[ortho_surgeon]

Hi guys, I am doing BIAL- Mangalore next week.

What is the present condition at Shiradi ghat? A cabbie just mentioned that I would be better off if I did Hassan- Bellur- modigere- charmadi- Beltangadi- BC road.

Also should I do the Neelmangala- Dabaspet- DB- devanahalli- BIAL or neelmangala- yeshwantpur-mekri circe- hebbal?

Thanks in advance.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ortho_surgeon

Hi guys, I am doing BIAL- Mangalore next week.
What is the present condition at Shiradi ghat? A cabbie just mentioned that I would be better off if I did Hassan- Bellur- modigere- charmadi- Beltangadi- BC road.

Hold on to Shiradi. Thats the fastest. Its not that bad. Its still holding.

Also should I do the Neelmangala- Dabaspet- DB- devanahalli- BIAL or neelmangala- yeshwantpur-mekri circe- hebbal?

We discussed this in the other thread. City route should be faster.
BIAL-Hebbal-Mekri Circle - IISc - Yashwantpur - Nelamangala - NH48. (By the way now you can drive till Mekri Circle with ease with almost zero stoppages).

[Samurai]

Just did Shiradi on Friday, it is still holding up. Damaged at many places, but nothing sedans/hatches can't handle.

[nfsfreak]

Friends,

Given the conditions of Shiradi ghats, Could going via Bangalore-Mysore-Madikeri-Sullia-Puttur-Mangalore be a viable alternate?
It is around 40 KMs longer compared to conventional Mangalore route. If the roads are good all the way, may be we can consider this.

Or Bangalore-Hassan-Belur-Belthangady-Mangalore route is better than the above mentioned route?
I heard the roads are comparatively OK in Hassan-Belur-Belthangady stretch but very narrow. Please update on this stretch too.

[ortho_surgeon]

I recently did BIAL- Mangalore on Saturday.

Took the following route

BIAL 3AM - Hassan 6 am: Excellent road. Went via Mekri circle as I didn't want to get stuck in railway gate before goruguntapalye.

Hassan - Chanaraypatna: Ok roads

Chanaraypatna- Sakleshpur: Bad

Sakleshpur- shiradi ghat: Bad.

Nelliyadi- BC road- Kulashekar- Mangalore: Good roads

Reached Mangalore at 9.45 am. Took a tea break at Sakleshpur. For 10 mins. Did the drive in swift dzire diesel.

Total distance 364 kms

[guyfrmblr]

Originally Posted by ortho_surgeon

Hassan - Chanaraypatna: Ok roads

Chanaraypatna- Sakleshpur: Bad

Channarayapatna? It's between Bangalore - Hassan. Are you referring to Balupete by any chance ?

[Gokrish]

Originally Posted by ortho_surgeon

Hassan - Chanaraypatna: Ok roads

Are you referring to Channapatna near Hassan? I think Shiradi Ghat route is still OK except during night times! Read somewhere that route will be closed for traffic from October to carry out repair work?

[ortho_surgeon]

Are you referring to Balupete by any chance ?

Yes its Balupete.

Travelling on this route is all about timing your trip correctly.

The roads before and after Sakleshpur are bad. I did it quite early, so tanker traffic was minimal. Later in the day usually you get stuck in Sakleshpur and Hassan town.

[nma83]

Originally Posted by ortho_surgeon

The roads before and after Sakleshpur are bad. I did it quite early, so tanker traffic was minimal. Later in the day usually you get stuck in Sakleshpur and Hassan town.

I am doing Bangalore - udupi next week. Is it confirmed that shiradi ghats would be closed for repair by then? Which alternate route is in better condition?
Thanks,
NMA

[Pakman]

Originally Posted by nma83

I am doing Bangalore - udupi next week. Is it confirmed that shiradi ghats would be closed for repair by then? Which alternate route is in better condition?
Thanks,
NMA

I read earlier that the Shiradi ghat would be closed from 1st December onwards.
I myself am travelling tomorrow morning and will be taking Shiradi route. If you are looking for an alternative route, then Bangalore-Hassan-Belur-Mudigere-Charmadi-Belthangadi-Udupi would be the best one, according to earlier posts on this thread.

[ortho_surgeon]

I am doing Bangalore - udupi next week. Is it confirmed that shiradi ghats would be closed for repair by then? Which alternate route is in better condition

Even thou the road is bad it can be done, even in a hatch.

The trick is starting early. I left BIAL at 3:10am and was able to reach Hassan by 6 am. Hassan town and Sakleshpur town roads are narrow and prone for jams. Especially in front of high court. So plan your trip accordingly. The belur - belthangi - charmadi is 40 km more. No idea about the road condition there.

[fast_elegance]

Just did the B'lore - m'lore through charmadi. The roads are still good throughout except for the roads inside Belur.

Started at 5.30 am and reached m'lore at 12.30 pm with a breakfast stop at Mayura and coffee stop at kottigehara.

[Fernang]

Had gone to Udupi on 21st September.
- (Bangalore - chanarayapatna - hassan )- Excellent road conditions.
- (Hassan - Saklheshpur) - Good roads
- (shiradi - Nelliyadi) - Bad roads coupled with maniacal taxi drivers, Buses and unladen trucks with no regard for their vehicles' suspension.

Nellyadi to Mangalore - Okay roads, unsuspecting potholes.

Mangalore to Udupi - Good roads, but road work in progress.

While returning i took the following route -
Udupi - agumbe - shimoga - bhadravati - tarikere - arsikere - tumkur - bangalore

the return route was around 25 clicks longer but the roads were smooth. Except for a small section around 10kms after tarikere were the roads disappeared for around 500 meters.

Avoid tumkur bypass(bad roads). I was able to cut through the town since it was 1 in the morning.

The main reason i took the return trip through shimoga was

1. i knew the roads from agumbe to bangalore were in very good condition. Udupi to agumbe was a risk, but was willing to take it because of point 3.
2. I love to drive and love my car. I try to take care of it to the best of my abilities avoiding bad roads.
3. I've become fed up with the conditions of the roads on shiradi - sakleshpur ghat section. This was my 4th time crossing this section in the past 8 months and this will be my last for a long time. - that would be a rather long rant.

Hope this was helpful. Cheers.

[nma83]

Originally Posted by Fernang

While returning i took the following route -
Udupi - agumbe - shimoga - bhadravati - tarikere - arsikere - tumkur - bangalore

the return route was around 25 clicks longer but the roads were smooth. Except for a small section around 10kms after tarikere were the roads disappeared for around 500 meters.

Thanks Fernang. Any reason why you did not try Charmadi - Belur - Hassan while returning?

[Fernang]

Originally Posted by nma83

Thanks Fernang. Any reason why you did not try Charmadi - Belur - Hassan while returning?

I didn't consider it as an option since i was not aware of that route or the road conditions involved.

I'll again be taking a trip towards Bekal on the 1st. maybe i could try that route since my school reopens only on the 7th, i'll have a ample time on my hand.

Probably visit the Chennakesava temple on the way back, or to Kanhangad.

Thank you for suggesting that route.