[ampere]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Its 6 months away from the last monsoon, I doubt there's gonna be anything worth at Jog.

That is true. But its on the way. So I suggested.

[nityaya]

If you go via Mangalore you can experience the stretch of highway with the sea on the left side after Byndoor. I came back from Gokarn last week and the road between Ankola and Mangalore is ok except for certain patches which are not good. But these are hardly 7-8 kms in total. 4 laning between suratkal and kundapur is going on so slightly more time is taken to cross this stretch as overtaking becomes difficult. Also you can see Murudeshwar on the way.

[Warwithwheels]

Planning to do a trip to GOA from Chennai.

Planning to take a train from Chennai. However not many options are available and moreover, the journey takes a good 24 hours.

Any idea how the trains are maintained? Since we will be travelling with kids, restroom/pantry conditions are of great importance.

Can somebody throw some light on this?

[nayaksrinivasv]

Hello Team,

Is it worth driving your own car on this road? I am planning to drive to Goa from Pune next week and then either drive down to mangalore or park my car in Goa somewhere while I take a bus. I am little skeptical on putting my car through on to this road.

If I intend to park my car in Goa, are there any good and safe car parks in Goa?

How long does it take by bus to Mangalore from Panjim?

Appreciate your reply to this Qs.

Srinivas

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by Warwithwheels

Planning to do a trip to GOA from Chennai.

Planning to take a train from Chennai. However not many options are available and moreover, the journey takes a good 24 hours.

Any idea how the trains are maintained? Since we will be travelling with kids, restroom/pantry conditions are of great importance.

Traveling in the Konkan Railways is surely a nice experience. My father and sisters traveled a couple of years ago to Goa (from Madras). Only pain is you have to plan the trip well ahead ( journey through trains forces you to) as the trains are not on every day.

The compartments were clean and pantry cars were well stocked at that time.

I have been to Goa many a times by car - but only once in a train - not Konkan at that time.

[polopm]

Hi Guys

My friend suggested we drive down to Goa for the Tamil New Year - Good Friday week from Chennai and can see lot of route options in TBhp. Many of them are old thread replies and cannot know for sure if the roads are good still. Need your help in deciding the route.
Trip Duration: 12 April (Saturday) to 20 April (Sun) ~ 9 days
Chennai - Bangalore Nice Road Byepass - Via Krishnagiri is confirmed

From here what would be the route?

We would also like to cover Kollur, Sringeri and Udupi if possible. What would be the ideal stopover.

Also, we would drive in a single car ( As of now , not decided a Vento (mine) or Sunny (friend's) ). We will be traveling with 2 kids( 9 & 6 years).
Both are TN regd cars, any thing special to be taken while we travel across the two states ? Enlighten please.
Cheers !
Polopm.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by polopm

Hi Guys

My friend suggested we drive down to Goa for the Tamil New Year - Good Friday week from Chennai and can see lot of route options in TBhp. Many of them are old thread replies and cannot know for sure if the roads are good still. Need your help in deciding the route.
Trip Duration: 12 April (Saturday) to 20 April (Sun) ~ 9 days
Chennai - Bangalore Nice Road Byepass - Via Krishnagiri is confirmed

From here what would be the route?

- Start late in the day from Chennai to be in Bangalore by evening.
- Start early the next day to be in Goa by noon/late noon
- Route is quite straight forward:
If North Goa : Bangalore-Hubli-Belgaum-Chorla-North Goa
If South Goa : Bangalore-Hubli-Ankola-South Goa

We would also like to cover Kollur, Sringeri and Udupi if possible. What would be the ideal stopover.

Do you want to add to Goa trip ?

On the way back drive on NH17.
Goa-Karwar-Ankola-Honnavara-Murdehshwar-Bhatkal-Baindur-Vandse-Kollur

Kollur-Sringeri:
Kollur-Vandse-Someshwar-Agumbe-Sringeri.

Kollur-Udupi : 80km on NH17.

Udupi-Sringer-Bangalore:
Udupi-Hebri-Sringeri-Tirthahalli-Shimoga-Kadur-Tumkur-Bangalore

[nityaya]

Since it will be peak election time be prepared for frequent stops by over zealous election officials and policemen to check your car for cash. And because your car will be out station registration you will be stopped more in Karnataka. This i am saying from first hand experience during the recent Karnataka elections. I do not think it will have changed this time around.

[shyamk]

I did a Chennai Goa drive during 2011 combining elections and Tamil New year's day in my 4 day old Bolero.

I took the Chennai-Bangalore-Tumkur-Hubli route all along.

I have done the west coast route along Mangalore, but for driving comfort and hassle free ride, I will recommend the GQ roads on any day.

Even though one needs to pay a decent some of money as toll, there is huge savings in terms of fuel used and time saved.

FWIW, I stayed in a beach hut in Mobor. I usually stay in south goa. Since it was off season, I got a fairly decent deal. I paid 300rs for a hut with A/c. Food was extra. But, the hut was bang on the beach itself.

Shyam

[polopm]

Thanks @ampere and guys for the updates. The plan is changed slightly as we are going to stay near Udupi to cover the temple trio (kollur/Sringeri/Udupi)..Can you suggest some good resorts for this.
The plan is to reach the resort by 12th evening and have 13th to 15th to roam about and laze around.
16th - would like to drive down to Ooty . What would be the ideal route for this ?

[mvp]

Originally Posted by polopm

Thanks @ampere and guys for the updates. The plan is changed slightly as we are going to stay near Udupi to cover the temple trio (kollur/Sringeri/Udupi)..Can you suggest some good resorts for this.
The plan is to reach the resort by 12th evening and have 13th to 15th to roam about and laze around.
16th - would like to drive down to Ooty . What would be the ideal route for this ?

Below are links to a few resorts in the coastal belt. I have heard about these resorts but don't have a first hand experience.

http://www.justahotels.com/
http://www.swaswara.com/factsheet
http://summersands.in/
http://saivishram.com/home.htm

You could consider staying close to the temple town while you are on Pilgrimage and then start your holiday at the resorts. http://kediyoorhotels.com/ is one of the options at the temple town of Udupi.

In case you are skipping Goa/coastal region, you can do a short trip from Udupi to St Mary's Island - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Mary's_Islands

[ampere]

Originally Posted by polopm

Thanks @ampere and guys for the updates. The plan is changed slightly as we are going to stay near Udupi to cover the temple trio (kollur/Sringeri/Udupi)..Can you suggest some good resorts for this.
The plan is to reach the resort by 12th evening and have 13th to 15th to roam about and laze around.

Would be driving back to Udupi from Goa or the Goa plan is quashed?
If you can let know of that I can suggest.

Udupi-Ooty:
Udupi-Karakala-Belthangady-Nellyadi-Hassan-Holenarasipur-Mysore-Gundlupet-
Bandipur-Masinagudi-Ooty.

If you visit Sringeri, I think there is no need to come back to Udupi.
You can chose to stay in Sringeri too.
Sringeri-Ooty route:
Sringeri-Balehonnur-Mudigere-Belur-Hassan-Mysore-Ooty.

[polopm]

Originally Posted by ampere

Would be driving back to Udupi from Goa or the Goa plan is quashed?
If you can let know of that I can suggest.

Udupi-Ooty:
Udupi-Karakala-Belthangady-Nellyadi-Hassan-Holenarasipur-Mysore-Gundlupet-
Bandipur-Masinagudi-Ooty.

If you visit Sringeri, I think there is no need to come back to Udupi.
You can chose to stay in Sringeri too.
Sringeri-Ooty route:
Sringeri-Balehonnur-Mudigere-Belur-Hassan-Mysore-Ooty.

Hi Amp
Yes, sorry - should have been more clear. Goa is gone and so Ooty is in .
The trip needs to be a blend of temples and the hills and thats why now the search is to have a nice accomodation near Udupi .

For Ooty - trying out for Deccan Park ( we stayed there last time and folks at home like the place) or Oland - looks very nice. We dont want near the city types with vehicle fumes.
Any inputs ?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by polopm

Hi Amp
Yes, sorry - should have been more clear. Goa is gone and so Ooty is in .
The trip needs to be a blend of temples and the hills and thats why now the search is to have a nice accomodation near Udupi .

In that case, I would suggest the following:

- Spend a couple of days on a beach resort in Udupi.
- Visit Udupi temple and Kollur.
- Once done, head to Sringeri. Stay for a night visit the temple.
- Next day head to Ooty.

[polopm]

Originally Posted by ampere

In that case, I would suggest the following:

- Spend a couple of days on a beach resort in Udupi.
- Visit Udupi temple and Kollur.
- Once done, head to Sringeri. Stay for a night visit the temple.
- Next day head to Ooty.

Hi Amp

Booked a resort at Udupi. Plan is to take a cab and visit Kollur and Sringeri in a day. Laze around for 2 days and then leave to Ooty early in the morning on 4th day.
Btw what time does the Masinagudi road close for Vehicular traffic in the evenings. My resort is easier approached via the Masinagudi road (near Ooty side).
Since the drive can be for about 10 hours, I would like to checkout early and drive easy.

Thanks !
Polopm.