[NPV]

Originally Posted by sachinayak

Not traveling to Goa, but rather to Kumta. Need advice on the best route. Want to avoid single roads hence not keen on the Shimoga route.

1. Bangalore > Haveri > Sirsi > Kumta - Shortest route
2. Bangalore > Hubli > Yellapur > Ankola > Kumta - Guaranteed good roads, but over 100km extra
3. Bangalore > Bankapur > Sirsi > Kumta - Recommended by some KSRTC bus driver.

I think the best 2 routes are:
-From your list - #2 via Yellapur-Ankola - you get 6 and 4 laned roads upto Hubli (NH 4)and then the Karwar exit to Ankola (NH 63) is good too but 2 laned. Turn left at Ankola towards Kumta.

-Tumkur-Arsikere-Shimoga-Honnavar on NH 206 - this road is very good but 2 laned all the way and Tumkur bypass little rough and the forest stretch a little narrow after Jog. But otherwise very much driveable and in good condition as well. Turn right at Honnavar towards Kumta.

[narayans80]

Did NH206-Talaguppa-Siddapura-Sirsi-Kumta quite sometime back. Roads were good all through except for about 2-3 km stretches of under construction roads between Sirsi and Kumta.

I vaguely remember someone recommending Bangalore-Chitradurga-Hollakere-Channagiri--Shimoga (to use 4-lanes a bit to reach Shimoga) beyond that you can folow the above route.

In both cases you can avoid NH17 where traffic density is more.

If you are thinking of Route 2, you can even avoid NH17, by taking Yellapur-Sirsi-Kumta.

Talaguppa-Siddapura-Sirsi-Yellapur was in mint condition with bare minimal traffic.

[NPV]

@sachinayak - As @narayans80 has mentioned, you can also do
Bangalore-Tumkur-Chitradurga on NH 4 then take the NH 13 to Shimoga and from there take the NH 206 upto Honnavar. I had taken this route to Shimoga and then Tirthahalli in December 2013 and roads were excellent.

[mitra615]

Hi,

Planning to do Bangalore - Palolem next week. As per my understanding from previous posts,the best route is :

Bangalore-Tumkur-Hiriyur-Chitradurga-Haveri-Yellapur-Ankola-Karwar-Palolem

https://goo.gl/maps/thsOC

Correct me if I am wrong and please also suggest good places to break for breakfast/lunch and good place to stay in Palolem

Thanks,

[sachinayak]

Thanks for the suggestions, did not take the Shimoga route due to my reluctance to drive on single roads. Plus was driving an SUV (self-driven vehicle from Zoom Cars) for the first time and was trying to be more cautious.

Took the following routes

BLR - Haveri - Bankapur - Tadas - Sirsi - Kumta
Excellent NH4 till Bankapur, Good (not great) roads from Tadas to Kumta. Adds 50km more to the journey. Haveri - Sirsi route i hear is completely avoidable.

Kumta - Ankola - Yellapur - Hubli Bypass - Bangalore
A co-passenger was unwell and thought it would be best to take a route with lesser twists and turns. This ended up being too long a route, but kept all passengers in good condition through out. The entire route is a belter to drive on.

Did 1350kms over 3 days.

[subraiyr]

Hi folks

Am planning a trip to Goa - but in August. I know its fairly early, but we want to enjoy the rains both on the drive as well as in Goa. We are doing nothing much but enjoying the services of a 5 star property possibly and a little bit of rainy beach. I needed some help on the routes. We are planning early start. Which route should i take to ensure a pleasurable journey with good if not great roads. Also any suggestions on good deals on hotels in South Goa ?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by subraiyr

Hi folks

Am planning a trip to Goa - but in August. I know its fairly early, but we want to enjoy the rains both on the drive as well as in Goa. We are doing nothing much but enjoying the services of a 5 star property possibly and a little bit of rainy beach. I needed some help on the routes. We are planning early start. Which route should i take to ensure a pleasurable journey with good if not great roads. Also any suggestions on good deals on hotels in South Goa ?

- Thats simple. Bangalore-Hubli-Ankola-Madgaon.
- A 5-star property most probobably would be south Goa
- So the Hubli-Yellapur-Ankola-Karwar is the best route

[lyneld]

Originally Posted by ampere

- Thats simple. Bangalore-Hubli-Ankola-Madgaon.
- A 5-star property most probobably would be south Goa
- So the Hubli-Yellapur-Ankola-Karwar is the best route

Would you recommend bypassing Hubli, by heading towards Yellapur from Bankapur? Or is that stretch really bad?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by lyneld

Would you recommend bypassing Hubli, by heading towards Yellapur from Bankapur? Or is that stretch really bad?

No point. You won't save much on time. Instead take the Hubli-Dharwad NH4 bypass, exit for Ankola at NH63 intersection. It works out very well.

[lyneld]

Originally Posted by ampere

No point. You won't save much on time. Instead take the Hubli-Dharwad NH4 bypass, exit for Ankola at NH63 intersection. It works out very well.

Great, thanks! I'm heading to Vasco - so wondering if hitting Hubli-Dharwad and heading left is better?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by lyneld

Great, thanks! I'm heading to Vasco - so wondering if hitting Hubli-Dharwad and heading left is better?

Yes it definitely makes sense. Good roads all the way. Do note if you want to take a break at Kamat in Ankola, the instant you hit NH17 from N63 at Ankola bypass, then you need to take left towards Mangalore and drive for about 1-2 km to hit that Kamat.

If you are a non-veg, then turn towards Goa side, drive to Karwar and once you reach, ask any one for Hotel Amruth.

[rednikhil]

Back yesterday after a Bangalore-Goa drive. Since my destination was Altinho, Panaji, I took the Belgaum route. After Belgaum, headed on the Jamboti-Chorla route, and what a road it is! Beautiful vistas, Anjunem Lake, smooth freshly laid tar, twisties, jungle-sounds, lush green forest, wow! This is THE route to be taken if you are headed to North Goa/ Panjim. A caution here, at the Y-Junction after Belgam, do not take the left marked towards Panjim, go right towards Jamboti and Chorla.

On my return journey, I started at 0530h from Panaji and reached home near Mekhri Circle in Bangalore at 1445h, that is a time of 9h, 15m! This includes a 45-50m break at Kamat, Rannebenur for Brunch. A total distance of around 620-30 Kms, cruising at 100-120 Kmph, no rushing or high speed driving at all. A big thanks to Ampere, Paragsachania, TopSpeeder and other members on the forum for helping decide the route!

[asethi]

Guys one question - while driving Bangalore to Goa via Hubli, Karwar or even any other route, is there any RTO checking at the Karnataka-Goa border? I'm concerned as I've JK registered car and is there any risk of the getting caught at the border?
I drove to Goa 6 years back and at that time they stopped & checked all car documents at Karwar border.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by asethi

Guys one question - while driving Bangalore to Goa via Hubli, Karwar or even any other route, is there any RTO checking at the Karnataka-Goa border? I'm concerned as I've JK registered car and is there any risk of the getting caught at the border?
I drove to Goa 6 years back and at that time they stopped & checked all car documents at Karwar border.

I drove via Chorla and returned via Karwar last weekend. No checking as such by the RTO. Usual check posts we encounter are of the excise department.

I don't think you should really worry with a JK registered vehicle as long as you have all the Original documents in place (Including Pollution Test Certificate).

[vijayendra16]

Hi All,

Anyone done the Bangalore-Goa trip recently? I am leaving in the next 4 hours and wanted to check which is the best route to take.


Thanks in advance.