[RufRoc]

Guys,

Will be travelling to Gokarna this weekend and planning to choose between the following routes. Will give a first hand update on the road conditions, when I'm back (though I assume there won't be much of a difference from updates given by fellow travellers during the past few weeks).

1) Bangalore -> Tumkur -> Shimoga -> Sirsi -> Mirjan -> Ankola -> Gokarna

2) Bangalore -> Timkur -> Chitradurga -> Haveri -> Sirsi -> Ankola -> Gokarna

Will be travelling on a Swift and am worried about scraping the underbody though. Really hope the roads are being patched up even as I write this (high hopes!)

[kaushik_s]

Underbody scrapping didn't happened with me so I think you will be better off in the Swift then a Baleno. But I was cautious on the bad stretches.
If you want to enjoy the scenery then it has to be the Shimoga route.And both the routes will ultimately take the similar amount of time.

Lohit, I crossed Sagar around 5.30pm and headed straight to Jog.It was almost dark when we reached there.Then instead of coming back to Sagar we went ahead to Sirsi.By driving at night we saved lots of time for next day actually.

[skandyhere]

Have been back from Maravanthe/Udupi trip we made a few weeks ago. From M'lore to B'lore there is only one route that has good to very good roads all the way - with zero bad patches anywhere.

It's a round-about route but at least it's enjoyable. M'lore-Karkala-Kudremukh-Sringeri (without reaching Kalasa)-Balehonnur-Aldur-Chikmagalur-Hassan-Bangalore.

We travelled from Udupi to Karkala, so I am ignorant of the road condition from Mangalore to Karkala via Moodabidri.

[ravibhat]

to reach gokarna try this route :

1) Bangalore -> Tumkur -> Shimoga -> Sagar -> siddapur -> Sirsi -> Mirjan -> Gokarna

which is very nice route as of now,

Regards,

Ravi.

[lohithrao]

RufRoc, you can take the route suggested by Ravi:
1) Bangalore -> Tumkur -> Shimoga -> Sagar -> siddapur -> Sirsi -> Mirjan -> Gokarna

Just back from Goa, you will have to go through about 60+kms of bad roads. just be careful and i dont think there should be problem.

Kaushik, That was my plan too but lazy me started from Bangalore about 9:30 so had to take a break at Sagar. hmm driving to Sirsi at night hmmmm but i thoroughly enjoyed the drive from Jog to Sirsi was very Scenic...
Skandy, I was planning to take that route but dropped it instead took the BEST route Shiradi heheheh btw how many kms did it come up to?
Mangalore to Karkala is good.

[lohithrao]

Skandy, which route you took to reach Udupi? Nh17?? then you know why am asking this heheh

[RufRoc]

Thanks Ravi & Lohit. Am planning to stick this route. Might travel at night though (one-way) but will make sure to do the return journey during the day coz I know how scenic that route can be.

[skandyhere]

Lohith, while going to Udupi, this was the route.

B'lore-Hassan-Belur-Mudigere-Aldur-Balehonnur-Sringeri-Agumbe-Udupi. So no NH17 experience until then. (To Sringeri, Chikmagalur-Aldur would've been a better option, but there were route adjustments on the fly, and it wasn't as planned)

But from Udupi to Maravanthe, we waded through the valleys and canyons of NH17 - seen it in its full glory. As HORRRRRIIIIIBLE as people have been saying!

We came back taking this route -
Udupi-Karkala-Kudremukh-Kalasa-Mudigere-Belur-Hassan-B'lore. Like others have mentioned, a stretch of 20 km or so before and after Mudigere is in tatters - but the rest of the way was very good.

It was because we travelled on different roads to and from Udupi that I concluded that the only perfect route (road condition-wise) from Udupi to B'lore is through Sringeri. I do not know the exact distance, though.

[RufRoc]

Guys,

Back from Gokarna and here's the update as promised.

Since we were driving down to Gokarna (at night) decided to use the NH4 route (had in mind the Golden Qudrilateral project and the awesome road between chennai-bangalore) and was I so disappointed. Incomplete work everywhere, innumerable diversions around Devanagere. Anyway, night or day would recommend the Shimoga -> Sagar -> Mirjan route (NH206).

Did this route on the way back (day driving) and it was beautiful. The bad section after Shimaga does take 'bad roads' to an whole different level but this route still is the best among the worst . Was so surprised by the condition of road between Mirjan to Gokarna, a lil bit of rain and we can turn tht road into an awesome dirt bike track ... Is the Central/State Govt listening?

[lohithrao]

Welcome back RufRoc...

Well from Karwar to Udupi lots of venues for the dirtrack and offroading

none listening or this worts roads would have be fixed long time back!

[abhinethra]

Guys,

Im goin to Goa for the new year and after a lot of route research im still nt able to decide although Shimoga route seems to be beter, the 40 km bad patch worries me and my ohc carrying 4 ppl. So for onward I will be goin on NH4 to haveri and then sirsi, on the way back I will try the Shimoga route.
Will be doin nit journey onward and day while cumin bak...
Let me know if this is a bad idea.....

--
ATM

[lohithrao]

abhi if you are going via shimoga you will have to go through 40kms + about 50kms of bad roads. if you are planning to do night journey make sure your headlights are good, OHC stock lights are not great.

good luck!

[abhinethra]

Thanks Lohith! will keep it on the checklist. I hope not to have any scrapping in the journey, tht really worries me, my OHC scrapes on a full load on bumps in BLR....

[condor]

Originally Posted by lohithrao

abhi if you are going via shimoga you will have to go through 40kms + about 50kms of bad roads.

We have been trying to reach Karwar / Goa via Shimoga, which will give us about 50km of very bad roads. Here's an alternate, which can help skirt this bad stretch, yet not miss the scenic roads after Shimoga:

BLR-Davangere-Harihar on NH4: 275km.
NH-4 near Harihar to NH-206 at Ko Halli - about 70-75 km

At Harihar, take left towards Honnali (via Malebennur). The route will take you from NH4 to NH-206 after Shimoga. The route you will trace is:
NH-4 - Malebennur - Honnali - Soratur - Sovalanga - Ko Halli (on NH-206)

You dont have to go into Davangere / Harihar cities. Continue on the by-pass at Davangere. The turn off from NH-4 is at a over-bridge (the road from Malebennur to Harihar will pass below the NH-4).

I have done most of this section from Harihar, and the road is very good. It's a SH like it should be, and still untouched by the destructive cargo traffic. The road is two lane, not divided. Atleast two Reliance pumps on the road. At Ko Halli where you reach NH-206, take a right turn towards Kumsi /Sagar / Karwar.

Refer to mapmyindia.com for details.

If you follow the regular route towards Jog / Karwar via Shimoga, BLR - Ko Halli via Shimoga : 295 km. The increase of about 65 kms will help avoid the bad roads, but you get to take the best parts of NH-4, some good SH roads, & the scenic areas after Shimoga.

[ravibhat]

wow thats good suggestion, this time while travelling to Karwar area I will do try this

I heard about this route but was not sure about road condition. Now gives me confidence.

Regards,

Ravi.