[sushrutha]

Originally Posted by niranjanrvce

Parag sir, how bad is the Belur-Aldur stretch? Can a low GC bike do it with out much hassle?
Onwards:
https://goo.gl/maps/Db7QVq3KEZM2

No issues with low GC bike
If a Civic can go ... You guessed it right

Originally Posted by NPV

I think Aldur road is newly laid as per the latest report by @sushrutha (quoted above).

Yes, But between Aldur-Balehonnur is freshly tarred, not between Belur-Aldur.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by niranjanrvce

Parag sir, how bad is the Belur-Aldur stretch? Can a low GC bike do it with out much hassle?

It is few kilometers after Gendehalli that the road is bad. However, the main reason not to recommend this for Aldur is due to the confusing detours one would need to take passing Nandihalli and other villages. A rather straightforward option is as simple as Belur - Chikmagalur - Aldur. Stick to that till complete Belur-Gendehalli-Aldur road gets ready.

Only constraint is some of the bikes have low GC so can't do very bad roads - other than that, we love twisty roads surrounded by lush greenery and rains.

Onward: Completely good roads. No need to worry.

Return: Again, all good roads, no need to worry.

And yes, you will cover almost what one need to cover within this region - Charmadi and Kuduremukha . It is a prefect itinerary.

Originally Posted by ampere

Ask for Aldur road or directions to Serai (Its on Aldur road)

You actually ask for "Mudigere Road" and not for Aldur Road. Aldur forks out way ahead at Vastare. Its just 3 main road leading out of Chikmagalur and commonly known as Belur Road, Kadur Road and Mudigere road although the last 2 are the same highway (KM Road) leading in and out from West and East.

This road is also known as KM Road (Kadur-Mudigere Road) as you will notice this on a lot of boards on shops.

You enter Chikmagalur, Pass District Field and reach KM Road at a T-Junction where you turn left for Mudigere.

A simplest trick - Just folllow any KSRTC Bus entering Chikmagalur from Belur Road side till that bus turns Right at a T Junction (There will be only one such T-Junction). The bus would turn right while you take left and you are on Mudigere Road.

Drive on this road for 10-11 kms till passing Serai and Amber Valley School on the left and you will reach a village called Vastare after a good long left hander. At the apex of this left hander the road forks out - Staying left takes you to Mudigere, Dhasmasthala while taking a right here at the fork will lead to Aldur, Balehonnur, Sringeri. You need to turn right here at the fork.

Originally Posted by NPV

I think Aldur road is newly laid as per the latest report by @sushrutha (quoted above).

NPV - What he meant was the Aldur - Jayapura - Sringeri Road which is newly laid. In fact it was all done when I drove 2 months before and have reported in the Bangalore-Mangalore thread.

This is the exact post where I updated the same.

Now, the classic question here was whether to do Belur - Gendehalli - Aldur or Belur - Chikmagalur - Aldur as the former is shorter.

It is the Belur - Gendehalli road that is relaid lately but to reach Aldur which is beyond this point, there are bad patches to pass and a few confusing detours. Hence, the advise is to stick to Belur - Chikmagalur - Aldur to reach Aldur.

[sushrutha]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

It is few kilometers after Gendehalli that the road is bad.
It is the Belur - Gendehalli road that is relaid lately but to reach Aldur which is beyond this point, there are bad patches to pass and a few confusing detours. Hence, the advise is to stick to Belur - Chikmagalur - Aldur to reach Aldur.

Precisely after Baskal till Haandi, the road is in Bad condition.
Belur-Gendehally has been freshly tarred and the road is more wide now.

[niranjanrvce]

Originally Posted by sushrutha

No issues with low GC bike
If a Civic can go ... You guessed it right

Actually the civic has better GC than my bike I need to stand up from the bike on anything other than well designed humps.

Originally Posted by paragsachania

It is few kilometers after Gendehalli that the road is bad. However, the main reason not to recommend this for Aldur is due to the confusing detours one would need to take passing Nandihalli and other villages. A rather straightforward option is as simple as Belur - Chikmagalur - Aldur. Stick to that till complete Belur-Gendehalli-Aldur road gets ready.

That makes it clear, thanks. I was trying to avoid traffic in/near CKM but will stick to your suggestion.

Originally Posted by paragsachania

And yes, you will cover almost what one need to cover within this region - Charmadi and Kuduremukha . It is a prefect itinerary.

We are still missing out on the Agumbe loop in this - one is never satisfied

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by niranjanrvce

I was trying to avoid traffic in/near CKM but will stick to your suggestion.

Hiremagalur to Chikmagalur is now a fully done 4 lane road with a median (which was not the case earlier) and was a slower section.

Past this, the only "Traffic" will be till Rampura/Gavanahalli (exit for Industrial Area) once you are on Mudigere Road. But that is about it. After this the roads open up for you to rejoice!

We are still missing out on the Agumbe loop in this - one is never satisfied

LOL, so do more than one trip then. We first did Shiradi and Charmadi, then Kuduremukha and Charmadi and the last one was Shiradi and Agumbe.

[akshay380]

Planning to drive to Dharmasthala from Goa. Any road suggestions?

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by akshay380

Planning to drive to Dharmasthala from Goa. Any road suggestions?

Your "standard" route will be Goa Karwar Ankola Kundapura Udupi Karkala Belthangady Ujire Dharmasthala.

[niranjanrvce]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Hiremagalur to Chikmagalur is now a fully done 4 lane road with a median (which was not the case earlier) and was a slower section.

That's good to know, this stretch used to slow things down earlier.

Originally Posted by paragsachania

LOL, so do more than one trip then. We first did Shiradi and Charmadi, then Kuduremukha and Charmadi and the last one was Shiradi and Agumbe.

Yes, the plan is to do at least 3-4 more trips before the rains stop. Too many places to see, too little time!

[ampere]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

You actually ask for "Mudigere Road" and not for Aldur Road. Aldur forks out way ahead at Vastare. Its just 3 main road leading out of Chikmagalur and commonly known as Belur Road, Kadur Road and Mudigere road although the last 2 are the same highway (KM Road) leading in and out from West and East.

Agreed. Though Aldur has also worked for me. But since bulk traffic goes to Mudigere, it makes more sense to ask for Mudigere.

And here is the road some 3 years back beyond Vastare, during late noon

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by ampere

And here is the road some 3 years back beyond Vastare, during late noon

The same section from the recent drive with new layer

https://youtu.be/FFqc6VPKBZo

[Vivek-Bharathy]

Dear friends,

I am planning to drive to Sringeri from bangalore this week end.

I have chosen the below route.

Bangalore - Hassan - Belur - Chikkamagulur - Aldur - Balehonnur - Jayapura - Sringeri

Please let me know the road condition in case someone had travelled in this route recently.

[theredliner]

Originally Posted by ampere

Agreed. Though Aldur has also worked for me. But since bulk traffic goes to Mudigere, it makes more sense to ask for Mudigere.

And here is the road some 3 years back beyond Vastare, during late noon

Originally Posted by paragsachania

The same section from the recent drive with new layer

Any idea how Sringeri - Balehonnur - Aldur - Chikkamagaluru stretch is now?
I'm planning to return from Sringeri to BLR tomorrow by this route.

TIA.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by theredliner

Any idea how Sringeri - Balehonnur - Aldur - Chikkamagaluru stretch is now?
I'm planning to return from Sringeri to BLR tomorrow by this route.

I have not driven recently. Hence cant comment. But please do account for 90-120 minutes for this 60-70km stretch. Just after Balehonnur you have the Bhadra coffee stop which is a nice location to stop.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by theredliner

Any idea how Sringeri - Balehonnur - Aldur - Chikkamagaluru stretch is now?
I'm planning to return from Sringeri to BLR tomorrow by this route.

TIA.

Remains good even today and there is no cause for any concern. There are many options (typical coffee shops) that are doing brisk business here on weekends and holidays that you won't will get many on your way to stop by and each of them serving good coffee and snacks.

One of my friend drove on yesterday.

In case you don't visibly spot any restroom attached to these coffee shops, ask the management and they will pass you the keys and usually these are well maintained.

[theredliner]

Originally Posted by ampere

I have not driven recently. Hence cant comment. But please do account for 90-120 minutes for this 60-70km stretch. Just after Balehonnur you have the Bhadra coffee stop which is a nice location to stop.

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Remains good even today and there is no cause for any concern. There are many options (typical coffee shops) that are doing brisk business here on weekends and holidays that you won't will get many on your way to stop by and each of them serving good coffee and snacks.

Thanks. The road was awesome. Unfortunately, we were in a taxi and I found it difficult to sit in the passenger seat when we were moving through those twisties

Also, couldn't taste any coffee as it was already dark and we were running late.

There was some (Dasara?) procession in Balehonnur. As a result, there was some detour through the narrow lanes of the town and it took more than 30 minutes to cross the town due to traffic jams.