[TorqueyTechie]

Originally Posted by NPV

At Shimoga, there are several options like Jewel Rock, Royal Orchid and Samrat Ashok (these 2 are close to the bus stand and also to the Sagar highway). We had lunch at Samrat Ashok during an earlier trip and it was very good.

If you have time, you can also visit Tyavarekoppa Lion and Tiger Safari which is about 10Km from Shimoga when going towards Sagar.

I was planning to have a lunch stop at royal orchid but since you have mentioned about Samrat Ashok, I will check that as well. Nearer the NH the better it is. Lion safari we will be doing on our way back to Bangalore. Thanks NPV for the suggestions.

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

a. NICE toll-If you use it
b. NBTPL- 20 rupees one way, if you use it.
c. LANCO toll at - 40 rupees one way, if you use it.
d. Bellur - 40 rupees one way
e. Hirisave - 40 rupees one way

So don't go with 0 cash

Swathi delicacy is good, but I'm avoiding it these days because it's crowded like hell. they have expanded the facility, they also serve to your car when crowded, but still I prefer less crowded restaurants. Mayura is pretty average IMO. Adiga's grand is also decent.
there is one Upsouth as well. Adyar Anand bhavan is 5Kms after the CRpatna-Arasikere turn, so you'll miss it.
Coffee days are littered if you fancy.
While all these are good for breakfast, you can have lunch at Tip-Top at Sagara

I remember that there is an IOC COCO station at Gandasi cross (before Arasikere)

Thanks hemanth for the neat info. Since this is my first trip using Fasttag I would definitely keep cash with me. But even otherwise I do intend to carry cash with me as somehow I dont trust ATM's outside of my regular ones.

I do agree on the crowd at Swathi delicacy. But what I do like their is the clean restrooms plus hygenic place. But if its crowded tomorrow I will stop at Mayura/Adigas. Will remember your suggestion on tip-top restaurant for lunch. How far is it from the NH?

Originally Posted by DragonHawk

As NPV mentioned, once you exit Tumkur road elevated highway, you will get total 3 toll booths and all are fastaged. However out of these 3 only 2 have dedicated path for FastTag customers. I have been using Fastag in this stretch for quite sometime and I always had a smooth transit.

Thanks DragonHawk for confirming about fasttag.This is my first trip post getting tagged and hence wanted to confirm.

I will update on the usage and the road conditions post my trip. Thanks all.

[hemanth.anand]

Since this is your first trip with Fastag, remember the following:

• 99% of the times, the Fastag will be the second lane from the left
• 99% of the times, the fast tag will be barricaded. One person will see the sticker on your windshield and open the barricade
• At couple of places in this route, there will be hand-scanner and not completely automatic.
• Sometimes SMS of the Fastag deduction may be delayed.
• Sometimes deductions may happen 2 days after the trip

Originally Posted by TorqueyTechie

Will remember your suggestion on tip-top restaurant for lunch. How far is it from the NH?

It's on the NH206 itself. From Shivamogga, you'll find it on your right at the entrance of Sagara.

[aithalsandy]

When you are driving from Shimoga to Sagara, Tyavarekoppa Lion and Tiger safari is on your left hand side at around 10km from Shimoga.

Pls note that the road widening is in progress between Shimoga to Tyavarekoppa and it is rough. The number of accidents have increased in the recent past. Pls drive carefully in this section.

[TorqueyTechie]

I am back from my trip to Jog and wanted to provide update on the road and the fast tag conditions.

While going we took the Blore -CR Patna - Shimoga - Sagar -Jog route.
Road conditions are good until CR patna but from there it deteriorates drastically until Shimoga is crossed. After that roads are good (slight bad road patches though!) all the way until Jog.

For breakfast stopped at Swathi delicacy on the right and lunch was at Royal Orchid at Shimoga.

While returning took Jog - Sagar - Shimoga - Channagiri - Chitradurga - Sira - Tumkur - Bangalore route. Road conditions are good all the way except for bad patches between Channagiri - Chitradurga. Initial plan was to skip Shimoga but one of my friend's car had trouble with the engine overheating. So took the Shimoga route to get it checked. Also there is a good IOC bunk some 10-14 kms from Jog.

Fasttag worked at all tolls and easily saved me close to 20 mins while going and around 30 mins while coming.Very convenient. Only problem was I was deducted 235 rs at Nelamangala toll which should have been only 40 rs. I have raised a complaint regarding the same.

Lastly this is how Jog falls looks like at present.

[goandude]

Riding to Jog on this weekend. From reading the above posts on this thread. I'm debating between

(A) Bangalore, C'durga, Channagiri, Shimoga, Jog. GM says 434 kms and almost 8 hours.

and (B) Bangalore, CR Patna, Arsikere, Shimoga, Sagar, Jog. GM 413 and again 8 hours.

Advantage of A is less traffic, while con is under construction roads before Shimoga.
While B has more traffic and average road conditions especially from CR Patna to Shimoga.
Any other information for me to choose between them?

[NPV]

Originally Posted by goandude

Any other information for me to choose between them?

As per earlier posts on the forum, the road widening work on the Chitradurga route has progressed well and nearing completion (you get 4/6 laned roads till Chitradurga), so you can do that route onwards at least, and take the Arsikere route for the return which is much more scenic, so best of both worlds

[aithalsandy]

Hello All,

Took Chitradurga route yesterday night. Still a lot of patches of under construction section. Potholes in those sections are deep and filled with water due to rain, making it difficult to gauge the depth. Still signage, paint, reflectors are not yet done.

Net/net avoid night drives. However, day journey should be fine.

[goandude]

Originally Posted by aithalsandy

Hello All,

Took Chitradurga route yesterday night. Still a lot of patches of under construction section. Potholes in those sections are deep and filled with water due to rain, making it difficult to gauge the depth. Still signage, paint, reflectors are not yet done.

Net/net avoid night drives. However, day journey should be fine.

We did this on 30th. To add to your comments:- C'durga to Shimoga was great
for about 70% of the route but the problem is sometimes potholes appear magically on an otherwise great surface, last 20 kms of this road are bad, the going through Shimoga town was slow due to heavy traffic, the road from Shimoga to Sagar was lovely.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by goandude

the going through Shimoga town was slow due to heavy traffic

I see there is a 100 Feet road on the maps which almost looks like a bypass road (May not be though).

Is that the one which you took?

[goandude]

Originally Posted by ampere

I see there is a 100 Feet road on the maps which almost looks like a bypass road (May not be though).

Is that the one which you took?

No, that is not the one we took. We went through the town.

[Harry Iyer]

Drove the Chitradurga >> Channagiri >> Shimoga route on the night of 22nd Dec 2017. Although there is less traffic on this route, I would suggest to look for other options as there are lot of humps & the surface is very rough. Especially the last 25 kms before entering Shimoga. It is difficult to believe that this is actually a "National Highway". I was tempted to stay on the 6 lane highway for as long as possible (hence Chitradurga) - but now realize that should have left it sooner.

The road from Shimoga to Jog Falls is pretty decent. However, there was hardly any water in Jog Falls this time of the year. I would say only one-sixth of the volume in the pic above.

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by Harry Iyer

The road from Shimoga to Jog Falls is pretty decent. However, there was hardly any water in Jog Falls this time of the year. I would say only one-sixth of the volume in the pic above.

Except for the last few kilometers nearing Jog Falls, the road is decent. After Jog, towards Honnavara, it deteriorates further.

As for the falls proper, better to skip it until at least the next rains. Not worth a visit at present. However, if you are there by evening, one can have a glimpse of the musical fountain and the laser show. Begins at 7.30 PM. Not great, but not too lame even.

Update based on my visit on 23/12/2017.

[blorebuddy]

Have anyone visited Jog falls in the last week or so?

[procrj]

Originally Posted by blorebuddy

Have anyone visited Jog falls in the last week or so?

Saw a few pics of the same on FB early Jan. Hardly any water - better of going elsewhere.

[nfsfreak]

Friends,
Can someone please suggest best route to Jog Falls from Bangalore?
Planning to start tomorrow night around 11:30 PM.

GMaps suggests via Davanagere (link) but someone suggested B'lore - Chitradurga - Shimoga - Jog falls as well.

So please suggest which one is better based on road condition, and some decent food options en-route especially near Jog falls.

Plan is drive to Goa, from there after couple of hours in Jog falls.
So, would appreciate any inputs on that stretch as well.