[Ketan T]

Originally Posted by SSD2122

@Ketan T, thanks. I could see Wildernest and one more at Chorla ghat on a quick check in Google maps. Could you guide me if its before or after Wildernest ?

Delta is before Wildernest while going from Belgaum to Goa.

Google maps link:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/1vu6g

[sukiwa]

Originally Posted by SSD2122

I could see Wildernest and one more at Chorla ghat on a quick check in Google maps. Could you guide me if its before or after Wildernest?

Delta would be before wildernest & on your left side while going from Belgaum to Goa. Delta offers good freshly prepared food, have tried for breakfast.
Wildernest is a resort and would not offer lunch to walk-in customers unless they have changed their policy.

[vivek95]

Originally Posted by suzuki san

Hi ManonSong,
Could you please clarify more on this "bypass". Does this mean that you did not actually pass through Belgaum City? If so, some more detail would be appreciated viz. Where did you join this bypass? What was the bypass road condition? How long is this bypass road?

.

Originally Posted by manonsong

I just followed the road up from Chorla Ghat and followed signs to Mumbai which took me around the edge of Belgavi and NO I did not enter the city.

I am very much aware of this road that bypasses Belgaum but I have ridden/driven on it only partially, a couple of times. Though I am from Belgaum and had contemplated many times doing this bypass that connects NH4 with Belgaum--Amboli road--then Belgaum--Chorla road, I could somehow never do it. You basically need to take Bauxite road once you exit NH4 and touch Belgaum--Amboli road. Continue till Sulga and then left towards Belgundi village and then onto Kinaye village on Chorla road. Entirely bypasses Belgaum city start to end. Interestingly, Google map has already started suggesting this route albiet partially. Hope I drive home (Belgaum) from Mumbai this weekend and check out myself if taking these internal roads is feasible.

Originally Posted by SSD2122

Kolhapur - Belgaum is where I let my Tjet scorch the tarmac! Last year the stretch was in great condition, need to see how it is this year.

Kolhapur--Belgaum is one stretch of NH4 which one can vouch anyday anytime for it's brilliant surface and awesomeness. Satara--Kolhapur is also brilliant as on date, infact Satara--Kolhapur is my most favorite stretch to drive, as you have lush green fields all along on both sides and nice huge median plantations.

Delta restaurant comes before Wildernest on left side going from Belgaum to Goa, just after Kanakumbi village. It's located bang in the middle of the thick forests, so the ambience is superb. I would recommend it as a good stopover.

[Trojan]

Originally Posted by vivek95

You basically need to take Bauxite road once you exit NH4 and touch Belgaum--Amboli road. Continue till Sulga and then left towards Belgundi village and then onto Kinaye village on Chorla road. Entirely bypasses Belgaum city start to end. Interestingly, Google map has already started suggesting this route albiet partially. Hope I drive home (Belgaum) from Mumbai this weekend and check out myself if taking these internal roads is feasible.

Google is not suggesting this route at the moment and I feel rightly so, it seems it will take more time to navigate the lanes and bylanes between the villages - Sulga - Belgundi - Kinaye then it takes to navigate through the city.

This would serve purpose only when there is some known blockage or issue within the city.

Check this out, I selected a position on the Bauxite road as the starting point towards Siolim, North Goa.




Vs

I carry on straight towards Belgaum city and use the regular route




It is 12kms of additional distance plus 34 mins extra time, complexity would only increase post dark. Avoid.


Cheers,
Trojan

[Ertigiat]

Update regarding Chorla Ghat

[vivek95]

Originally Posted by Ertigiat

Update regarding Chorla Ghat

Thanks. Do you have any latest update on the Bhimgad route ?? It's only the Ramnagar--Anmod road that is shut down right while the alternate Bhimgad route is still open ?? Many people have this in mind that the entire NH4A is shut down right from Khanapur onwards, hence the burden of traffic on Chorla route. People driving towards Ponda/Panjim/Old Goa/South Goa from Mumbai/Pune are better off taking the Belgaum--Khanapur--Bhimgad WLS--Anmod route.

[Ertigiat]

Originally Posted by vivek95

People driving towards Ponda/Panjim/Old Goa/South Goa from Mumbai/Pune are better off taking the Belgaum--Khanapur--Bhimgad WLS--Anmod route.

This route is closed altogether. It was open for four wheeler but even trailers took liberty of plying on the road. Hence authorities decided to block it. It was shut down totally from 17th Feb onwards. Dilip buildcon(contractor) has ensured (at least has issued a statement) that the route will be open by June.

[suzuki san]

Hi Guys,

This from the Times of India (Goa Edition) today.
Should be some relief for people using the Chorla Ghat.

Regards,
SS

[harryputtar]

Originally Posted by suzuki san

Hi Guys,

This from the Times of India (Goa Edition) today.
Should be some relief for people using the Chorla Ghat.

Regards,
SS

People using this route after this news, please report the exact conditions on the ground.

I am planning to travel to South Goa in the beginning of April. The last time we took the Bhimgad Sanctuary route, and it was a breeze.

Unfortunately it is not an option anymore so I will go with the Chorla route unless I hear something adverse about the same.

The Amboli- Sawantwadi route is not in the best of shape right?

[pokerface23]

Originally Posted by harryputtar

The Amboli- Sawantwadi route is not in the best of shape right?

The section is horrible as of now. I am a frequent traveler to Goa and have done this route in Feb and also now in March. Since I usually go only to Arambol, I have no other option than to take the Nippani - Amboli - Sawantwadi route. Once I left NH4 and took the right turn after Nippani, it took nearly 5 hours to cover a distance of nearly 160 kms to reach Arambol. Moon-craters almost on the entire stretch. The Karnataka section (i think till you reach Ajara) is still relatively better. But once I crossed over to Maharashtra again, my suspensions were weeping. Add to that, the fact that I am always a solo driver and by the time I reach this section, I am slowly starting to run out of steam after driving non-stop from Mumbai

[Trojan]

Originally Posted by pokerface23

The section is horrible as of now.
Moon-craters almost on the entire stretch. The Karnataka section (i think till you reach Ajara) is still relatively better. But once I crossed over to Maharashtra again, my suspensions were weeping

Shucks that sounds really bad! I last drove on this stretch in Nov'18 and this definitely wasn't the case, though not comparable to Chorla. Which car were you driving?

I am trying to weigh my options, leaving tomorrow evening. The only reason I don't want to take Chorla is because I am awfully bored of it and then the never ending stretch from Keri to Tivim really gives me nightmares.

We humans are a strange lot, when in 2011 when hardly anyone used to take this route, this was our preferred route and now to this!

Don't want to go through Kolhapur either, so that leaves me to battle it out with the potholes. Any other routes?

Cheers!

[Desmosedici]

I'm leaving tomorrow night at 11 to reach Candolim. Thinking of going via Chorla after reading the above updates. Since we have 2 kids, do not want to get bogged down on broken roads at Amboli.

[Sawyer]

Just to update on the Nipani Amboli section: Last week I did a solo run in my Nano - departed Pune 0415 and arrived at Gunpowder restaurant in Assagao at 1300 hours via Parra, that's just a little less than 9 hours which is excellent going for the little wonder. An extra half hour on return since I left at 0630 hours and could not escape Pune traffic at the return end.

Yes, the post Goa Ves bit is bad, but manageable and still the shortest/fastest way to North Goa. Shortly after the turn off at Tawandi the road deteriorates and demands attention to potholes for a 10 kilometres stretch till a little before Uttur. And then it again gets bad some time after Ajra till Amboli. The ghat itself is ok except at the end where there are broken patches again. And there are the two diversions on the Ajra to Amboli section where bridges are under construction which are ok, but which may be suspect in the monsoons if they are still needed.And other than these two little diversions, the road status is exactly as it was in November 2018.

Total distance 450 kms each way.

Chorla was good if one left Goa before 0600 hours, thereby avoiding the traffic on the Tivim Keri section as well as in Belgaum town. But on the way to Goa there is no avoiding that traffic on a single day drive, and the Keri to Tivim part can be irritating at the end of a long drive. This, before the Anmod closure issues, so I don't know if this is still valid, but I suspect it is.

[harryputtar]

Originally Posted by Sawyer

Just to update on the Nipani Amboli section: Last week I did a solo run in my Nano - departed Pune 0415 and arrived at Gunpowder restaurant in Assagao at 1300 hours via Parra, that's just a little less than 9 hours which is excellent going for the little wonder. An extra half hour on return since I left at 0630 hours and could not escape Pune traffic at the return end.

Wow, all I can say is wow, I have never quite understood how people do Pune-Goa in 9-10 hours, sometimes lesser. I have never been able to make it lesser than 12 hours, in my Jetta. Of course we do take 2-3 breaks on the way ranging from 45 min to an hour. Maybe thats what causes the time difference, but still great timings for you, how many breaks do you take and how long?

Originally Posted by Sawyer

Yes, the post Goa Ves bit is bad, but manageable and still the shortest/fastest way to North Goa. Shortly after the turn off at Tawandi the road deteriorates and demands attention to potholes for a 10 kilometres stretch till a little before Uttur. And then it again gets bad some time after Ajra till Amboli. The ghat itself is ok except at the end where there are broken patches again. And there are the two diversions on the Ajra to Amboli section where bridges are under construction which are ok, but which may be suspect in the monsoons if they are still needed.And other than these two little diversions, the road status is exactly as it was in November 2018. Total distance 450 kms each way.

Thanks, I had better stay away from this route then. For one I am going to South Goa (Colva), and secondly, I would any day take a longer route for a better ride quality, my kids are prone to motion sickness and hate a bumpy ride .

Originally Posted by Sawyer

Chorla was good if one left Goa before 0600 hours, thereby avoiding the traffic on the Tivim Keri section as well as in Belgaum town. But on the way to Goa there is no avoiding that traffic on a single day drive, and the Keri to Tivim part can be irritating at the end of a long drive. This, before the Anmod closure issues, so I don't know if this is still valid, but I suspect it is.

How does this work on the way into Goa? Any timings we should take care of?

[Sawyer]

Originally Posted by harryputtar

Of course we do take 2-3 breaks on the way ranging from 45 min to an hour. Maybe thats what causes the time difference, but still great timings for you, how many breaks do you take and how long?



How does this work on the way into Goa? Any timings we should take care of?

No kids, so all I need/take is a couple of quick bio breaks; refreshments are best catered to at either end where I am concerned, though I do have a bottle of water in the car. My timing in the Nano after departure at 0415 took me past Sai at around 0730, and exiting NH4 by around 0840. That's an average speed of about 70-75kmph, easily done on that section even in a Nano, without ever exceeding 90. The rest of the way is obviously a lot slower.

The only sensible way to beat the traffic into Goa using the Chorla route is to stay in Belgaum and leave before 6 am. That makes it an overnight stay in Belgaum.