Hello Everyone!
Just got back from a micro trip to and from Bangalore yesterday night. I had taken a lot of advice from this forum before setting off. So, it's time to give back. I was convinced to drive myself all the way after the numerous back-breaking Volvo-bus experiences and their absolutely rude and unbearable bus drivers. It wasn't the first time I was going on a long drive on our now one-year old Ford EcoSport. So, I did a bit of research on routes and set off. It was also a while since me and my wife were on a road trip.
I started off on Saturday Morning. Left Mangalore city at 11:30 AM to be exact. It was about an hour and half later than what I would have liked but then, when you have women along, the unexpected delays are not so unexpected. :P I took the following route after a lot of deliberation and going through the previous 50 posts in this thread.
Mangalore - BC Road - Ujire - Belthangady - Charmadi - Belur - CR Patna - Nelimangala - Bangalore.
The two other options on my mind were the Madikeri - Mysore Route and the Shiradighat Route. However, chose neither due to the distance factor in the Madikeri Route and the Pothole factor in the Shiradi ghat route.
I checked on Google Maps before starting off. The Shiradi Ghat route would reduce my travel time by exactly one hour, everything else being the same. However, considering the reviews, I decided an hour later is better than a sore back. So, loaded the map on my phone, ('coz I was sure I was going to miss signal/GPS connectivity while in the Ghats), filled my tank and set off on the Charmadi - Belur Route.
Experiences: Good
1. The road is amazing. Except for the entry and exit at Belur town and a few occasional pot holes which can be avoided, 97% of the road was butter-smooth. I paid about Rs. 250/- at all toll booths for the two-way journey, but I would have paid even twice that amount for these roads. There were moments on NH 48 where I went really fast. The road quality was surely more than what I had expected and I'm thankful for the government for this.
2. The stability of the Ecosport at high speeds is worth writing about. I had never driven above 100 Kmph in the last one year due to various reasons. However, looking at NH 48, I thought it would be a shame if I didn't test the EcoSport. And the results came out well. At higher speeds, the vehicle wasn't heaving nor bouncing. It stuck to the tarmac, didn't fall short of breath and didn't vibrate excessively either. I'm not an expert automobile engineer, but the EcoSport did surprise me with its steadiness at high speeds.
3. The views and sounds at Charmadi are worth experiencing. While on the way, a break at one of the curves or local thatched-roof-shops for a few mins will instantly re-energize you. I would advise travelers to stop for a few minutes here and enjoy the sights.
The not so good:
1. Timing of the Return Trip. On the way back from Bangalore, we were held up meeting too many people. And the fact that the onward journey was so comfortable, we got complacent and it was 2:30 PM by the time we left Bangalore City. We didn't know god wanted to play a little hide and seek game with us. The moment we zoomed on to NH 48, it started raining. Even before I started, I decided not to cross the 120 Kmph mark on the return journey. I knew I had tested the EcoSport, I was satisfied. So, we planned for a relaxed drive. However, rain brought us down even further. I was praying that the shower was just the average Bangalore shower that lasts for a few minutes and vanishes. It wasn't to be. Except for a break of about 3 mins, the entire length of our drive was marked by relentless showers. And it wasn't just a shower. IT was a downpour. I drove consistently at the 100- 110 mark. We were praying for the Sun to be a bit more lenient and come back form the Casual Leave that it had taken. But no use. It continued to rain till Belur. The narrow roads and the civilization kept my speed low, but now the issue was not about rain, it was about natural light. We kept driving through the beautiful locales, trying to keep up with the day, but it nevertheless got darker and darker and it was about 06:00 PM by the time we entered the ghat section. Pitch black, High beams by lorry, truck, alto, auto and even activa drivers, it was getting tougher, when god said, here goes your first gift for today. It started to rain. Another fact to spice up the story was that there were almost no vehicles ahead or behind me to draw some succour from. Kept driving with dilated eye balls and a stretched back,
, and at about 07:00 PM, god threw his next gift, thick mist or fog or perhaps it was a complete cloud in itself. Visibility was down to about half a metre. High beam, low beam, no beam, nothing seemed to work. My GPS/Maps conked off and the windshield began to get misty from inside. Absolute chaos and add to this, my wife's first night journey through the Ghats. The tension in the air was worth experiencing. I was laughing at how much can go wrong.
The best/worst part however was that I didn't stop. Kept nudging ahead, downed the windows and kept moving even though at a snail's pace. After about half an hour of playing in the clouds and the roughest possible drive I've ever had in the last 28 years, visibility improved and my wife's BP began to come down. So we learnt a very important lesson in life, night driving is best done on city roads not in the Western Ghats. An important advice to everyone reading this, please avoid night driving in these parts, especially during the months of May - Oct. We saw about 4 vehicles with different kinds of problems stuck/stranded all through the Ghat road.
2. The thick A Pillar. I haven't seen a thicker one yet and it definitely is an issue when driving uphill or downhill. Also, at high speeds, it needs getting used to, as you miss a few metres behind that pillar in a fraction of a second. And those few metres could contain a lorry, a puppy or even a drunk man. There's no getting around this problem except for getting used to it.
3. Headlights. Weak. I felt a few two wheelers had stronger headlights that the EcoSport. Definitely call for an upgrade if there's heavy night driving in curvy roads for you.
Overall, it was an experience that will be difficult to forget for the both of us for a long time to come.
A few facts,
Onward Jounrey:
Started from Mangalore: 11:30 AM, Saturday
Reached Bangalore : 06:15 PM, Saturday (It took about an hour and a half more to reach Garuda Mall, which was our final destination)
Total Breaks: 50 minutes
Net traveling Time: Approximately 6 hours.
Mileage: About 12.0 Kmpl 99% AC (My EcoSport is a Petrol Trend Variant)
Return Journey
Started from Bangalore: 02:30 PM
Reached Mangalore: 09:45 PM
Total Breaks: 15 mins
Net traveling Time: 07 hours
Mileage: 11.7 Kmpl 65% AC On