[ankan.m.blr]

Originally Posted by shrinath_m2

Went from Bengaluru to Shimoga and back recently.

Bengaluru -> Hiriyur -> Hosadurga -> Tarikere -> Shimoga and same way back.




Definitely recommended.

Would you recommend this route over Chitradurga Shivamogga w.r.t road conditions?

[shrinath_m2]

Originally Posted by ankan.m.blr

Would you recommend this route over Chitradurga Shivamogga w.r.t road conditions?

I've not been in that road recently to give you right comparison at the moment. However -

- Going by last few posts by other users, I understand that Chitradurga - Shivamogga route is seeing an upgrade to 4-lane, which means road works.
- Google also currently shows this Hiriyur-Hosadurga road as best option.

I'd say unless we hear about no road-works in Chitradurga route, take Hosadurga route.
Start early morning, by the time people come to road you'll cross Tarikere or further depending on how you drive

[carlosTHEjackal]

My recent trip update:
Opted Bangalore-Chitradurga-Channagiri-Shivmogga

Did a non-stop Bangalore - Shivmogga on a weekday.
Distance 308 Kms
Time: 4 Hrs
Start time: 5:35 am
End time: 9:35 am

Google maps did suggest the more popular Bangalore - Hiriyur - Hosadurga - Tarikere - Shimoga route; But opted this one because Tarikere - Shivmogga wasn’t good compared to Channagiri-Shivmogga

Sections:
1. Bangalore-Chitradurga - Very good

- Bangalore - Tumkur as usual has heavy traffic.
- This should have been 6 Lane instead of 4 Lane.

2. Chitradurga-Channagiri - Good.

- Most of the road humps at the villages have been removed. Except one hump.
- Except the 2kms bypass where you divert from NH4 to Channagiri the road is bad. This bad condition might not change for years to come.
- To avoid this, if you are near Chitradurga earlier than 8:00 am you can enter the town and get on to Channagiri road.

3. Channagiri-Shivmogga - Average to Poor

- Traffic increases and road condition deteriorates till Shivamogga.

Did not look out for any food or break options.

[rajesh1868]

I am travelling to Shimoga this Sunday with family.
I am taking this route the first time. I was actually thinking Chitradurga was the only route but seeing the above posts I am bit confused.

I dont want village roads. Can someone please update pros and cons of these routes?

Also I am planning to start early morning around 5-6 am. Any recommendations on a good breakfast place, preferably veg with neat toilets?

[carlosTHEjackal]

Originally Posted by rajesh1868

I was actually thinking Chitradurga was the only route but seeing the above posts I am bit confused.

I dont want village roads. Can someone please update pros and cons of these routes?

Route 1: Bangalore - Chitradurga - Channagiri - Shimoga

Channagiri - Shimoga section might have bit of traffic and pothole ridden road probably for about 20 odd Kms.

Route 2: Bangalore - Hiriyur - Hosadurga - Tarikere - Shimoga

Tarikere - Shimoga section might have bit of traffic and pothole ridden road probably for about 50 odd Kms.

Route 3: Bangalore - Channarayapatna - Arasikere- Kadur - Birur - Tarikere - Shimoga

Channarayapatna - Arasikere: passes through lot of villages and road is with innumerable humps before and fear the small villages.
Arasikere- Kadur - Birur - Tarikere - Shimoga: Section might have bit of two wheeler traffic and pothole ridden road probably for about 90 odd Kms.

Originally Posted by rajesh1868

Also I am planning to start early morning around 5-6 am. Any recommendations on a good breakfast place, preferably veg with neat toilets?

Breakfast options:
Route 1: Bangalore - Chitradurga - Channagiri - Shimoga
Tumkur Town: Pavitra Tatte idli hotel
Chitradurga: Upadhya restaurant (Need to take a U turn as the hotel is on Chitradurga - Bangalore side of Highway)
Chitradurga: Enter town, you can have few good hotels on the main road.

Route 2: Bangalore - Hiriyur - Hosadurga - Tarikere - Shimoga
Tarikere - Hotel Aramane

Route 3: Bangalore - Channarayapatna - Arasikere - Kadur - Birur - Tarikere - Shimoga.

Arasikere: Hotel Ayodhya (Bit interior in Arasikere about 100 Mts inside the main road) Not sure about good toilets here.
Kadur: Hotel Vinayaka
Tarikere: Hote Preeti (Famous for dosa). Not sure about good toilets here.
Tarikere - Hotel Aramane
Above 3 on the main road of the highway.

If your destination is beyond Shimoga then
@Shimoga:
Hotel Meenakshi Bhavan
Hotel Mayura
Hotel Ashoka Grand

Regards,
Carlos-THE-jackal

[aithalsandy]

In my view, therere is no clear winner.

I use CR Patna option as I don't prefer Tumkur road truck traffic and need decent places to stop. This option has ~200km of good/decent experience and 100km average/below average experience.

There are multiple good options on CR Patna road. I prefer Swathi but others also can be tried - Paakashala, Mayura, Dhruvathare, Hallimane etc.

While Kadur has Vinayaka and Suruchi, Preethi at Birur doesn't seem to have toilet and eating feels roadside. Aramane at Tarikere is average and you can try CCD at Arsikere. I never tried other options at Arsikere.

With Nitin Gadkari's focus on Shimoga-Chitradurga and Shimoga-Tumkur, we can expect improvement in existing and new options in th next 2yrs.

[aithalsandy]

All - Here is an update on Shimoga-Bangalore via CR Patna.

Shimoga to Arsikere is not seeing any maintenance update. Looks like the existing lane is being written off. Road widening activities are visible around Banavara and Arsikere but nothing between Kadur and Shimoga. Took Bhadravathi town instead of bypass as it was non-busy hour and was much better than humpy bypass.

Arsikere-CR Patna is holding well. We tried newly built Paakashala near Swathi. This is by Vasudeva Adiga of famous Adigas. He started this chain after the expiry of non-compete from the sale of Adigas. We had a small chit-chat with him as well. This is a good alternative to Swathi - clean toilets, good food and ample parking.

[rajesh1868]

Originally Posted by carlosTHEjackal

Breakfast options:
Route 1: Bangalore - Chitradurga - Channagiri - Shimoga
Tumkur Town: Pavitra Tatte idli hotel
Chitradurga: Upadhya restaurant (Need to take a U turn as the hotel is on Chitradurga - Bangalore side of Highway)
Chitradurga: Enter town, you can have few good hotels on the main road.

Took this route last week. Except for the small stretch mentioned, it was a smooth ride.
Also tried the Thatte idly from Pavitra. All of us enjoyed.
Thanks

[goandude]

Originally Posted by carlosTHEjackal

Route 1: Bangalore - Chitradurga - Channagiri - Shimoga

Channagiri - Shimoga section might have bit of traffic and pothole ridden road probably for about 20 odd Kms.

Route 2: Bangalore - Hiriyur - Hosadurga - Tarikere - Shimoga

Tarikere - Shimoga section might have bit of traffic and pothole ridden road probably for about 50 odd Kms.

Route 3: Bangalore - Channarayapatna - Arasikere- Kadur - Birur - Tarikere - Shimoga

Channarayapatna - Arasikere: passes through lot of villages and road is with innumerable humps before and fear the small villages.
Arasikere- Kadur - Birur - Tarikere - Shimoga: Section might have bit of two wheeler traffic and pothole ridden road probably for about 90 odd Kms.
Carlos-THE-jackal

So in your opinion would Route 1 would be the best/fastest/least pot holed?

[procrj]

Originally Posted by goandude

So in your opinion would Route 1 would be the best/fastest/least pot holed?

Least potholed would be Route 2 - Bangalore - Hiriyur - Hosadurga - Tarikere - Shimoga. This would also be the fastest if its an early morning start.

[goandude]

Originally Posted by procrj

Least potholed would be Route 2 - Bangalore - Hiriyur - Hosadurga - Tarikere - Shimoga. This would also be the fastest if its an early morning start.

Actually I'm traveling in opposite direction. Gokarna Shimoga tomorrow and Shimoga Bangalore day after. Plan is to do Tarikere Hiryur route

[carlosTHEjackal]

Originally Posted by goandude

So in your opinion would Route 1 would be the best/fastest/least pot holed?

Based on my recent trip on 20 Feb, I will say that this is the fastest and and least pot holed route. Shimoga to Bangalore can be completed in 4 Hours. (Without break).

[condor]

Was checking out the routes involving Shivamogga-BLR last week, and google maps showed me Shivamogga-Chitradurga-Bangalore.

Hosadurga route was being re-done a few years back, and guess it was.

[carlosTHEjackal]

Originally Posted by condor

Was checking out the routes involving Shivamogga-BLR last week, and google maps showed me Shivamogga-Chitradurga-Bangalore.

Hosadurga route was being re-done a few years back, and guess it was.

Hosadurga route is re-done. The only drawback is that this route passes through multiple smaller towns and near to Vani Vilasa Sagar project. The roads around 15 Kms near VV Sagar is single carriage and hasn't been maintained.

These 2 drawbacks render this route not be the default option.

[luvurride]

Originally Posted by carlosTHEjackal

Hosadurga route is re-done. The only drawback is that this route passes through multiple smaller towns and near to Vani Vilasa Sagar project. The roads around 15 Kms near VV Sagar is single carriage and hasn't been maintained.

These 2 drawbacks render this route not be the default option.

If you drive through the VV Sagar dam instead of the bye pass, it is a 2 lane. Only the bye pass is a single lane. This will probably add a few kms extra.