Hire a Car: Bombay - Nashik area

Hello all!

I'm the new guy. You may know me from dramatic threads such as "Flight or Train? Suggestions" and as a digger of old threads in "Kochi to Delhi by train".


One more question. I want to take trip from Bombay to Nashik, Trimbakeshwar, and possibly Pimpalgaon. I want to do this trip by a hired car. There will be 4 people going including me.

Questions are, we have about 2 full days for this journey from Bombay (Sat morning depart Bombay, return to Monday night at the latest). Could anyone suggest a route? Also, I'm not sure how much time is recommended to enjoy each location.

I have heard that Hertz will rent car and drivers in Bombay, does anyone have suggestions of another rental location?

Thank you much,

Harvey

Well Saikyo, here I am again, trying to answer your route question:

Start early morning from Mumbai and reach Nashik within 3.5 hours. Just before entering Nashik city, stop at Pandav Caves and explore. Then get into the city and check into a hotel.(Hotel Pathik or Hotel Samrat) Tour Nashik City: Panchavati area with the river Godavari and the ghats will be the principal attraction. Visit the Sita Gompha and Kalaram Temple. You may also visit the Gangapur dam, outside Nashik city. Visit Mukti Dham Temple at Nashik Road in the evening and go ahead to Deolali Camp, a charming little cantonment area. Return to Nashik for the night.


Early next morning visit the Jain Caves at Chambhar Lena. Be prepared for a good climb ! After this proceed to PIMPALGAON BASWANT(there are three villages with name starting with Pimpalgaon in Nashik district), which is 30 kms. from Nashik on the Dhulia highway. You will pass Ozar on the way, where the Govt. owned HAL(Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) factory exists. MIG aircraft are manufactured here. At Pimpalgaon Baswant get a feel of village life and see a vineyard or two, sample some grapes. Take it easy in the evening.


On the third day start for Trimbakeshwar early morning(30 kms.), visit the ancient temple. You do not have time to climb all the way up to Brahmagiri- the source of the Godavari river- but you may go up half way, just for the feel of it. Start for Mumbai in the afternoon via Jawhar.

If you wish to purchase grapes, do so at the shop called "Bhinge Brothers", opposite the CBS at Nashik. Try the modest looking restaurant named "Saiba" at Mumbai Naka for excellent non-veg. stuff. If you wish to have a splurge, then Khyber restaurant at Chandakwadi in the heart of the city serves excellent Mughlai and Chinese food. For an extra great splurge the Taj Residency(a unit of the Taj group of hotels) also offers dinner buffets on weekends.

For snacks try the small but excellent "Hari Om" restaurant off M.G. Road, or the "Sri Krishna" restaurant at D'Souza Colony on College Road.

All the best !

Perfect Shimla! :-) Thanks so much!
If I could cook, I would mail you cupcakes!

Car.
http://www2.hertz.com/locations/displaylocs.cfm?cc=IN

Hey guys, hate to bother again but, I have not been able to get a car from any place yet... no one is emailing me back! Hah. I tried hertz in bombay, and my companies India travel agent...

Any suggestions on places to rent a car that would be up to a trip as suggested above by Shimla?

saikyo,

Try the following link :

http://www.taxirentalinindia.com/

I suggest you wait till you reach Mumbai before hiring a taxi. In Mumbai you can contact the Govt. of India Tourist Office at 123, Maharishi Karve Road, opposite Churchgate station; they'll fix you up with a reliable taxi service.

Check out their website :

http://www.tourismofindia.com/index.htm


You may also refer the Mumbai yellow pages directory.

Shimla, by Taxi, do you mean, a car and driver we can use for a few days at a time? Like for the whole trip?

Thanks again Shimla, you're a life saver

Yes, you can hire a car with driver for the three days. The charges are usually on a kilometer basis with minimum running per day. There is an extra charge for a night halt. The driver's payment is included in the rate you'll be quoted.

However, before finalising, get all the above things cleared from the agency. Sometimes, if you do not cover the minimum running per day, you still have to pay for the decided min. kms.

I'm sure you'll be able to hire a car after reaching Mumbai, do not worry about it now !

Umm.... any suggestions on places to stay on the night of the 7th and 8th?

http://hotels.kumbhamela.net/ -down and dirty
http://hotels.resort-deals.com/hotel...11272579O.html - ridiculously upscale

http://reservations.lodging.com/serv...country=IN&es=

saikyo,

Please go through my post no. 2 again carefully. I have already suggested the hotels !

Argh. sorry about that Shimla.
(Hotel Pathik or Hotel Samrat)

I got a quote on a car and driver for this.

The following are the rates for Deluxe A/c Qualis at mumbai

Rs.13/km
Avg 300 kms/day
Rs.200 Driver Bhatta /day
Parking charges ,Toll Taxes,etc will be extra and also 8% Service tax will
be applicable on the total billing.
Thanking You

For 4 WHEEL TRAVELS

----------------------
Hotels.

Pathik - http://www.kumbhamela2003.com/hotel.htm
2596884

Samrat
http://www.nashik.com/directories/hotel.html

ready to go!

saikyo,

The quote seems okay, though I'm not really aware of the latest rentals in Mumbai.

However, I do not think you will exceed 700kms. on the entire three day trip, but will have to pay for 900kms.

Its okay, considering the comfort and convenience a vehicle offers.

Have a nice trip !