[Roameo]

Thanks Shushruta your info will be very useful.

[Morgul]

I'm planning on a road trip from Bangalore-Udupi-Gokarna and I'm looking for some suggestions on the route that I can take. I've done my basic research and I've come to know about a few routes and their current statuses.

1- Bangalore - Hassan - Shiradi - Mangalore - Udupi --> Horrible roads
2- Bangalore - Hassan - Belur - Mudigere - Kalasa - Kudremukh - Karkala - Udupi --> Recent landslides between Kalasa and Karkala takes this route out of the equation
3- Bangalore - Hassan - Kottigehara - Ujire - Bantwala - Mangalore - Udupi --> Need info about road condition
4- Bangalore - Shimoga - Agumbe - Manipal - Udupi --> Need info about road condition <leaning towards taking this route if its not too bad>

I need info about the routes which say "Need more info about road condition". If anyone has taken this route recently kindly let me know what I'm looking forward to.


The plan :

Sat Morn - Leave Blore <Via ??> to Udupi
Sat Even - Reach Udupi <Stay overnight>

Sun Morn - Visit Malpe/St Mary's Island
Sun Noon - Leave Udupi <Via NH17> to Gokarna
Sun Even - Gokarna <stay>

Mon Full day stay - Gokarna

Tue Morn - Leave Gokarna - via Honnavar, Shimoga
Tue Even - Reach Blore


A few things:

This is my first long drive.
Car : Santro A/T <self driven>
Group : 5
I'll be trying to avoid night driving at any cost.


Any suggestions/advice to a newbie will be highly appreciated.

~Morgul

[lohithrao]

Originally Posted by sushrutha

Best route from BIAL to tumkur would be,
BIAL-YELAHANKA-DOBBESPET-TUMKUR.
Please get in touch with member - lukeskywalker for the exact road condition/route.
This route would save you around 1.5hrs of travel time when you compare with the route taken thru BLR City(BIAL-HEBBAL-YESWNTPUR-NELMNGL-DOBSPET).
Road condition is Good till Gokarna, But be very careful abt the sudden humps from Tumkur- Tiptur/Arasikere.

Yes dobbspet is best option...

Morgul, take the 4th option i,e via Shimoga..Agumbe

- Udupi to Gokaran keep 6-7hrs as the road condition is not that gr8...and since this is the first long drive...

Advice is dont be in a hurry lots of winding roads so keep calm and dont get carried away....lastly you will come across quiet a few bad patches so take it easy

[Morgul]

Lohith,

Thanks for the suggestions and advice. I will definitely keep them in mind. ^^

I'll update you guys on the condition of these roads when I return.


~Morgul

[bullinb]

Originally Posted by Morgul

1- Bangalore - Hassan - Shiradi - Mangalore - Udupi --> Horrible roads
2- Bangalore - Hassan - Belur - Mudigere - Kalasa - Kudremukh - Karkala - Udupi --> Recent landslides between Kalasa and Karkala takes this route out of the equation
3- Bangalore - Hassan - Kottigehara - Ujire - Bantwala - Mangalore - Udupi --> Need info about road condition
4- Bangalore - Shimoga - Agumbe - Manipal - Udupi --> Need info about road condition <leaning towards taking this route if its not too bad>

None of the above . The best route to Udupi is Bangalore - Hassan - Belur - Chickmagalur - Aldur - Balehonnur - Jayapura - Sringeri - Agumbe - Manipal. Exactly 420 km and surprisingly good most of the way. You can cover the distance in 8-9 hours during the day and and in about 7 hours at night.

[addyhemmige]

Morgul, take the route bull has suggested

The best route is Bangalore-Magadi-Kunigal-Hassan-Belur-Chikmagalur-Aldur-Balehonnur-Jayapura-Sringeri-Agumbe-Someshwara-Manipal-Udupi (phew!! pretty long, huh!!)

You are sure to have a smooth ride all the way to Manipal (except for a couple of rough patches). The Shimoga route is also good, but it is a bit of a roundabout.

Since this is your first long drive, be advised that the ghat roads in this route start from Aldur onwards and continue till Someshwara. Other than that, nothing to worry about

[bullinb]

Originally Posted by addyhemmige

Bangalore-Magadi-Kunigal-Hassan

Yes, don't even try Nelamangala during the day. NICE road junction - Magadi - Kunigal road is absolutely gorgeous - must be one of the best around Bangalore.

[Morgul]

Thanks bull and addy.

I'll try the route you guys suggested. On my return I was anyway planning to come back through Shimoga <from Gokarna>.

And, thanks for the tip on Magadi-Kunigal route. I cant tell you how much I hate the Nelamangala route and was looking for an alternative to avoid that road. =P

~Morgul

[lohithrao]

Magadi road is superb, it reminded me of old NH48...

Till Peenya highway is completed i guess will take this route...

Prabhu i took the turn at BEL junction it worked, thanks for the info

btw the route suggested by Addy and Bull is good but loads of winding road have fun

[lohithrao]

Originally Posted by bullinb

None of the above . The best route to Udupi is Bangalore - Hassan - Belur - Chickmagalur - Aldur - Balehonnur - Jayapura - Sringeri - Agumbe - Manipal. Exactly 420 km and surprisingly good most of the way. You can cover the distance in 8-9 hours during the day and and in about 7 hours at night.

Bull & Ady, how many kms from Bangalore to Sringeri? and Sringeri to Mangakore thats is via Karkala - Padubidri..

Guess i can take this route next time to Mangalore...

btw any updates on "Shiradi"?/

[addyhemmige]

Originally Posted by lohithrao

Bull & Ady, how many kms from Bangalore to Sringeri? and Sringeri to Mangakore thats is via Karkala - Padubidri..

Guess i can take this route next time to Mangalore...

btw any updates on "Shiradi"?/

Bangalore to Sringeri via Hassan-Chikmagalur should be approximately 330-340 kms.

Mangalore - Sringeri should be around 100 kms + or -. But I don't think you can take this route now since the road had caved in in between Karkala & Kudremukh ( I don't know where exactly). It will be very circuitious as well.

Haven't got an update on Shiradi as yet. I will be hearing from a couple of friends who are travelling to Mangalore for the weekend.

[sushrutha]

Best route to Udupi as of now
BLR-HSSN-CKM-SRINGERI-AGUMBE-PARKLA-UDUPI

Next is
BLR-HSSN-BELUR-MUDIGERE-KOTTIGEHAR-CHARMADI-G.V.KERE-KARKALA-UDUPI

[KishoreC]

Originally Posted by Morgul

I'll update you guys on the condition of these roads when I return.
~Morgul

Please do. In my last trip to Coastal Karnataka in March 2009, I took the Sirdi ghat road, but this time I guess that road is best avoided.

Originally Posted by addyhemmige

The best route is Bangalore-Magadi-Kunigal-Hassan-Belur-Chikmagalur-Aldur-Balehonnur-Jayapura-Sringeri-Agumbe-Someshwara-Manipal-Udupi (phew!! pretty long, huh!!)

I will try to take this road. We will have my in-laws accompanying us, so wanted a safer route. Ghat section should not be a problem. Thanks addy for suggesting this one. Should post my experiences after the trip.

Guys, please help me out. I'm comfortable driving on ghat roads, but will drive a Fabia hatchback, so will have to really be on the road, not off it.

My plans are as follows. I guess I have already posted it once, but now when the travel day has come very close, it's become very important for me to get road condition updates.

1st Nov. - Start from Bangalore (5:30 AM)
Bangalore - Mangalore ( Stay at night, hotel already booked)
Local sightseeing.

2nd Nov. - Start at 9:00 AM
Mangalore - Karkala - Agumbe - Malpe - Kaup - Kundapur
Stay at Maravanthe

3rd Nov - Start at 9:00 AM
Maravanthe - Murudeshwar - Gokarna
Stay at Gokarna

4th Nov - Start at 9:00 AM
Gokarna - Karwar - Gokarna
Stay at Gokarna

5th Nov - start at 9:00 AM
Gokarna - Jog Falls - Bangalore

What I already know:

1. Sirdi ghat, really bad condition, may be closed, best avoided
2. Kalasa - Karkala - Road closed
3. Mangalore - Udupi - road condition very bad

Please share any more info you guys have on current road condition.
Help is much appreciated.

[devoo]

NH-17 is a disgrace to NHAI in Karnataka,sections between Ankola-Kumta, Bhatkal-Baindur and Kundapur onwards are vehicle destroyers, I drove down this road on 9th Sept in my Scorpio,in a small car,you would have to be careful,locals say the manganese ore trucks are to blame.I blame corruption.

[lohithrao]

Kishore, Firstly its "Shiradi" ghats if you take this rouyte you will have loads of bad patches to go through not sure how your Fabia behave... BC road to Udupi there are quieta few bad patches..