[Nalin Kumar]

I would like to know the road condition (for a sedan) between Kukke Subrahmanya and Sullia in case any travelled on this route recently. Thanks in advance.

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by Nalin Kumar

I would like to know the road condition (for a sedan) between Kukke Subrahmanya and Sullia in case any travelled on this route recently. Thanks in advance.

Sorry this response maybe a bit late for you but may help others
I have been traveling since my last post to this thread, hence was not able to update it.

The roads are good for the most part, the Ghat sections are a mix of runway quality and cobblestone type patches that slows progress. The unruly drivers create traffic jam in the Ghat sections that got me stuck for more than an hour in the same spot, overall traffic jam in a 5 km stretch was more than 1 hour 45 mins.

There are some road construction activities which may close one side traffic for a few minutes and then resume. I suggest traveling through Ghat section in the early hours for covering distance a bit faster.

There are some spots where you can walk / climb down onto the shore of Netravati River as well.

[Nalin Kumar]

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

Sorry this response maybe a bit late for you but may help others
I have been traveling since my last post to this thread, hence was not able to update it.

Thank you for the update. My overall purpose was to travel to Kanhangad from Bangalore with a break in Hassan on 29th December. I hesitated for two minutes at the Gundya junction but finally I decided to take the NH upto Uppinagady and then deviated to Puttur and then onto Galimukha on the Sullia-Kasaragod route. Road was fine throughout except some roadwork between Uppinangady and Puttur

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by Nalin Kumar

Thank you for the update. My overall purpose was to travel to Kanhangad from Bangalore with a break in Hassan on 29th December. I hesitated for two minutes at the Gundya junction but finally I decided to take the NH upto Uppinagady and then deviated to Puttur and then onto Galimukha on the Sullia-Kasaragod route. Road was fine throughout except some roadwork between Uppinangady and Puttur

Excellent, my stay in Subramanya was brief as I saw a signboard - "Madikeri 80" - decided to go upto Raja`s seat and finished off with some coffee in Ainmane Cafe - College road.

It was the first time I was visiting Coorg after the landslides, the scene was not pleasant on the way to Madikeri, once you are up there, everything seems normal though.

[scorpion_blore]

Any update on the route to Kukke? I remember there was road construction activity few months back.

Also could anyone please recommend places to visit around Kukke? Most travelogues recommend Dharmasthala. However I would like to explore few more places around Kukke if feasible during the trip.

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by scorpion_blore

Any update on the route to Kukke? I remember there was road construction activity few months back.

Also could anyone please recommend places to visit around Kukke? Most travelogues recommend Dharmasthala. However I would like to explore few more places around Kukke if feasible during the trip.

Based off a very recent review on tripadvisor:

Dharmasthala -> (kukke-> bisle ghat(heaven on Earth) ->
Arakalagudu -> holenarasipura -> channarayapattana-> highway 75 to Bangalore.

[jkrishnakj]

I plan to visit Kukke. Will be leaving early morning tomorrow from Bangalore. It will be a Day trip visit to the temple and I plan to be back tomorrow night at Bangalore.

Any road recommendations or any advice on which one to avoid please ?

[mazda4life]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

Any road recommendations or any advice on which one to avoid please ?

Don't know if you can avoid, but my brother just travelled from Mangalore to Bangalore yesterday and he was saying that the whole stretch near Sakleshpur to Hassan is in a very bad state and he drives a Fortuner. Shiradi ghat thankfully has still held up.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

I plan to visit Kukke. Will be leaving early morning tomorrow from Bangalore. It will be a Day trip visit to the temple and I plan to be back tomorrow night at Bangalore.

Any road recommendations or any advice on which one to avoid please ?

Except for a very short stretch, I would recommend Bisile instead of Shiradi to reach Kukke, if you are game for some lovely sections amidst the western ghats!!..and, your Crsysta would not mind at all.

[speedmiester]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

I plan to visit Kukke. Will be leaving early morning tomorrow from Bangalore. It will be a Day trip visit to the temple and I plan to be back tomorrow night at Bangalore.

Any road recommendations or any advice on which one to avoid please ?

Three options
1. One through Hassan, Sakleshpur, Gundya and Kukke
2. Holenarasipura, Arkalgud, ShanivaraSante, Bisle and Kukke
3. Mysore, Madikeri, Sullia and Kukke

I have traveled in the second route early this year. Roads were good throughout except for couple of kms of gravel road in Bisle Ghat.

Mysore Madikeri route is also good from what I have heard from my friends in Madikeri.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by speedmiester

2. Holenarasipura, Arkalgud, ShanivaraSante, Bisle and Kukke

I would pick this and instead avoid anything between Hassan - Sakaleshpur even if one were to approach Bisile via Alur-Magalu-Hethur-Koodurasthe for better roads.

Need I say, I avoid driving to Mysore altogether?

[jkrishnakj]

Dear Parag , SpeedMiester and Mazda4life - Thanks heaps to you all.

I had such a good drive today. Left 6 am. Lovely drive till Sakleshpur. Shiradi was broken in multiple places and slowed me down. Reached Kukke by 11 and finished a super Darshan.

Since my wife and I had time on hand , we took the Kukke - Bisle - Shaniwarsanthe- Arkalgud- CR Patna route back. And I must admit - What a route. Super roads. Barring for a very small stretch at Bisle , we had a lovely time. The views were simply outstanding. Pictures won’t do justice.

We enjoyed a drive after a very long time. Hard to explain with words. Each bend had a different view and it was just picturesque all through. Reached home at 530 pm. The missus sends her gratitude to you all.

Thanks heaps.

[srvm]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

I would pick this and instead avoid anything between Hassan - Sakaleshpur even if one were to approach Bisile via Alur-Magalu-Hethur-Koodurasthe for better roads.

Need I say, I avoid driving to Mysore altogether?

Planning to take family to Bisile ghat and Hethur grasslands sometime in the coming week.
I understand from jkrishnakj's post that Bangalore-CR Patna-Holenarsipur-Arakalgud-Shanivarsanthe-Bisle ghat is good in most parts.
Can somebody suggest a return route (with good roads) via Hethur that is different from onward route? I absolutely want to avoid Sakleshpur-Hassan stretch.
Also can somebody share a Gmap location of Hethur grasslands?
Thanks in advance

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by srvm

Can somebody suggest a return route (with good roads) via Hethur that is different from onward route? I absolutely want to avoid Sakleshpur-Hassan stretch.

Since you intend to visit Bisile only (and not Kukke), the route via Shanivarsanthe holds good to reach Bisile Ghat/View Point.

However, if you want to return taking a different route, you will still have to drive back till Koodurasthe/Vanagoor. After here, to avoid the bad stretch between Sakleshpur and Hassan, you really don't have much choice except taking the Hethur - Magalu - Shettihalli - Gorur road - Hassan. This helps you avoid Hassan-Sakleshpur stretch completely. With this, you may as well get to see the submerged Shettihalli Church from the bridge.

Route link : Koodurasthe/Vanagoor to Hassan Bypass via Hethur and Shettihalli Bridge

If you still don't mind a few Kms of bad stretch between Sakleshpur - Hassan, then you can avoid Shettihalli Bridge and directly hit BM highway at Alur via Magge through this route: LINK

Also can somebody share a Gmap location of Hethur grasslands?
Thanks in advance

Keep an eye on EKA Resorts on your right while driving towards Hethur after Bisile. The Grasslands would be 5-8 Kms after this towards your right and you won't really miss it.

Lastly, all internal roads remain good even if there are few small sections with potholes. Also, on the way to Bisile viewpoint, around 1.5-2Km stretch is an undone road with gravel and sand (Not slush) and hence no cause for any concerns there too.

[srvm]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Since you intend to visit Bisile only (and not Kukke), the route via Shanivarsanthe holds good to reach Bisile Ghat/View Point.

However, if you want to return taking a different route, you will still have to drive back till Koodurasthe/Vanagoor. After here, to avoid the bad stretch between Sakleshpur and Hassan, you really don't have much choice except taking the Hethur - Magalu - Shettihalli - Gorur road - Hassan. This helps you avoid Hassan-Sakleshpur stretch completely. With this, you may as well get to see the submerged Shettihalli Church from the bridge.
.....

Thanks a lot for the inputs, Parag. Started from home at 7am yesterday. Forget Hethur, not even Solur! My car broke down at Domlur itself
Long story short, this year my car is celebrating Ayudha Pooja & Vijayadashami at Kropex Tata Service Center, Hosur Road. Problem diagnosed as Starter Motor. I have put the details here ("My Car Won't Start" | What To Do).
@paragsachania - Given the mileage of your WagonR & Ertiga, have you faced Starter Motor problems in your cars?