Hello friends, today I will share my real MSRTC bus journey from Panaji to Kurundwad through my blog. This is my personal experience on 16th March 2026.
This was my return journey after my big circuit – Sambhajinagar to Kalaburagi to Akkalkot to Panaji which was 960 KM by MSRTC. I reached Panaji at 6:00 AM on 15th March after my 14-hour night journey from Akkalkot, and on the next day I took the 9:00 AM bus from Panaji to Kurundwad to come back towards home.
Table of Contents
Panaji To Kurundwad Distance
The distance from Panaji to Kurundwad is around 216 kilometers as per my diary and as told by the conductor. The route of this bus is Panaji to Mapusa, Sawantwadi, Kudal, Kankavli, Gaganbavada, Kolhapur, Jaysingpur and Narsinghwadi to Kurundwad.
This route is one of the most beautiful routes in Maharashtra. You cross 4 rivers and 1 big ghat. Mandovi River in Panaji at the start, Chapora River near Mapusa, Terekhol River at Bandha which is the actual Goa-Maharashtra border, Gad River near Kankavli, and finally Panchganga River just before Kolhapur.
My bus number was MH 14 BT 3782. This is a Pune RTO number but the bus belongs to Kolhapur Division. It is a Superfast Non-AC Lalpari with 2×3 seating. No sleeper, no charging point. It runs daily from Panaji Kadamba Bus Stand, Platform Number 3.
The timing is very important for planning. It leaves Panaji sharp at 9:00 AM. It reaches Bandha Border at 10:00 AM, Sawantwadi at 10:30 AM, Kudal at 11:00 AM, Oros at 11:30 AM, Kankavli at 12:00 PM, Vaibhavwadi at 1:15 PM, Gaganbavada at 2:00 PM where it halts for 15 minutes for lunch, Kolhapur at 3:40 PM, Jaysingpur around 4:45 PM, and finally Kurundwad at 5:15 PM in the evening.
Total journey time is 8 hours 15 minutes. Carry your own water bottle because after Gaganbavada ghat there is no long halt till Kolhapur.
Panaji To Kurundwad Ticket Price
The ticket price from Panaji to Kurundwad is around 415 Rupees which may be slightly less or more. The bus number of this bus is MH 14 BT 3782.
I paid exactly 415 Rs on 16th March 2026 morning inside the bus. The conductor gave me a printed ticket. For privacy I am not uploading the ticket photo with QR code. My handwritten diary is my proof. This fare is for Non-AC Superfast. If you take Shivshahi or AC bus on same route, the fare will be 550 Rs plus.
Carry exact change. Early morning the conductor may not have change for 500 Rs.
My Real Diary – Panaji To Kurundwad Hour By Hour – The Full Story
9:00 AM – Panaji Bus Stand – 0 KM – Start
My bus left exactly at 9:00 AM from Panaji. Panaji bus stand is called Kadamba Bus Stand, big and clean. My previous night journey from Akkalkot ended here at 6:00 AM. I had only 3 hours rest, tea, and again same stand.
At 9:05 AM we crossed the Mandovi River Bridge. This is the same bridge where I saw the sunrise at 5:55 AM yesterday during my Akkalkot to Panaji journey. Now in daytime, the river looked blue, wide, with boats and casino ships far away. This was the best moment. If you travel, take the right side window seat for the river view.
9:25 AM – Mapusa – 15 KM
Mapusa bus stand is small, 2 minutes halt. Many passengers got in for Sawantwadi and Kudal. Language changed from Konkani to mixed Konkani-Marathi.
9:35 AM – Chapora River Bridge
Small but beautiful river bridge just after Mapusa. After this, the bus entered the Mumbai-Goa Highway NH 66. Road is good till the border but many trucks.
10:00 AM – Bandha Bus Stand – 35 KM – Goa-Maharashtra Border
After a long run on the Mumbai-Goa Highway, we crossed the Maharashtra-Goa border and reached Bandha Bus Stand at exactly 10:00 AM. This is the border check post. All buses stop here for 5 minutes for checking. I had tea for 15 Rs. Battery was 65%, I kept mobile data off to save battery – lesson from my previous 14-hour journey where battery went to 34%.
Just before Bandha, we crossed the Terekhol River Bridge. This river is the actual border. One side of the river is Goa, other side is Maharashtra. Small bridge but very important.
10:30 AM – Sawantwadi – 61 KM
After crossing the Terekhol River, we passed Insuli village. Insuli is the first village in Maharashtra after the border. Konkani is still spoken but Marathi starts.
At 10:30 AM we reached Sawantwadi Bus Stand. Sawantwadi is famous for wooden toys and Alphonso mangoes. Halt was 5 minutes. I bought a water bottle for 20 Rs. This is the same stand I saw at 5:30 AM in the morning in my Akkalkot to Panaji diary, but now in daytime it looked more colorful.
From Sawantwadi my Panaji to Sawantwadi journey of 61 kilometers was complete.
11:00 AM – Kudal – 85 KM
After Sawantwadi, my bus went via Bhom, which is a small place, and then Zarap and then Mandkoli village and reached Kudal Bus Stand at exactly 11:00 AM.
Bhom is around 70 KM from Panaji, Zarap around 75 KM, Mandkola around 80 KM.
Kudal Bus Stand is clean and small. Same stand I had seen at 5:00 AM in my previous journey. I washed my face here. Same tea stall.
11:30 AM – Oros – 110 KM – 35 KM from Kudal
After Kudal, the bus went towards Kankavli. After 35 kilometers, we reached Oros Bus Stand at 11:30 AM. Oros is Sindhudurg District headquarters.
Then we went to Kasal Bus Stand, stopped for 2 minutes, then again ran on the highway via Vagde. Near Kankavli we crossed the Gad River Bridge. The Gad River is a wide river near Kankavli. And finally my bus reached Kankavli Bus Stand at 12:00 PM afternoon.
This is an important point to note. In my Akkalkot to Panaji journey, Kankavli was only a passing point on bypass at 380 KM, the bus did NOT enter Kankavli stand. But in this Panaji to Kurundwad route, Kankavli is a main stop and the bus enters the bus stand. So if you want to go to Kankavli from Panaji, this 9 AM bus is direct.
Kasal was at 11:45 AM, Vagde at 11:55 AM.
Kankavli 12:00 PM – Big bus stand in Sindhudurg. Lunch time, many people. I ate vada pav for 20 Rs.
1:15 PM – Vaibhavwadi – 140 KM
After Kankavli, the bus again ran via Nandgaon at 12:20 PM, then Talere Bus Stand at 12:35 PM where it stopped for 2 minutes, then via Kunakeshwar Talewadi Highway, and at Narkarwadi it crossed the railway crossing. At Narkarwadi there is a Konkan Railway crossing gate. We waited 10 minutes for a train to pass. Good time for a photo.
Then my bus reached Vaibhavwadi Bus Stand at 1:15 PM afternoon. Then via Jamdarwadi, it crossed the Gaganbavada Ghat and reached Gaganbavada Bus Stand at 2:00 PM where it stopped for lunch.
Nandgaon, Talere, Kunakeshwar road is very beautiful. You cannot see the sea but you can see dense forest.
Vaibhavwadi 1:15 PM – 140 KM from Panaji. Small ghat village.
Jamdarwadi – This is where Gaganbavada Ghat starts. The driver changed to low gear here.
Gaganbavada Ghat – 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM – This is a 30 KM dangerous ghat. This is the same ghat I crossed at night from 2 AM to 4 AM in my Akkalkot to Panaji journey. In the night it was scary with only headlight. In daytime it is more beautiful. Waterfalls were dry because it was March, but the forest was still green. Speed is only 20 KM per hour. No overtaking allowed.
Gaganbavada Bus Stand at 2:00 PM – Lunch halt for 15 minutes. Veg thali for 80 Rs, same price as the dhaba thali in my previous night journey. Cold wind in ghat even in March. Carry a jacket.
3:40 PM – Kolhapur – 226 KM
After Gaganbavada, my bus went via Asald at 2:30 PM, then Salwan at 2:50 PM, then towards Nagdevwadi crossing the Panchganga River bridge and finally reached Kolhapur Bus Stand at 3:40 PM afternoon.
Asald, Salwan, Nagdevwadi are small villages on the ghat road.
Panchganga River Bridge just before Kolhapur is a big river bridge. This is the same river bridge I crossed at 11 PM at night in my Akkalkot to Panaji journey.
Till Kolhapur, the distance of 226 kilometers from Panaji was covered. After this, Kurundwad was around 56 kilometers remaining which takes minimum one and a half to two hours.
Kolhapur CBS at 3:40 PM – Big city bus stand, my favourite. This is the same stand where I had chai at 12:00 AM midnight in my previous journey. Now in daytime it was very crowded. Many passengers got down. Passengers for Kurundwad and Jaysingpur got in.
After Kolhapur Bus Stand, my bus again crossed the Panchganga River bridge and reached Hatkanangale Bus Stand and then Jaysingpur Bus Stand.
Hatkanangale 4:15 PM – Famous for textile market.
Panaji To Kurundwad Final Destination – Last 15 KM
From Jaysingpur Bus Stand, Kurundwad was around 15 kilometers remaining. After this, taking a halt at Shirol Bus Stand and then stopping for a little time at Narsinghwadi Bus Stand, my bus again running towards Kurundwad crossing the Panchganga River bridge reached Kurundwad Bus Stand at 5:15 PM evening. Kurundwad Bus Stand comes under Kolhapur Division.
Jaysingpur 4:45 PM – Last big town before Kurundwad.Shirol 5:00 PM – Just 5 KM before Kurundwad.
Narsinghwadi / Narsinhwadi 5:05 PM – Famous for Datta Temple on the Panchganga river sangam. Many pilgrims got down here.
Kurundwad 5:15 PM – Final stop. Small bus stand but clean. It comes under Kolhapur Division. My journey ended here. I took a KSRTC bus to my home in Chikodi which is 30 KM from Kurundwad.
Total journey – Panaji 9:00 AM to Kurundwad 5:15 PM – 8 hours 15 minutes, 282 KM real road but 216 KM official.
Panaji To Kurundwad Expense List
Here is my real expense for this journey:
- Ticket Panaji to Kurundwad – 415 Rs – MH 14 BT 3782 – Superfast
- Water Bottle at Mapusa – 20 Rs
- Vada Pav at Kankavli – 20 Rs
- Lunch Thali at Gaganbavada – 80 Rs
- Chai at Kolhapur – 15 Rs
- Total Expense – 550 Rs
- Carry 700 Rs for safe side with extra water.
FAQs
What Are The Boarding Points From Panaji To Kurundwad?
Mapusa, Sawantwadi, Kudal, Kankavli, Gaganbavada, Kolhapur, Hatkanangale, Jaysingpur, Shirol, Narsinghwadi, Kurundwad. This is a direct bus so it takes all main stops.
What is the best part of this journey?
Gaganbavada Ghat in daytime is best, plus Mandovi Bridge in morning and Terekhol River border bridge. Sit on the right side window from Panaji to Kolhapur for river and valley view. Left side is better for ghat forest view.
What should I carry?
Water bottle, power bank as there is no charging point in Lalpari, light jacket for Gaganbavada ghat cold wind, and some snacks. Road is good but ghat has no network.
Is this bus daily?
Yes, 9:00 AM daily from Panaji Kadamba Bus Stand. Ticket price may change, check MSRTC official website or MSRTC app.
Final Tips:
Book early morning from Panaji as this bus gets full from Mapusa itself. For return Kurundwad to Panaji, timing is early morning around 6 AM.
Disclaimer: This is my personal experience on 16th March 2026. My handwritten diary is my proof. I do not upload ticket QR for privacy. I am Nomad Patel from Chikodi, not affiliated with MSRTC.
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