[v&v]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

A quick update on the plans:
The trip has been extended, and will now comprise an almost complete GQ run anti-clockwise. Starting 3rd June 2010, the stopovers are Mumbai (3N) > Goa (3N) > Manipal (Udupi) (3N) > Madikeri (4N) > Bangalore (maybe 1N) > Vizag (maybe 1N) > Kolkata (3N) > Benaras (maybe 1N) > New Delhi (ending 23rd/24th June 2010). Driving plan finalized, I have to finalize accommodation bookings for Goa & Madikeri, and fine-tune the sightseeing plans.

Wow, Thats a big trip. Seems Coorg is not there in your itinerary now ?

[MileCruncher]

Originally Posted by v&v

Wow, Thats a big trip. Seems Coorg is not there in your itinerary now ?

Madikere is in Coorg Sir

[ampere]

Great plan SS. All the best and lets us all know how it goes.

@V&V Madikeri IS Coorg. Thats the main town.

[aargee]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

A quick update on the plans:
The trip has been extended, and will now comprise an almost complete GQ run anti-clockwise.

Sir, little confused as how the plan got extended from Coorg to complete GQ. But is 20 days sufficient?

Would like to give you one more info, though you may already know as you've finalized the plans, that the eastern parts has bad roads & that would be from AP to Orissa. So if you do the clockwise, you'll experience the bad roads first, but then the entire south to west & back to Delhi, you'll find good roads. How about Chennai? Are you having a stop over or anything planned for site seeing? Appreciate if you can share the plan. Tks.

[LongDrive lover]

A Great exciting plan SS. We have also planned a south trip during the same period, will be good to say hello if we could cross somewhere! Here is the link to the thread: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...s-invited.html

We plan to start on 2nd June from Lucknow, if leave get sanctioned.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

Whoa! That is a long holiday. There are two routes between Bangalore & Vizag, one thru the GQ and one thru Hyd. If you are passing thru Hyd, give a shout.

Unfortunately, not going thru Hyderabad. Propose to route myself B’lore > NH4 > Chittoor > Tirupati > Nayudupeta > NH5 > Vizag.

Originally Posted by v&v

Wow, Thats a big trip.

Probably is, by any standard! Can't help it...

Originally Posted by aargee

Sir, little confused as how the plan got extended from Coorg to complete GQ. But is 20 days sufficient?

How about Chennai? Are you having a stop over or anything planned for site seeing? Appreciate if you can share the plan. Tks.

Well, I've got to be in CCU on the 20th June, so the trip gets extended and Chikmagalur gets dropped. 21 days is more than sufficient for the trip. And no, the trip plan cannot change, since it's linked to my being there at Madikeri on 16th + 17th June, and at CCU on 20th.

Afraid I won't make it to Chennai this time either, but sure, I'll be in Chennai on work around mid-December (not by road, though ). Maybe we can touch base then?

Originally Posted by LongDrive lover

A Great exciting plan SS. We have also planned a south trip during the same period, will be good to say hello if we could cross somewhere!

Sure we can. This thread will continue to be updated over the next few days as well as during the trip (internet connection permitting).

[v&v]

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

Madikere is in Coorg Sir

Originally Posted by ampere

Great plan SS. All the best and lets us all know how it goes.

@V&V Madikeri IS Coorg. Thats the main town.

Thanks guys. I didnt know that.

[aargee]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Propose to route myself B’lore > NH4 > Chittoor > Tirupati > Nayudupeta > NH5 > Vizag.

Well, I've got to be in CCU on the 20th June, so the trip gets extended and Chikmagalur gets dropped. 21 days is more than sufficient for the trip. And no, the trip plan cannot change, since it's linked to my being there at Madikeri on 16th + 17th June, and at CCU on 20th.

Afraid I won't make it to Chennai this time either, but sure, I'll be in Chennai on work around mid-December (not by road, though ). Maybe we can touch base then?

CCU I presume is Coronary Care Unit. Yes we can touch base by December then. And yes, we'll be looking forward the great travelogues from you, so pls don't disappoint us.

[hvkumar]

Some specific areas of interest are the wildlife sanctuaries in the vicinity:
Anshi National Park

Inputs required! Is it feasible/worth going to these places in the middle of June? Is it worth going there at all?

One of the loveliest roads in the WG region is the Sadashivgarh (north of Karwar, on NH17, immediately after crossing the Kali River bridge)-Kadra WLS-Anshi WLS-Supa Dam-Londa (NH4A, Belgaum-Panaji road). Fantastic forests, some of the most wretched roads in the region (anyone has an update?) and a must-go if you want to climb up from the coast to the Deccan Plateau region (NH63 between Ankola and Hubli is a poor country cousin in comparison). Can't even imagine how bad the road will be once it starts raining!

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by aargee

CCU I presume is Coronary Care Unit.

Hmmm... I might be inclined to agree with you at the risk of being flamed by a lot of other people! Read this to (partially) understand why.

Originally Posted by hvkumar

One of the loveliest roads in the WG region is the Sadashivgarh (north of Karwar, on NH17, immediately after crossing the Kali River bridge)-Kadra WLS-Anshi WLS-Supa Dam-Londa (NH4A, Belgaum-Panaji road). Fantastic forests, some of the most wretched roads in the region (anyone has an update?) and a must-go if you want to climb up from the coast to the Deccan Plateau region (NH63 between Ankola and Hubli is a poor country cousin in comparison). Can't even imagine how bad the road will be once it starts raining!

Thank you for the suggestion. Added it in as a comment from you on the file we've been updating together, and maybe we can find out about the road conditions there at first hand then?

[princezahed]

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

I had stayed here Welcome to Cloud Valley as Zahed's Home Stay was not available at that time. Even though I had stayed in the Madikeri, these same guys have home stay options in the Coffe Estate as well. Rates are about 1000~1200 per 24 hours and the service pretty good.

I would still suggest staying in a coffee plantation. The experience is totally different.

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

We would be staying at the Club Mahindra Resort for 1 night (16/17 June), but we'd be in & around Madikeri for a few days beforehand - but not at CM (at their rates, I'll come back bankrupt! ). Exploring options right now, and it's good to know you're there too. Will PM you shortly, after the itinerary is finalised.

Thank you for the links.

Do let me know if you need help.CM charges about 8k + taxes a day.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

.... and maybe we can find out about the road conditions there at first hand then?

Absolutely
Someone has to be the bhakra! You won't believe it, I have done this stretch on a mobike in 1989, and have been hearing ever since that the road continues to be as bad as it was at that time
Time to test out the 4WD.

And MileCruncher, if you have started on your Manipal trip already, here is a cue - the answer to the your query - which route to take to the coast?

[hvkumar]

You can check out this sector by going up from Goa on NH4A on Panaji-Ponda-Molem till Ramnagar/Londa, then taking the right turn and coming back to the coast via this route! Why go only 50 kms when a longer route is there which will take you to the same destination for just 150 kms more through such landscapes?

[SS-Traveller]

The final trip plan is as below. Side trips for sightseeing etc. not worked in yet.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

One of the loveliest roads in the WG region is the Sadashivgarh (north of Karwar, on NH17, immediately after crossing the Kali River bridge)-Kadra WLS-Anshi WLS-Supa Dam-Londa (NH4A, Belgaum-Panaji road). Fantastic forests, some of the most wretched roads in the region (anyone has an update?) and a must-go if you want to climb up from the coast to the Deccan Plateau region (NH63 between Ankola and Hubli is a poor country cousin in comparison). Can't even imagine how bad the road will be once it starts raining!

Ask me sir! I used to be a regular on that road till 1998. Used to take the North Kanara RTC bus from Kadra to Londa to catch the Goa express.

While coming to Kadra, I used to get down at Londa from Goa express that used to arrive there at 3AM. I used to wait at the station till 7Am, take the bus to Kadra.

And in all cases the train used to be late by hours,days and what not.
So I was forced to try all kinds routes on the transportation available.

One was to go Madgaon and then back to Karwar. (Why this route? Because thats how newspaper delivery vans traveled and I used to hop.)

Second was to get down at Belgaum instead of Londa and go via Ramnagar without touching Londa.

And the normal route as you explained. I dont remember a single travel when the road was good. Whether it rained or not!

But yes, an awesome view through the ghats. But no one cared in those times. The goal was to reach home somehow after a 45 hour train journey.

1 Week at home and the journey used to start once again.