Akkalkot to Pandharpur by Bus – A Short But Memorable Journey | 111 KM Full Story

If you have been reading my travel stories on nomadpatel.in, you will remember that my last journey was from Chiplun to Akkalkot. I started that journey on 23rd February 2026 night from Chiplun and I reached Akkalkot Bus Stand early morning on 24th February after travelling almost fourteen hours through Kumbharli Ghat. That was a 380 KM night journey and I have already posted its full diary with ticket and photos.

After that long journey, I took a one-day halt at Akkalkot on 24th February 2026 for rest and for some personal work in the city. On the next day, 25th February 2026, I continued my onward journey and I took the direct bus from Akkalkot to Pandharpur at 6:30 AM. This bus was going from Akkalkot to Ratnagiri via Pandharpur and its number was MH08 AP 5734.

When I enquired at Akkalkot depot, I got to know that there are only two direct buses from Akkalkot to Pandharpur. One bus is Akkalkot to Ratnagiri via Pandharpur and the second is Akkalkot to Mahad via Pandharpur. I decided to take the first one which was going towards Ratnagiri via Pandharpur. This post is my complete personal diary of that short journey of 111 kilometres from Akkalkot to Pandharpur on 25th February 2026.

I am Nomad Patel and I travel only by ST buses. Whatever you will read in this post is my own experience from 25th February, my own original ticket of Rs 625, my own photos and my own handwritten diary with watermark of nomadpatel.in.

My Bus Details – What I Actually Experienced

The bus that I got for this route was a BS6 model which was quite new compared to the old BS4 buses in which I have travelled earlier. The bus was a sleeper seater with 2×2 pushback seats and it had clean curtains on the windows. The bus number was MH 08 AP 5734 and it belonged to Solapur Division. The bus was looking very well maintained and the driver had cleaned the front glass properly before starting the journey.

I purchased my ticket in the bus and I paid 625 rupees for Akkalkot to Pandharpur. The conductor gave me a printed ticket and told me that the bus will go via Solapur and Mohol and then it will reach Pandharpur. The total distance from Akkalkot to Pandharpur is 111 kilometres and the total time taken is around 2.5 to 3 hours. There are two toll plazas on this entire route.

I have kept my original handwritten diary as proof and all the photos which I have used in this post are taken by me from my own mobile phone with watermark of nomadpatel.in.

My Journey Started from Akkalkot Bus Stand – 0 KM – 6:30 AM

I reached Akkalkot Bus Stand at 5:30 in the morning after completing my previous night journey. In the morning, Akkalkot Bus Stand was very calm and quiet because most of the passengers who had come at night had already left early morning. Only a few people were sitting on the benches and waiting for their buses. The tea stall near the platform was open and I had one tea for 10 rupees.

My bus was already standing on the platform. It was MH 08 AP 5734 and it was written clearly on the front. I went near the conductor and asked him in Marathi, “Bhau, hee bus Pandharpur la jaate ka?” which means brother, does this bus go to Pandharpur. The conductor replied in Marathi, “Ho, Solapur, Mohol, mag Pandharpur. 3 tase lagtil” which means yes, it will go via Solapur and Mohol and then to Pandharpur and it will take 3 hours. I was satisfied and I took a window seat on the left side of the bus.

The bus was almost seventy percent full and most of the passengers were daily travellers and regular passengers. Exactly at 6:30 in the morning, the conductor rang the bell and the bus started moving out of Akkalkot Bus Stand.

We passed through the small lanes of Akkalkot town and then we joined the Solapur-Akkalkot Bypass Highway. The morning air was very fresh.

Solapur Bypass Highway and Karjal Village – 10 KM-6:45 AM

As soon as we left Akkalkot city, we took the bypass highway which is a four lane concrete road and the quality of the road is excellent without any potholes. The first village which we crossed after taking the bypass was Karjal village which is situated at a distance of approximately 10 kilometres from Akkalkot Bus Stand. The bus did not stop at Karjal village and it just passed through the village. I opened my diary and I wrote the name of the village and the time.

The best part of this bypass highway is that the bus can easily maintain a speed of seventy to eighty kilometres per hour without any difficulty.

Walsang Toll Plaza – First Toll Plaza – 18 KM-7:00 AM

After crossing Karjal village, we reached Walsang Toll Plaza which is located at a distance of 18 kilometres from Akkalkot. This is the first toll plaza on the Akkalkot to Pandharpur route and it is situated on the Solapur-Akkalkot highway. The bus slowed down near the toll plaza and the FASTag was scanned and the bus stopped for around two minutes. I saw the rate board at the toll plaza where it was written that the toll for a bus is 85 rupees. The conductor told me that there will be one more toll plaza after Solapur.

Kumbhari Village and Civil Chowk Solapur – 30 to 35 KM-7:15 AM

After crossing the Walsang Toll Plaza, we passed through Kumbhari village and then small villages on the highway. Some passengers got down at these villages on request and the bus just slowed down and then moved ahead.

After Kumbhari, we entered Solapur city and the highway ended and the city traffic started at Civil Chowk. Suddenly the smooth highway journey turned into a crowded city journey with autos, bikes, trucks and school vans on the road. We lost almost 15 minutes in the traffic at Civil Chowk. From my window, I could see the Solapur Railway Station board on the right side. This stretch clearly shows how a highway journey becomes a city journey within a few kilometres.

Solapur Bus Stand – 40 KM – Platform Number 8 – The Biggest Halt

We finally reached Solapur Bus Stand at around 7:30 in the morning at Platform Number 8. This means that Akkalkot to Solapur distance is exactly 40 kilometres and it took us one hour to cover this distance.

Solapur Bus Stand is one of the most crowded bus stands in Maharashtra and I had seen it earlier also during my Chiplun to Akkalkot night journey, but in the morning it was even more crowded. There were buses going to Pune, Mumbai, Nagpur, Hyderabad and Ratnagiri and there were loud announcements in Marathi and vendors were shouting for water bottles and vada pav. My bus took a halt of 20 minutes at Platform Number 8 and this platform is specifically for Akkalkot side buses.

I got down from the bus and I stretched my legs a little bit because sitting continuously was making me tired. I went to the washroom which cost me 5 rupees and I ate a vadapav which cost me 20 rupees and I also bought water bottle which cost me 20 rupees. I asked the conductor again that how much distance is remaining for Pandharpur and he told me that 70 kilometres are still remaining and it will take one and a half hours more. I noted down in my diary that Solapur is 40 kilometres done and 70 kilometres is still remaining.

If you are travelling on this route and you want to eat something good, you should eat at Solapur Bus Stand only because after Solapur there is no good hotel till Pandharpur.

Savaleshwar Toll Plaza – Second Toll Plaza – 55 KM-8:00 AM

We left Solapur Bus Stand at 7:50 in the morning and after ten minutes the city traffic cleared and we were again back on the Solapur to Pandharpur highway. After travelling for 15 kilometres from Solapur, we reached Savaleshwar Toll Plaza. This is the second and last toll plaza on this entire route of Akkalkot to Pandharpur.

The bus again slowed down at the toll plaza and the FASTag was scanned and we stopped for around two minutes. After crossing this toll plaza, the road becomes a two lane road but it is still very smooth and good for driving. From this point onwards, I started seeing sugarcane fields on both sides of the road which is a clear indication that we are entering the Pandharpur sugar belt area.

There are total two toll plazas on this 111 kilometres route and both tolls together cost around 170 rupees for an MSRTC bus.

Mohol Bus Stand – 73 KM – 8:30 AM

After passing many small villages whose names were not even written on boards, we reached Mohol Bus Stand at around 8:30 in the morning. Mohol is a small town which is located directly on the highway and it is a very important stop for this route.

Mohol Bus Stand is a small bus stand but it is very important because from Mohol, Pandharpur is only 38 kilometres away and it takes only one hour to reach Pandharpur from Mohol. The bus stopped at Mohol for five minutes and I got down to stretch my legs. I asked a tea stall owner that how much distance is remaining for Pandharpur and he told me that Mohol to Pandharpur is 38 kilometres and it will take one hour.

I wrote in my diary that Mohol is 73 kilometres from Akkalkot and 38 kilometres is remaining for Pandharpur and the time is 8:30 in the morning. My diary photo has this entry with proper time and watermark of nomadpatel.in.

Penur and Tungat Villages – 85 to 95 KM-8:50 AM

From Mohol, the bus did not take any major halt and it kept moving on the highway. We passed Penur village which is located at 85 kilometres from Akkalkot and two passengers got down at Penur village. After that we passed Tungat village which is located at 95 kilometres from Akkalkot. Both Penur and Tungat are small farming villages and the bus just slowed down a little bit and then moved ahead without stopping for a long time.

The road in this patch was slightly rough at some places but the BS6 bus suspension handled it very well and we did not feel much jerk. You can see small temples and sugar factories from the window while crossing these villages and this kind of observation you will never find on any official timetable website.

Chandrabhaga River Bridge – 105 KM – The Most Beautiful Part

Just six kilometres before Pandharpur, we crossed the Chandrabhaga River Bridge at around 9:15 in the morning and this was the most beautiful part of my entire short journey. The river was very wide and even in winter season there was some water flowing in the river. On both sides of the bridge, I saw many groups of people walking together towards Pandharpur city on foot in groups, which is very common on this road

The atmosphere inside the bus also changed as we were getting close to Pandharpur city and everyone started getting ready to get down.

Pandharpur Bus Stand – 111 KM – 9:30 AM – Final Destination

Finally we entered Pandharpur Bus Stand at 9:30 in the morning which means that we took 3 hours from Akkalkot to Pandharpur and we covered a total distance of 111 kilometres. Pandharpur Bus Stand is one of the longest bus stands that I have ever seen in Maharashtra and it is maybe more than 500 meters long.

Because Pandharpur is a major and very busy city in Maharashtra, the bus stand is always crowded with travellers from different places. I got down from the bus with my bag and I could hear the sound of bus announcements and tea stall vendors calling customers near the bus stand and Auto from Pandharpur Bus Stand to the main city centre and market area was 20 rupees.

My short journey from Akkalkot to Pandharpur via Solapur and Mohol was completed in a single BS6 bus in 111 kilometres with a ticket of 625 rupees and with two toll plazas and one river crossing in between.

What Next After Pandharpur – Taking a Small Break at Home

After finishing this 111 KM journey, my total travel in the last 3 days became 491 KM – 23rd February night Chiplun to Akkalkot 380 KM via Kumbharli Ghat and 25th February morning Akkalkot to Pandharpur 111 KM via Solapur and Mohol. Two long days in MSRTC buses, writing notes at Walsang Toll Plaza, Solapur Platform Number 8, Mohol and Chandrabhaga Bridge, and managing tickets and photos in crowd – Now I am feeling tired.

So after Pandharpur, I have decided to go back to my home and take rest for 4 to 5 days. I will stay at home, wash my clothes, properly arrange my original printed ticket of Rs 625, scan my handwritten diary for 25th February with nomadpatel.in watermark, and backup all my original photos and videos from this route. Once this editing work is done, I will start my next MSRTC travel series with fresh energy.

My Expense Sheet

My Total Expense for Akkalkot to Pandharpur – 111 KM – 25th February 2026:

1. Bus Ticket from Akkalkot to Pandharpur – Rs 625 – BS6 Bus MH08 AP 5734
2. Tea at Akkalkot Bus Stand in the morning – Rs 10
3. Vadapav at Solapur Bus Stand during 20 minutes halt – Rs 20
4. Washroom at Solapur Bus Stand – Rs 5
5. Water Bottle at Solapur Bus Stand – Rs 20
6. Auto from Pandharpur Bus Stand to main city centre – Rs 20

Total Expense for One Person – Rs 700

What I Learnt From Akkalkot to Pandharpur Bus Journey:

• I learnt that travelling by ST bus and writing a handwritten diary with original photos is more valuable than just copying timetable from official website.
• I learnt that BS6 buses are actually very comfortable compared to old BS4 buses because there is less noise, less vibration and the seats are better for a long time.
• I learnt that Solapur to Akkalkot bypass highway is one of the best concrete roads in Maharashtra where the bus can easily maintain seventy to eighty speed without any problem.
• I learnt that Solapur Bus Stand Platform Number Eight is always crowded in the morning and you should reach at least fifteen minutes early otherwise you will not find your bus easily.
• I learnt that there are total two toll plazas on this one hundred and eleven kilometres route, first is Walsang Toll Plaza near Akkalkot and second is Savaleshwar Toll Plaza after Solapur.
• I learnt that Mohol is a very important small town on this route because from Mohol, Pandharpur is only thirty eight kilometres remaining and it takes only one hour.
• I learnt that if you want to eat something good, you should eat at Solapur Bus Stand only because after Solapur there is no proper hotel or dhaba till Pandharpur.
• I learnt that crossing Chandrabhaga River Bridge just before Pandharpur is the most beautiful and emotional part of this journey, especially when you see warkaris walking barefoot towards the temple.
• I learnt that Pandharpur Bus Stand is one of the longest bus stands in Maharashtra and it is always crowded because it is a major pilgrimage town and thousands of pilgrims come daily.
• I learnt that even though the ticket price was six hundred and twenty five rupees for only one hundred and eleven kilometres, it is because this is a long route bus going from Akkalkot to Ratnagiri via Pandharpur.
• I learnt that a short journey of only three hours can also give you a complete story if you observe the villages, the toll plazas, the river and the people properly.
• I learnt that official timetable only shows time and distance, but it never tells you about Karjal village fields, Civil Chowk traffic, Platform Eight crowd and Chandrabhaga river feeling.

Final Tips From My Side

1. You should take the morning 6:30 AM direct bus from Akkalkot because it reaches Pandharpur at 9:30 AM and you will get the full day for your work in the city.

2. You should try to sit on the right side window seat because Chandrabhaga River Bridge view is very clear from the right side before Pandharpur.

3. You should eat your breakfast or vadapav at Solapur Bus Stand only, because after Solapur there is no good hotel or dhaba till Pandharpur city.

4. You should carry your own water bottle because there is no pantry or water facility inside the ST bus.

5. You should reach Akkalkot Bus Stand at least 15 minutes early because Platform No. 8 is always crowded and the bus gets full very quickly.

6. If you are travelling during busy festival days, you should book your ticket one day in advance because both direct buses from Akkalkot to Pandharpur become full.

7. From Pandharpur Bus Stand to the main city centre market area, the auto charge is Rs 20 and the walking distance is around 15 minutes, so you can decide as per your luggage.

8. You should keep your printed ticket safe till the end of the journey because ticket checking happens after Solapur and again near Mohol.

Disclaimer: This is my personal experience on my travel date for nomadpatel.in and I am not affiliated with MSRTC or any government body. The timings and fares and routes may change, so you should confirm at Akkalkot or Pandharpur depot enquiry counter. All the photos and diary notes used in this post are my own and they have watermark of nomadpatel.in.

Written by Nomad Patel – nomadpatel.in – I travel by ST bus and I share real stories from the road.

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