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Though not a frequent traveller so only have a few posts. This is my 3rd post - one of my recent trip to Go (16-18th July)

Day 1 (16th July):
Bangalore -> Hubli -> Dharwad -> Belgaum – 508km ( 8am left Bangalore, reached 2 pm Belgaum with 1.5hr break for breakfast/lunch)
Although a stopover at Belgaum isn’t necessary for Bangalore-Goa, we halted for a night due to personal reasons (Belgaum club nice place to stay and good food too).

Day 2 (17th July): (7.30am left Belgaum club road, reached Colva 11.30 am with 1 hr break for photography on Chorla ghat)
Belgaum -> Jamboti -> Kankumbi -> Chorla -> Sanquelim -> Amona Bridge -> Ponda Bypass(NH 17B)
-> Margao -> Colva Beach (superb road all the way)


Route via Chorla Ghat is narrow but has excellent roads, very scenic and most part of the ghat was covered in fog with low visibility. Watch out for rashly driven cars heading towards Belgaum. Keep to the left & keep your blinkers on specially on Chorla Ghat section.
Please take note, while exiting Belgaum make sure you take the Kinaye road else you’ll end up in NH4A (Khanapur). Simple if pass thru VTU you are on the right track. To reach South Goa, take the route via Amona Bridge that is soon as you reach Dattawadi take left to get on to Amona bridge (right goes to Mapusa).

Day 3 (18th July) : Came via Panjim for shopping (Left Colva at 11am, reached Bangalore at 1am on 19th)
Colva Beach -> Panjim -> Ponda -> Mollem -> Anmod -> Ramnagar -> Alnavar -> Dharwad -> Hubli -> Bangalore


Panjim to Ponda road is in pathetic state. Road widening work in progress, may take 3-4 months for completion. Ponda onwards road gets better but high traffic up to Mollem. Once you enter into Karnataka state road is wider but in pathetic condition up to Ramnagar with crater size potholes & when it rains it would make it much more difficult to gauge the depth which is bad for low-slung cars. Avoid speeding on this road. Difficult to negotiate pot holes in high speed. Saw one Fiesta ditched on to the road side trench due to high speed and panic braking on seeing a crater of a pothole. Road condition is good after the Ramnagar Toll and the distance from Ramnagar to Dharwad can be covered with good speeds. Keep in mind 4 rail way crossings on this route up to Dharward entry point. On my next trip I will stick to Belgaum- Chorla road both ways.

Posting few pictures of Chorla Ghat. Too risky to stop on the ghat road due to continuous flow of traffic.


Top quality black top Chorla Ghat stretch





Check the video link
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...aAsy8m6mk5mwNL

Going to Goa mid August and looking for a direct, short route with good roads. Was thinking of taking Srini66 return route going and coming but this seems too bad but shortest. I am going to Candolim which is somewhere in the middle of Goa. I am familiar with the Hubli Ankola Karwar route but this is too long and good for south goa only.

Since Chorla ghat is ok how does one reach it from NH4?

Any suggestions with current road conditions?

If you have no issues entering Belgaum town, I would suggest you take Belgaum-Jamboti-Chorla route both ways. Scenic road you will not regret.
If you want to avoid Belgaum, the other option is take the Hubli-Dharwad Bypass - Alnavar - Khanapur - Jamboti - Chorla route as suggested by paragsachania.

Entering Belgaum will make me lose time, would prefer bypassing it if the roads are good. Looking at Google maps is this the best route from Hubli Dharwad bypass to Jamboti? https://www.google.co.in/maps/dir/15...15.6910084!3e0

Dash Cam recording of driving through Chorla Ghat. Video was not embedded in previous post.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC5YR...aAsy8m6mk5mwNL

Yes, that is the right route to reach Jamboti from Hubli-Dharwad bypass. Good road from Dharwad to Alnavar, but not sure of road condition from Alnavar to Khanapur.

OT - 4.5 hours during day time traffic from Bangalore to Belgaum that includes 6-7 tolls, Approx 50 Kms of two way traffic between Hubli and Belgaum!! :Shockked:

Update regarding Dudhsagar train stoppages in Bangalore mirror - Link

Updates:

• Railway police is not allowing anyone to get off train at Dudhsagar station due to tourists falling down from trains and getting run over.
• No issue in trekking from Colem station, you are only warned not to walk on tracks.
• Tourists are not allowed to get in to pond at foot off falls due to drowning incidents.
• Nothing mentioned about trekking from Castle rock station. However since there is no issue in walking from Colem side, it is safe to assume that you can trek from Castle rock side also.

Correction. Lunch break was just 30 minutes. Due to low traffic up to Belgaum helped maintain good speeds. Also 2-5 minutes max at all 9 tolls (₹549) helped in reaching Belgaum quickly. Enclosed 2 toll receipts proves my claim.

Nelamangala Navayuga Exit toll @ 7.46am


Belgaum entry toll @ 2.15pm.


BTW, single road between Hubli-Dharwad is just 25km.

Been there, done that!

If you want to take Chorla and yet avoid crossing Belgaum, take this route:

Dharwad Bypass - Alnavar - Khanapur-Jamboti (This is where you join the Belgaum Chorla Road)- Chorla - Sanquelim - Goa

Parag, I was waiting for your informed reply as you know these parts so well. But on Google I see two ways to from Alnavar to Khanapur:-one SH 93 via Bidi and the second SH 34 and 138 via Halasi. Both these routes join at Nandgad.
So which is the preferred route?

The one via Bidi is the road you must take. In "non-googlemaps" language if I have to direct, You will pass Alnavar town on your left and not really enter it and continue straight. Within 1-2 kms after this, the toad forks into 2. Staying left will lead to Ramnagar and Turning right here will take you to Khanapur. You take this road.

From Khanapur its again a 15 kms newly relaid road(narrow but no traffic) that joins Jamboti.

Jamboti is nothing but a Junction which you would get if you are driving from Belgaum for Chorla. From here its one road for Chorla.

Parag does this route monthly and is a pro on it :D. Just keep in mind that this 15 km is very narrow in places and frequently on a 'bund', i.e. raised above the surrounding terrain. While there are usually a few two wheelers, watch out for the rare dumper truck which means someone has to give way.

Switch off the stereo, wind down your window and give a little honk at the corners. Same goes for Chorla which is pretty narrow in places - don't be complacent as the locals drive like Parag :uncontrol

What did you mean when you said locals drive like Parag :). If so, they drive sanely. And I thought "giving way" on narrow roads remains a norm!

I am driving there this Friday and again in September last week. Always prefer taking road less taken each time you hit Goa.

So let me know in case you too are headed that side and install a dashcam. Either you put that footage of my driving in Bad Drivers section or Good!!

Wife will kill me if I mention Goa. She has just gotten rid off the tan :-). Actually meant to say locals drive unlike Parag ;-)

Next drive likely to be Hyderabad as we want to do the historical sights and just chill. Waiting for a long weekend in September for this.

Best of luck on your drive. Incidentally do update us on how the roads are holding up in the monsoons.

Planning to drive to Goa from Bangalore late Sept. Is this a good route to take and come back on ?
https://goo.gl/maps/vCFVu

Going from E-City to Varca and back