The art of travelling between Bangalore - Mangalore/Udupi

[nithz]

Originally Posted by lohithrao

Nithnz i plan t take this route on my next trip hows the road condition?

The route felt a lot more reliable no strain on the vehicle as well ,whereas the road from B.C. ROAD TO MANGALORE IS IN PATHETIC SHAPE the holes are no more the holes now they have turned into lakes . this route is far better now try this route and you ll notice the difference.

[rajshenoy]

I am hearing that even KSRTC volvo buses are coming via the NH48 and have avoided Madikeri route and that is due to the bad roads in that stretch it seems.

Does this mean that Shiradi is still the better options to reach Mangalore? [buses seems to be reaching on time)

[sushrutha]

Originally Posted by prabhusati

I will be driving down to Mangalore this Friday, 21st Aug 2009. The plan as of now is to start early at around 4.30am and drive via Madikeri. Any info on the road condition will be very helpful.

Also, what is the update on the route via Charmadi?

Returned from a recent coorg trip,
Road is good all the way till Kushalnagara, from thereon it's bad. Too much of potholes just after Kushalnagara but from thereon the potholes reduces, till Madikeri. But beware of sudden potholes in the curves.
I took Kushalnagara - Nisargadhama- Dubare- Chettalli -Madikeri route.

Regarding charmadi, It's open now and quite good, recently pramod did a trip in this route.

[dkamath]

Originally Posted by dkamath

Airavats take about 9 hours to and fro M'lore, even via. the Madikeri route... Also, the Airavat i boarded during the return trip came along the Thokkottu - Melkar route, to touch NH48. Not sure if it was our bus alone or all other Airavats are avoiding the Pumpwell->BC Road in their return trips.

Originally Posted by nithz

I keep travelling to mangalore atleast twice in a month i recently discovered a route which saved me atleast 45 mins to 1 hour compared to my prior trips due to bad roads and traffic block(on NH) till mangalore .
-As you pass puttur you get into NH keep goin on NH before u reach B.C. ROAD you get a small junction (TOWN) in which if you take a left it goes to KONAJE mangalore university road go straight in that route its a narrow road with limited traffic (but be careful about sudden arrival of local private buses) it will lead you to town called MUDIPU ,you should take right which will go directly to TOKKOTTU (NH) from ther right leads to mangalore . hope it helped

Hi nithz, KSRTC have discovered that route earlier, hehe. It's the Melkar junction, leading to Thokkottu.

[prabhusati]

Originally Posted by rajshenoy

I am hearing that even KSRTC volvo buses are coming via the NH48 and have avoided Madikeri route and that is due to the bad roads in that stretch it seems.

Does this mean that Shiradi is still the better options to reach Mangalore? [buses seems to be reaching on time)

Not sure if the Volvo & Rajahamsa service buses use Shiradi Ghat route.
KSRTC recently gave a press release that both the above mentioned class of buses will go via the Madikeri route to ensure safety of passengers.

There was also a press release that overloaded iron ore trucks are banned on Shiradi Ghat till Aug 31st. Not sure how they will implement this rule though.

[Ketan]

Does anyone know what would be the best route to Kukke Subramanya at this time? I may plan a trip from Bangalore to Kukke. I dont mind going a few extra KMs, but want to avoid real bad roads. I will be driving PalioD.
Thanks.

[lohithrao]

Ketan, i would suggest via SHiradi as it would be closet and ghat section is the only place to be concerned about but last what i heard from people who traveled recently that its not that bad yet!

[addyhemmige]

Originally Posted by prabhusati

Not sure if the Volvo & Rajahamsa service buses use Shiradi Ghat route.
KSRTC recently gave a press release that both the above mentioned class of buses will go via the Madikeri route to ensure safety of passengers.

There was also a press release that overloaded iron ore trucks are banned on Shiradi Ghat till Aug 31st. Not sure how they will implement this rule though.

Rajahamsas are definitely taking the Shiradi route. I was in Hassan for the weekend and I did see a couple of Mangalore rajahamsas. But, this was during the day. Don't know about the night buses.

I did not see any Volvos towards Mangalore

[rajshenoy]

Originally Posted by addyhemmige

Rajahamsas are definitely taking the Shiradi route. I was in Hassan for the weekend and I did see a couple of Mangalore rajahamsas. But, this was during the day. Don't know about the night buses.

I did not see any Volvos towards Mangalore

My In laws came this weekend on Volvo from Udupi and we were expecting to receive them on Mysore Road and the bus came via NH48 directly to Majestic

Not sure if only Udupi/Manipal buses take this route though!!

[Ketan]

Originally Posted by lohithrao

Ketan, i would suggest via SHiradi as it would be closet and ghat section is the only place to be concerned about but last what i heard from people who traveled recently that its not that bad yet!

Thanks,

so, how about the other route via mysore > waynad direction? I read in some other post that its around 50-70 KMs longer but roads are good.
No plan to drive in the night (unless becomes necessary), I may leave early in the morning like 4.30-5.30 or so.

[lohithrao]

addy, Rajahamsa will ply on Shiradi until its really bad...

[prabhusati]

When travelling via Charmadi Ghat, after Ujire there are 2 road options, one via Dharmastala which will take you to NH48 before Nelyadi; and the other via Belthangady-Guruvayankere-Madanthyar-Punjalkatte-BC Road-NH48. Need inputs on how is the road condition for the second option. On google maps, the first option looks to be longer one.

[lohithrao]

Ketan, am not sure about this route, anyhow i believe even you take this route you will have to touch NH48 via puttur. as per my info sampaje is not in that great condition that way it wil be a very long detour...

[anarchist]

Hi I am driving down to Mangalore this weekend from Bangalore, I have tried the Shiradi ghat many a times but the road can be used to test our Lunar vehicles and you bet they'll come out rocking. I have also tried the Madikeri route but roads are so so and its time consuming. I have never tried the Charmadi route, can anybody please gimme pointers as to how to get on this route and towns I will pass through before I reach Mangalore. Thanks in advance..

[prabhusati]

Originally Posted by anarchist

Hi I am driving down to Mangalore this weekend from Bangalore, I have tried the Shiradi ghat many a times but the road can be used to test our Lunar vehicles and you bet they'll come out rocking. I have also tried the Madikeri route but roads are so so and its time consuming. I have never tried the Charmadi route, can anybody please gimme pointers as to how to get on this route and towns I will pass through before I reach Mangalore. Thanks in advance..

The route to Mangalore via charmadi is

Bangalore - Nelamangala - Kunigal - Channarayapatna - Hassan - Belur - Mudigere - Charmadi - Ujire.

From Ujire to Mangalore there are 2 options

1. Ujire - Dharmastala - Nelyadi - Uppinangady - BC Road - Mangalore
2. Ujire - Belthangady - Bantwal - BC Road - Mangalore

I have travelled on the route mentioned in option 1 (Ujire - Dharmastala till NH48 and roads are good). Not sure of the road condition now once you hit NH48 before Nelyadi.

Regarding option 2, i noticed this route on Google Maps, and did pose a question on the road condition in a previous post. No reply yet. So, not sure if people have taken this route to give feedback.

I am leaving for Mangalore tomorrow early morning. I am yet to decide whether to go via Charmadi or Sampaje.

When did you travel via Sampaje-Madikeri route and which are the stretches with bad roads?

Best Regards/Satish Prabhu