[rajshenoy]

Originally Posted by shriek_007

I am planning to drive to Karkala from Bangalore (1st week of Feb). I am planning
Nelamangala (NH 48) --> Kunigal --> Channarayapatna --> Hassan --> Shiradi --> Dharmasthala --> Ujire --> Venur --> Moodabidri --> Karkala

* Suggestions for stopovers/tank up on the way?

I think you can go via naravi and avoid Venur-moodabidri (unless you have any special reasons) I was told that venur-moodabidri-karkala route will be bit longer and more curvy

Not sure if you will need tank up for a route of 400km long !! which car are you driving ?

[cool_dube]

How is this work progressing? Is it too much of a pain traversing this stretch due to the ongoing work?

[shriek_007]

Originally Posted by rajshenoy

I think you can go via naravi and avoid Venur-moodabidri (unless you have any special reasons) I was told that venur-moodabidri-karkala route will be bit longer and more curvy

Not sure if you will need tank up for a route of 400km long !! which car are you driving ?

Thanks Raj, I own a Figo Petrol (From city driving I am always getting a DTE of 390 ). Highway driving should be reading more. Any idea if Nokia Maps tracks this route well? I got a Jentro bluetooth GPS receiver fitted on my vehicle.

[rajshenoy]

Originally Posted by shriek_007

Thanks Raj, I own a Figo Petrol (From city driving I am always getting a DTE of 390 ). Highway driving should be reading more. Any idea if Nokia Maps tracks this route well? I got a Jentro bluetooth GPS receiver fitted on my vehicle.

You can definitely expect much more FE on the highway
With a fully loaded car i typically get 15-16 on my swift petrol.

About the route, its pretty simple actually. Just follow the directions for sringeri-agumbe-udupi-kollur etc.

Dharmastala to udupi(via karkala) is a famous route for those who visit temples.

BTW, i havent driven on that stretch after october. Reason, it was bit rough between guruvayanakere-karkala, and horrible between karkala-udupi. But then to go to karkala this seems to be the better choice. always good to check with local pals

Also road to mangalore-udupi(NH) is in great shape so i cover good distance even if its slightly more.

[_chikku]

Just for the info. Trial run of toll collection at NH48 has started.. so Sunday night pile ups can be expected .

[addyhemmige]

Originally Posted by _chikku

Just for the info. Trial run of toll collection at NH48 has started.. so Sunday night pile ups can be expected .

Which booth are you talking about? The one near Bellur Cross or the one before Nelamangala? The N'mla toll was doing a trial run back in December

[_chikku]

Originally Posted by addyhemmige

The N'mla toll was doing a trial run back in December

Yes the one near nelamangala. Last week there was no stoppage. Yesterday they stopped every vehicle.

[sachinj12]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

How is this work progressing? Is it too much of a pain traversing this stretch due to the ongoing work?

Not at all, you can breeze through it

Originally Posted by addyhemmige

Which booth are you talking about? The one near Bellur Cross or the one before Nelamangala? The N'mla toll was doing a trial run back in December

Originally Posted by _chikku

Yes the one near nelamangala. Last week there was no stoppage. Yesterday they stopped every vehicle.

During my onward journey, I wasn't stopped at N'mla. On my return I was stopped at the toll before N'mla toll (sorry, can't recall the town's name).


Are they collecting toll? I didn't pay any.

[cool_dube]

Originally Posted by sachinj12

Not at all, you can breeze through it

Thanks. Just to double-check, Mangalore-Kundapura is completely 4-lane now without any diversions?

[Fauji]

Quick update after drive over weekend

a) Charmadi ghat is in good condition except at few hairpin bends before end of Ghat section near Charmadi village where the road is broken with pot holes when you are driving from Chikkamagalur.

b) The road from Ujire to Mangalore via Beltangady is in good condition.

[sriturl]

Please validate this route for a weekend trip to Horanadu/Sringeri from BLR.
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India to Bengaluru, Karnataka, India - Google Maps

Would the return trip be scenic? How is road condition for the return journey? Suggestions welcome.

[sachinj12]

Originally Posted by sriturl

Please validate this route for a weekend trip to Horanadu/Sringeri from BLR.
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India to Bengaluru, Karnataka, India - Google Maps

Would the return trip be scenic? How is road condition for the return journey? Suggestions welcome.

Took the same route. After Sringeri we went to Dharmastala. Roads are in good condition.

The locals gave me a new road to Sringeri. They said its around 40km, it turned out to be 60 odd. The first two kms are bad, its like mild off roading, otherwise its good with bad patches in between which is motor able. Low GC cars like City/Civic will definitely bottom. My Dzire with 4 people on board luckily didn't

Ask for the route which goes through 'Kograe'.

And oh, don't forget to have lunch/dinner (prasadam is more appropriate, me thinks) at the temple. They are very tasty

EDIT: Just saw that you own a swift, you don't have to worry about bottoming. He he.

[Fauji]

Originally Posted by sriturl

Please validate this route for a weekend trip to Horanadu/Sringeri from BLR.
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India to Bengaluru, Karnataka, India - Google Maps

Would the return trip be scenic? How is road condition for the return journey? Suggestions welcome.

The best road to Horanadu from Bangalore is Bangalore - Hassan - Belur - Gendehalli - Mudigere - Kottigehara - Kalasa - Horanadu. The roads are in good condition except for few places on Belur - Gendehalli. But no big deal.

To Sringeri from Horanadu go via Kudremukh which i understand is in decent condition.

On the way back, why don't you come back via Agumbe - Tirthahalli - Shimogga - Bangalore. tirthahalli - Bangalore via Shimogga is in good condition now. This will give you a chance to see Agumbe as well as Kundadri and also Sirimane falls which is close to Sringeri.

[lohithrao]

godddd i was thinking of starting from mlore in 2nd half and for some reason thought that Shiradi is in managable condition

Originally Posted by libranof1987

Came back from a B'lore-Manipal round trip.

Boy, it's mayhem in Shiradi! The roads are unimaginably terrible; the craters have just become deeper and the surface has eroded at almost all places. The entire 33km stretch is lousy.

At night, you should be on this stretch only if you're in a Volvo; even trucks find it difficult to accelerate thru' the ditches on steep climbs.

The rest of the journey was pleasant though.

Udupi to Kundapura its bit of a pain, esp in rush hours...

Originally Posted by cool_dube

How is this work progressing? Is it too much of a pain traversing this stretch due to the ongoing work?

[nitzien123]

Ok, so I take it that Shiradi ghat is motorable now (with a Fiesta filled at 35psi and 2 adults, 1 child) - from the posts around last week. I would prefer that route since rest of it is really good.
Say starting at 6AM on Republic day (less local traffic along the way) -
BLR to Sakleshpur takes 3 hours,
reach Gundya in another 1.5hrs,
reach Mangalore in another 2 hours.

Sounds good to me.
Any comments?