[pjbiju]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

@pjbiju,

What was the route you eventually took?

We met in front of the Underground Shiva temple in Hampi on 25th dec.

It was nice to have met you. It was my son who spotted the Team-Bhp sticker. Spotting one, always brings a smile.

We did not take NH13. It had huge craters at least till where NH63 branched off. We took NH63 and turned right after about 13 km from Koppal. That went through several villages which had more or less good (patchy) roads. No big craters. We started from Hospet at 11 a.m. and reached Badami at 2:50 p.m.

-Biju

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by himavanth_m

Are there any other places around Hampi that are worth visiting (Places within 150kms from Hampi)? Apart from the Tungabhadra dam and various temples (Lotus temple and Vittala temple?

The places which come to my mind are...
1.Bellary Fort...built by tippu sultan...its in the centre of Bellary city.
2.Daroji Bear Sanctuary...I haven't seen this....but people say its good
Its in between Kudtinin and Kamalapura
3.Sandur water park...a small water amusement park...
Its in between Bellary and Hospet

All 3 places are "just-visit-once" places. nothing too special.

Originally Posted by pjbiju

It was nice to have met you. It was my son who spotted the Team-Bhp sticker. Spotting one, always brings a smile.

We did not take NH13. It had huge craters at least till where NH63 branched off. We took NH63 and turned right after about 13 km from Koppal. That went through several villages which had more or less good (patchy) roads. No big craters. We started from Hospet at 11 a.m. and reached Badami at 2:50 p.m.

-Biju

Yes sure it does bring a smile.

I think you went via Gajendragarh and ron to Badami if I'm right

[changaez]

Hi All,

I am planning to travel to Hampi around mid Jan. Any updates on the status of Hyd - Jadcherlla - Raichur - Hampi route ?

Looks like Hotel Malligi is the best place to stay, any other recommendations ??

cheers

[roamingrao]

Originally Posted by changaez

Any updates on the status of Hyd - Jadcherlla - Raichur - Hampi route

Been on hyd - mantralayam - hampi route on dec 31, jan 1.

How do you plan to reach hospet from Raichur ?

Raichur - manvi - sindhanur - Gangavati may be an option, but according to gangavati locals, sindhanur - gangavati stretch is bad ( read time consuming )

Raichur - adoni - bellary - hospet is not possible as the madhavaram bridge ( raichur - adoni stretch ) is under repair.

A faster, but longer option would be hyd - kurnool - gooty - NH63 - bellary - hospet. Guntakal to karnataka border stretch ( about 40 kms ) is very bad.

another option, raichur - lingsugur - mudgal to NH13 is good, but not sure of NH13 road condition from Ilkal to hospet.

Originally Posted by changaez

Looks like Hotel Malligi is the best place to stay, any other recommendations ??

book your days at Malligi - its the best !

[changaez]

@roamingrao

i am planning to use Hyd - Jadcherla - Pebbair - Beechupalli - Raichur - Manvi - Sindhanur - Gangawati - Hospet route.

The Gooty route is adding about 80 kms to the route, so wanted to avoid it. Also i have driven so many times on the Gooty route want to try a new one this time. Will try to explore the other routes suggested.

Malligi already full :( i am planning to try Priyadarshini.

Is a guide mandatory, i have 2 days in Hampi so thought of exploring on my own.

Any inputs on the restaurant "Mango Tree".

cheers

[SILVERWOOD]

Originally Posted by changaez

@roamingrao

i am planning to use Hyd - Jadcherla - Pebbair - Beechupalli - Raichur - Manvi - Sindhanur - Gangawati - Hospet route.

From Jadcherla, you can take a right turn and take Mehboobnagar-Makthal-Raichur route also.

[changaez]

@SILVERWOOD

Thanks silverwood your route suggestion is pretty good. I will definitely consider it.

The only reason i was thinking to use the Jadcherla - Pebbair - Beechupalli route was that i would stay on the NH7. I hoping this is great road as NH7.

How is the Jadcherla - Mehboobnagar - Makthal route ? is it good road.

cheers

[SILVERWOOD]

Originally Posted by changaez

@SILVERWOOD

Thanks silverwood your route suggestion is pretty good. I will definitely consider it.

The only reason i was thinking to use the Jadcherla - Pebbair - Beechupalli route was that i would stay on the NH7. I hoping this is great road as NH7.

How is the Jadcherla - Mehboobnagar - Makthal route ? is it good road.

cheers

Not as good as NH7, but this is a state highway where in one can drive comfortably at 60km and the traffic is scarce.There are very few bad stretches but they do not pose much of a problem.

Btw-At what time you are planning to start and whats your ride mate.?
Hyd-Hospet is doable in 6.5-7hours.

[roamingrao]

Originally Posted by changaez

planning to use Hyd - Jadcherla - Pebbair - Beechupalli - Raichur - Manvi - Sindhanur - Gangawati - Hospet route.

Originally Posted by SILVERWOOD

From Jadcherla, you can take a right turn and take Mehboobnagar-Makthal-Raichur route also.

Yes Silverwood, Makthal route is shorter, but is beechupalli route faster as we drive longer on NH7 ?

Originally Posted by changaez

Is a guide mandatory, i have 2 days in Hampi so thought of exploring on my own.

Any inputs on the restaurant "Mango Tree".

Yes, it is preferred to have a guide on a tour to Hampi. You could find them at the KSTDC counter on the bazaar street opposite Virupaksha temple. more details in post #4 of this thread.

Mango tree restaurant ( on the river bank behind virupaksha temple ) is truely turning out to be a 'must eat' place in Hampi. Pure veg, excellent ambience and service though a bit expensive and crowded during weekends. You'll love the rustic village atmosphere. attaching some photographs :

Do make it a point to meet the owner Mr. Krishnam Raju.

[ExtremeTorque]

Originally Posted by roamingrao

Raichur - manvi - sindhanur - Gangavati

ET - This is the best route AFAIK

Originally Posted by roamingrao

A faster, but longer option would be hyd - kurnool - gooty - NH63 - bellary - hospet. Guntakal to karnataka border stretch ( about 40 kms ) is very bad.

ET - Totally agree. This is one of the worst roads (actually there is no road for 60 odd km, only rubble) i ever travelled.

Originally Posted by roamingrao

Mango tree restaurant

looks beautiful!
The route suggested by Waseem (silverwood) from Hyd-Raichur via Mahbubnagar is the best in my opinion. One can maintain a steady 70KMPH, except a few patches.

[changaez]

Thanks for pics.. i think "Mango Tree" looks like an place to visit.

I think will take either the Hyd-Raichur via Mahbubnagar Raichur - manvi - sindhanur - Gangavati route... thanks for the inputs..

[SILVERWOOD]

Originally Posted by changaez

Thanks for pics.. i think "Mango Tree" looks like an place to visit.

I think will take either the Hyd-Raichur via Mahbubnagar Raichur - manvi - sindhanur - Gangavati route... thanks for the inputs..

Completely OT.

If you happen to cross Sindhanoor during lunch or dinner time, please visit a small restaurant called, Gadag Khanavali.This is near Sindhnoor bus stand,its a pure veg restaurant and they serve awesome thin jawar rotis which will just melt in your mouth.

[changaez]

Originally Posted by SILVERWOOD

Not as good as NH7, but this is a state highway where in one can drive comfortably at 60km and the traffic is scarce.There are very few bad stretches but they do not pose much of a problem.

Btw-At what time you are planning to start and whats your ride mate.?
Hyd-Hospet is doable in 6.5-7hours.

Plan is to start as early as possible somewhere around 6 am, taking my Ritz this time.

As of now travel is subject to few personal commitments, keeping my fingers crossed

cheers

[changaez]

Hi All,

Went to Hampi over the Pongal weekend.

Took the Hyd - Jadcherla - Mehaboob Nagar - Raichur - Manvi - Sindhanur - Gangawati - Hospet route.

Hyd - Jadcherla is awesome.. you can clip on this route.. did a 140-150 on this stretch

From Jadcherla to Gangawati it's a state highway you can do easily 80-100 on this route. From Gangawati to Hospet about 30 kms is pathetic, took me close to 1.5 hours to drive, they are re doing the route. The new stretch should be available from the 26th Jan for the Hampi Cultural festival

Traffic all along is trucks.

Stayed at Priyadarshini, pretty decent.

Tried Mango Tree, good ambiance and good food.

Guide at Hampi made the trip great, without guide it wont be the same.

Thanks a lot for all your tips, it was great help

The total trip was 900 Kms, 50 litres of fuel so its 18 kms/litre. Will post a detailed post on the trip.

cheers

[RoadTiger]

Did Hampi from Hyd recently.

Hyd - Jadcherla - NH7 is obviously awesome
Jadcherla - Raichur - Not good road. Lots of potholes. Some rather large ones
Raichur - Gangavati - Very good road. Wide 2 laned - as good as State highways get
Gangavati - Hampi - Terrible, craters/ potholes/ you name it

On the way back, discovered a better route to travel from Raichur to Hyd via Gadval .. you travel 60 kms between Raichur and NH7 and the roads are pretty good and then its about 160 kms on NH7 - Its about 25 kms or so longer than the above but a much better route with practically no potholes on the Raichur - Gadval route. Highly recommended !

And yeah, Hampi is just awesome. Mango Tree restaurant is worth the hype. TB dam is worth a visit for musical fountains and stuff.

Got nearly 23 kmpl with a petrol engine! That's my car's way of trying to beat the surging petrol prices