[meetbadri]

Originally Posted by NPV

How were the road conditions between Chitradurga-Channagiri-Shimoga ?

The roads on the Chitradurga bypass after NH4 is broken with many potholes but can be managed.

Post thats until Holehonnur its a breeze. Post that roads are totally gone for about 20kms until you reach Shimoga and speed will reduce to 20- 30 kms from 70- -80.

[nax04]

Originally Posted by NPV

How were the road conditions between Chitradurga-Channagiri-Shimoga ?

Also, do update us with your return route and road conditions. With the year end coming up, it will help lot of people traveling that side.

Best route for now looks like

Bangalore - Chitradurga - Channagiri - Shivamogga - Sagar - Jog Falls - Honnavar - Kumta - Gokarna

Few kms before and after Channagiri is bad but road works were going on when I crossed.
Hopefully in the next couple of weeks it should be patched.

Tallaguppa - Jog falls - Honnavar section is in excellent condition.


Return route -- Gokarna - Ankola - Yellapur - Kalaghatgi - Tadas - Haveri - Chitradurga - Bangalore

Gokarna - Ankola >> Road is good but with lots of diversions as 4 laning work is In-Progress.
Ankola - Yellapur >> Has potholes for few meters every now and then. The ghat section in this route has bad roads in the bends due to heavy lorry movement.
Yellapur - Kalghatgi - Tadas >> Has few rough patches.
Haveri - Chitradurga >> Has lots of diversions/speed breakers because of the 4 laning work. (Night driving becomes very tiring bcz of the diversions)
Chitradurga - Bangalore >> Roads are in excellent condition.


Hope this helps!

[raghu13uk]

Hi all,
Which route do you advise as of now (Jan2020).

1. Bangalore - Haveri - Sirsi - Kumta - Gokarna
2. Bangalore - Haveri - Yellapur - Ankola - Gokarna
3. Bangalore - Chitradugra - Shivamogga - Honnavar - Gokarna
4. Bangalore - Nelamangala - Channarayapatna - Shivamogga - Honnavar - Gokarna

I have to do a quick visit this weekend (11-12 Jan).

[meetbadri]

Originally Posted by raghu13uk

Hi all,
Which route do you advise as of now (Jan2020).

1. Bangalore - Haveri - Sirsi - Kumta - Gokarna
2. Bangalore - Haveri - Yellapur - Ankola - Gokarna
3. Bangalore - Chitradugra - Shivamogga - Honnavar - Gokarna
4. Bangalore - Nelamangala - Channarayapatna - Shivamogga - Honnavar - Gokarna

I have to do a quick visit this weekend (11-12 Jan).

I would suggest you to take

Bangalore - Hiriyur - Tarikere - Shimoga - Sagar - Honnavar - Gokarna if you are looking for smooth roads.

You can also go via option 1 but you will have to go through lot of potholes in Devimane ghat for about 20 Kms starting from Sampkhanda to Kathagal.

[raghu13uk]

Originally Posted by meetbadri

I would suggest you to take

Bangalore - Hiriyur - Tarikere - Shimoga - Sagar - Honnavar - Gokarna if you are looking for smooth roads.

You can also go via option 1 but you will have to go through lot of potholes in Devimane ghat for about 20 Kms starting from Sampkhanda to Kathagal.

Experienced the Sirsi route months back. Thought, my car will be swallowed by one of those potholes.

Now, deciding between,
a. Hiriyur - Tarikere - Shimoga
b. Hiriyur - Chitradurga - Shimoga

Note: Mom will be the only passenger. She has underwent a surgery a month back. Want to keep it smoother for her.

[meetbadri]

Originally Posted by raghu13uk

Note: Mom will be the only passenger. She has underwent a surgery a month back. Want to keep it smoother for her.

In this case please stick to Hiriyur - Tiptur - Shimoga - Sagar - Honnavar - Gokarna route. Even Chennagiri to Shimoga is in very bad shape.

[raghu13uk]

Originally Posted by meetbadri

In this case please stick to Hiriyur - Tiptur - Shimoga - Sagar - Honnavar - Gokarna route. Even Chennagiri to Shimoga is in very bad shape.

Since my starting point is Bangalore, am i right in assuming you are advising me to take,
Bangalore - Tumkur - Gubbi - Tiptur - Shimoga - Honnavar - Gokarna ?
Here, i dont go to Hiriyuru at all.

The only other possibility is, you are asking me to avoid Tumkur - Gubbi - Tiptur stretch.

[meetbadri]

Originally Posted by raghu13uk

Since my starting point is Bangalore, am i right in assuming you are advising me to take,
Bangalore - Tumkur - Gubbi - Tiptur - Shimoga - Honnavar - Gokarna ?
Here, i dont go to Hiriyuru at all.

Sorry it was my mistake . You need not have to go to Tiptur on Bangalore -Honnavar Highway. You can drive all the way till Hiriyur on NH4 and take left towards Hosadurga - Ajjampur and directly reach Tarikere (Not Tiptur) and take usual BH road to reach Shimoga and head towards Sagara.

[Divya Sharan]

Originally Posted by meetbadri

Sorry it was my mistake . You need not have to go to Tiptur on Bangalore -Honnavar Highway. You can drive all the way till Hiriyur on NH4 and take left towards Hosadurga - Ajjampur and directly reach Tarikere (Not Tiptur) and take usual BH road to reach Shimoga and head towards Sagara.

I plan on visiting Kumta/Gokarna Feb end just in the weekends. More like a quick hi to the place and back.
I plan on taking my Ninja so I cannot risk potholed roads. I presume, this suggestion would still hold good for me as well?

I'd be tarting from Bangalore as well.

[meetbadri]

Originally Posted by Divya Sharan

I plan on visiting Kumta/Gokarna Feb end just in the weekends. More like a quick hi to the place and back.
I plan on taking my Ninja so I cannot risk potholed roads. I presume, this suggestion would still hold good for me as well?

I'd be tarting from Bangalore as well.

I just drove till Sirsi on the same route and tarmac is still holding good. As far as I know you can take the same route to Gokarna without any issues.

After Chitradurga until Haveri there are lot of construction work going on, be ready to ride on the service roads with lots of speed breakers.

Considering the above factors the route which I suggested via Shimoga and Sagar is the best option.

[varunasok]

Originally Posted by Divya Sharan

I plan on visiting Kumta/Gokarna Feb end just in the weekends. More like a quick hi to the place and back.
I plan on taking my Ninja so I cannot risk potholed roads. I presume, this suggestion would still hold good for me as well?

I'd be tarting from Bangalore as well.

Having driven both the Shimoga-Sagara-Jog route and Sirsi-Kumta, I would suggest the former route. Later is full of potholes especially between Haveri and Sirsi. Right after Honnavar, four-way is getting built and watch out for the two-wheelers and mini trucks in the opposite direction esp on the rightmost lane.

[DAART]

Planning to do a trip to Gokarna from Bangalore in a few days. Could you please suggest the best route to take considering the recent monsoon effect on this stretch.

[varunasok]

Originally Posted by DAART

Planning to do a trip to Gokarna from Bangalore in a few days. Could you please suggest the best route to take considering the recent monsoon effect on this stretch.

Two routes which I had tried before,

The first one via Shimoga and Jog.
The second one via Sirsi - Kumta

Monsoon was not that bad this year, both the routes are open and equally scenic.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by varunasok

The first one via Shimoga and Jog.
The second one via Sirsi - Kumta

I thought Sirsi Kumta is quite broken? Would be better to take Shimoga-Jog-Honnar section? But yes, need to check 4-lane status of NH66.

[vijaymishra]

I am heading to Gokarna with a night stay at Jog Falls, tomorrow morning. Needless to say I will take Jog falls route. Will reply if there are any new findings.