[genesis]

To get back to Mumbai from Badami (i will be going there from Hampi), is it advisable to go via Belgaum and then NH4 or Sankheshwar and then NH4?

The non expressway Bijapur option does not seem too appealing. Hence the question...

Thanks

[hvkumar]

Yes, you can go from Badami to Bagalkot and join NH4 at Belgaum

[filcord]

On paper Badami - Kulgeri - Ramdurg - Yeragatti - Belgaum on SH20 makes more sense, therafter take NH4 to Mumbai. However I do not know condition of this SH20. You may also take Yeragatti - Gokak - Sankeshwar, to meet NH4 at Sankeshwar. Again recent travellers may please post road condition updates.

[cyberwhizs]

Originally Posted by filcord

On paper Badami - Kulgeri - Ramdurg - Yeragatti - Belgaum on SH20 makes more sense, therafter take NH4 to Mumbai. However I do not know condition of this SH20. You may also take Yeragatti - Gokak - Sankeshwar, to meet NH4 at Sankeshwar. Again recent travellers may please post road condition updates.

Just bumping up an old thread. Looks like i am the first one to travel this route.

Badami - Kulgeri - Ramdurg : Roads are narrow, patchy, surface has worn off.
Ramdurg - Torgal - Yergatti : Roads are much wider in the ghat sections surface has also worn off but to a lesser extent. At some places the road simply ends, making one wonder what next, then if one looks around one will find a small section of dirt track.

Yergatti - Belgaum : Excellent broad road.

Traffic is light on Badami to Yergatti section. However one needs to pass through the market place at ramdurg which i guess will be an issue during daytime hours.

Overall, SUV/MUVs will not find it a problem. With sedans it depends on the ground clearance, the tolerance of the suspension and the spirit of adventure. The area is thinly populated and almost no facilities exist enroute. One can keep a average speed of around 40 Kmph.

SH 14/139 badami - yergatti is a much shorter route, around 130 Km, compared to SH 20 badami - bagalkot - belgaum, around 180 Km.

Hope this helps !

[hvkumar]

SH20 via Bagalkot & Lokapur to Belgaum is fantastic, I travelled on it 3 days ago. However, please do not take the Lokapur-Chikodi-Nippani road, it is a total disaster for 100+ kms.

[ramraman]

Onward took the Sankeshwar - Gokak - Yergatti - Ramdurg - Badami route. The Sankeshwar - Yergatti stretch of about 70 kms is a good broad road with sparse traffic and the road is pretty good. The only problem is that there are pretty bad speed breakers every 100-200 mts. The stretch from Yergatti - Badami is very bad, with potholes, narrow stretches - if you meet an oncoming vehicle, atleast one vehicle has to get half off the road. The edges of the road are jagged and the shoulder is 6 - 8 inches lower than the road. I reached Mumbai - Sankeshwar, a distance of about 450 kms in about 7 - 7.5 hrs including almost 2 hrs of breakfast/lunch breaks. The Sankeshwar - Badami stretch of 150 kms took almost 4 hrs.
On the way back, decided to take a longer route of Badami - Dharwad via NH 218 turnoff at Kulgeri and Hubli bypass via SH 28 at Hebsur. This route is about 90 kms longer, but a beautiful stretch of tarmac. Didn't save much in terms of time, but road quality is much better, less stressful for both the driver and the vehicle.
And oh, on the Yergatti - Ramdurg-Badami stretch which is bad, also got a flat tyre - the tubeless radial saved me actually!

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by ramraman

Onward took the Sankeshwar - Gokak - Yergatti - Ramdurg - Badami route. The Sankeshwar - Yergatti stretch of about 70 kms is a good broad road with sparse traffic and the road is pretty good. The only problem is that there are pretty bad speed breakers every 100-200 mts. The stretch from Yergatti - Badami is very bad, with potholes, narrow stretches - if you meet an oncoming vehicle, atleast one vehicle has to get half off the road. The edges of the road are jagged and the shoulder is 6 - 8 inches lower than the road. I reached Mumbai - Sankeshwar, a distance of about 450 kms in about 7 - 7.5 hrs including almost 2 hrs of breakfast/lunch breaks. The Sankeshwar - Badami stretch of 150 kms took almost 4 hrs.
On the way back, decided to take a longer route of Badami - Dharwad via NH 218 turnoff at Kulgeri and Hubli bypass via SH 28 at Hebsur. This route is about 90 kms longer, but a beautiful stretch of tarmac. Didn't save much in terms of time, but road quality is much better, less stressful for both the driver and the vehicle.
And oh, on the Yergatti - Ramdurg-Badami stretch which is bad, also got a flat tyre - the tubeless radial saved me actually!

Why did you not try Badami-Bagalkot-Lokapur-Yargatti route? That is supposed to be good, and maybe shorter too.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Why did you not try Badami-Bagalkot-Lokapur-Yargatti route? That is supposed to be good, and maybe shorter too.

When I look in maps, Ramdurag option seems the shorter one. I guess thats why he would have taken that route
(or some locals must have guided him that way)

But as you say, the option via Bagalkot/Yaragatti would have been better with good roads.

[ramraman]

Originally Posted by ampere

When I look in maps, Ramdurag option seems the shorter one. I guess thats why he would have taken that route
(or some locals must have guided him that way)

But as you say, the option via Bagalkot/Yaragatti would have been better with good roads.

Yes! Took the Ramadurg route since it looked shorter on google maps. At Badami, locals guided me to take the Yaragatti route and it was a much pleasanter drive.

[arnabchak]

I will be visiting Badami from 9th to 14th Feb with my family and my 3.5 year son.

Mode of travel will be Wagon R CNG.

I propose to take the below route:



Hotels have already been booked:

1) Two nights 10th-12th in Hampi
2) One night in Badami
3) One night at Bijapur

I will be taking the NH4 throughout and request the below details:

1) Last point of CNG filling on the way. I know there is a decent pump in Pimpri. Anything beyond that?

2) Toll from Mumbai to Hampi?

3) Traffic and road conditions

4) Expected time for travel

5) Any good eating options in Hampi, Badami and Bijapur

[@Chaand]

Originally Posted by arnabchak

I will be taking the NH4 throughout and request the below details:

2) Toll from Mumbai to Hampi?

3) Traffic and road conditions

4) Expected time for travel

5) Any good eating options in Hampi, Badami and Bijapur

I did Mumbai Hampi Mumbai over the weekend. Detailed travelogue should be out by this weekend.

I took NH4 till Hubli and then NH63 till Hospet (I stayed at Hospet).
Toll was about Rs.650 one way.
Traffic was as usual high between Pune and Kolhapur.
Travel time from Mumbai to Hampi for me was 13 hours for 740 KM.
Shanbhag restaurant in Hospet near the bus stand is a decent place. Try that if you stay in Hospet. There are multiple others as well.

In Hampi there are two joints both of which were crowded when I went there. One was a KTDC place named Mayura Bhuvaneshwari and the other was Food Point.

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by arnabchak

3) Traffic and road conditions

4) Expected time for travel

5) Any good eating options in Hampi, Badami and Bijapur

Hi Arnab,

I would suggest to skip Aihole, I had been there recently and there's nothing spectacular there worth seeing. Pattadakal is also OK unless you are huge fan of temple architecture. Badami cave temples and nearby temples are worth a look. Road between Badami and Pattadakal is OKish, goes through villages. I could not find a decent eating joint in Badami nor in Pattadakal. Same case with Bijapur too even though its district HQ. Bear in mind, the food in these areas is too spicy for our taste.

You have opted to return back via NH4, I was to suggest to take the NH9 via Solapur and Pune. Good expressway roads you can easily do triple digit speeds. Hadapsar area is a bit clogged but still doable.

Can i suggest you to visit Kudal Sangam a confluence of 3 holy rivers near Aihole instead? I hope you are visiting Bijapur, definitely visit the Gol Gumbaz, Mallik e maidan, Uppali buruz, Ibrahim roza and all.

[CANPUSH]

Originally Posted by arnabchak

5) Any good eating options in Hampi, Badami and Bijapur

Since other questions are replied, I will reply only 5th question.

In Hampi, there is a restaurant called 'Mango Tree'. It's a must visit restaurant. It's partly open air restaurant where you have a option to sit on the floor with table in front of you. Sitting is on wide steps and you are facing river. Nice food and beautiful site.

In Badami, there are two options.. First is restaurant in hotel 'Heritage resort'. They serve very good Vegetarian food. It is also very nice decent hotel to stay. Just 100 meters ahead there is a hotel called 'Badami Court'. The restaurant in Badami court is also decent restaurant. Quality and Taste at heritage was better when we visited two years ago.

When I traveled, road between Hampi and Badami was okay in parts. Condition may have improved now.

[arnabchak]

Originally Posted by @Chaand

I did Mumbai Hampi Mumbai over the weekend. Detailed travelogue should be out by this weekend.

I took NH4 till Hubli and then NH63 till Hospet (I stayed at Hospet).
Toll was about Rs.650 one way.
Traffic was as usual high between Pune and Kolhapur.
Travel time from Mumbai to Hampi for me was 13 hours for 740 KM.
Shanbhag restaurant in Hospet near the bus stand is a decent place. Try that if you stay in Hospet. There are multiple others as well.

In Hampi there are two joints both of which were crowded when I went there. One was a KTDC place named Mayura Bhuvaneshwari and the other was Food Point.

Originally Posted by ghodlur

You have opted to return back via NH4, I was to suggest to take the NH9 via Solapur and Pune. Good expressway roads you can easily do triple digit speeds. Hadapsar area is a bit clogged but still doable.

Can i suggest you to visit Kudal Sangam a confluence of 3 holy rivers near Aihole instead? I hope you are visiting Bijapur, definitely visit the Gol Gumbaz, Mallik e maidan, Uppali buruz, Ibrahim roza and all.

Originally Posted by CANPUSH

Since other questions are replied, I will reply only 5th question.

In Hampi, there is a restaurant called 'Mango Tree'. It's a must visit restaurant. It's partly open air restaurant where you have a option to sit on the floor with table in front of you. Sitting is on wide steps and you are facing river. Nice food and beautiful site.

When I traveled, road between Hampi and Badami was okay in parts. Condition may have improved now.

Thanks a lot friends!!

Great help!!
@Chaand, your detailed review helped.

Just the query of CNG. Any pump available beyound Pimpri.
I will take the old Pune Highway to reach till Pune and then onwards, top up at Pimpri and take the course to Kolhapur.

I donot want to tank up in the Wakad pump as the queues are serpentine!!