[MCR]

Originally Posted by rajivtelang

How much time did you "really" save with this road? Just curious to know since Tumkur to Bangalore is mostly a nightmare drive over weekends. I always take the Gooty road and am happy with it since no real slow traffic absolutely anywhere, except inbound traffic is a little more on sunday evenings starting from airport but quite manageable.

Time saving depends on how free the Tumkur - Nice road stretch is and where in Bangalore one stays.

Since it was a Saturday evening, the traffic on the Tumkur road was less. So I reached the Tumkur exit toll (Chokkenahalli) at 6.30PM and was home at 8.10PM. For me this distance is approx 80 Kms.

Also for me any run to Airport is not less than 2 and half hours other than when starting very early in the morning. (In context to Gooty - Anatapur - Devanahalli Road). I hate to drive 2.5 hours in peak traffic!!!!

[Tharle Subba]

Wrapped a trip to Mantralayam over the weekend for a quick darshan of Guru Raghavendra Swamy. The occupants were my father, my wife and myself in our Duster. Sharing the details of the journey below

Departure: 2 a.m. from RR Nagar on May 18
Arrival: 8:30 a.m.
Route taken: Bangalore - Anantapur - Gooty - Pattikona - Aspari - Adoni Bypass - Yemmiganur - Mantralayam
Route conditions: The drive between Bangalore to Gooty is seamless. But the drive from Gooty till Adoni bypass is pretty bumpy. The roads get better between Adoni bypass and Mantralayam.
Journey time: 6:30 hours
Toll:

• Devanahalli - INR 110
• Bagepalli - INR 115
• Marur - INR 135
• Kasepalli - INR 125
• Halaharvi - INR 45

After a quick darshan at Mantralayam, we hired an autorickshaw for a visit to Panchamukhi and Bichale. Returned a couple of later hours later, savored the prasadam at the dining hall and resumed our return journey.

Departure: 3 p.m. from Mantralayam on May 18
Arrival: 11 p.m. RR Nagar
Route taken: Mantralayam - Yemmiganur - Adoni Bypass - Aspari - Pattikonda - Gooty - Anantapur - Bangalore

During the return journey, as we crossed Pattikonda, we were greeted by pounding rains. The roads were flooded and visibility dropped severely. We barely managed to cross Gooty by 5 p.m. when we decided to stop at Dashmesh Punjabi dhaba close to the Kasepalli toll for an early dinner. Dashmesh dhaba has been our go-to on this stretch and everyone in the family swears by their food. After a relaxed dinner, we started for Bangalore at 6:30 p.m. and were again pounded by heavy rains. This continued till the Devanahalli toll. To our utter shock, there was no sign of rain once we crossed the Bangalore airport. Managed to reach home by 11 p.m.

Journey time: 8 hours with 1 hour dinner break
Toll: Since we returned the same day, toll charges were different

• Halaharvi - INR 25
• Kasepalli - INR 60
• Marur - INR 70
• Bagepalli - INR 55
• Devanahalli - INR 60

Quick stats about the journey:

Total travel time - 14:30 hours
Fuel consumption (Petrol) - 60 litres
Total toll - INR 800

[null]

Originally Posted by Tharle Subba

Wrapped a trip to Mantralayam over the weekend for a quick darshan of Guru Raghavendra Swamy...

That is one quick round trip, from 2am to 11pm - on the road for most part of the time. Wasn't this risky especially from the sleep deprivation angle? or were you two drivers? OR are you used to so much travel in a single day?

[Tharle Subba]

Originally Posted by null

That is one quick round trip, from 2am to 11pm - on the road for most part of the time. Wasn't this risky especially from the sleep deprivation angle? or were you two drivers? OR are you used to so much travel in a single day?

Hi Sir, I am habituated to driving long hours/distances, and since the road is good for the most part, fatigue is negligible. On the part about sleep deprivation, most of my drives are 'night-only' to make the most of sparse traffic and easy overtaking. Having said that, I always pull-over for a quick nap even if there is a slightest hint of sleep. Nothing can ever top safety- both for self and fellow motorists.

Happy driving!

[rajivtelang]

Originally Posted by null

That is one quick round trip, from 2am to 11pm - on the road for most part of the time. Wasn't this risky especially from the sleep deprivation angle? or were you two drivers? OR are you used to so much travel in a single day?

Same goes with many folks here. I too start by 5AM for Mantralayam and return by 7PM the same day, around 800km, to-fro Marathahalli in a day. But point is not to skip night's sleep and hence always start at 5AM and not before that.

[Capri89]

Originally Posted by rajivtelang

Same goes with many folks here. I too start by 5AM for Mantralayam and return by 7PM the same day, around 800km, to-fro Marathahalli in a day. But point is not to skip night's sleep and hence always start at 5AM and not before that.

What is the point of rushing back and make it hectic.

I thought one of the purpose of going to such places is to slow down from this fast-paced life, internalize and absorb the spiritual ambience present there. After all the spirit permeates in the entire area there and not just in the shrine. So a much more relaxed trip would be the order of the day I guess.

[narayans80]

Returning from Panchamukhi took the Madhavaram-Adoni-Alur-Guntakal route.

Madhavaram-Adoni is just OK. Can do 60-80 at best. Road is poorer than Gooty-Pattikonda.

Adoni-Alur is fantastic wide 2-lane.

Alur town roads are crap.

Alur-Guntakal is very good barring a 3 km stretch of narrow 2-lane.

Guntakal bypass is non-existent.

Guntakal-Gooty is good 4-lane with an incomplete 200 meter section in the middle. 4-laning stops 3 km before Gooty and rejoins inside town.

Looks like the NH67 4-laning is totally abandoned in this part.

Next time: Mantralayam-Yemmiganur-Adoni-Alur-Guntakal-Gooty

[AutoGalaxy]

We are traveling to Manthralaya this weekend (Saturday, Sunday, and Monday ) with the plans below. I am visiting Manthralaya after 20 years.

Below is the rough plan, request inputs from fellow Bhpians to make the most out of these 3 days. I will have elderly parents with me as well.

Sat: Start early at 5:30 AM from Bangalore (Bannerghatta road ), Lepakshi, Manthralaya.
Visit Panchamukhi and Bichale in the evening.

Sun: Darshana of Brindavana and spend time at temple premises. Start to Hampi around 11 am. We will have a few hours before sunset at Hampi.

Mon: I have booked a guided tour of Hampi for 1 day ( This is my first time to Hampi as well and only covering the place as Trailor. I plan to visit again for a longer duration ). Evening back to Bangalore.

Looking at recommendations in this thread, the below route looks apt for the Onward journey. Please suggest based on current conditions.

Originally Posted by rajivtelang

Do not take google suggested route here. Reach all the way till Gooty, enter the town, continue towards Pattikonda, take bypass, Aspari, Adoni, Adoni bypass, Yemmiganur, Mantralaya.

Return journey via Tumkur highway.

[rajivtelang]

Originally Posted by AutoGalaxy

Looking at recommendations in this thread, the below route looks apt for the Onward journey. Please suggest based on current conditions.

Return journey via Tumkur highway.

I do not have latest data on this route but will recommend same route any day. I have been taking the same route for last 15 plus years. Only places where you might see some rough patches could be between Gooty to Pattikonda and around villages in between Gooty to Adoni bypass.
I recommend day travel between Gooty to Mantralaya since the roads are relatively narrow in places and rough patches could be unpredictable for night travel.

[DasAuto1985]

Not exactly a route query, but wanted some recommendations on places to stay in Mantralayam.

[rajivtelang]

Originally Posted by DasAuto1985

Not exactly a route query, but wanted some recommendations on places to stay in Mantralayam.

Try the srsmutt.org site for accommodations owned by matha. In case they are full you can try some lodges on main road there. One hotel Abode is there which appeared expensive to me.

[DasAuto1985]

Originally Posted by rajivtelang

Try the srsmutt.org site for accommodations owned by matha. In case they are full you can try some lodges on main road there. One hotel Abode is there which appeared expensive to me.

Thank you sir, unfortunately the mutt's properties are all booked and hotel abode too. Are there any home stays something like that?

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by DasAuto1985

Thank you sir, unfortunately the mutt's properties are all booked and hotel abode too.

Usually Abode is the last to get booked. It is expensive considering the town. There are only small hotels around. There is one hotel on Adoni bypass, don't remember the name. We once stayed at Kurnool Haritha. Will take 2.5 hrs to Mantralayam from there

[rajivtelang]

Originally Posted by DasAuto1985

Thank you sir, unfortunately the mutt's properties are all booked and hotel abode too. Are there any home stays something like that?

Unfortunately I am not aware of home stays. Check if you can get contacts of lodges on main road. One attempt is to visit without booking and you may get accommodation in matha's property since not all rooms are available for online booking. But that is risky sometimes.

[rajivtelang]

Originally Posted by rajivtelang

Unfortunately I am not aware of home stays. Check if you can get contacts of lodges on main road.

I visited Mantralaya yesterday as one day trip and here are some updates.
1. For the accommodation part, when we were leaving some lodge people were standing near the main circle asking if you need rooms. Since I was on a single day visit and retuning home, just said no but one can try this option. Quality and standard of their accommodation is unknown.
2. I took the usual gutti, adoni route and found bad roads between gutti and pattikonda. Some places are so bad that I had to go in zig zag fashion to avoid scraping of car. Be watchful of some deep to very deep ditches and avoid overtaking if unsure of road condition. Avoid night drive between gutti to adoni. The number of ditches are limited in numbers but be extra careful. Remaining road is very well manageable.
3. Be watchful of unmarked speed humps on highways in dark. A couple of times car hit them since the rain had reduced visibility terribly. Not good experience while returning. Returning home took one extra hour due to rain. Usually it takes 6.5 hours one side.