[Added_flavor]

Hi Guys! Can someone who's traveled recently tell me the status of the road from Arkalgud to Periyapatna via Ramanatpura? I know Arkalugud to Ramanatpura is good, but want to know how it is beyond Ramanatpura towards Periyapatna.

TIA!

[locusjag]

Hi,

I'm thinking of visiting Udupi in May this year.

1) Would the weather be pleasant (not too hot, compared to Chennai)?
2) Is this route okay to take; Chennai - Hosur - NICE road - Hassan - Sakleshpur - Mangalore - Udupi?

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by locusjag

1) Would the weather be pleasant (not too hot, compared to Chennai)?

You will feel at home . In general the Western coast of KA is humid rather than burning hot.

2) Is this route okay to take; Chennai - Hosur - NICE road - Hassan - Sakleshpur - Mangalore - Udupi?

If Shiradi Ghat is thrown open to public for use in May, then yes, this will be the best bet.

Else, you will have to drive the alternate routes and you will find almost all of them in the last 2-3 pages here.

[Gokrish]

Originally Posted by locusjag

Hi,

I'm thinking of visiting Udupi in May this year.

1) Would the weather be pleasant (not too hot, compared to Chennai)?
2) Is this route okay to take; Chennai - Hosur - NICE road - Hassan - Sakleshpur - Mangalore - Udupi?

1. May month weather will be somewhat similar to Chennai weather but with slightly higher humidity.

2. I did a trip during 3rd week of Feb and Shiradi was closed then. I took Charmadi for onward (till Hassan, the route you mentioned is OK) and Agumbe-Shivamoga for return. Mangalore-Udupi bus services are known for rash driving and advice you to be careful on this stretch. And coupled with that problem, this route is still a work in progress at some places.

Some photos:

[_chikku]

Weekend travellers, for your info.
Charmadi ghat closed due to leakage in gas tanker.
Source: http://nammabantwala.com/tankar-palti/

[rahulb22]

Originally Posted by _chikku

Weekend travellers, for your info.
Charmadi ghat closed due to leakage in gas tanker

Guess the road is open again. Please check the below news item from TOI
https://m.timesofindia.com/city/mang...w/63235443.cms

Regards
Rahulb22

[Samurai]

I was visiting my mom (age 81) today, and somehow we started discussing the road conditions of the current NH66 (previously NJ17). Then she went on a nostalgic trip about how the same road was when she walked to school on it. It was not a total overlap then. The original road passed through the village, and now it passes outside the village. The old and new road crisscrosses just south of Hejamadi tool booth. Both roads still exists, so that was not a surprise to me.

But here is the real surprise. About 70 years ago, the Udupi-Mangalore road (NH66) was not tarred, it was just metaled road. No tar, just small jelly rocks sprinkled over the mud surface. This is locally known as jally road. So it was very uncomfortable to walk on for school kids who mostly walked bare feet. So all the kids walked in the storm gutter along side the road. It was 4ft wide and had a soft sand at the bottom. The current location of Hejamadi toll booth was a big grass land, where our farm cows used to go for grazing everyday.

[locusjag]

Originally Posted by Samurai

I was visiting my mom (age 81) today, and somehow we started discussing the road conditions of the current NH66 (previously NJ17). Then she went on a nostalgic trip about how the same road was when she walked to school on it.

But here is the real surprise. About 70 years ago, the Udupi-Mangalore road (NH66) was not tarred, it was just metaled road. No tar, just small jelly rocks sprinkled over the mud surface. This is locally known as jally road.

Interesting tidbit there!

BTW, NH66 back in 2009-11 at least used to be in a jally (and deeply potholed) status after every rainy season. Is it possible the locals continued to call it jally road for this reason?

I have no idea how this road is as of today.

[rahulb22]

Shiradi ghat work seems to be on track. Hope it opens by end-may as mentioned in the article below!!

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper...le23283695.ece

[lohithrao]

Considering that Shiradi is closed, which is the best option as of now?

- Bangalore -Mysore road - madikeri......
- Bangalore - Kunigal - Chanrayapatna - Kushalnagar....

Want to avoid mysore road traffic

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by lohithrao

Considering that Shiradi is closed, which is the best option as of now?

- Bangalore -Mysore road - madikeri......
- Bangalore - Kunigal - Chanrayapatna - Kushalnagar....

Want to avoid mysore road traffic

If its a weekday, you can still consider coming via Mysore. If not, you can consider Sampaje - Madikeri - Arkalgud - CR Patna - Kunigal option.

Otherwise, as a hardcore coastal guy that you are, you should not be cribbing about Charmadi too .

[lohithrao]

Paragbhai

Heard loads of traffic on Charmadi, so wanted to avoid it...

Originally Posted by paragsachania

If its a weekday, you can still consider coming via Mysore. If not, you can consider Sampaje - Madikeri - Arkalgud - CR Patna - Kunigal option.

Otherwise, as a hardcore coastal guy that you are, you should not be cribbing about Charmadi too .

[fast_elegance]

Started from BLR at 5:30 AM and reached MLR at 1:30PM.

Route taken: BG Road - JP nagar ring road - Yeshwanthpur - Nelamangala - Channarayapatna - holenarsipura - arkalgudu - ramnathapura - kushalnagara - madikeri - sullia - puttur - mangalore

I was driving solo today and decided to try the jp nagar ring road for the first time. Timed it to check the time taken to reach the nice road junction on tumkur road. Found it to be almost same and the distance slightly lesser. Saved 140rs.

Also, tried the ramnathpura - kushalnagar road for the first time. My usual route is shaniwarsanthe - somwarpete. Found the ramnathpura route to be irritating with the rumblers placed at almost every 100 mtrs. There is also a toll booth coming up at about 10kms from ramnathpura.

There was a lorry breakdown in the sampaje ghat section after 10 kms from madikeri. Cops are managing the traffic currently and you could get stuck during evening time when the traffic is higher.

Overall road condition is good.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by fast_elegance

I was driving solo today and decided to try the jp nagar ring road for the first time. Timed it to check the time taken to reach the nice road junction on tumkur road. Found it to be almost same and the distance slightly lesser. Saved 140rs.

If you start very early, there is actually no need to take the Nice road. As you found out, there is nothing to gain. I have always gone through the city or the ring ring when exiting out north in the morning hours.

[NPV]

Shiradi Ghat road concretization work is likely to complete ahead of it's schedule and open around end of April (NHAI had announced an August deadline when work began).

Source:The New Indian Express Bangalore, 27 Mar 2018
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