Fiat Adventure - Monsoon Road Trip

[srirambr]

This trip i unertook was on the anvil for 3 years.
Guess I was destained to do it in my adventure. The
basic intention of this road trip was to visit the
hills,farests and the seas during vigarous mansoon
activity.

I did a mansoon road trip in Karnataka. I left
Bangalore (Alone) on Friday (6th July) at 12:00 noon
to Dharwad. I had to attend a friend's wedding the
next day. I sort of broke my personal record of
Bangalore - Hubli (400 Kms). My previous best was
6hrs. This time I reached Hubli in flat 5 hrs. That
was indeed some drive.

I was joined by a friend from Dharwad. We left Dharwad
on Saturday at 3pm. We reached Dandeli(60 kms) at
about 4:30 pm. From Dandeli we left for Karwar (100
kms). This drive is through probably one of the the
densest forest in India. There are very fever wildlife
in Dandeli Reserve Forest Range and I know now as to
why? Where is the place for the animals to stay? The
forest is extremely dense. We drove in belting rain
through this forest. This road is not used, even by
buses, during night, as the route can get dangerous.
The roads were pretty descent to my surprise. We
halted at Karwar, which we reached by 7 pm.

Next morning we drove on NH 17 and reached Kundapur
(about 200 kms). NH 17 is badly maintained. May be
because of the excess rainfall, but that is no excuse
at all. From Kundapur, we deviated towards Agumbe (60
Kms). The drive on the agumbe Ghat was a dream come
true. This place has the second highest rainfall
recorded in India (11,000mm) after Chirapunji (Now
renamed Sohra). True to its nature, the rainfall here
was extremely heavy. There was also a thick cloud
blanket engulfing the hill. Had to drive with my fog
lamps on. From Agumbe we drove to the temple town of
Srigeri (22 kms). We halted at Sringeri. Since we had
time, we drove some 20 kms from Sringeri towards
Mangalore. Here, due to the rain fury, the rivulets
were flowing on the road. It was pouring non stop. The
Bhadra river that flows here was in spate.

Nest day, from Sringeri we came to Chikkamagalur. This
drive was exciting, as the main road was cut off due
to a bridge collapse. We had to take a lengthier road
via Coffee estates (Cafe Coffee Day Estate is here) to
reach the state highway. From Chikkamagalur, we went
to Mullayanagiri (30 kms from Chikkamagulur) , the
highest peak in Karnataka. The road goes right up to
the top of the hill. This road is very exciting to
drive. It was scary too, narrow road, extremely misty,
and the drop is sheer on one side. We could not stay
for more than 10 mins on the peak. The wind speeds
here was more than 100kmph and completely cloud
covered. Also very chilly. The wind was rocking my
adventure, that must give you some idea.

We left Chikkamagalur (250 kms from Bangalore)at 1:30
pm and reached Bangalore at 5:50 pm. We halted at
Hassan (184kms rom Bangalore) for lunch. Hassan
Bangalore I covered in 2.5 Hrs. My personal best.

Overall I covered 1300 kms in 4 days. My adventure was
a sheer delight as expected. The car enjoys good roads
and feasts on bad roads. I love my car more and
more!!! I have videographed the whole trip and will
post it on youtube after editing. I have shot my car
whenever I switched on the camcoder.

[akroy]

Nice trip but where are pics....Which route did u take for Dandeli to karwar. Was it NH63? if yes, what is the state of the road?

Abhi

[hvkumar]

I presume you took the Supa Dam-Anshi-Kadra-Sadashivgarh route to Karwar. How is the road condition on this road and in and approaching Dandeli from Dharwad?

Kumar

[srirambr]

Hi Roy and Kumar,

I shal post the pics later. Yet to upload them.

Kumar, its the same route I took. Only that I didn't go up to Supa Dam or Ganeshgudi to be precise. That was an extra 25 kms from Dandeli and I had to reach karwar before dark. Otherwise, its the same route, Dandeli-Joida-Anashi-Kadra-Sadashivgad and Karwar.

The road is pretty good, and for the amount of rains pouring there, its damn good I must say. But, since I was driving a Adventure, all roads seem good man. You are advised here not the drive in the dark as it is absolute wilderness and no help whatsoever for about 50 kms.

[ravibhat]

Thats nice trip in rain and Adventure or any SUV is right vehicle to go thru these areas especially Dandelli, agumbe, chikmagalur.

You are lucky because Just few months back Dandeli-Joida-Anashi-Kadra-Sadashivgad (scary road to travel alone because of dense forest) and Karwar road is repaired and I haven't traveled in this route yet but I know people who stay around these areas. NH17 between karwar and kundapur is quiet good I feel or at least not like udupi-mangalore route.

After mansoon no idea but as of now National highways in Utter Kannada district are good!

NH63 (between hubli and ankola) one of my favorite roads I used to travel. it was pathetic last year, I ehard this time they repaired the roads but no idea about the status after rain started. Because now a days national highways quality has come down very much.

Regards,

Ravi.

[lohithrao]

WOw lovely trip there and it reminds my trip which i did last winter, almost same route.

Guess "Adventure" is the perfect car for such conditions, and am sure you would hav had a great drive

[srirambr]

Hi Ravi,

The road road from Karwar to Ankola is very good. From Ankola to Bhatkal is Honnavar is good, but from honnavar to Bhattkal is pathetic. Bhatkal to Kundapur is descent. But at stretches on the NH17 there are bad patches. flooring the gas pedal is dicy. You have never know when you might hit a dip.

[srirambr]

Hi Lohith,
Adventure was indeed a car to behold. I returned without even a rattle in my car.

[mobike008]

That must have been one awesome trip. Nothing beats than driving in monsoon through thick green forest area, provided the roads are decent enough. Most of the roads get trashed due to the rain and then it wont be that fun anymore. Unless, maybe if we drive an adventure

Please post the pics, would love to see the monsoon pics of thick forest.

[akbaree]

Sriram - it seems you had quite a experience. I would have loved to join you on a trip like this. Please do post the link of the video that you are going to upload on youtube.

Last year when I was coming to Bangalore from Ahmedabad, I came via Karwar, Jog Falls, Shivmoga. It was really nice track too. Lush green (and it was summer). This while returning from Ahmedabad via Goa, I took another root thru Londa to Belgaum to joing the NH 7. It was a nightmare. There was no road for almost 50 kms and that too thru the jungle. But my adventure took all this with a smile. I will agree that it feasts on bad roads. I perhaps need a new map. The national highwas shown on my map are no longer popular. There are newer better roads to take.

I would like to know how you planned your route.

Thanks.

[1100D]

A story without a picture is not a story at all. Pictures.... PLEASE

[spider77]

nice travelogue dude, please post the pics man ,I would love to see the pictures o[SIZE=3]f ur adventure in action
[/SIZE]

[srishiva]

Its the Tunga river near Sringeri not Bhadra.

Looks like you had a great trip. Did you even take pictures since it would be difficult when raining in those parts. By the way, just wondering, aren't the speeds a little too much ?

[srirambr]

Hi,

I shall post the pics soon.

Srishiva,
Thanks for pointing out the mistake. It is Thunga that flows at Sringeri. As for te Speed, It was really fast, bot not reckless. The roads were pretty good and relatively empty during the times I travelled.