[nma83]

Originally Posted by Samurai

I drove it few months ago. I found the Aldur-Belur stretch very irritating. Too much traffic and construction happening then.

I did this route back to Bengaluru today and found it more stressful than the charmady route, but similar travel time.
Like you said, the road between aldur and belur has many bad patches and very narrow even for 2 cars to pass each other.

[Jabber]

Originally Posted by Samurai

You can go Bangalore-Hassan-Sakleshpur-Shiradi-Gundya. Until Gundya roads are fine. At Gundya turn towards Subramanya, and then the towards Sullia.

Ended up taking this route. The roads between Gundya and Subramanya are excellent. They are good (slightly narrower) from Subramanya to Sullia. The route was not busy, and the drive was good and scenic.

Thank you to all those who responded with suggestions.

[subbu567]

Hello all,

Travelled to manipal on 27th October:

Via Hassan-Shirady-Dharmasthala-Bajagoly-Karkala- Hiriyadka- Manipal.

Left Bangalore at 415 - breakfast at Indraprasta, Udayapura at 615( yes they serve at that time)

Road conditions- excellent till Hassan but after that until before the ghats- many stretches are double carriage ways but in many places single too- so had two situations where encountered cars head on at stretches that seemed like a double carriage way. It was confusing. So pls be watchful.

Road condition is bad on the ghats for the first 10-11 kms- many huge potholes at tarred portions. The subsequent 25 kms is alright. And the stretch till Dharmasthala right turn has many diversions with mud and slush roads where the work is happening.

And road till Dharmasthala has worsened too.

But after that it’s much better but once again bad between Hiriyadka and Manipal.

We were in a Jimny - so it was a breeze still- but sedans will struggle.

Reached at 1140 am.

[elroydsilva]

Road condition between Sakleshpur and Shiradi ghat entry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIl1bloAhJk

[elroydsilva]

The roads from Bangalore (E-city) to Sakleshpur are so good that with a 2.30 am start, it took just 3 hours and 20 mins, with speeds not exceeding 100 on any stretch. It being Friday morning might have also helped.

I took the same route as @subbu567 except for Karkala - Belman - Shirva - Udupi.

[trailsndirt]

Another family trip coming up to Karkala over the weekend.
The usual route for them is Hassan, Belur, Charmady, Belthangady to Karkal.
Any pointers on stretches that are a bit rough? Traditional thought - come back the same way.
I've been contemplating the old alternate route via Shirady - Hassan, Sakleshpur, Shirady, Dharmastala, and onwards or via Uppinangady to Belthangady and onwards. How is this stretch?
Constraints: They need to reach by lunchtime. Planning to start off from B'lore by 6/6:30 AM.

For the return, contemplating if the route via Kudremukh would be worth it. Bajagoli, Kudremukh, Kalasa, Kottigehara, Belur, Hassan and back. Is anyone familiar with the condition of that route?
Family constraints: They MUST have lunch at Mayura or thereabouts by 2 PM but can start from Karkal only after 8 AM as breakfast is not available earlier.

[trailsndirt]

I reached Karkala on 4th Nov.
The route was taken - via Charmady Ghats.
The roads are pretty sorted till you cross Charmady. From there, till about Naravi, it's a bit bad. Ujire onwards, they are widening the road and what was a decent patch of tarmac has gone to ... whatever.
Tankers and heavy trucks can bash through the ditches that have formed off a blind crest but even in an SUV, it's not good.
From the local connections, sections via Shirady are still not in good shape, and I am now contemplating whether to try Kudremukh, Kalsa, join Kottigehara, and then go back to Bengaluru. There is a nice stop point just before Banakal, an Indian Oil fuel station that has a nice stopover for snacks which the family prefers.

[rex_varghese]

Folks,

See not very good reports on Shiradi ghat section.
Need to visit Udane over the weekend.
Is Shiradi manageable on a Sedan? Or, Charmadi is a safer option?

Have the ongoing rains made the ghat roads worse?

Regards
Rex

[Oppanna]

Originally Posted by rex_varghese

Folks,

Need to visit Udane over the weekend.
Is Shiradi manageable on a Sedan? Or, Charmadi is a safer option
Regards
Rex

I rode via Shiradi ghat on 4th and returned on 5th. Roads till Gundya are good like mentioned above. Sedan can handle easily.

Gundya onwards the widening is in progress and since you need to visit Udane, Shiradi is the best option rather than taking longer route of Charmadi.

[rex_varghese]

Originally Posted by Oppanna

I rode via Shiradi ghat on 4th and returned on 5th. Roads till Gundya are good like mentioned above. Sedan can handle easily.

Gundya onwards the widening is in progress and since you need to visit Udane, Shiradi is the best option rather than taking longer route of Charmadi.

Great. Thanks for the update, Oppanna. Seeing few earlier posts on this thread I was slightly concerned about by low GC sedan taking the ghats well.

[Oppanna]

Originally Posted by rex_varghese

Great. Thanks for the update, Oppanna. Seeing few earlier posts on this thread I was slightly concerned about by low GC sedan taking the ghats well.

I repeat, entire ghat section is really holding up well. Hassan to Sakaleshpura road work is almost complete and entire stretch is concrete now. Only at Balupet bypass there is an undulation which one needs to be careful.

Sakaleshpura to Maranahalli one needs to be careful and not that it is not driveable. Low slung cars can handle it too if one is careful.

Gundya to Udane is approximately 9 kms and that is where the road widening is in progress and you need to keep moving from left lane to right and vice versa.

By the way which car will you be driving in?

Happy Journey and Drive Safe.

[rex_varghese]

Originally Posted by Oppanna

By the way which car will you be driving in?

Happy Journey and Drive Safe.

Thanks, Oppanna. Corolla Altis.

[RoJo]

Hello all
Bangalore - udupi I prefer the route of Hassan - sakleshpur - gundya - Uppinangady - Guruvayanakere - Bajagoli - Karkala - Belman - Shirva - Udupi

I used to take Gundya - Dharmasthala - Ujire , but Dharmasthala roads are narrow and not great. Uppinangady is a better option

Charmadi is a no for it’s curves , humps and narrow roads

[JMaruru]

Originally Posted by RoJo

Bangalore - udupi I prefer the route of Hassan - sakleshpur - gundya - Uppinangady - Guruvayanakere - Bajagoli - Karkala - Belman - Shirva - Udupi

When did you do the Gundya <> Uppinangady stretch in the recent past?
Has the 4 lane work, completed on this stretch?

The rationale for taking deviation at 'Dharmasthala Cross' was coz of broken roads, further until 'BC Road'.

[chaitanyakrish]

What's the best route in terms of road conditions to reach Kundapura/Udupi from Bangalore? Is it via Shimoga or via Belur/Balehonnur/Agumbe?