[Awaz]

Originally Posted by ampere

The way Chitradurga-Hospet-Solapur has developed in the last few years, we need to think a good way to connect this express way from Gulbarga. Either to Vijayapura or Hungund. This option may get you the maximum 4-lane coverage probably.

Yeah! that will remain a perennial wish. Lately I am all ears to the Surat-Chennai New Expressway whose alignment cuts through NH50 at Jewargi and goes to Kurnool. With a completion date of Mar 2025, this to me is a more realistic and shortest option to Blr. Keeping fingers crossed !!

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Awaz

Last month I did a Blr-Glb-Blr trip

How long did Gulbarga-Raichur-Gadwal take?

You could have taken Gulbarga-Jevargi-Bijapur-Hospet-Durga-Bangalore. Bijapur-NICE entry took 9 hours including 2 stops at Naivedyam (which is 15 detour) and Upadhyaya Ruchi amounting 1:40 hours. All done at 90-100 kph.

[Awaz]

Originally Posted by narayans80

How long did Gulbarga-Raichur-Gadwal take?

4 hours

Originally Posted by narayans80

You could have taken Gulbarga-Jevargi-Bijapur-Hospet-Durga-Bangalore. Bijapur-NICE entry took 9 hours including 2 stops at Naivedyam (which is 15 detour) and Upadhyaya Ruchi amounting 1:40 hours. All done at 90-100 kph.

As mentioned, i did do that route last year. A shade longer at close to 700kms, I did not want to repeat as there were a lot of tall speed humps then till Durga, not sure if they still exist.

[condor]

Narayan & Awaz,

why Gulbarga - Jewargi - Bijapur and then to Hospet ?

I was checking that area, and google maps shows me Sindagi-Devarahippargi-Muddebihal - Hungund, >> bypassing Bijapur.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Awaz

lot of tall speed humps then till Durga, not sure if they still exist.

The humps are between Almatti and NH67-NH50 turn. Quite a few of them are now rumbler steps. Though there are some tall ones where you have to get down to 1st gear to negotiate. These were however easily identifiable than what they were in 2019.

Remaining stretch is being resurfaced, some of the humps have been flattened with this resurfacing.

Originally Posted by condor

I was checking that area, and google maps shows me Sindagi-Devarahippargi-Muddebihal - Hungund, >> bypassing Bijapur.

You have a near empty 4-laned NH where you can do 120 why not use it? I am 100% confident on KA SHs Bijapur bypass work is mostly done till Gulbarga road atleast. I just did 10 days back.

[condor]

Originally Posted by narayans80

You have a near empty 4-laned NH where you can do 120 why not use it? .

Shorter, and lesser time - as indicated by GMaps. So can actually reach destination faster.

I used to think going via Solapur was default, but then my cousins in that area also mentioned taking the interior roads.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by condor

Shorter, and lesser time - as indicated by GMaps.

I've done some outrageous routes in the last few years based on information I collected through various sources. but I'll never trust GMaps blindly man.

[Awaz]

Originally Posted by condor

Narayan & Awaz,

why Gulbarga - Jewargi - Bijapur and then to Hospet ?

I was checking that area, and google maps shows me Sindagi-Devarahippargi-Muddebihal - Hungund, >> bypassing Bijapur.

Right, but to me it was always about willingness to take the risk of trodding the unknown with no real sources to confirm the road condition (can't rely on GMaps on this front). Apart from the speed factor as Narayan mentioned, a so called NH gives me a bit more confidence over a SH even though NH is a longer route.

[condor]

Yes, GMaps can throw up a surprise at times. Both of you guys seem to have missed the point I had mentioned about local inputs that I can get

[Awaz]

Originally Posted by condor

Yes, GMaps can throw up a surprise at times. Both of you guys seem to have missed the point I had mentioned about local inputs that I can get

Yes, sorry, I overlooked your mention regarding first hand inputs from your cousins. Those practical invaluable local inputs make us explore unchartered territory, in my case trying out NH150 !!

[W@SIM]

Posting 4 month old update, i had done a bangalore-gulbarga-bangalore in 1st week of November
Onward route - experimental - BLR-Gooty-Chinnahulti(Right)-Yemmiganur-Mantralayam-raichur gulbarga
Start time: 5am (Begur, Bangalore South) end time: 545pm
Drive time was about 10.5 hrs, breakfast and lunch breaks were long given a toddler aboard
Breakfast point was tiffin center in Ananthpur(went in town to enjoy it),
Lunch was Raichur, hotel Abhiruchi-strongly recommended

Overall Excellent roads Except Gooty to Yemmiganur. 80 km road from Gooty to Yemmiganur took 2hrs 45 mins
Post gooty non existent roads for first 5 kms, post that till Chinnahulti its average road. from there on a single lane treacherous road till Yemmiganur with unmarked speed breakers.

Return route was Gulbarga-Devarhippargi-Muddebihal-Hungund-Hospet-Chitradurga-bangalore
Start time 12.45pm, end time 1215am. drive time about 10hrs.
Excellent roads - except 10kms patch post Devarhipargi. Also before hungund was a Non Fastag toll booth.
Dinner was Kamath in Sira

[BrokenHW]

Originally Posted by W@SIM

Return route was Gulbarga-Devarhippargi-Muddebihal-Hungund-Hospet-Chitradurga-bangalore
Start time 12.45pm, end time 1215am. drive time about 10hrs.
Excellent roads - except 10kms patch post Devarhipargi.

Is this route more comfortable to drive than the Route of Gooty - Mantralayam?
Please suggest, have some travel plans coming up in few weeks

[W@SIM]

Originally Posted by BrokenHW

Is this route more comfortable to drive than the Route of Gooty - Mantralayam?
Please suggest, have some travel plans coming up in few weeks

yes definitely, alternately you can go via kurnool raichur or Mahabubnagar Sedam

[BrokenHW]

Originally Posted by W@SIM

yes definitely, alternately you can go via kurnool raichur or Mahabubnagar Sedam

Thank you for the reply, I will probably take the Hospet route. Will update the road conditions in this thread after the trip.

[W@SIM]

Originally Posted by BrokenHW

Thank you for the reply, I will probably take the Hospet route. Will update the road conditions in this thread after the trip.

i think to be safe you can go via bijapur ring road. its 43 kms more but just 10 mins more.