[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by sarinkumar

Great. Thanks paragsachania. Appreciate it.

OK, just turn the sheet upside down after taking the print out.

I mistook this as Hiriyur Hubli instead of Hubli Hiriyur.

Most of the listings barring Kamat will now be on your right hand side.

In fact, left hand side has less options to recommend anyways.

If you are OK for a bit of detour, can try Kottureshwara Butter Dosa near Bapuji College inside Davanagere as well.

[Bigzero]

A couple of years back when I drove to Calicut from Pune, I remember having lunch at some sort of a resort on the Davangere bypass - Dont remember the name - Must be the Apoorva resort paragsachania mentioned.. Food is passable, restrooms are no great shakes unfortunately. but I dont remember seeing better options on the highway. During that trip, I started from Pune at around 5 am and reached Mysore by around 6.30 pm - stayed over in Mysore, and then did the leg to Calicut next morning ( lovely morning drive through Bandipur and Wayanad :-) )

Edit : I checked Google maps after the post - the place I had lunch was called Genesis Resort on Davangere bypass.

Another idea for lunch could l be to get off the highway at Chitradurga - there are a couple of restaurants off the highway - Naveen Regency is on the other side of the road. Some driving around will be required though.. Good options are by and large limited between Hubli and Hiriyur.

I had made another trip to Calicut last year, but that time I chose to leave Pune at around 4 pm on a Friday afternoon and camped at Sankam Residency in Belgaum. Started from Belgaum early morning, and decided to go via NH17 for a change -so got off at Hubli and joined NH17 at Ankola. However I wont advise that route, as progress was pretty slow after Mangalore. I was quite tired by the time I reached Calicut. something like 9 pm or so. If I had stuck to the Hiriyur-Mysore-Calicut route, I would have saved at least 3 hours.

Another problem with leaving Pune in the evening was the bad traffic till Kolhapur - to get out of Pune in the evening itself was a challenge.

Had a trip in a Santro a few months back from Calicut to Pune with another driver for company - we started from Calicut at 5.30 and reached Pune at around 11.30.. but that was just me and the driver. With family, you wont want to stretch like that...

[sarinkumar]

I agree. In fact I did this route last May and like you, stayed at Mysore and started next day to Calicut. I don't think I will ever use the NH17 for the same reason you explained.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by Bigzero

A couple of years back when I drove to Calicut from Pune, I remember having lunch at some sort of a resort on the Davangere bypass - Dont remember the name - Must be the Apoorva resort paragsachania mentioned.. Food is passable, restrooms are no great shakes unfortunately. but I dont remember seeing better options on the highway.

Apoorva Resorts is a new entrant. Has come up only in the last 5 month's time.

There is Genysis left hand side soon after Harihar Bypass before Davanagere bypass starts. Was quite good few years before. Still a good option for cleaner rest rooms though. Food is OKish.

[Bigzero]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Apoorva Resorts is a new entrant. Has come up only in the last 5 month's time.

There is Genysis left hand side soon after Harihar Bypass before Davanagere bypass starts. Was quite good few years before. Still a good option for cleaner rest rooms though. Food is OKish.

That is a welcome addition - I checked google maps . Apoorva is around 15 km after Genesis Resort.

And yes it was Genesis where I had lunch earlier...

I must tell you - all this discussion about drive/route options makes me want to hit the road to Kerala!! unfortunately no holiday plans this year end.. :-(

[ampere]

In fact I am quite surprised that Davanagere Kamat closed down. May be its location does not integrate well with drive timings. But in spite of that I expect a nice/decent hotel on its bypass.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by Bigzero

That is a welcome addition - I checked google maps . Apoorva is around 15 km after Genesis Resort.

And yes it was Genesis where I had lunch earlier...

Yes, so I mentioned that Apoorva comes even before the actual Davanagere bypass starts (if driving towards Pune) and Genysis in fact is exactly on the opposite site at the beginning of bypass when driving southward.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Yes, so I mentioned that Apoorva comes even before the actual Davanagere bypass starts (if driving towards Pune) and Genysis in fact is exactly on the opposite site at the beginning of bypass when driving southward.

Originally Posted by ampere

In fact I am quite surprised that Davanagere Kamat closed down. May be its location does not integrate well with drive timings. But in spite of that I expect a nice/decent hotel on its bypass.

I too sense the same reason & nothing else. These days, with a 5AM departure, you will cross this erstwhile Kamat/IOCL in 3 hours and may be still not a good time to stop.

Kamat at Ranebennur which is hardly 20 minute ahead still makes great sense. 300 Kms is a good distance for that Break.

CCD too is strategically located before Hubli at Shiggaon (40kms). This will cater to Goan weekenders as well as Pune/Mumbai as well.

After this, the traffic on NH4 thins gradually.

The other Kamat, attached to IOCL COCO after Dharwad (right hand side when driving North) will soon close down and more than just confident about this.

It was functional, then stopped and again functional now. I could see just one car on Sunday evening.

Talk of it, the Kamat after Hubli (Towards Bangalore) always has KSRTC or other Private Volvos parked for Dinner as they would have left Bangalore at 2-3PM.

This Kamat also serves Southbound buses which would have started/passed Pune/Mumbai for Breakfast and Dinner.

NH4 Hotels are all about right breaks for Pune & Goa bound Traffic. Else you really dont need hotels for this highway.

Kolhapur Pune now boasts of plenty of Vittal Kamats at every 70 kms interval and I swear by their Vegetarian options and cleaner rest rooms.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

I too sense the same reason & nothing else. These days, with a 5AM departure, you will cross this erstwhile Kamat/IOCL in 3 hours and may be still not a good time to stop.

Also I dont see a good one in Chitradiurga. I had food at Naveen. It would at best pass. Ideal would have been a place outside the town. Given that slowly and steadily traffic towards Mysore may also get added, a good hotel at Chitradurga also makes sense. But I guess its all about numbers!

And yes MH does fare better in terms of the sheer number of hotels on the road, even if its a four lane!

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by ampere

Also I dont see a good one in Chitradiurga. I had food at Naveen. It would at best pass.

Never ever stopped at Naveen. Its best seen as the only good option more to stay than eat.

Going by our discussion, look at Dharwad Belgaum. Its got nothing in those 120 kms stretch starting from Hubli Bypass.

Sankam at Belgaum is again sought for stay but surprisingly great food.

Nippani has a competition even though its 20 minutes from Kolhapur MCD & CCD (now proudly boasts KFC in the same complex). And Nippani does witness good crowd on weekdays as well. Sankeshwar Nippani Kagal and Kolhapur folks come here for a joyride and have lunch/dinner.

Not to forget from Nippani you have Mumbai/Pune traffic returning from Goa too!

"Amar-Only Veg" is an excellent stop over soon after Tawandi ghats before Nippani. He's got a competition just 200 meters before called "White House".

I would love such competition at least in and around Chitradurga and Davanagere. Sadly, traffic density is so less and having driven recently on weekdays, I know the "rush" these places can expect.

NH4 by all means is a freeway (KA Part) than a highway in literal sense. Not much cars that hotel business may survive.

[Bigzero]

Restroom is the primary reason why I used to stop at Naveen.. Another issue with the place is very very slow service.

[luvurride]

Guys

Please advise the best route between Chamarajnagar-Shimoga as my friend intends to take this enroute Pune. I was thinking Chamarajnagar-Bannur-Srirangapatna-Krishnarajapete-Channarayapatna-Arsikere-Shimoga. How are the road conditions from Chamarajnagar-Channarayapatna as I have travelled the rest.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by luvurride

Please advise the best route between Chamarajnagar-Shimoga as my friend intends to take this enroute Pune. I was thinking Chamarajnagar-Bannur-Srirangapatna-Krishnarajapete-Channarayapatna-Arsikere-Shimoga. How are the road conditions from Chamarajnagar-Channarayapatna as I have travelled the rest.

I would suggest:

Chamarajanagar-Muguru-T-Narasipur-Bannur-Srirangapatna-KR Pete-Chanarayapatna-Arsikere-Shimoga.

Route Link

[luvurride]

Originally Posted by ampere

I would suggest:

Chamarajanagar-Muguru-T-Narasipur-Bannur-Srirangapatna-KR Pete-Chanarayapatna-Arsikere-Shimoga.

Route Link

Thanks ampere. I hope the roads are good in this stretch as the vehicle will be a loaded Vento.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by luvurride

Thanks ampere. I hope the roads are good in this stretch as the vehicle will be a loaded Vento.

- CR Nagar - Muguru - T-Narasipur : Decent / Nice roads
- T-Narasipur-Bannur : Good
- Bannur-Srirangapatna : A bit unknown. But I expect it to be good
- Srirangapatna-Pandavpura : Good roads, but lots of sugar cane traffic
- Pandavpura-KR Pete- CR Patna : Decent road. I heard it was good. I dont know for sure.
- CR Patna-Arsikere: Fanstastic
- Arsikere-Shimoga : Good NH206.

A more deterministic option can be :
CR Nagar - Nanjangud - Mysore - KR Nagar - Hasasan - Belur - CHikkamagulur - Shimoga

Take the Mysore ORR to bypass the city. Drive on Hunsur road till the point you see exit for KR Nagar.

Route Link


Second option is better to the extent that you get towns in between where you have options to break for food. But from a less traffic point of view, I would be tempted try the first option. Thinking otherwise, since there are folks in the car, I think it would be good take the second option.