Bus Puncture, Breakdown & 14hr Train: Returning Home from Hampi to Mumbai 🇮🇳

In this episode, I begin the long journey back from Hampi to Mumbai, bringing this complete Hampi backpacking series to a close. The return starts with a local KSRTC bus from Hampi Bazaar to Hospet, followed by a regional bus heading toward Hubballi. The journey hits a snag when the bus suffers a sudden tire puncture near Banikatti, forcing all passengers onto the roadside to wait and transfer to another passing bus before finally pulling into Hubballi after 4 hours and 20 minutes on the road. After booking a budget room for ₹500 right outside Hubballi Railway Station for the night, I board the 17317 SSS Hubballi - Dadar Express the next afternoon at 4:30 PM, completing the overnight rail journey into Thane by 6:30 AM the next morning. This episode documents the true ground reality of extreme budget travel across India: unexpected breakdowns, roadside transfers, affordable transit stays, and the quiet satisfaction of returning home after a memorable solo trip. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Leaving Hampi & Heading Back to Mumbai 01:15 - Leg 1: Local Bus from Hampi to Hospet (₹20) 02:40 - Boarding the Bus to Hubballi at Hospet KSRTC Stand 04:15 - Breakdown: Bus Puncture Near Banikatti 06:30 - Roadside Passenger Transfer & Arriving in Hubballi 08:20 - Finding a ₹500 Budget Room Near Hubballi Station 10:00 - Boarding Train 17317 UBL-DR Express (4:30 PM) 12:15 - Overnight Train Experience & Reaching Thane 13:45 - Final Trip Reflections & Total Return Expenses 💰 RETURN JOURNEY EXPENSES • 🚌 Local Bus (Hampi to Hospet): ₹20 • 🚌 State Bus (Hospet to Hubballi): ₹230 • 🏨 Transit Stay (Near Hubballi Jn): ₹500 • 🚆 Train Ticket (17317 UBL-DR Express to Thane): ₹1,105 • 📍 Total Return Transit & Stay Cost: ₹1,855 🚆 TRAIN & ROUTE DETAILS • Train: 17317 SSS Hubballi - Dadar Central Express • Boarding: Hubballi Junction (UBL) at 4:30 PM • De-boarding: Thane (TNA) at 6:30 AM • Duration: 14 Hours overnight run via Pune / Karjat 📌 TOPICS COVERED • Step-by-step route from Hampi to Mumbai using public buses and trains • Real roadside bus puncture and passenger transfer experience in Karnataka • Budget hotel options outside Hubballi Railway Station • Overnight travel review on the 17317 Hubballi-Dadar Express • Final budget breakdown and wrap-up of the entire Hampi series Thank you for following along every step of this Hampi journey! If you love grounded solo travel, public transit routes, and exploring India without luxury, subscribe to catch the next upcoming backpacking series. 🔔 Follow the journey: @pravasiakshay #HampiToMumbai #BudgetTravelIndia #IndianRailways #HubballiExpress #KSRTC #SoloTravelIndia #BackpackingIndia #TravelRealities #HampiSeries #PravasiAkshay