[jkrishnakj]

Kukke is better from a stay point of view, compared to Dharmasthala.

On way to Dharmasthala, you may want to try out some fabulous Neer Dosas at Kottigehara.

[speedmiester]

Originally Posted by Newpunter

Thank you for the information. I did check your post earlier and it had a lot of information, so thank you for that .

There is no particular reason to visit Dharmastala first. I just searched for hotels in Dharmastala and Kukke and thought that the hotel in Kukke looked better, so planned to stay the night there. If there are better hotels in Dharmastala, I could probably plan it the other way round. I think starting from Dharmastala on Day 2 would probably shorten the drive to Udupi a bit.

Any suggestions for good places to stay in Dharmastala? Luckily, I haven't done the payment for the hotel in Kukke yet, so I can change it still. Also, do I need to make any special preparations for the car? I will be driving a 3.5 yr old Skoda Rapid DSG with around 40K kms on the Odo. The tyres are still pretty good and the brake pads have been replaced recently.

I just covered Dharmastala, Sringeri, Horanadu and Kukke last weekend.
Most of the roads you will be travelling are in good to excellent condition.

If you are not particular about visiting Kukke first then Dharmastala, I would recommend a drive through Bisle Ghat to reach Kukke first then Dharmastala.

You will reach Kukke in about 5 hrs from Bangalore. Bisle Ghat is in good condition barring a small section of road which is flattened. Kukke to Dharmastala is about 50Kms and the roads are brilliant. So are the roads to reach Udupi and beyond.

There are good accommodation options in Dharmastala as well. These are not listed on travel website. These are managed by the temple and are well maintained. You can book them online as well.
https://www.shridharmasthala.org/online-room-booking/

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by speedmiester

There are good accommodation options in Dharmastala as well. These are not listed on travel website. These are managed by the temple and are well maintained. You can book them online as well.
https://www.shridharmasthala.org/online-room-booking/

Very true. Since time immemorial, each time we have stayed at Dharmasthala, it was always SDM Trust managed guest houses. Right from the most inexpensive ones to those costing higher, they are maintained and managed very well.

This is what I too referred in my earlier response that if its Dharmasthala, it better be SDM Guest Houses only.

[jkrishnakj]

Thanks Parag and SpeedMiester. Didn’t really know about the SDM accommodations. Part of the reason why I used to take a night stay at Kukke. Will give it a try next time around.

[nkrishnap]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

Kukke is better from a stay point of view, compared to Dharmasthala.

On way to Dharmasthala, you may want to try out some fabulous Neer Dosas at Kottigehara.

Yes, the neer dosa is very tasty here. Good thing is that, it used to be available late nights and even early morning as well. A few KSRTC and private buses stop here at night for a break before the ghats. So tea and a few snacks are available.

[Newpunter]

Originally Posted by speedmiester

If you are not particular about visiting Kukke first then Dharmastala, I would recommend a drive through Bisle Ghat to reach Kukke first then Dharmastala.

Thank you. Is this the route that goes via Kunigal-Chennarayapatna-Arakalgud-Mallipatna? Google has suggested the Hassan-Sakleshpur route to reach Kukke directly. Which one would you suggest?

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Very true. Since time immemorial, each time we have stayed at Dharmasthala, it was always SDM Trust managed guest houses. Right from the most inexpensive ones to those costing higher, they are maintained and managed very well.

I tried to register to book a room, but looks like they are having technical issues with the SMS verification. So I'm not able to proceed further. I will try again tomorrow and if it works out, I will change my plan to stay at Dharmastala on Day 1.

Thank you everyone for the great suggestions .

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by nkrishnap

Yes, the neer dosa is very tasty here. Good thing is that, it used to be available late nights and even early morning as well. A few KSRTC and private buses stop here at night for a break before the ghats. So tea and a few snacks are available.

Unfortunately, these joints have reduced and mamy closed too, thanks partly to Covid also due to reduction or near zero KSRTC bus services on this route.

You cannot expect neer dosas like before when passing by at nights now! This is also because even trucks are not allowed.

However, during the day time, few shops do serve them.

In fact now there is a proper good restaurant soon after Kottigehara checkpost towards Charmadi called Hotel Nisarga Grand.

[jkrishnakj]

Originally Posted by Newpunter

Thank you. Is this the route that goes via Kunigal-Chennarayapatna-Arakalgud-Mallipatna? Google has suggested the Hassan-Sakleshpur route to reach Kukke directly. ) .

CR Patna-Hollenarsipur-Arkalgud- Shanivarsanthe-Bisle-Kukke

You’ll love this route. Beauty is that no sooner you get down from the Bisle Ghat, you’re at Kukke.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by Newpunter

Thank you. Is this the route that goes via Kunigal-Chennarayapatna-Arakalgud-Mallipatna? Google has suggested the Hassan-Sakleshpur route to reach Kukke directly. Which one would you suggest?

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

CR Patna-Hollenarsipur-Arkalgud- Shanivarsanthe-Bisle-Kukke

You’ll love this route. Beauty is that no sooner you get down from the Bisle Ghat, you’re at Kukke.

Can also consider Hassan Alur(Byrapur checkpost) Magge Hethur Koodurasthe Bisile too.

This will keep you close to the NH all the way till you turn off at Alur. Internal roads after Alur remain in excellent shape (drove 2 months before till Koodurasthe). Also, Hassan to Alur is not so bad too.

The CR Patna HN Pura Shanivarsanthe works when you want to get off the NH corridor early and also helpful when driving along with weekenders who clog the highway after the breakfast .

[Newpunter]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

CR Patna-Hollenarsipur-Arkalgud- Shanivarsanthe-Bisle-Kukke

You’ll love this route. Beauty is that no sooner you get down from the Bisle Ghat, you’re at Kukke.

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Can also consider Hassan Alur(Byrapur checkpost) Magge Hethur Koodurasthe Bisile too.

The CR Patna HN Pura Shanivarsanthe works when you want to get off the NH corridor early and also helpful when driving along with weekenders who clog the highway after the breakfast .

Thank you for the awesome suggestions. I will probably try the CR Patna-Shanivarsanthe-Bisle route. I will be driving on Thursday, which is a holiday due to Shiva rathri, so I'm not sure what to expect on the road and at the temples. I'm thinking there would be heavy rush at the temples as well as on the road, so I want to reach as early as possible.

Also, the whole plan depends on me getting accommodation at Dharmastala. Currently, I'm still not able to get the SMS to verify my account, so I'm not able to book.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by Newpunter

Also, the whole plan depends on me getting accommodation at Dharmastala. Currently, I'm still not able to get the SMS to verify my account, so I'm not able to book.

If there is a phone number to call, please do.

Or else, even walk in works most of the times. It will be slight risky too. They have more than one guest house that is manager by SDM trust so you should still get a booking. However, you may book a place via Phone at Kukke and still try walking in at Dharamasthala.

[Rajesh K R]

Originally Posted by Newpunter

Thank you for the awesome suggestions. I will probably try the CR Patna-Shanivarsanthe-Bisle route. I will be driving on Thursday, which is a holiday due to Shiva rathri, so I'm not sure what to expect on the road and at the temples. I'm thinking there would be heavy rush at the temples as well as on the road, so I want to reach as early as possible.

Also, the whole plan depends on me getting accommodation at Dharmastala. Currently, I'm still not able to get the SMS to verify my account, so I'm not able to book.

Hi, i took the exact same route on 26th Feb. Lovely route, we ran into dense fog all the way from Holenarsipura to Shanivarsanthe which made our progress slower. But still we made it to Kukke in 6 hrs with an hour's break for Breakfast.

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by Newpunter

I'm thinking there would be heavy rush at the temples as well as on the road, so I want to reach as early as possible.

Beginning tomorrow and extending till Friday, you will find it extremely difficult to get accommodation in any of the temple managed guest houses.

Shivaratri is a major celebration in Dharmasthala and therefore attracts devotees from far and wide. As I type this, I can see (being seeing from the past 2-3 days) scores of barefoot pilgrims tread towards the temple town (I live in Chikkamagaluru). All of them will reach their destination in time for the Shivaratri prayers and will stay the night.

The gist of the above lines being that unless you get a confirmed booking beforehand, do not walk in expecting vacancies.

Subramanya would be a better place to be put up at, at this point of time.

Originally Posted by Newpunter

I do have a confirmed booking in Kukke, so I will not cancel that unless I have a confirmed booking at Dharmastala.

That's good.

Dharmasthala would surely be crowded; Covid protocols are hardly being followed and as such might be a bit risky.

HOWEVER, as you are anyway going there on Shivaratri, it would be good to enjoy the night festivities if possible/feasible.

[Newpunter]

Originally Posted by dailydriver

The gist of the above lines being that unless you get a confirmed booking beforehand, do not walk in expecting vacancies.

Subramanya would be a better place to be put up at, at this point of time.

Thank you for this update. I do have a confirmed booking in Kukke, so I will not cancel that unless I have a confirmed booking at Dharmastala .

[Newpunter]

Originally Posted by dailydriver

Dharmasthala would surely be crowded; Covid protocols are hardly being followed and as such might be a bit risky.

HOWEVER, as you are anyway going there on Shivaratri, it would be good to enjoy the night festivities if possible/feasible.

So I was finally able to complete the registration and now I see that all the rooms are completely booked. The sad thing is that when I checked the rooms a few days back, they were available, but I couldn't book because of the SMS issues.

So, it looks like I have to stick to my original plan and spend Day 1 at Kukke instead of Dharmasthala.