Ichalkaranji to Bhiwandi by MSRTC Bus – My Amazing 400 KM Real Journey

By Nomad Patel | nomadpatel.in | Travelled: 2nd March 2026 |

Hi, I am Nomad Patel – Why I Am Writing This?

Friends, I am Nomad Patel, the man behind nomadpatel.in. I travel only by ST buses. No car, no private bus, only ST.

If you followed my last journey, you know I did Chiplun to Akkalkot 380 KM night journey via Kumbharli Ghat on 23rd Feb, then one day halt at Akkalkot, then Akkalkot to Pandharpur 111 KM morning journey on 25th Feb – 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM – Bus MH 08 AP 5734 – Ticket Rs 625. After that 491 KM in 3 days, I was totally tired. So I came back to my home.

At home I took 5 days rest. I washed all my clothes, I arranged all my printed tickets in one file, I scanned my handwritten diary pages with my nomadpatel.in watermark, I charged my power bank and camera.

This Ichalkaranji to Bhiwandi is my longest and most diverse trip till date – Over 400 KM, covering Western Maharashtra plains, Satara ghats, Pune city traffic, Lonavala hills, Khandala Ghat, and finally Mumbai Metropolitan Region. When I searched online for Ichalkaranji to Bhiwandi bus ticket price and distance, I found only empty timetables. No one wrote about the comfortable reclining seats, the smooth Mumbai-Bangalore Highway, the smell of fresh chai at 7 AM, or the pain of 14 hours on the road. So I decided to change that.

This is my complete story – from Ichalkaranji to Bhiwandi, through Hatkanangale, Vadgaon, Karad, Satara, Pune, Lonavala, Khopoli, Panvel, Thane, and finally Bhiwandi.

If you have been following my journeys, you might remember my Aurangabad to Ichalkaranji trip that ended in Ichalkaranji. This time, I was starting from Ichalkaranji and heading opposite direction, towards Bhiwandi.

My Bus Details – What I Experienced

My bus was at 7:00 AM from Ichalkaranji. I reached stand at 6:20 AM only, because I know this Bhiwandi bus gets full in 10 minutes. I had my small red diary and my power bank.

Ichalkaranji stand is very big, textile city, so many long route buses start from here only. Because Ichalkaranji is a textile city, you will see lots of luggage. I found my bus already standing near platform. The conductor was checking the board – Ichalkaranji to Bhiwandi via Hatkanangale, Vadgaon, Karad, Satara, Pune, Mega Highway, Thane.

The bus number was MH 09 FL 7437 and I took a photo of the number plate for my proof.

Seat was 2×3 pushback, you can push back full, very comfortable for 14 hours. I checked it first thing. Not like the ordinary 2×2 city buses. I touched the seat – it was soft.

Route is simple – Ichalkaranji to Hatkanangale to Vadgaon to Karad to Satara to Pune Swargate to Lonavala to Panvel to Thane Vandana to Bhiwandi.

I paid Rs 710 for ticket, took window seat right side. Conductor said “400 KM plus, 14 hours lagtil”, which means it is 400 km plus and will take 14 hours for the journey.

Stop 1: Ichalkaranji Bus Stand – 0 KM – 7:00 AM Departure

I reached Ichalkaranji Bus Stand early in the morning. At 6:20 AM only, full rush was there – People with tiffin boxes, chai tapri guys shouting, buses honking non-stop. The smell of fresh vada pav and chai was everywhere.

I found my bus and settled into my seat. The seats were comfortable and reclining – a welcome change from the ordinary buses I had traveled on earlier in Kumbharli Ghat.

I asked the conductor to confirm.

“Bhau, hee bus Bhiwandi la jaate ka?” I asked the conductor. (Brother, does this bus go to Bhiwandi?)

“Ho,” he replied. “Hatkanangale, Karad, Satara, Pune, mag Bhiwandi.” (Yes. Via Hatkanangale, Karad, Satara, Pune, then Bhiwandi.)

“Kiti vel lagto?” (How long does it take?)

“14 taas. Raatri 9:15 vajata pohochte.” (14 hours. We’ll reach around 9:15 PM.)

At 7:00 AM sharp the conductor blew the whistle and the driver pressed the horn loudly. The bus gave a small jerk and then it slowly left Ichalkaranji bus stand. I was sitting near the window and I was looking outside.

The streets of Ichalkaranji were waking up in the morning. I could see shopkeepers opening their shutters and I could see school children going to school with tiffin boxes in their hands. The smell of fresh vada pav and chai was coming from the tea stalls near the stand. I opened my small red diary and I wrote my first line – Ichalkaranji 7:00 AM start, Rs 710, window seat right side.

Stop 2: Hatkanangale Bus Stand – 9 KM – First Stop

9 KM only, we reached Hatkanangale. Road till here was single, lots of sugarcane tractors were blocking our path.

Hatkanangale stand is just beside highway, building is old, paint gone, but working fine.

I jumped down for 2 minutes, legs jammed already, 2-3 passengers got up and down. I asked a local vendor about next distance.

“Dada, Karad ajun kiti vel lagel ani kiti kilometre aahe?” which means Brother, how much more time will it take to reach Karad and how many kilometre more?

“80 kilometer,” he replied. “1.5 taas.” (80 kilometers. 1.5 hours.)

I wrote in my small diary – “Hatkanangale 9 KM – first stop – 7:15 AM – old stand”. My diary has nomadpatel.in watermark.

Stop 3: Peth Vadgaon Bus Stand – 7:51 AM – Second Stop

From Hatkanangale again single road started, crossed Savarde village, then finally Peth Vadgaon at 7:51 AM sharp. I saw the time on my mobile and noted exactly.

Here confusion is there – two Vadgaons on same route – Peth Vadgaon first, then Wathar Vadgaon second. Don’t get down wrong. People get confused. Peth Vadgaon was the second stop on my route. The bus stopped here briefly to pick up and drop off passengers. One aunty with two big bags got down.

I made a note in my diary: “Peth Vadgaon – second stop. Time: 7:51 AM. Two Vadgaons on this route, don’t confuse.”

Passing Through – Wathar Vadgaon Bus Stop

After Peth Vadgaon, we went under the big Mumbai-Bangalore Express Highway bridge and stopped at Wathar Vadgaon for 2 minutes only.

From here, the bus merged onto the Mumbai-Bangalore Express Highway. Arre bhai, what a highway. Once we hit Express Highway, what a road man – butter smooth, full speed, my bus started flying.

Passing Through – Kini Toll Plaza, Kaneghar, Warana River

From Wathar Vadgaon, the bus continued on the highway. We passed through the Kini Toll Plaza – my first toll. FASTag beeped. Then crossed the Warana River bridge at Kanegaon. The river had good water, even in March.

We then passed through Kameri, Nerla, and Kasegaon Bus Stop on the side of the highway. At Kasegaon, some college students got in.

Stop 4: Karad Bus Stand – 9:00 AM – Platform 6

We reached Karad Bus Stand at 9:00 AM. The bus stopped at Platform Number 6. Announcement was happening loudly.

Karad Bus Stand is located in the Satara district. It is one of the cleanest and largest bus stands in Maharashtra. It has many platforms and is well-maintained with concrete flooring. I remembered this from my Chiplun to Akkalkot night journey – I had seen Karad at night. In the morning it looks even cleaner.

From Karad, the distance to Satara was still ahead. I got down, went to washroom, and took a photo of Platform 6 board for my proof.

I made a note in my diary: “Karad – Platform 6. Clean and large bus stand. Time: 9:00 AM. Next Satara.”

Stop 5: Satara Bus Stand – 10:15 AM – 15 Min Halt

From Karad, the bus crossed the Koyna River, passed through the second toll plaza, and then through Umbraj village. We crossed the Urmodi River bridge at Nagathane, then passed through Shendre and Khindwadi Ghat. Ghat was small but curves were sharp.

We reached Satara Bus Stand at 10:15 AM. Satara stand is huge, I think biggest after Swargate, so many platforms, full crowd of buses, very neat and tidy.

It is well-maintained and busy with bus traffic. So many buses – to Kolhapur, to Pune, to Mumbai.

I got down to stretch my legs. Satara is famous for its Kandi Pedhe – a sweet delicacy. I did not buy now because I thought I will eat at lunch.

“Pune yethun kiti lamb aahe?” which means How far is Pune from here.?” I asked a shopkeeper. (Brother, how far is Pune from Satara?)

“108 kilometer,” he replied. “2 taas.” (108 kilometers. 2 hours.)

I had traveled 132 kilometers from Ichalkaranji to Satara. From Satara, the distance to Bhiwandi was still 270 kilometers – about 6 hours of travel. I calculated in my diary.

The bus stopped here for 15 minutes. I drank one water bottle.

I made a note in my diary: “Satara – large bus stand. 15-minute halt. Distance to Pune: 108 km. Time: 10:15 AM. 270 KM still balance.”

Passing Through – Anewadi Toll Plaza, Pachwad, Bhoij, Krishna River

From Satara, the bus passed through Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Chowk, then Wade Phata Bridge, and returned to the highway. We passed through the Anewadi Toll Plaza – third toll – then stopped at Pachwad Bus Stop to pick up passengers.

We crossed the Krishna River bridge at Bhoij, then passed through Kavathe, Suru, and Vele. Krishna river was wide.

Stop 6: Maharaja Hotel – 11:45 AM – Lunch Break

We passed through the Khambatki Tunnel – a long tunnel on the highway. Dark and cool inside. Then we stopped at Shirwal to pick up passengers.

At 11:45 AM we stopped at Maharaja Hotel in Kikvi. Full parking was packed with ST and private buses, all taking lunch break. This is a famous halt for all long route buses. The hotel has big parking.

I got down, hungry and tired. My legs were paining after sitting 5 hours. I was very hungry, so I ate one butter masala dosa, hot and crispy, Rs 45 only, taste was good.

“Pune ajun kiti baki aahe?” which means How much balance is left for Pune.?” I asked the hotel owner.

“45 kilometer,” he replied. “1 taas.” (45 kilometers. 1 hour.)

I noted: Hotel to Swargate 45 KM only.

Passing Through – Varshe, Khed Shivapur Toll Plaza, Katraj Tunnel

From Maharaja Hotel, the bus passed through Varshe, then crossed the fourth toll plaza at Khed Shivapur. We entered the Katraj Tunnel – a long tunnel on the Pune approach. Very dark, horn sounds echoing.

Then we crossed the Katraj-Navale Bridge and entered Pune city. Traffic started.

Stop 7: Swargate Bus Stand – 1:30 PM – Fifth Stop

We reached Swargate Bus Stand at 1:30 PM. Swargate is one of the busiest bus stands in Pune. It was my fifth major stop on this route. From Swargate, the distance to Bhiwandi was still 170 kilometers – about 4-5 hours of travel because of traffic.

I had traveled 238 kilometers from Ichalkaranji to Pune. I got down to stretch my legs. The bus stand was packed with passengers. Pune crowd is always huge.

Passing Through – Shivajinagar, Dapodi, Pimpri-Chinchwad

From Swargate, the bus slowly made its way through Pune’s traffic. It took 45 minutes just to cross Pune city. We passed through Shivajinagar, then Dapodi, and reached Pimpri-Chinchwad Bus Stand.

Pimpri-Chinchwad Bus Stand is old and long. The building is old British type. From here, the distance to Bhiwandi was still 150 kilometers. People going to Mumbai get down here.

Passing Through – Akurdi, Bhakti Shakti Udyan, Somatane Toll Plaza, Kamshet, Vasoli Toll Plaza

From Pimpri-Chinchwad, we passed through Akurdi, then Bhakti Shakti Udyan. We crossed the Somatane Toll Plaza, then Kamshet, and the Vasoli Toll Plaza. I counted – this was my 5th and 6th toll till now. Tolls are everywhere on this route.

Stop 8: Lonavala Bus Stand – 4:15 PM – 10 Min Halt

We reached Lonavala Bus Stand at 4:15 PM. Lonavala is famous for its chikki (a sweet snack). The bus stand is not very large but it’s an important stop on this route. You will see chikki shops everywhere.

From Lonavala, still 95 KM balance was there to Bhiwandi, conductor said 2.5 hours more because of ghat and traffic.I got down and bought some Lonavala chikki from a vendor near the bus stand for my family – Rs 50.

I made a note in my diary: “Lonavala – famous for chikki. 10-minute halt. Distance to Bhiwandi: 95 km. Time: 4:15 PM. 6 tolls crossed till now.”

Passing Through – Khandala Ghat, Khopoli

After Lonavala, Khandala Ghat started – what a view yaar, full valley, winding roads, I did not sleep, I kept window open full time. We reached Khopoli Bus Stand at 5:00 PM. This was the eighth stop on my route. Khopoli stand is small but many passengers got down.

Passing Through – Shendung Toll Plaza, Panvel

From Khopoli, we crossed the Shendung Toll Plaza and reached Panvel Bus Stand at 6:00 PM. From here, Bhiwandi was just 45 kilometers away. But Panvel to Thane traffic is horrible in evening.

Passing Through – Kalamboli, Belapur, Nerul, Turbhe, Kopar Khairane, Ghansoli, Kalwa Naka

From Panvel, the bus passed through Kalamboli, then entered Navi Mumbai. We passed through Belapur, Nerul, Turbhe, Kopar Khairane, Ghansoli, and Kalwa Naka. Navi Mumbai roads are very good but traffic is high. I saw many high buildings.

Stop 9: Thane Vandana Bus Stand – 8:00 PM

We reached Thane Vandana Bus Stand at 8:00 PM. This was the final major stop before Bhiwandi. Vandana stand is very crowded in night. Many people going to Thane, Kalyan get down here. My bus took 15 min halt.

Stop 10: Bhiwandi Bus Stand – 9:15 PM – Final Destination

From Thane, we crossed the Ulhas River and entered Bhiwandi. We passed through Dapodi in Bhiwandi and finally reached Bhiwandi Bus Stand at 9:15 PM.

I stepped off the bus, tired and exhausted. I had traveled over 400 kilometers, passed through 14 stops, crossed 6 toll plazas, 2 tunnels, 5 rivers, and spent nearly 14 hours 15 minutes on the road. My legs were paining but my diary was full.

The same bus returns from Bhiwandi to Ichalkaranji at 6:00 AM the next day. The conductor told me.

After reaching Bhiwandi Bus Stand, I did not stay at bus stand. I went to my uncle’s home in Bhiwandi which is 3 kilometers from the bus stand near Anjur Phata. I spent my childhood in this same house. I played in these same lanes when I was small.

So I stayed there and I took full rest till 4th March. My uncle gave me home food after many days of bus travel. I washed my clothes and I cleaned my red diary there.

Then on 5th March morning I started my next journey from Thane Khopat to Raver. This Thane to Raver journey is the continuation of this Ichalkaranji to Bhiwandi journey.

Summary of the Journey

My Expense Sheet – What I Paid

Ticket Ichalkaranji to Bhiwandi: Rs 710
Butter Masala Dosa at Maharaja Hotel: Rs 45
Water at Satara: Rs 20
Lonavala Chikki: Rs 50
Total: Rs 825

What I Learned From This Journey

1. Comfortable seats make a difference. The reclining seats on this bus made the 14-hour journey much more bearable. Without reclining, I would have back pain.
2. The landscape changes dramatically. From the plains of Western Maharashtra to the hills of Khandala Ghat to the urban sprawl of Mumbai.
3. Khandala Ghat is beautiful. The winding roads and scenic views were unforgettable. Keep window seat for this.
4. Lonavala chikki is famous for a reason. It’s delicious and worth buying.
5. Pune traffic is challenging. The bus moved slowly through the city for almost 1.5 hours. Be patient.
6. Toll plazas are everywhere. I counted at least 6 toll plazas on this route. MSRTC pays lots of toll.
7. Every journey is a story. And every story is worth telling with real proof.
8. Travel changes you. You see things. You hear things. You feel things. And you come back different.

Final Tips from Nomad Patel

1. Book a seat with reclining options. The 14-hour journey demands comfort.
2. Take a window seat on the right side. Khandala Ghat is on right side, beautiful.
3. Carry snacks and water. The journey is long and hotel prices are high.
4. Eat at Maharaja Hotel. The Butter Masala Dosa is delicious and hot.
5. Buy Lonavala chikki. It’s famous for a reason.
6. Be patient. 14 hours is a long time, traffic will test you.
7. Enjoy the ghat. Khandala Ghat is the highlight of this journey, don’t sleep there.
8. Read my other journeys. If you enjoyed this, you might like my Aurangabad to Ichalkaranji trip that ended in Ichalkaranji, my Beed to Chiplun trip through Kumbhali Ghat, or my Chiplun to Akkalkot night journey.

Disclaimer: This is my personal experience on 2nd March 2026, for nomadpatel.in. I am not affiliated with MSRTC or any government body. Timings, fares, and routes may change. All notes are my own with original ticket photo and diary proof. For confirmed inquiry, visit your nearest bus stand.

Frequently Asked Questions – Ichalkaranji to Bhiwandi Bus