[NPV]

Originally Posted by smekad

I feel that karwar will be relatively safer bet as long as we stick to highway.

From what I read in the newspaper, the affected towns were Kumta and Honnavar. If you take Hubli-Yellapura route you reach near Ankola bypass and then turn north towards Karwar in effect bypassing those affected towns.

[smekad]

Originally Posted by NPV

From what I read in the newspaper, the affected towns were Kumta and Honnavar. If you take Hubli-Yellapura route you reach near Ankola bypass and then turn north towards Karwar in effect bypassing those affected towns.

Thanks NPV. I have cancelled my bookings at shivamogga and honavar. Even today there was some tension at shivamogga.. I don't think this issue is going to be let go until the elections

[Harry Iyer]

I too am going to cover Gokarna & Murudeshwar this Christmas weekend (23rd/24th/25th Dec 2017). Planning to start from Bangalore in the evening and drive all night.

Going to take this route:
Bangalore - Tumkur - Chitradurga - Haveri - Sirsi - Kumta - Gokarna.

But for the return trip, if possible, planning to try this one:
Gokarna - Honnavar - Jog Falls - Sagar - Shimoga - Chitradurga - Tumkur - Bangalore

Will update about the road conditions upon my return. However, as user smekad mentioned, I haven't heard any news about any ongoing disturbances in the area. Should I be concerned?

[Harry Iyer]

Originally Posted by Harry Iyer

Will update about the road conditions upon my return. However, as user smekad mentioned, I haven't heard any news about any ongoing disturbances in the area. Should I be concerned?

I made the trip and there were absolutely no problems in the area. Murudeshwar - Honnavar - Kumta - Gokarna were all peaceful and there were hardly any police in sight.

I feel that Haveri - Sirsi is still the best option to reach Gokarna. The 30 kms stretch after you get off NH48 at Haveri is an absolute delight. There is concrete surface through Devimane ghats. IMO, a much better option that going through Shimoga.

The Gokarna - Kumta - Honnavar - Murudeshwar coastal road is being turned into 4 lane at many places. But you can still maintain decent speed through this highway.

Just why do people crowd Goa when there is Gokarna? I will never understand.

[rakirank]

Did a recent trip to Gokarna and back to Bangalore.

Onward: Bangalore - Tumkur - Chitradurga - Haveri - Sirsi - Kumta - Gokarna.
The NH till Haveri needs no mention (except for some speed breakers)

I found the rest of the route Haveri - Sirsi - Kumta - Gokarna, not to my liking, the speeds come down quite a bit. Lots of speed breakers initially and I found it difficult to maintain good speed.

Overall drive took me 8 hours with a couple of breaks.

Return: Gokarna - Ankola - Yellapur - Mundgod - Bankapur - Chitradurga - Bangalore

I did not appreciate the Yellapur - Mundgod - Bankapur stretch, while it is well laid, the narrow road does not help (especially with me driving about dusk with cattle returning home)

Again once on the NH, the speeds are more consistent, I typically tailed a car that maintained speeds I was comfortable with.

My car lights on this road were definitely inadequate.

Again the return journey took me the same 8 hours.

[Harry Iyer]

Originally Posted by rakirank

I typically tailed a car that maintained speeds I was comfortable with.

This strategy!!! Once I have spotted another car being driven responsibly, I just stay on his a** as long as I can (but some 60 feet away). If he speeds up, I speed up. If he slows down, I slow down. Let him do all the hard work. Let him spot all the speed humps, potholes etc. Basically, like having an escort vehicle. My father hates me for it. My wife HATES me for it. But hey, if it works for Tesla & Mercedes, it works for me.

[500ContyCruiser]

Originally Posted by Harry Iyer

This strategy!!! Once I have spotted another car being driven responsibly, I just stay on his a** as long as I can (but some 60 feet away). If he speeds up, I speed up. If he slows down, I slow down. Let him do all the hard work. Let him spot all the speed humps, potholes etc. Basically, like having an escort vehicle. My father hates me for it. My wife HATES me for it. But hey, if it works for Tesla & Mercedes, it works for me.

Any time I sense someone is tailing me this way. Either I will loose them at the earliest or pull over. Something makes me uncomfortable of someone tailing me (unless I am part of a known convey).

Originally Posted by Harry Iyer

Just why do people crowd Goa when there is Gokarna? I will never understand.

Lets not convert Gokarna into another crowded place.

[Amey Kulkarni]

"Raptors - Pune" planning a bike ride to Gokarna from Pune next weekend.

Which road would be in good conditions for a diversion towards Gokarna post NH4?

Cheers,
Amey

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by Amey Kulkarni

Which road would be in good conditions for a diversion towards Gokarna post NH4?

Best bet considering good roads will be to deviate off NH4 only on Hubli Dharwad Bypass. This may be little longer compared to reaching Yellapura directly but the roads in general will be better post NH4.

You can also reach Yellapura by deviating off NH4 from Kittur as well but you will have to take some internal (and uncertain) sections between Kittur - Alnavar - Yellapura.

Instead, if you ride all the way down till the other end (almost) of Dharwad - Hubli bypass and then take the usual route via Kalhatgi to Yellapura, it will be a better pick. This will be 35 Kms (and 15-20 minutes) more but worth it considering that road remains good.

[victoriacc]

I need some guidance on the route from Bangalore to Goa. This is my first road trip in this route and am travelling with my wife and kid. Plan is to go via Gokarna (and spend 2 nights there) and then leave for Goa. Any help is well appreciated.

Bangalore to Gokarna : I am planning to start from Whitefield around 5 am.

1. Should I take the Tumkur-Shivamogga-Gokarna route? Or, Davanagere-Ranebennur-Sirsi-Gokarna route? Or, some other route is recommended?

2. Is it worth having a detour via Jog falls before I reach Gokarna? Is the Oct-Nov timing a good time for Jog falls visit? If yes, what is the change in route recommended?

a. Hosadurga-Shivamogga-Jog falls route? Or, Ranebennur- Sirsi- Jog falls route?
b. Any insights on the recent road conditions in the belt around Jog falls?

3. I am planning to drive safe in moderate speeds (100kph max, 60-70 kph average), especially since I am travelling with my kid. How much travel time should be expected to reach Gokarna?

4. Breakfast & lunch suggestions enroute?

[mpksuhas]

Did Bangalore - Gokarna last weekend.

Route - Bangalore - Chitradurga - Ranebanneur - Haveri - Sirsi - Mirjan - Gokarna.

Started on Saturday at 04: 30 AM from HSR layout and reached Gokarna at 12:30 PM after a breakfast stop of around 20 mins at Ranebanneur Kamat and another 10 min stop at Ranebanneur BP COCO for tanking up.

Road conditons is good overall. Couple of places of concern - Service road from Haveri NH to SH is in bad condition, be careful especially if in a low GC vehicle.

Past that, Haveri to Nakara cross is superb tarmac, however it is infested with speed breakers. Past that there are few patches with top layer gone, however nothing alarming.

NH 17 / 66 widening is ongoing, so the 12 KM or so you are on that, one need to be careful since there are few deviations.

Once you take left from there to Gokarna road, the road condition is patchy. However, it is just for some 8 KM or so.

Return took about 1 hour extra since it was on a weekday and in day time.

[neeravnaik]

I am travelling this Friday to Gokarna from Bangalore. GIven the heavy rains in North Karnataka it looks like this is going to be a challenge. Anyone in the area or who is travelling right now with any idea of what would be the right route if it is at all possible to travel.



Will be watching the status before finalizing my plans.

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by neeravnaik

Will be watching the status before finalizing my plans.

You can check the recent posts here (Bangalore to Sirsi : Route Queries)

[meetbadri]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

You can check the recent posts here (Bangalore to Sirsi : Route Queries)

A quick update, Devimane Ghat which leads to Kumta/ Gokarna is closed near Katagal due to river overflow. Also Yellapur - Ankola road is closed due to some land slides.

The only route which is currently open is Sagar - Gersoppa - Honnavar but the visibility is too low in the ghats and there are many chances that even this route will be closed due to landslides if the rain continues to pour like this for another 3 or 4 days.

[neeravnaik]

Originally Posted by meetbadri

A quick update, Devimane Ghat which leads to Kumta/ Gokarna is closed near Katagal due to river overflow. Also Yellapur - Ankola road is closed due to some land slides.

The only route which is currently open is Sagar - Gersoppa - Honnavar but the visibility is too low in the ghats and there are many chances that even this route will be closed due to landslides if the rain continues to pour like this for another 3 or 4 days.

Thank you! Looks like best option is to go to mangalore using shiradi ghat and then go along the coast to Gokarna