[rajshenoy]

Planning to drive to udupi this week and looks like not alot of options. Was hoping to take charmadi but not sure how crowded it can get due to shiradi landslides.

I came to know private busses are going via madikeri. Any suggestions if charmadi is still ok or should I avoid all the traffic and go via agumbe?

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by rajshenoy

Planning to drive to udupi this week and looks like not alot of options. Was hoping to take charmadi but not sure how crowded it can get due to shiradi landslides.

I came to know private busses are going via madikeri. Any suggestions if charmadi is still ok or should I avoid all the traffic and go via agumbe?

I don't think there will be much of an issue by this week. We did 4 ghat sections last week (and weekend)
1. Kargal (/Jog falls) - Bhatkal
2. Bejur - Kollur - Nagara
3. Hulikal - Siddapura
4. Bisle ghat (on Sunday)

Except for Bisle ghat, there was hardly any traffic on the other 3 sections. Even for Bisle ghat, I saw a steady 4 wheeler traffic and the odd truck on the route causing a slow movement at parts but otherwise manageable. By this week, it should get better IMO.

Note. I avoided Agumbe and Charmady as I had done them in the past.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by ninjatalli

1. Kargal (/Jog falls) - Bhatkal
2. Bejur - Kollur - Nagara
3. Hulikal - Siddapura
4. Bisle ghat (on Sunday)

None are regular routes on this thread, they are really long-winded scenic routes.

Originally Posted by rajshenoy

Planning to drive to udupi this week and looks like not alot of options. Was hoping to take charmadi but not sure how crowded it can get due to shiradi landslides.

I think you can still try Shiradi, I believe it is still open for light traffic. The landslide is only at one place, and cars can still pass through. Most traffic will be taking Charmadi.

Otherwise, try Belur-CKM-Sringeri, not great with family though.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by rajshenoy

Planning to drive to udupi this week and looks like not alot of options. Was hoping to take charmadi but not sure how crowded it can get due to shiradi landslides.

One with least interruption may be Agumbe. I remember many shifted when Shiradi ghat section was being upgraded.

Udupi-Hebri-Someshwar-Agumbe-Thirthahalli-Shimoga-Arsikere-CR Patna-Nelamangla-Bangalore

[Ragul]

Originally Posted by ninjatalli

I don't think there will be much of an issue by this week. We did 4 ghat sections last week (and weekend)
1. Kargal (/Jog falls) - Bhatkal
2. Bejur - Kollur - Nagara
3. Hulikal - Siddapura
4. Bisle ghat (on Sunday)
.

How are these ghat sections for scenery and driving pleasure? I am at CKM right now and think of doing 2 and 3 if it is worthwhile.

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by Ragul

How are these ghat sections for scenery and driving pleasure? I am at CKM right now and think of doing 2 and 3 if it is worthwhile.

Honestly all of them are great. I would rank Bisle ghat the best if one is just looking a driving around without any stops, but I’m just being picky then. Road condition wise, all were in decent shape. Depending on whichever one is closest, I’d suggest picking it up.

Originally Posted by Samurai

You can see some of the areas covered in this old OTR report.

And lots Bisle ghat photos in this OTR report.

Edit: Road conditions were much better than what you have shared in your OTR reports @Samurai (travelogue thread in progress!)

In fact the bad roads (like what you have shared) were after getting out of the ghats and on my detours towards different waterfalls and later much ahead towards Somvarpet/Somwarpet.

Dang - I should have gone through both these OTR reports. I seem to have picked a lot of spots that you have been - Bhimeshwara (temple/waterfall) for example. What you could do only on a jeep 10 years ago, now there are decent roads a hatchback or sedan can do too!

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Ragul

How are these ghat sections for scenery and driving pleasure? I am at CKM right now and think of doing 2 and 3 if it is worthwhile.

You can see some of the areas covered in this old OTR report.

And lots Bisle ghat photos in this OTR report.

[mooza]

Originally Posted by ninjatalli

...Except for Bisle ghat, there was hardly any traffic on the other 3 sections. Even for Bisle ghat, I saw a steady 4 wheeler traffic and the odd truck on the route causing a slow movement at parts but otherwise manageable...

Thanks for the useful information.

I plan to drive via Bisle ghat the coming weekend in my Xylo, just hoping it is jam free on the weekend.

[DragonHawk]

Originally Posted by mooza

Thanks for the useful information.

I plan to drive via Bisle ghat the coming weekend in my Xylo, just hoping it is jam free on the weekend.

Since it is raining cats and dogs here, you should hope there are no fallen trees blocking the road as well.

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by DragonHawk

Since it is raining cats and dogs here, you should hope there are no fallen trees blocking the road as well.

That is a given. We saw fallen trees blocking part of the roads on all the four ghat routes we drove by. I’m sure Charmady and Shirdy Ghats would have fallen trees.

As for Bisle ghat, I saw two broken down vehicles as the bigger problems - one a bus and later a truck. Both had created mini traffic jams on the roughly single lane route which caused a slow delay for about 15 - 20 mins each.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by ninjatalli

That is a given. We saw fallen trees blocking part of the roads on all the four ghat routes we drove by. I’m sure Charmady and Shirdy Ghats would have fallen trees.

As for Bisle ghat, I saw two broken down vehicles as the bigger problems - one a bus and later a truck. Both had created mini traffic jams on the roughly single lane route which caused a slow delay for about 15 - 20 mins each.

The effect and the attention that Shiradi and Charmadi get over Bisile is certainly different. Plus, the demographics of Bisile make it even more challenging when there is a tree fall. You may find rescue come your way sooner on the other Ghats than Bisile.

I believe this is exactly what DragonHawk is referring to and I too feel that way with Bisile.

In fact as of now, there are more takers for Charmadi only because of the state of Shiradi and now that both of them reported landslides and blocks, Bisile is the next one on the block. Hence the title mentions driving to west coast as an "art" and it really is .

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Hence the title mentions driving to west coast as an "art" and it really is .

I named it so long ago and it hasn't aged. Last week I somehow ended up reading some posts from 2010 on this thread, and it was really a horror show back then. Big clue, the 4-lane construction had started and even reaching Hassan was an art.

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by Samurai

I named it so long ago and it hasn't aged. Last week I somehow ended up reading some posts from 2010 on this thread, and it was really a horror show back then. Big clue, the 4-lane construction had started and even reaching Hassan was an art.

Hahaha - I know that feeling. About more than 15 years ago, I used to be part of a trekking group that would explore the various peaks around Pune - Mumbai - Nashik combo. Back then there weren't available commercial options or detailed online logs; one had to figure out the route (local know-how), take multiple state transport (even go on trucks sometimes) and depend on local population for food etc. Risks of doing such treks in the rains were huge (have lost someone in that group to accidents). Now if I just google any peak, google throws over 10 options of a all-paid trek with travel, food and boardings all setup in advance.

I feel like the roles are reversed here - you guys have seen the highways over these ghats develop from trails to properly maintained roads, and here I'm a newbie to this side of town, wondering why these 'oldies' are worrying about such awesome roads

[Samurai]

What is the status of Shiradi these days? Open for light traffic or not?

PS: I am told it is open for light traffic.

[DragonHawk]

Originally Posted by Samurai

What is the status of Shiradi these days? Open for light traffic or not?

PS: I am told it is open for light traffic.

It is open till 7pm for light traffic and case to case basis they allow post 7pm.