[VindyWheels]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Not sure if you can leave Goa before 9 but if you leave anywhere after 10am, Davanagere will be too early and only Hubli-Haveri section makes sense with just Kamat near Varur as an ideal option (16 kms after the Bypass exit toll booth).

Did you mean Davanagere would be too late?

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by VindyWheels

Did you mean Davanagere would be too late?

Exactly so. I somehow typed "early" instead of "late" . Why I say this is because I have mostly left from Goa only after 10:00AM and between 13:00 & 14:00 I am anywhere between Hubli and Haveri and always end up with lunch at Kamat.

Davanagere will be another 2 hours from Hubli and that means you need to leave from Goa around 09:00 for sure, well I would say between 08:00/08:30 would be perfect.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

If your taste buds are still craving for Sea food while return, Karwar is a good option - Shweta Lunch Home along with another one (I forgot) is a popular one.

The best in Karwar is Amrut. But I think Karwar is too early for a break.

Another option:
Start late to be in Karwar by lunch. Visit Gokarna and then drive to Hubli for an overnight stay. Start the next day for Bangalore.

Originally Posted by paragsachania

It all depends on the preference and how the taste buds react to each one of us isn't it .

Amrut I meant is only for sea food. Not veggies. I have myself not entered this place in spite of being around that region for 10+ years!

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by ampere

The best in Karwar is Amrut. But I think Karwar is too early for a break.

It all depends on the preference and how the taste buds react to each one of us isn't it .

I have only been to Shweta Lunch home thrice till now only after a few friends recommended it for "Sea Food" and by all aspects, it was an wonderful experience. Vegetarians might not like the aroma here and hence with family (who are all 100% Vegetarian), I always preferred Kamat at Ankola or the one after Hubli.

Amrut next time for sure and I come back here and share my experience with "Sea food" .

[DAART]

Hi All

I am planning to visit Goa this long weekend. Based on the route queries answered on this thread I am planning to take either Hubli-Dharwad-Anmod or Belgaum-Amboli route. I am skeptical of former based on current road conditions. Based on onward plan to return either through traditional Karwar-Ankola- Hubli or Amboli-Belgaum.

Main agenda of drive is to enjoy some rains through forest. Can someone please suggest on the Hubli-Dharwad-Anmod route.

Thanks
Arun

[ampere]

Originally Posted by DAART

I am planning to visit Goa this long weekend. Based on the route queries answered on this thread I am planning to take either Hubli-Dharwad-Anmod or Belgaum-Amboli route. I am skeptical of former based on current road conditions. Based on onward plan to return either through traditional Karwar-Ankola- Hubli or Amboli-Belgaum.

Where in Goa you plan to stay? If north, Amboli/Chorla should be ideal. Else look at Ankola/Anmod.

[rajivtelang]

Originally Posted by DAART

Hi All

I am planning to visit Goa this long weekend. Based on the route queries answered on this thread I am planning to take either Hubli-Dharwad-Anmod or Belgaum-Amboli route. I am skeptical of former based on current road conditions. Based on onward plan to return either through traditional Karwar-Ankola- Hubli or Amboli-Belgaum.

Main agenda of drive is to enjoy some rains through forest. Can someone please suggest on the Hubli-Dharwad-Anmod route.

Thanks
Arun

Anmod route is in great shape, not a single issue. Took that route a week back and am really happy to say it is really worth it. You will not see the sea but the the mountains, forest and enjoy a good drive with less time compared to other routes.

Regards,

[Crhysis]

I just did the Hubli-Dharwad-Anmod route on the 6th. The road is fine. Few broken patches of road of a few metres here and there but nothing too bad. The worst stretch was just before Ponda where the old Highway connects to the new one and again in Merces just before it meets the Panjim - Margao Highway.

Spotted the speed cam near Davanagere as mentioned earlier in the thread. He was on the right side of the road behind some bushes just after the highway becomes a one way.

There was some heavy rain and fog which made visibility difficult on the ghats but all and all it was a good drive. Took me 8 hours 30 minutes from Frazer Town to Dona Paula.

Will be doing there same route back to Bangalore on the 10th and then again back to Goa on the 13th in case anyone wants me to keep an eye out for anything.

[DAART]

Originally Posted by ampere

Where in Goa you plan to stay? If north, Amboli/Chorla should be ideal. Else look at Ankola/Anmod.

I will be staying in North Goa. Thanks ampere for the route suggestion

Originally Posted by rajivtelang

Anmod route is in great shape, not a single issue. Took that route a week back and am really happy to say it is really worth it. You will not see the sea but the the mountains, forest and enjoy a good drive with less time compared to other routes.

Regards,

Thank you rajivtelang Anmod route is tempting!

Originally Posted by Crhysis

I just did the Hubli-Dharwad-Anmod route on the 6th. The road is fine. Few broken patches of road of a few metres here and there but nothing too bad. The worst stretch was just before Ponda where the old Highway connects to the new one and again in Merces just before it meets the Panjim - Margao Highway.

Spotted the speed cam near Davanagere as mentioned earlier in the thread. He was on the right side of the road behind some bushes just after the highway becomes a one way.

There was some heavy rain and fog which made visibility difficult on the ghats but all and all it was a good drive. Took me 8 hours 30 minutes from Frazer Town to Dona Paula.

Will be doing there same route back to Bangalore on the 10th and then again back to Goa on the 13th in case anyone wants me to keep an eye out for anything.

Thank you Crhysis These updates surely helps. I will also try to keep this thread posted once I am back.


Mod Note: Please use multi-quote instead of responding separately. Also please use the Thanks button for thanking a post. Makes it cleaner.

[MSAneesh]

Originally Posted by ampere

And for south Goa I would suggest Hubli-Yellapur-Ankoka-Karwar. Its fast.

For Goa-Bangalore return, considering the below options. Which one is suggested for a weekday morning start from Varca beach?

Option1: Bandoli - Mollem- Anmod - Godholi - Dharwad bypass - Hubali - Tumkur - BLR
Option2: Karwar - Ankola - Yellapur - Bankapur and then NH4 (Ranebennur - Tumkur - BLR)

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by MSAneesh

For Goa-Bangalore return, considering the below options. Which one is suggested for a weekday morning start from Varca beach?

Option1: Bandoli - Mollem- Anmod - Godholi - Dharwad bypass - Hubali - Tumkur - BLR
Option2: Karwar - Ankola - Yellapur - Bankapur and then NH4 (Ranebennur - Tumkur - BLR)

Both are good. The first one will lead you out of Goa faster and that is about it. No traffic all the way till you hit NH4 at Dharwad for Bangalore.

On the other hand, with option 2, you need to drive on Goan roads (busy NH17 to be precise), then cross Karwar completely and only then things free up as you hit Ankola and then take left for Yellapur.

I have taken both these roads multiple times with onward and return through different routes.

With the first option remember that your first good location for lunch is only when you reach NH4 and that too after driving 42 kms after you Join NH4 at Kamat.

However, if you take the second option, you are more likely to dine at Kamat (attached to CCD and IOCL station) at Ankola before you spend the next 2.5 hours to hit NH4.

Hence, both the roads have pros and cons but I would say take the road that you have been comfortable so far unless you are okay to try a different route this time. The Yellapur - Mungod - Bankapura road also is in good shape that anyone including me has complained so far. It helps you reach NH4 by forking out after Yellapur allowing you to drive on stretches that see minimal traffic - Almost zero trucks, Rare buses and very less cars too!

[vivek95]

Originally Posted by DAART

Hi All

I am planning to visit Goa this long weekend. Based on the route queries answered on this thread I am planning to take either Hubli-Dharwad-Anmod or Belgaum-Amboli route. I am skeptical of former based on current road conditions. Based on onward plan to return either through traditional Karwar-Ankola- Hubli or Amboli-Belgaum.

Main agenda of drive is to enjoy some rains through forest. Can someone please suggest on the Hubli-Dharwad-Anmod route.

Thanks
Arun

Please note that Belgaum--Amboli for Bangalore--North Goa is a thing of the remote past before Chorla route was born in Jan 2013. We talked about it because someone wanted to do it here. It has rained madly in the areas near Belgaum. None knows the present condition of narrow roads like Kittur-Khanapur , MK Hubli--Khanapur or Khanapur--Jamboti though these are short 10-17 kms connecting routes. Heard that some bridges in Khanapur taluka region were submerged, not sure which ones. So,I would like others suggest the highway route which has wide 2 lanes all through i .e Dharwad-Ramnagar-Anmod ghat-Mollem-Ponda-Panjim-North Goa. This route is just as much the Chorla route, distance wise for North Goa.

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by vivek95

It has rained madly in the areas near Belgaum. None knows the present condition of narrow roads like Kittur-Khanapur , MK Hubli--Khanapur or Khanapur--Jamboti though these are short 10-17 kms connecting routes. Heard that some bridges in Khanapur taluka region were submerged, not sure which ones. So,I would like others suggest the highway route which has wide 2 lanes all through i .e Dharwad-Ramnagar-Anmod ghat-Mollem-Ponda-Panjim-North Goa.

I agree - unless you have very very recent updates about a particular section, strictly avoid all SH, local roads and 'shortcuts'. Last thing you want to have is a car full of irate kids and spouse AND facing local congestion and broken roads/bridges .

Also, keep checking Google Maps Traffic to see whether any 'suspect' section on your route is showing heavy traffic - that itself is a clear indication of trouble brewing.

Safe driving everyone - monsoon drives are lovely but (probably) statistically much higher in accidents, whether your fault or not!

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

unless you have very very recent updates about a particular section, strictly avoid all SH, local roads and 'shortcuts'. Last thing you want to have is a car full of irate kids and spouse AND facing local congestion and broken roads/bridges .

Short cuts are roads less taken. That also means lesser updates unless one of us has been there & driven that we can get back and update the route conditions.

No 2 days are the same when it comes to road conditions in Western Ghats as we have seen. So a latest update is the most reliable update.

Also, keep checking Google Maps Traffic to see whether any 'suspect' section on your route is showing heavy traffic - that itself is a clear indication of trouble brewing.

Always a very good thing to do. Traffic updates on Googlemaps has helped so much. A very rare case that I have left location A and not assessed the traffic on the route.

Sample sections for potential Jams - Khandala Ghats towards Pune from Mumbai, Expressway Toll Plaza, Khambhatki Ghats, JAS toll and NBTL tolls at Bangalore, Shantigrama toll near Hassan, Shiradi ghats, Bangalore-Mysore "Highway" - These are some of the most famous bottlenecks one can think of during weekends.

As for me, there is no better update than the one coming from someone who has driven recently.

[shivendra2111]

I will be doing a trip to South goa( Patnem beach) from Bangalore ( Indiranagar) tomorrow morning. I am planning to start at 4:00am and would like to reach before sunset as full family will be there with small baby.

I am not sure of which route to take for onward jounery ( on 13th August) and return jouney on Monday ( 15th August). Any suggestions are welcome.

I have done a lot of trips from Pune when i have always taken the chorla route. This will be the first time from Bangalore.