[guyfrmblr]

Originally Posted by speedsatya

BTW do we have any updates on the ghat ?

I came through Shiradi this noon. Most of the stretches on the ghat are patched up. 2-3 km near Kempu Hole project is not yet patched. I guess it'll be completely ready in another 1-2 weeks. Looking at the way they are patching the road, I doubt if they are closing the ghat anytime soon.

[ampere]

How is the Aldur-Belur road? Is it in good condition, which allows one to bypass Chikkamagulur?

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by ampere

How is the Aldur-Belur road? Is it in good condition, which allows one to bypass Chikkamagulur?

That road has been MDR since many decades and always been a mix of good,bad,patchy,narrow and wide that most often non locals will refer to as "worst" if they drive it for the first time.

The road from Belur to Genedehalli hasn't improved much but faces least traffic even today as it doesn't lead to any major town and secondly because Belur Mudigere has been excellent since the last 3 years.

However,for those folks who have their homes in and around Genedehalli (Makonahalli, Haandi, Aldur) it still is the preferred road.

For a newbie,It still makes sense to take the usual road via Chikmagalur rather than suggest this followed by his apparent rant that the road was bad!!!

[sushrutha]

Originally Posted by ampere

How is the Aldur-Belur road? Is it in good condition, which allows one to bypass Chikkamagulur?

Baskal- Haandi road is in pretty bad condition.
Mudigere - Haandi plenty of potholes. This road has taken a beating to heavy rains.

Originally Posted by paragsachania

However,for those folks who have their homes in and around Genedehalli (Makonahalli, Haandi, Aldur) it still is the preferred road.

Yes, agreed.
But I stopped using this route since 3 months.
I take Belur-Cheeknally-Gowthally(Chettnalli)-Kannapura-Mudigere road.
This road condition is fantastic without a single pothole

Belur - Gendehally , plenty of potholes, so better avoid. Baskal - Mudigere is in very good condition.

Aldur - Balehonnur is still in bad condition, good news is that they have started patching up the potholes ( 3 days back)

[niladri83]

Originally Posted by sushrutha

I take Belur-Cheeknally-Gowthally(Chettnalli)-Kannapura-Mudigere road.
This road condition is fantastic without a single pothole

Can you please show this route on Google Maps? I am unable to locate the intermediate points apart from Kannapura.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by niladri83

Can you please show this route on Google Maps? I am unable to locate the intermediate points apart from Kannapura.

Attaching screenshot as below.
Cheeknahalli is approximately 20 kms from Belur town.

Considerably a bigger village, soon after which you have a Y junction with a right handed curve that continues towards Mudigere. Right at this point you have a signage marking destinations like Kalasa,Dharmasthala and Mangalore.

Soon after you take this right hander, a small ghat section also starts with lot of curves and incline.

The point on the map is nothing but the Y fork I am referring to which comes after Cheeknahalli.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Attaching screenshot as below.
Cheeknahalli is approximately 20 kms from Belur town.

Is this a better option to Belur as compared to going via Chikkamagulur? Typically I find traffic higher on the Belur-Mudigere road as compared to Albur-Chikkamagulur road.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by ampere

Is this a better option to Belur as compared to going via Chikkamagulur? Typically I find traffic higher on the Belur-Mudigere road as compared to Albur-Chikkamagulur road.

Belur Mudigere road has way less traffic compared to Chikmagalur Mudigere since years.

This is mainly for few reasons:
1. All traffic from South Canara wanting to head North take Chikmagalur Kadur Shimoga option
2. All others wanting to head Bangalore and east use the Shiradi as usual
3. Mudigere locals too prefer Chikmagalur for shopping pesticides or any farm related equipments or even Banking and servicing for their cars.
4. Maximum KSRTC buses ply between Mudigere Chikmagalur than Belur Mudigere as Dharmasthala has 100s of North Karnataka bound buses(rest take Shiradi).

Edit-From Belur we still used to prefer Chikmagalur Option for Aldur. The one suggested by Sushrutha is indeed less taken but now that roads are reported to be good, it makes perfect sense to take this option.

[addyhemmige]

Originally Posted by ampere

Is this a better option to Belur as compared to going via Chikkamagulur? Typically I find traffic higher on the Belur-Mudigere road as compared to Albur-Chikkamagulur road.

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Belur Mudigere road has way less traffic compared to Chikmagalur Mudigere since years.

@Ampere, The traffic on the Belur-Mudigere road is mostly Bangalore tourists and some local traffic. But as Parag has already mentioned, the Chikmagalur-Mudigere road is quite busy actually. Chikmagalur being the district headquarters as well as a major town on the route between North Karnataka and the piligrimage towns of Dharmasthala-Udupi-Kukke and the Dakshina Kannada district in general, it is bound to have a lot of traffic (more bus and truck traffic).

That said, I would still prefer the Belur-Chikmagalur-Aldur route to reach Aldur given that it is more faster than all the other alternatives and if at all you want any food options, you have Chikmagalur town for that. The Baskal-Haandi route (on the Belur-Gendehalli-Haandi-Aldur route) was bad for quite some time and from what I've heard, it is still pretty bad. Sushrutha takes the Kannapura route to reach his home and not necessarily to go to Mudigere

[unk9ja]

Can someone suggest a good filling station in and around Hassan/ Sakleshpur. Planning to ride on bike to Udupi tomorrow and it would need a refill at around these places.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by unk9ja

Can someone suggest a good filling station in and around Hassan/ Sakleshpur. Planning to ride on bike to Udupi tomorrow and it would need a refill at around these places.

IOCL Jubilee Outlet, Udayapura between CR Patna and Hassan.

Kanchanganga Fuel Station, IOCL Sakleshpur.

If you are Ok for a bit of detour inside Hassan, Venkateshwara Filling station (Near Santhepete Circle) is a reliable one since many years too.

[Samurai]

Are they closing the Shiradi Ghat this week, or not? There is no word on it at all.

Meanwhile, they say they are only doing temporary work this time. Five months of closure for temporary work? And we won't be getting 4-lane roads.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle6696481.ece

[DerAlte]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Are they closing the Shiradi Ghat this week, or not? There is no word on it at all. ...

Any update on this? Traveling to Mangalore on 27th.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by DerAlte

Any update on this? Traveling to Mangalore on 27th.

As of today, it was not closed. One of our members rode to Udupi. Even if its closed, you have Charmadi as an option.

[Samurai]

Spoke to BHPian Chandan who resides in Sakleshpur. Shiradi ghat won't be closed unless alternative roads are ready. This is thanks to Sakleshpura police, who have the responsibility to manage traffic. Shiradi ghat won't close until police okay it. Those alternative roads are far from being ready. So... we should be okay for another month I suppose.