[skydiver]

Originally Posted by procrj

Sira CCD is the last CCD if you plan to take 150A. There is no other decent rest stop unless you want to stop at Hyat Palace Tornagalu before getting to Hospet.

Agree. Even a 4 4.30 am start should do as you might want some light while driving on 150A to spot the speed breakers. Night driving could also mean more trucks on 150A *my guess* and hence you might be better off with an early morning start.

Thanks for feedback.

Does the whole 150A marked by speedbreakers? Or they are confined to a particular stretch?

Thanks again for the info and feedback, it will help me plan better..

[procrj]

Originally Posted by skydiver

Does the whole 150A marked by speedbreakers? Or they are confined to a particular stretch?

Some are marked and some unmarked. The best way to spot them is to watch out for stones, logs or other random debris parked on both sides of the road. Do note that some of these speed breakers are pretty huge and hence you might want to take them easy if you are driving a low GC car.

[bangaloreguy]

Originally Posted by skydiver

Hi,

Planning a short trip with family (including 2 kids) to Hampi.
Is this route (road 150A) safe for night driving from BLR to reach Hampi? Are there any cafe coffe days (or any other decent place for tea/coffee or using restrooms) along the route post Hiriyur?


Thanks

It is not safe for night driving. There are no cafe coffee days or any other decent place for coffee/restrooms.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by skydiver

Planning a short trip with family (including 2 kids) to Hampi.
Is this route (road 150A) safe for night driving from BLR to reach Hampi? Are there any cafe coffe days (or any other decent place for tea/coffee or using restrooms) along the route post Hiriyur?

Please avoid at night. Not at all worth it. No support or hotels after you exit the 4-lane.

[aseem.connect]

Originally Posted by skydiver

Planning a short trip with family (including 2 kids) to Hampi.
Is this route (road 150A) safe for night driving from BLR to reach Hampi? Are there any cafe coffe days (or any other decent place for tea/coffee or using restrooms) along the route post Hiriyur?

I had been to Hampi during January. The route I had taken was

Bangalore - Tumkur - Hiriyur - Challakere - Rampura - Hospet. The road is good and scenic up to Bellary bypass. Bellary Bypass to Hospet can cause discomfort as you will find yourself driving on bad roads surrounded by mining trucks.

We had left at 7 a.m. and reached hospet by 1:30 p.m. with a 45 minutes break.

You wont get many eating / rest room options after Hiriyur. It is advisable to carry some food and water. The cellular network after you cross Challakere is pretty bad so downloading offline map will come handy since the are can get deserted. However, well maintained road and scenic landscapes makes this route worth it.

[eethanhunt]

Originally Posted by aseem.connect

I had been to Hampi during January. The route I had taken was

Bangalore - Tumkur - Hiriyur - Challakere - Rampura - Hospet. The road is good and scenic up to Bellary bypass. Bellary Bypass to Hospet can cause discomfort as you will find yourself driving on bad roads surrounded by mining trucks.

We had left at 7 a.m. and reached hospet by 1:30 p.m. with a 45 minutes break.

You wont get many eating / rest room options after Hiriyur. It is advisable to carry some food and water. The cellular network after you cross Challakere is pretty bad so downloading offline map will come handy since the are can get deserted. However, well maintained road and scenic landscapes makes this route worth it.

I also did the same route last December that Aseem put here and second his thoughts. And night driving is a big NO. Also while coming back got to see a few sheepheards waving down cars with empty bottles. Honestly I was not convinced to stop. Went by my gutt and drove past. I had my wif, kid and sister in the car so did not want to risk anything. Anybody else experienced this??? Curious to know.

[Santoshbhat]

Anybody travel on the Chitradurga Hospet road recently? I need to travel to Hospet next week on work. Last I drove on this road was about one and half years back. Few big potholes were there at that time but most big ones were patched up, but overall acceptable.

For Hospet I have 2 options

Option 1: BLR - Chitradurga - Hospet

Pros :

• Shortest route - 328 kms
• Least time as per Google maps - 5h 40 mins
• 200 kms of distance upto Chitradurga is 6 laned NH

Cons :

• High truck traffic
• Road works going on
• Bad road surface and potholes CTD onwards

Option 2 : BLR - Hiriyur - Rampura - Talur - Hospet
Pros :

• Road surface much better than option 1
• Lesser truck traffic

Cons :

• Longer distance - 355 kms
• More time as per G maps - 6 hrs 19 mins

I am travelling on work and not really particular about scenery etc.. and I am generally not perturbed by truck traffic. My priority is to get there as fast as possible. In the past I have always taken the Chitradurga route, but after reading some recent posts I am a bit concerned about very bad road surface filled with potholes as I want to nurture my newish expensive car. Since my car is fast (X3 30d) I can cover ground very fast upto Chitradurga so I feel the difference in time will be more than 30 mins as suggested by Google. I have driven on option 2 when we went for a holiday to Hampi. Progress is slow once you turn off at Hiriyur. Basically I am saying I want to take option 1, unless the road is so bad that I run a risk of damaging my car and also run a risk of getting rear ended by some other vehicle if I have to brake very often for monster potholes and road imperfections.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Santoshbhat

Anybody travel on the Chitradurga Hospet road recently? I need to travel to Hospet next week on work. Last I drove on this road was about one and half years back. Few big potholes were there at that time but most big ones were patched up, but overall acceptable.

I dont think the ground situation has changed much. Since its Hospet, the Chitradurga option becomes the prominent one. But the traffic just kills you.

Option 1: BLR - Chitradurga - Hospet
Option 2 : BLR - Hiriyur - Rampura - Talur - Hospet

I can surely understand your concern. Cannot suggest one against the other confidently. But considering the car too, I am guessing, known devil is better?

[aseem.connect]

Banalore to Chitradurga has excellent road conditions, however after you cross chitradurga the road gets bad. A lot of road construction, pot holes, and bad traffic can be expected till Hospet. I don't think you speed much after Chitraduraga, the trucks don't really give way. The drive-able roads are narrow at some stretches, and you can get stuck behind slow moving fleet of trucks. But of-course your car will be safe on this road as long as you are not taking any narrow chances while overtaking the trucks.

If you take the option 2, the roads are good. I think this route will cost you 20 - 30 minutes more. There is barely any traffic. This route can get quiet deserted though...

[Santoshbhat]

Originally Posted by Santoshbhat

Anybody travel on the Chitradurga Hospet road recently? I need to travel to Hospet next week on work. Last I drove on this road was about one and half years back. Few big potholes were there at that time but most big ones were patched up, but overall acceptable.

For Hospet I have 2 options

Option 1: BLR - Chitradurga - Hospet

Option 2 : BLR - Hiriyur - Rampura - Talur - Hospet

I am travelling on work and not really particular about scenery etc.. and I am generally not perturbed by truck traffic. My priority is to get there as fast as possible. In the past I have always taken the Chitradurga route, but after reading some recent posts I am a bit concerned about very bad road surface filled with potholes as I want to nurture my newish expensive car. Since my car is fast (X3 30d) I can cover ground very fast upto Chitradurga so I feel the difference in time will be more than 30 mins as suggested by Google. I have driven on option 2 when we went for a holiday to Hampi. Progress is slow once you turn off at Hiriyur. Basically I am saying I want to take option 1, unless the road is so bad that I run a risk of damaging my car and also run a risk of getting rear ended by some other vehicle if I have to brake very often for monster potholes and road imperfections.

So I completed my Bangalore Hospet Trip today. Took option 1 BLR - Chitradurga - Hospet as it seemed to be the fastest option. It turned out to be a good decision as I managed to reach Hospet in about 5.00 hrs with a half hr break for break fast. Total driving time of 4 1/2 hrs

NH50 is a favourite truckers route and the road is filled with trucks. People who are allergic to truck traffic, don't even think about this route, for a few months at least. Road surface shows its age and cracks, patchwork and broken surfaces will give you company throughout. There are no big deep potholes though but you need to be very attentive and scan the surface carefully. Good news is four laning work is going on in full speed and small stretches where one side has been completed is thrown open to two way traffic. In these stretches tarmac is fresh, thick and smooth and the road is wide enough to make up good time. Right now about 15 to 20% of the stretch between Chitradurga and Hospet is like this. Some places there are gigantic speed breakers where even I (in a BMW X3) had to take the speed breaker diagonally . Once four laning is complete, this WILL be the defualt route to Hampi!

[gp_fanatico]

Originally Posted by Santoshbhat

So I completed my Bangalore Hospet Trip today. Took option 1 BLR - Chitradurga - Hospet as it seemed to be the fastest option. It turned out to be a good decision as I managed to reach Hospet in about 5.00 hrs with a half hr break for break fast. Total driving time of 4 1/2 hrs

Thanks Santoshbhat !!! This route seems more practical as I need to hit the Anegundi Road without entering Hospet. Are there any eateries after we exit Chitradurga on to the NH50? Also, I remember a big nice drive inn just before Chitradurga, not able to recollect the name though.

Apart, anyone else been to Hampi in the past couple of weeks via Chitradurga-Hospet road? Please advise. I will however exit via Hospet bypass on towards Tungabhadra dam road.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by gp_fanatico

Are there any eateries after we exit Chitradurga on to the NH50?

Dont expect anything worthwhile.

Also, I remember a big nice drive inn just before Chitradurga, not able to recollect the name though.

Not sure if its Mysore cafe

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by ampere

Not sure if its Mysore cafe

This is after Chitradurga Amp.

Not sure which "Drive-In" restaurant is being referred here.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Not sure which "Drive-In" restaurant is being referred here.

True. I don't remember any notable options on the left hand side between Hiriyur and Chitradurga when going from Bangalore. At Chitradurga, one can take an exit and then reach Aishwarya (NH service road) or Mysore Cafe and Lakshmi Tiffin near the fort.
The other Mysore Cafe (newer one) is further ahead about 2 Km after the NH13 Shimoga turnoff (Murugha Math junction) beside Nijalingappa Memorial.

[procrj]

Originally Posted by gp_fanatico

I remember a big nice drive inn just before Chitradurga, not able to recollect the name though.

Originally Posted by paragsachania

which "Drive-In" restaurant is being referred here.

Originally Posted by NPV

left hand side between Hiriyur and Chitradurga when going from Bangalore

I think he is referring to the VRL pit stop located here https://goo.gl/maps/YcvrN8Bt6F92
I remember mpksuhas mentioned this place as a pit stop in his Gujarat thread.