[unk9ja]

Photos to supplement the report #5657, road from Madikeri to Mangalore. Places where works are ongoing. For the information of folks who are driving through this stretch.

There are no worries on this stretch. Traffic is managed by the workers of the construction site. Cars with low GC can eaily move through these parts.

[Thilak29]

Originally Posted by Samurai

He is probably amused because he doesn't drive regularly on Shiradi? BHPian Speedsatya and I drive very regularly on this road, in every season, in every possible condition..... This may be an academic question for you, but lot us on this thread have to drive on Shiradi regularly even in future.

I take Shiradi every week twice and been doing so since July 2007 religiously. I have seen it in all shades all these years. I don't think patching helps, it needs better inertness to water & higher tonnage.
I hope proposed JAICO project brings some hope. Well, concrete certainly has safety issues while it lasts longer than asphalt. Let's see.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by DragonHawk

Bangalore - Channarayapatna-Holenarsipura-Somavarpete-Madikeri-Puttur.

Can somebody suggest me on this route. Does is it make any sense to take this route or should I take usual Mysore route.

If you stay in North Bangalore it makes sense to take this option. But surely not if you are starting from South Bangalore. Its better to start very early, beat the traffic on Mysore road.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by unk9ja

The 4 lane to Hassan, was driving at a constant 70kmph. The driver shifts to neutral when he descends an incline.

Now isn't that a big no-no for hill driving ?
Downright dangerous for the driver and all those passengers whose lives potentially depend on his driving

[ilbkrishna]

Here's what they were giving the motorists this weekend.

[devrajman]

I took below route yesterday, its is 420kms long, Very smooth with very less traffic. Started at 9AM reached at 7PM with 3hrs+ stops. Few good hotels on the way for Veg.

Mlore -> Padubidri -> Karkala -> MalaGhat (via Kudremukh reserve forest) -> Kalasa -> Mudigere -> Bellur -> Hassan -> Nelamangala -> Blore

Very few patches (under 1-2 kms) are OK between Karakala and Kalasa.
Rest all is very good
Traffic is very sparse
Curvy roads post Karkala to Mudigere, however well designed and broad enough for 1 car and 1 bus.
Passed few cars from Blore in MalaGhat area

Good Hotels in Padubidri & Hassan (and there after on toll road)

Below is map:

[rohanjf]

I boarded a KSRTC Airavat Club Class from Kankanady at 12.10 AM on Saturday night (well, technically, in the wee hours of Sunday). I fell asleep pretty soon after that, and didn't wake up until the bus stopped for a break. I saw the time, and it was almost 4 AM. I checked in my Google Maps, and we were pretty close to Hunsur. I couldn't believe the ghats were so smooth that I managed to sleep throughout, even with the bloke next to me snoring.

I have no clue how the driver managed to drive so much distance in less than 4 hours. I reached Majestic at 8 AM, and that was unbelievable.

My one friend left Mangalore at 2 PM on Sunday in his Punto. After getting stuck for a while at Charmadi ghat, he took a U-turn and went all the way to Sampaje and reached Bangalore at 3 AM on Monday morning.

I vote for Sampaje route.

Edit: even I don't understand why Shiradi has to be closed. When that same friend and I drove through Shiradi on 23rd December, we felt that the ghat section was in much better condition compared to how it was, say, two years ago. The authorities could still let smaller vehicles drive through Shiradi, while urging (but not enforcing) Charmadi for Mangalore->Bangalore direction and Sampaje for Bangalore->Mangalore direction.

[for_cars1]

Originally Posted by rohanjf

I drove through Shiradi on 23rd December, we felt that the ghat section was in much better condition compared to how it was, say, two years ago.

+1 I drove through Shiradi stretch and found it in a good condition. Started from Bangalore at 6AM and reached Mangalore at 12 PM and didn't stop in between except for a couple of 5 min bio-breaks.

While returning, this stretch was closed so had to take the longer way via Madikeri and Mysore and it took 10.5 hours with a 2 hour break in between. The roads are pretty good but slows you down considerably due to traffic.

[Sudhindra]

have plans to do Dharmasthala, kukke along with Udupi, murudeshwar and gokarna starting Jan 8th night. Plan was to visit Dharmasthala on 9th early morning and then come down to kukke and proceed towards udupi by 9th evening and take a halt there.

Now with shiradi ghat closed and reading few experiences about charmadi, would like to know how is bisle ghat, is it safe at night?, driving by my punto. Have modified the plan as below;

Jan 8th start at 10:00PM from Bangalore -> channarayapatna-> holenarsipura-> arkalgud-> shanivarasanthe-> bisle-> kukke.

Also is there a route between shanivarsanthe to Kudrasthe? Google map shows this, if there is so, distance between bangalore to kukke is 275kms..

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Sudhindra

Now with shiradi ghat closed and reading few experiences about charmadi, would like to know how is bisle ghat, is it safe at night?, driving by my punto. Have modified the plan as below;

Jan 8th start at 10:00PM from Bangalore -> channarayapatna-> holenarsipura-> arkalgud-> shanivarasanthe-> bisle-> kukke.

Here is a video of Bisle ghat drive. Decide whether you want to do it at night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSXvBF0mDHk

[Sudhindra]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Here is a video of Bisle ghat drive. Decide whether you want to do it at night.

OMG!. looks like no road exists. Thanks.

Will take madikeri to kukke via sampaje. Hope this road is manageable to do night driving..

[fusionbang]

Originally Posted by Sudhindra

OMG!. looks like no road exists. Thanks.

Will take madikeri to kukke via sampaje. Hope this road is manageable to do night driving..

Sampaje stretch is manageable during night, but make sure to be very careful after Kalgundi as there is bad stretch for around 3-4 kms and it is made into a single lane. Also you will encounter craters suddenly after a smooth stretch near the small bridges which are made for the water to pass below. If you are planning to cross Sullia the roads are very good till Kukke once you cross Peraje village.

In case you are planning to take a right turn near Sampaje, the roads are very narrow with dense forest, but good to drive. Also, you need to be careful if a vehicle comes in the opposite direction.

Happy journey and drive safe

[unk9ja]

Originally Posted by NPV

Now isn't that a big no-no for hill driving ?
Downright dangerous for the driver and all those passengers whose lives potentially depend on his driving

Yes sir, I asked the driver the same question and he just stared at me quoting like this is none of your business, let me drive the way I want.

Originally Posted by devrajman

I took below route yesterday, its is 420kms long, Very smooth with very less traffic. Started at 9AM reached at 7PM with 3hrs+ stops. Few good hotels on the way for Veg.

Mlore -> Padubidri -> Karkala -> MalaGhat (via Kudremukh reserve forest) -> Kalasa -> Mudigere -> Bellur -> Hassan -> Nelamangala -> Blore

Very few patches (under 1-2 kms) are OK between Karakala and Kalasa.
Rest all is very good
Traffic is very sparse
Curvy roads post Karkala to Mudigere, however well designed and broad enough for 1 car and 1 bus.
Passed few cars from Blore in MalaGhat area

Good Hotels in Padubidri & Hassan (and there after on toll road)

Below is map:

Here are the photos to the route mentioned. I travelled on this route on 03/01/15 from udupi.

Udupi to Manipal road



Manipal to Karkala



Manipal to Karkala



Karkala to Kudremukha road



Board at the entrance to the National park, You need to get a receipt to enter the national park area. No toll here.



Time within which the vehicle has to cross the exit



The entry point. The rangers are a helpful lot.



The opposite side to the entry point. Check the tyre that is used as a circle here.



The roads within the National park.











There is a falls at the mid point. You can buy time here ans show the receipt at the exit. Check out the timings, early birds will miss this one.









A small temple for Subramanya is present enroute.



A falls enroute, Kadambi falls









The receipt which is given at the entrance



Fog enroute.







Another falls.



A hanging bridge



The river beneath



The exit to the national park. If you overshoot the time limits by a good margin, be prepared to be taken to the task by the rangers. They will make your life miserable.

[unk9ja]

Don't miss the menasinakai (chilly) bhajji at the exit, yummy. Also do not overeat because it tastes great, the roads down are winding and someone may feel uneasy and throw up due to the oily bhajji.

[belvaisudheer]

Originally Posted by unk9ja

The exit to the national park. If you overshoot the time limits by a good margin, be prepared to be taken to the task by the rangers. They will make your life miserable.

Attachment 1324459

Do they allow vehicles to enter the KNP (Kuduremukh National Park) post 6:00PM??? If they do not then will have to change my plan and go via Sampaje and return via KNP.
BTW I am going to Karkala for the 1st time after the closure of Shiradi and would not like to take Charmadi owing to traffic

Thanks in advance