a Tree: Simple Yet Perfect
Instead of searching for a restaurant, we stopped near a beautiful open field with a large tree. Under its shade, we unpacked our home-cooked food. Lunch was simple but unforgettable: Jowar roti, Groundnut powder mixed with curd, Groundnut holige. The rotis were crisp like papad, and every bite felt comforting. That peaceful lunch under the tree felt like a small reward after a tough stretch of road.
Racing Against Time: Gol Gumbaz
After lunch, we pushed forward. Somehow, we managed to recover 30 minutes on the road. At exactly 5:00 PM, we reached Gol Gumbaz. I asked Lagu to quickly get the tickets while I parked the car. We were the last batch to enter before closing. Just in time.
Gol Gumbaz: Gol Gumbaz, located in Vijayapura, Karnataka, is a magnificent 17th-century monument and the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah. Famous for its massive unsupported dome and the iconic Whispering Gallery, where even a soft sound echoes across the structure, it stands as a timeless symbol of architectural brilliance and royal grandeur. Standing beneath the massive dome, all the stress of the day slowly faded away.
Shivagiri: Light, Peace, and Silence
After Gol Gumbaz, we drove about 4 km to Shivagiri. By the time we reached, it was around 6:30 PM. The Shivagiri statue of Lord Shiva stood tall, glowing as lights changed colors every few seconds—creating a magical visual effect. We spent some quiet moments there, took photos, and soaked in the calm atmosphere.
A Home Stop Filled With Warmth
From Shivagiri, we headed to my home. I had already called my mom to prepare dinner. When we arrived, dinner was ready. I introduced my friends to my parents and showed them my home. After refreshing, we enjoyed a comforting meal of chapathi and brinjal curry. By 8:00 PM, dinner was done, and it felt like home had recharged us.
Crossing State Borders and Ending the Day in Faith
We then resumed our journey towards Solapur, about 100 km away. This marked our entry into a new state—Maharashtra. We reached Solapur at 9:45 PM and quickly visited Siddheshwar Temple, which was open till 10:00 PM.
Siddheshwar Mandir : Siddheshwar Mandir in Solapur, Maharashtra, is an ancient and highly revered temple dedicated to Lord Siddheshwar, a form of Lord Shiva. Located beside the sacred Siddheshwar Lake, the temple is known for its calm spiritual atmosphere and deep historical significance.
A Peaceful End to a Long Day
Inside the temple campus, rooms were available. Luckily, we got one clean room at a minimal cost, with good car parking. We collected our essentials, settled in, and finally lay down to rest. Day 1 ended—tired, grateful, and filled with unforgettable memories.The road had tested us, surprised us, and welcomed us all at once.
Day 2 – Solapur to Dhule 26th Dec 2025 | 371 km
The hotel staff had informed us that hot water would be available only after 6:00 AM, but somehow I woke up early around 5:00 AM. I just waited quietly for others to wake up. Mahesh also woke up around 5:15 AM, and we spent some time walking in front of the room, enjoying the early morning calm. Mahesh didn’t wait for hot water and took a cold water bath. One by one, all of us got ready, and by 6:00 AM we went again for morning darshan at Siddheshwar Temple. The morning view of the temple felt completely different from the night. We could see the entire Siddheshwar Lake filled with water, and the surroundings looked peaceful and fresh. After darshan, we packed our things, loaded the car, and started from Solapur towards Tuljapur.
Tuljapur – Crowds and Patience
We reached Tuljapur Temple around 8:15 AM. Finding parking was very difficult. Somehow we managed to park, but the parking lady was not happy with the way the car was placed. She collected the cash but clearly said she wouldn’t give a ticket and would deny responsibility if the police questioned her. We agreed, thinking we would finish darshan quickly and return.
The temple was extremely crowded that day. From the parking area, it was around a 400-meter walk through shops selling peda and other prasadam. After reaching the temple area, finding a chappal stand itself was a challenge. Once we kept our footwear, we realized the main entry was not in front of the temple and had to walk another 200 meters.
Some people approached us offering quick darshan for money, but we decided to go through the normal line. After standing patiently and moving slowly, it took us nearly 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete darshan and come out. We bought some peda, walked back to the car, and felt relieved to see that nothing had happened to it. From there, we started our journey towards Ellora.
Simple Food, Roadside Comfort
On the way, we were looking for Maharashtra-style poha for breakfast. Outside the city, we found a small hotel where the owner prepared fresh poha for us. It tasted really good. By 10:00 AM, we were back on the road.
Around 2:30 PM, we stopped again near a field, under the shade of a big tree. Just like the previous day, we had javari roti, groundnut powder mixed with curd, and holige. Sitting on the roadside and eating together felt simple but satisfying.
Bibi Ka Maqbara – A Calm Pause
By 3:30 PM, we reached Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Our first stop was Bibi Ka Maqbara, often called the Mini Taj Mahal. The monument looked beautiful and elegant. It really felt like a smaller version of the Taj Mahal, peaceful and well-maintained. After spending some time there, we moved back to the car around 4:45 PM, as we wanted to reach Kailasa Temple before it closed.
Kailasa Temple – Luck, Effort, and Timing
We asked a parking person about the distance to Kailasa Temple. He told us it would be impossible to reach before 6:00 PM due to heavy crowds and traffic and suggested coming the next day. Still, we decided to try.
About 2 km before the temple, traffic was completely jammed. We first thought of parking and walking, then changed our mind and continued driving as the traffic started moving again. Somehow, at 5:45 PM, we reached near the temple. Lagu and Mahesh immediately got down to get the tickets, while we went a little ahead to park the car.
Even the parking guy discouraged us, saying we were wasting money because entry was almost closed. But when we told him that two people had already gone to get tickets, he agreed. Lagu later told us they had requested and begged a lot—and finally, we were the last four people to get entry tickets for that day.
When we reached the gate and told our names, security allowed us inside. Many people waiting outside looked at us in surprise, wondering how we managed to enter. Finally, we stepped inside the Kailasa Temple.
Carved from a single massive rock, the temple was truly breathtaking. The scale, carvings, and architecture left us speechless. Within 45 minutes, security started clearing the temple, and we exited by 6:45 PM, feeling extremely lucky.
Grishneshwar – A Sacred Ending
Next, we decided to visit Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, which is just 2 km from Kailasa Temple. Due to heavy traffic, we chose to walk instead of taking the car. With tired legs, we reached the temple and joined the queue around 7:15 PM.
The crowd was heavy, but this was our last place for the day, so we waited patiently. In the queue, we met a well-planned family traveler and two young girls from Hyderabad who had planned a five-day trip by themselves. Talking to fellow travelers made the wait easier.
By 8:30 PM, we completed darshan at one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, which felt like the perfect spiritual conclusion to the day.
Rest After a Long Day
After coming out of the temple, walking back to the car felt exhausting. Our legs were paining badly. We searched for a restaurant where we could sit and eat dinner. The hotel we found was very crowded, and it took some effort to place our order. After dinner, we slowly walked back to the car parking area.
From there, we started towards Dhule. On the way, we searched for
a hotel, booked rooms through OYO, and confirmed them over the phone. We
reached the hotel around 10:30 PM, unloaded our bags, and settled into
the rooms. With 2+2 km of walking, long queues, and a full day of travel, we
finally slept peacefully—ending Day 2 with tired legs, a calm mind, and
the blessing of a Jyotirlinga darshan.