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-   -   Bangalore to Kollur Mookambika : Route Queries (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-travel-queries/73067-bangalore-kollur-mookambika-route-queries-25.html)

Anyone travelled recently from BLR to Mookambika? Let me know which route to take.

Hi, Not sure if its too late. I went to Kollur from Bangalore via Chitradurga on 1st Oct . Route taken : Bangalore - Chitradurga - Channagiri - Shimoga - Kollur. Till Chitradurga the road is any way good. Post that nearing Channagiri and onwards to Shimoga Roadwork is in progress, but nothing to worry. From Shimoga till Nagara road is good accompanied by some beautiful landscapes. Post that lot of potholes but nothing much to worry. The final ghat is good.
Had a nice Darshan of Kollur Mookambika.

If Honnali-Ayannur road is good, one can also try this.

Tumkur-Chitradurga-Harihar bypass- Malebennur-Honnali-Ayannur-Ripponpent-Hosanagara-Nagara-Nagodi-Kollur. Totally bypasses all the big towns including Shimoga.

I took Tirthahalli route for the onward journey and took the Ripponpet route for the return journey. The Tirthahalli route has less lunch options for a 6 a.m. start. After Sira, there are no restaurants available. All we got was chitranna at a small eatery in Badra. For return journey, we started after breakfast at Nittur (hotel Navarathna) and reached Davanagere in time for lunch.

Also, Tirthahalli route has more ghat section, and my family got car sickness. I would prefer the Ripponpet route next time.

Yes, I took this route for the return journey. Roads are good for the most part. Minor, shallow potholes here and there, but nothing much to worry about.

I am not sure why people are taking routes other than the shortest route to Kollur via Tumkur>Tiptur>Arsikere>Shivamogga>Ripponpet>Hosana gara>Nagara>Kollur. May be, Google is not recommending this route now. I took the route via Harihar>Honnali for onward journey and was absolutely disappointed with the quality of roads between Harihar and Honnali. This route is the longest with most tolls. I have no clue why Google is still recommending this route.

Return journey I took the direct bus route via Shivammoga>Tiptur and was pleasantly surprised with quality of roads. 4 laning is almost complete till Shivamogga but with diversions. But I don't find any reason to take any other routes which are all narrow state highways with potholes.

Isn’t the Tiptur/Arsikere roads in really bad shape? It used to be the preferred route, till the roads got terrible.

I’m returning via Kollur tomorrow and I’m tempted to take the Kollur-Nagara-Shimoga-Arsikere-Tiptur-Tumkur route. I’m in my sedan and hope it’s a good drive. Will update here tomorrow evening.

Took this route today and did not find any continuous bad stretch. 4 laning work is almost complete from Tumkur to Shivamogga with some diversions. I almost bypassed Shivamogga and Tumkur. But other bypasses are not fully ready. Toll collections are yet to start. Google is showing routes via Harihar, Chitradurga or Hiriyur. Strangely this is the shortest route around 410 KM and not recommended. The route via Harihar is 480KM.

Very timely and helpful Poloman. I’m leaving in an hour. Very encouraged to take this route.

Agree with you. Do not go by Google for Mookambika. Tiptur-arsikere is much better. We tried sticking to Google and it felt like an endless drive back home. While the roads are better, 6 lane and open, those 80 odd extra KMs frustrate me while getting back.

By 4-lane do you all mean: Tumkur-Arsikere-Shimoga? That I was not aware. I thought the 4-lane was Chitradurga-Shimoga. If the old NH206 is getting 4-lane that's a great option. I always thought of avoid that because of 2-lane and traffic and the fact one needs to go through all the towns.

Given the 6-lane roads till Harihar, one can easily manage 80+ average without over speeding and clean up 300+ km on this section in 3 to 3.5 hours with an early start. Add another 2hrs for 100 and you can make it to Ayanur. That to me is a good option compared to driving via Shimoga.


Given the last section remains the same (Ayannur-Kollur), I was merely thinking of how to avoid Shimoga. Harihar Honnalli roads are broken mainly around Malebennur. I was not aware not aware how is it beyond towards Ayanur.

Agree, If you maintain good speeds Harihar route can be a good option. Lot of straight stretches beyond Chitradurga. But still feel the tolls and broken stretches between Harihar and Honnali weighs you down. I was in Innova, still found the roads badly broken for around 20-30Km.

The four laning I mentioned is between Tumkur> Tiptur>Arsikere>Shivamogga. Some sections, even the diversion service lanes are concretized.

This is really good then ! Also I hope this includes Tumkur bypass and some ways to bypass other towns. Definitely need to watch for this development!

EDIT: I do see bypasses coming up for Tiptur, Arsikere, Kadur, Birur!

Has anyone tried Kollur - Agumbe - Hassan - Bangalore route?
I dont see much difference in distance and time taken from the primary route google recommends just 2 Kms extra and 10 mins more (at the time of writing this comment), and I am sure this is much scenic route. I would certainly be tempted to take this route if I was travelling.

Did part of it last week (Agumbe - Hassan - Bangalore). Overall, the road was good with a few pothole sections esp. near Chickmagalur. Heard from a friend that Agumbe - Kollur section is good too with some widening work going on.