RufRoc, you can take the route suggested by Ravi:
1) Bangalore -> Tumkur -> Shimoga -> Sagar -> siddapur -> Sirsi -> Mirjan -> Gokarna
Just back from Goa, you will have to go through about 60+kms of bad roads. just be careful and i dont think there should be problem.
Kaushik, That was my plan too but lazy me started from Bangalore about 9:30

so had to take a break at Sagar. hmm driving to Sirsi at night hmmmm but i thoroughly enjoyed the drive from Jog to Sirsi was very Scenic...
Skandy, I was planning to take that route but dropped it instead took the BEST route

Shiradi heheheh btw how many kms did it come up to?
Mangalore to Karkala is good.