[s.prashanth]

I just got back from atrip to Goa. I went To Belgaum and from there took NH4A. This road is very good except for 3 bridges which looks like they are going to give way any moment. There is mining lorry traffic from khanapur onwards.This is manageable as the road is very good. On the return I took the route through Sawantwadi coming to Belgaum this road is very scenic and very little traffic. The road is good but not as good as the NH4A. The ghat section is neverending. I would recomend the route through Belgaum and NH4A as this road is very good and eventough the distance is longer,it is a very pleasurable drive.

[lohithrao]

Originally Posted by s.prashanth

I just got back from atrip to Goa. I went To Belgaum and from there took NH4A. This road is very good except for 3 bridges which looks like they are going to give way any moment. There is mining lorry traffic from khanapur onwards.This is manageable as the road is very good. On the return I took the route through Sawantwadi coming to Belgaum this road is very scenic and very little traffic. The road is good but not as good as the NH4A. The ghat section is neverending. I would recomend the route through Belgaum and NH4A as this road is very good and eventough the distance is longer,it is a very pleasurable drive.

Is this route netter then "shimoga - Honnavara"?? i mostly have to drive down next week....

[s.prashanth]

No idea on the Shimoga route. I can vouch for NH4a.

[techn0l0gist]

I often travel from bangalore to goa. I find the shimoga route to be not as good as the NH4A , I'd recommend NH4A anyday !

[rajivtelang]

Guys,

Thanks for your ideas. The only problem is that I have to visit Dharmasthala first and then continue to Goa. If this route is seriously bad, then I will drop this plan and instead take the NH4A route to Goa.

Is there an alternate better route to Dharmasthala (other than NH48) from Bangalore and then to Goa?

[lohithrao]

techno... can you give me the complete route "NH4A"?? thanks

rajiv, Nh17 has improved and from Dharmasthala thats the best route... infact from Goa will be heading to Mangalore via NH17...

[techn0l0gist]

Originally Posted by lohithrao

techno... can you give me the complete route "NH4A"?? thanks

Hi Lohit,
The NH4A route I take is :

Bangalore->Tumkur->Sira->Chitradurga->Davengere->Haveri->Hubli->Goa(via anmod ghat)

for the last leg - sometimes i either go from belgaum+anmod or from belgaum+nippani+ajra+sawantwadi(comes in from north goa) depending on if i have time to meet a couple of relatives/friends in belgaum/sawantwadi

The other route I take is :

Bangalore->Tumkur->Tiptur->Arsikeri->Tarikere->Shimoga->Sagar->Honnavar->Ankola->Karwar->Cancona->Margao ->Ponda(home!)

I last came through the Shimoga route a month and half ago, and I drove down through the NH4A route couple of weeks back, so my review is based on that.


Another problem with the Shimoga route is that a lot of places there's not much mobile signal coverage, so especially if one is driving alone at night, its a problem in case theres a breakdown or so.

Is there another better route from blr-goa?Do let me know, i end up driving around once a month or two so i can take that route next time around i go home.

[CorsaLove]

Driven to Goa from Bangalore in the first week of march...

Bangalore - tumkur - Sagar - ankola - karwar -Goa..

Return - Goa - karwar - Ankola - Yellapur - Hubli - Chitradurga - bangalore

I must say that the NH 4A Karwar - Hubli stretch rocks...only problems in lies in the Shimoga route which is not that great but motorable. Bhatkal to karwar is pathetic.

[akroy]

Originally Posted by techn0l0gist

Is there another better route from blr-goa?Do let me know, i end up driving around once a month or two so i can take that route next time around i go home.

Well then you can try the following for a change:

Blr - Tumkur - Ranibennur - Haveri - Sirsi - Mirjan - Ankola - Karwar - Goa

I will surely try NH4A next time. I did this from panaji to Old Goa and it was excellent but thought it is bad in KN side.

Abhi

[goandude]

can anyone tell me how is the hubli chitradurga sretch of NH4? it was mostly two lane with construction activity (rather inactivity) going on the last time I went thru. the bypasses were not complete. so one had to go thru haveri, rannibennur en route. Much appreciate latest inputs.

[lohithrao]

Techno, Thanks a lot btw lucky you!! you stay in Goa and regularly do long drives!
Which car do you drive??

corsalove, the stretch between Bhatkala and Karwar is still bad:( am planning to drive down from Goa.

[CorsaLove]

lohithrao - Yes, The stretch from Bhatkal to Karwar is still bad..uneven surface but managable.



goandude - the hubli chitradurga road is superb. Just watch out for unmarked diversions. But the roads on these diversions also are pretty good, you can cruise on the same speed through them.

[techn0l0gist]

Originally Posted by lohithrao

Techno, Thanks a lot btw lucky you!! you stay in Goa and regularly do long drives!
Which car do you drive??
.

Lohit,

I live/work in Bangalore. Goa being where I'm from, so drive home once a month or two. Its usually a night drive on something like a long weekend(or i make one throwing in a leave or two). I drive a 99 carb esteem that i do the BLR-GOA run in

Amit

[goandude]

Originally Posted by CorsaLove

goandude - the hubli chitradurga road is superb. Just watch out for unmarked diversions. But the roads on these diversions also are pretty good, you can cruise on the same speed through them.

Thanks Corsa, this is a BIG improvement over the last one year or so. In fact i didnt drive down from Goa to Blore this time because the last time i did the trip the rds were awful. hope this monsoon dost wreck them. BTW are the haveri and ranibennur bypasses complete? or does one have to drive thru those towns?

[rajivtelang]

Guys,

Found this thread on the Blr-Kukke road (NH48)

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...-horanadu.html

it appears that the road is motorable via shiradi ghat, any recent updates?

techn0l0gist, I too am from north Goa (Pedne), born and broughtup in Mumbai, working in Bangalore.....