[NPV]

Originally Posted by reignofchaos

Heading to Bekal in early jan for a few days. If shiradi ghat is closed, is Hunsur/Madikeri the only way to reach?

Doesn't seem like Shiradi will close down as per earlier announcements since a lot of patch work is being done, see the updates on the Art of travelling to Mangalore/Udupi thread.

You can also go via Channarayapatna-Holenarasipura-Arkalgud-Shanivarasanthe-Somwarpet-Madikeri-Sampaje-Sullia-Kasargod, see my earlier updates on this thread, did this route in October.

But I read recently about road widening work on the Sullia-Sampaje stretch as well, do check that.

[RajeshK]

Originally Posted by reignofchaos

Heading to Bekal in early jan for a few days. If shiradi ghat is closed, is Hunsur/Madikeri the only way to reach?

Hunsur - Madikeri - Bhagamandala - Panathur - Kanhangad - Bekal is the shortest. I heard that the road is in good condition now except for a few patches.

[satpalsharma]

Originally Posted by NPV

You can also go via Channarayapatna-Holenarasipura-Arkalgud-Shanivarasanthe-Somwarpet-Madikeri-Sampaje-Sullia-Kasargod, see my earlier updates on this thread, did this route in October.

If one is coming from Hyderabad to Madikeri, google maps show this route after Bangalore. i.e.

Bangalore-Nelamangla-Channarayapatna-Holenarasipura-Arkalgud-Shanivarasanthe-Somwarpet-Madikeri

Is this route to Madikeri fine? considering it'll be covered during 2nd half (evening) of the day? Or is it better to take a longer route through Mysore? Mysore route will be adding more time to the journey, so wanted to check on the above route?

[NPV]

Originally Posted by satpalsharma

Is this route to Madikeri fine? considering it'll be covered during 2nd half (evening) of the day? Or is it better to take a longer route through Mysore? Mysore route will be adding more time to the journey, so wanted to check on the above route?

Wouldn't recommend this for a night drive.
Too many twisties plus signages are very small and easy to miss on your first drive. In fact if you're coming down all the way from Hyderabad why not break at Bangalore or Mysore and then proceed to Madikeri ?
This route will not help in terms of time since it is mostly hilly terrain and undivided roads. It mainly helps avoid Bangalore Mysore traffic on Mysore road.

[satpalsharma]

Originally Posted by NPV

Wouldn't recommend this for a night drive.
Too many twisties plus signages are very small and easy to miss on your first drive. In fact if you're coming down all the way from Hyderabad why not break at Bangalore or Mysore and then proceed to Madikeri ?
This route will not help in terms of time since it is mostly hilly terrain and undivided roads. It mainly helps avoid Bangalore Mysore traffic on Mysore road.

Thanks for the info. Taking a halt is not an option for us since we're tight on the number of days. I generally follow Google Maps religiously and it can take me through those twist and turns. Considering we'll be travelling a long distance don't want any known trouble choosing that route.

So what do you suggest, going through Mysore or choosing the above considering I can follow Google Maps and won't be lost? I'm hoping to leave B'lore around 2-3pm

[ampere]

Originally Posted by satpalsharma

If one is coming from Hyderabad to Madikeri, google maps show this route after Bangalore. i.e.
Bangalore-Nelamangla-Channarayapatna-Holenarasipura-Arkalgud-Shanivarasanthe-Somwarpet-Madikeri

Originally Posted by NPV

Wouldn't recommend this for a night drive.
Too many twisties plus signages are very small and easy to miss on your first drive.

Originally Posted by satpalsharma

Thanks for the info. Taking a halt is not an option for us since we're tight on the number of days. I generally follow Google Maps religiously and it can take me through those twist and turns. Considering we'll be travelling a long distance don't want any known trouble choosing that route.

If you start by 3AM sharp from Hyd you should be at Devanahalli by 9:30/10 max. Take an hour to Nelamangala. If you start by 12, I am sure by 6PM you should be in Madikeri.

Take the Devanahalli-Doddaballpur-Nelamangala route. That bypasses Bangalore totally.

But yes it would be a long drive. If you have more than one drivers, then I think its possible.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by satpalsharma

So what do you suggest, going through Mysore or choosing the above considering I can follow Google Maps and won't be lost? I'm hoping to leave B'lore around 2-3pm

Take the Mysore route as you're starting late from Bangalore.
Bangalore - Mysore - Hunsur - Kushalnagar - Madikeri.

[svaid]

Cross posting from "all roads to kerala thread" as I have been suggested to check here. I am travelling from Bangalore to Nileshwar coming tuesday and been suggested the following route : http://goo.gl/maps/1PtsA . Please comment if this is a good option considering I will be driving an i10 with 2 year kid on board. Are there eating joints all along the route OR should I stop only at some specific places for food in the itinerary?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by svaid

Cross posting from "all roads to kerala thread" as I have been suggested to check here. I am travelling from Bangalore to Nileshwar coming tuesday and been suggested the following route : http://goo.gl/maps/1PtsA . Please comment if this is a good option considering I will be driving an i10 with 2 year kid on board. Are there eating joints all along the route OR should I stop only at some specific places for food in the itinerary?

Yes thats the correct route as I mentioned in the other thread. Its much better compared to Hassan/Sakleshpur.

[satpalsharma]

Originally Posted by ampere

But yes it would be a long drive. If you have more than one drivers, then I think its possible.

Originally Posted by NPV

Take the Mysore route as you're starting late from Bangalore.

Bangalore - Mysore - Hunsur - Kushalnagar - Madikeri.

Thanks NPV & ampere.

Took Mysore route which was good. Only I was driving.. Started 6:30am from Hyderabad and reached Madikeri by 8:30pm. Followed the same route on my way back as well.

[sachinpk]

I had made a trip to Bekal Fort in Kasaragod Dt on 27th December. It was my first trip to the Northern side of Kerala (beyond Kozhikode). I had decided to take the Thaliparamba->Iritty->Virajpet route, as our plan was to stay put at Madikeri/Virajpet for the night and then start next day morning to Bangalore.

At Bekal Fort I decided to double check with a police man who was on duty at the fort. He consulted with his colleague and gave me a totally different route. As per him, this route is much shorter than the Thaliparamba->Iritty route.

From Bekal Fort, we again enter the highway (and thus skipping bad roads of Kanjangad town) to reach the suburbs of Kanjangad (or bye-pass for the town). There we need to take the turn to Panathoor.

Roads from NH17 to Panathoor is quite good, though it has lots of twist and turns. It did not have many hair pin bends, but the road was climbing up through hills. Panathoor is around 50kms away. We reached this small town at around 1900Hrs. Panathoor is the Kerala state's last town in this route.

From then on the road condition goes worse, and it goes through a forest route. It was also getting colder and colder. At two points, the road goes right next to two small water falls. Darkness, the silence of the forest, the sound of the water fall plus the short "cluck..cluck" sound made by some wild creature; all made this trip a bit of an eerie experience. This route again is not "family friendly" at least in night time.

During this entire trip all we saw was four to five vehicles, that too coming from Coorg side. One of them was a Ernakulam registered Swift car, with its passengers having a quick shot of booze. No vehicles were trailing us, or over took us.

Karnataka Govt. has neatly placed a check post after the forest area is over . Guess they know that once people enter the forest at Panathoor there are no other exits to Karnataka. The check post is placed at an elevation, and the sentry just flashed his torch light and let us go.

PS: Map My India did not have Panathoor marked, so I had to use the "Ask & Proceed" method.

[reignofchaos]

Originally Posted by NPV

Doesn't seem like Shiradi will close down as per earlier announcements since a lot of patch work is being done, see the updates on the Art of travelling to Mangalore/Udupi thread.

You can also go via Channarayapatna-Holenarasipura-Arkalgud-Shanivarasanthe-Somwarpet-Madikeri-Sampaje-Sullia-Kasargod, see my earlier updates on this thread, did this route in October.

But I read recently about road widening work on the Sullia-Sampaje stretch as well, do check that.

How is this route:

Channarayapatna-Holenarasipura-Arkalgud-Shanivarasanthe-Kudrasthe-Subramanya-Guthigaru-Jalsoor-Kasargod?

Seems to be somewhat shorter than doing a detour via madikeri. Any clues if this route is in acceptable condition?

Edit: A little more reading reveals it is the infamous Bisle ghat road which is in pathetic state.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by reignofchaos

Seems to be somewhat shorter than doing a detour via madikeri. Any clues if this route is in acceptable condition?

Edit: A little more reading reveals it is the infamous Bisle ghat road which is in pathetic state.

Don't attempt Bisle unless you and your vehicle are ready for off roading!
You will enjoy the route via Madikeri-Somwarpet-Shanivarasanthe. Twisty roads, less traffic and very scenic, good for a relaxed drive.

[guyfrmblr]

I did a solo drive to Shanivarasanthe yesterday through Channarayapatna - Holenarasipura - Arakalgud. I took the direct route through SH-8 from Channarayapatna to Holenarasipura which has that dreaded 2 km stretch. So I decided to experiment with the Agrahara route while coming back and I must say its a fantastic route. It just adds 2-3 kms to the normal route but I reached Channarayapatna within no time through this fantastic road. Hence I highly recommend everyone to take this route to avoid the dreaded 2 km stretch near Holenarasipura.

Route Map:


From Channarayapatna side: At point A in the above map, take a right at the circle named "H.D.Revanna circle". The google map shows the wrong route from point B to point C on the map. There is no road there. The route is actually present along the red line which I have drawn between these two points. From A to C (SH-121), its a fantastic wide road as shown in the pics below. At point C, take a left and proceed in the well asphalted narrow road (SH-102) till point D and then take a left towards Holenarasipura.

There is one speed breaker between point A and C and two unofficial ones between C and D.

From Holenarasipura side: Proceed in the Hassan route and take a right at point D. There are well marked direction boards at point D and C in Kannada.

Fantastic and deserted SH-121:

[ampere]

Originally Posted by guyfrmblr

The route is actually present along the red line which I have drawn between these two points. From A to C (SH-121), its a fantastic wide road as shown in the pics below. At point C, take a left and proceed in the well asphalted narrow road (SH-102) till point D and then take a left towards Holenarasipura.

Great update! To see the new road, look at satellite view in Google. I think we can see it (if its the same one you are referring to). Google should update it quite soon.

I can spot this road on the open street maps!