[alstonlobo]

I had done Bangalore-Mangalore via Shiradi last weekend in an automatic i20. Left Electronic City at 8am. Noticed that half of Bangalore are making full use of the relaxations and traveling to places like Sakaleshpur and Chickmagalur for weekend getaways. Superbikers, cyclists, Royal Enfield groups are all out with their gear. All the restaurants on the highways were packed. Nobody seems to care about risks of contracting Covid. The roads were patchy right before and after the ghats. Traffic was prominent on the ghats. Expect good rains and low visibility. Suggested to travel and reach your destination before dark. I reached Mangalore home by 4:30pm.

[cool_dube]

Quick update from my drive to Kundapura earlier this week:

Onward route: Bangalore - Hassan - Belur - Chikmagalur - Balehonnur - Jayapura - Sringeri - Agumbe - Ampar - Kundapura
Excellent roads all the way, except bad stretches inside Chikmagalur town as well as Chikmagalur-Vastare section. Agumbe is holding up quite well, and so are the interior roads from thereon till the coast. Definitely recommended for trips to Kundapura as well as Kollur, from Bangalore.

Return route: Kundapura - Udupi - Karkala - Charmadi - Mudigere - Belur - Hassan - Bangalore
Again, good roads all the way. Charmadi is a delight, as always, barring the unruly hooliganism that is usually the norm during monsoons! Especially loved the Mudigere-Belur stretch - very beautiful with good roads and sparse traffic.

Heavy to very heavy rains encountered in the ghats as well as coastal regions. Driving after daylight is best avoided, till the rains subside.

[unk9ja]

Did Bengaluru to Udupi this morning. Left Girinagar at 0500 and after picking up an acquittance at Gokula, took the Jalahalli Air Force Station road as Goruguntepalya road was blocked due to windmill parts laden trucks.
Bengaluru to Hassan is excellent now with couple of diversions due to road work.
Hassan to the start of the concrete section through Sakleshpura is in shambles at lot of places. Low ground clearance cars will need extra effort to steer. The asphalt layer on top of concrete in ghat is giving away at places but is never a concern.
The road below the ghats until Mangaluru is in much better shape but recent rains have started to form craters at some places. Lot of truck traffic and incessant rains today ensured we reached Udupi at 1400 hrs.










Breakfast was at Swathi Delicacy with some Idly Vada, Set Dose and Filter Kaapi to end.

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by _chikku

Thanks for the update. Just a question. Bisle was all good ? I am asking because there was a 2km stretch which had no tar nor concrete, only bolders. Is that also complete now ?

I think that 2Kms stretch is all concrete now. Overall, this route is good.

[Thmh]

Planning to travel on bike (Himalayan) with pillion to Udupi from Bangalore tomorrow. Have been advised to take the Sakleshpur-Dharmasthala route. How's the rain situation and are there any potential land slide possibility ? Any inputs please

[alstonlobo]

Originally Posted by Thmh

Planning to travel on bike (Himalayan) with pillion to Udupi from Bangalore tomorrow. Have been advised to take the Sakleshpur-Dharmasthala route. How's the rain situation and are there any potential land slide possibility ? Any inputs please

I traveled last week, see my post above on this page with pics of the ghat drive. We got rains all throughout the ghats but it was not hardcore. Also, there did not seem any risk of landslide. I would suggest you to gear up and carry a hot beverage which you and your friend can enjoy over a pitstop on the ghat overlooking the gorge. The view is really scenic and being on a two wheeler, you can take full advantage of it! All the best and safe travels!

Oh and do share pics once you are settled

[cool_dube]

Originally Posted by Thmh

Planning to travel on bike (Himalayan) with pillion to Udupi from Bangalore tomorrow

Ah! A monsoon ride through Western Ghats... what bliss! Am I jealous, or what

If you prefer better scenery, better roads, and lesser traffic, albeit at the cost of slightly higher travel time, I would suggest the following route instead of Shiradi:

Bangalore - Hassan - Belur - Mudigere - Kottigehara - Charmadi - Belthangady - Karkala - Udupi

Given monsoon revival in Karnataka, gear up for heavy rains throughout! Budget for about 10 hours of riding time, including pit stops (which will be quite a few, given the lovely scenery en-route)! See the picture below, clicked at one of many viewpoints that Charmadi has to offer:



Ride safe

[Thmh]

Originally Posted by alstonlobo

I traveled last week, see my post above on this page with pics of the ghat drive. We got rains all throughout the ghats but it was not hardcore. Also, there did not seem any risk of landslide. I would suggest you to gear up and carry a hot beverage which you and your friend can enjoy over a pitstop on the ghat overlooking the gorge. The view is really scenic and being on a two wheeler, you can take full advantage of it! All the best and safe travels!

Oh and do share pics once you are settled

Thank you for the update and the tips. Yes, it's me and my wife. We have the weather appropriate riding gears and hence waterproofing should be sorted. Now this calls me to take my GoPro out and hopefully get some beautiful footage to share with you all here. Appreciate taking time to respond

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Ah! A monsoon ride through Western Ghats... what bliss! Am I jealous, or what

If you prefer better scenery, better roads, and lesser traffic, albeit at the cost of slightly higher travel time, I would suggest the following route instead of Shiradi:

Bangalore - Hassan - Belur - Mudigere - Kottigehara - Charmadi - Belthangady - Karkala - Udupi

Given monsoon revival in Karnataka, gear up for heavy rains throughout! Budget for about 10 hours of riding time, including pit stops (which will be quite a few, given the lovely scenery en-route)! See the picture below, clicked at one of many viewpoints that Charmadi has to offer:

Attachment 2179912

Ride safe

Wow! I will certainly check this route or atleast opt for one way. The weather is heavenly today in Banglore and hope it continues till tomorrow to get a good headstart. Leaving early in the morning to enjoy the daylight and scenic views of Udupi and Dakshin Kannada . Thank you

[alstonlobo]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Ah! A monsoon ride through Western Ghats... what bliss! Am I jealous, or what

If you prefer better scenery, better roads, and lesser traffic, albeit at the cost of slightly higher travel time, I would suggest the following route instead of Shiradi:

Bangalore - Hassan - Belur - Mudigere - Kottigehara - Charmadi - Belthangady - Karkala - Udupi

The flipside of *biking* through Charmadi is the multiple hairpin bends. Bikers would end up with aching arms or bulging muscles (depending on their stamina levels)

But the view is heavenly compared to Shiradi, no doubt, and the road conditions are better too.

So Shiradi for bad back and Charmadi for bad biceps!

[unk9ja]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

If you prefer better scenery, better roads, and lesser traffic, albeit at the cost of slightly higher travel time, I would suggest the following route instead of Shiradi:

Bangalore - Hassan - Belur - Mudigere - Kottigehara - Charmadi - Belthangady - Karkala - Udupi

I would have preferred Bengaluru Hassan Kottigehara Kalasa Samse Kudremukha Karkala Udupi any day if I have loads of time with me. Better than Charmadi and lots to explore in this stretch.

[cool_dube]

Originally Posted by unk9ja

I would have preferred Bengaluru Hassan Kottigehara Kalasa Samse Kudremukha Karkala Udupi any day if I have loads of time with me. Better than Charmadi and lots to explore in this stretch.

Oh, yes! Any day! However, it would be a bit of a stretch for a single day ride, especially with heavy rains.

[Samurai]

I drove from Bangalore to Udupi yesterday. It was raining most of the time after Hassan.

The state of road after Sakleshpur until the concrete road starts, it pretty bad.

https://youtu.be/2Y0cyv6UhKw

[srvm]

Originally Posted by Samurai

I drove from Bangalore to Udupi yesterday. It was raining most of the time after Hassan.

The state of road after Sakleshpur until the concrete road starts, it pretty bad.
....

"Pretty bad" Road? Where is the road?
Were you driving your Grand Vitara? You seem to be tackling the humongous potholes with relative ease compared to others!


Not related to your post: Yesterday, I too went from Bangalore to Melkote via Bellur cross. Just after Paakashala junction near Yadiyur on the Bangalore-Mangalore carriageway, I saw a handsome, new, shining Red Harrier (maybe dual tone) had been rear-ended with rear bumper and tail-gate smashed up. Car had been moved to the shoulder. The vehicle which caused this damage was parked a little ahead in the shoulder....which was another Harrier in Callisto Copper colour . It had considerable damage to engine bay, bonnet and front bumper. No evidence of any casualty or injuries. This was around 12 noon. When I was returning back in the same highway around 9.30pm, I saw the same red Harrier on a flatbed being taken towards Bangalore. It was sorry sight to see a new car in this shape.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by srvm

"Pretty bad" Road? Where is the road?
Were you driving your Grand Vitara? You seem to be tackling the humongous potholes with relative ease compared to others!

Yes, I was driving my 2007 model Grand Vitara. I had installed a specialized hover technology when it completed 10 years.

[fast_elegance]

Planning a weekend drive to Jog falls and back from Mangalore over the weekend. Any recommendations on the route and any recent experiences with the view at the falls?