[NPV]

Originally Posted by prak_s

How are the road conditions from Haveri to Sirsi now? On reading this thread I get the impression that conditions were bad earlier, but are manageable now; is my understanding correct?

I traveled during December last year and the route was fine, posted about conditions here (How's the road from Haveri to Sirsi)

I don't remember reading about any deterioration of the road conditions recently.

*But I'm not sure about the road to Banavasi though.
Also, you may already be past Haveri by lunch time, and I don't know of any options there (actually there were hardly any).

[Santoshbhat]

Originally Posted by prak_s

How are the road conditions from Haveri to Sirsi now? On reading this thread I get the impression that conditions were bad earlier, but are manageable now; is my understanding correct?

Driving from Bangalore, if I intend to visit Banavasi first before heading to Sirsi, which is the recommended route?

I will be starting from Bangalore around 8am. What are good options for lunch around 1pm?

Thanks.

As NPV mentioned, roads are good from Haveri to Sirsi now. No issues whatsoever. Your last decent lunch option is Kamat Upachar Ranebennur at Reliance Plaza (left side of the road). Once you turn off at Haveri, there is absolutely nothing right upto Sirsi. If you are a little late to start, you can also consider Apoorva Resorts at Davangere. Very nice place with clean toilets. They start lunch only by 12:30 pm.

[null]

Originally Posted by prak_s

I will be starting from Bangalore around 8am. What are good options for lunch around 1pm?
Thanks.

If starting around 8ish, you will be reaching Harihara after 12pm. If interested in pretty good north indian'ish food, you can drop by at Vaishnavi Restaurant in Harihar. Google maps pin: https://goo.gl/maps/P5UGaEYPUa32
Have been there a few times, never been disappointed with their food. Not an upmarket place, but decent, neat & clean with quick & polite service..

[NPV]

Originally Posted by prak_s

I will be starting from Bangalore around 8am. What are good options for lunch around 1pm?

I'd assumed you would be past Haveri by 1pm, if not, then some options are:
1. As Santosh mentioned - Kamat at Ranebennur inside Reliance petrol bunk campus (left side)
2. As null mentioned - Vaishnavi inside Harihar town
3. Kamat at Chattra (between Ranebennur and Motebennur) on right side. This is adjacent to an IOC petrol bunk and also has a Coffee Day outlet

*These Kamats are average and not very well maintained

[prak_s]

Thanks everyone for your inputs! Much appreciated.

Does anybody know about the best route to directly go to Banavasi, as that is what I am leaning towards? Google Maps by default suggest the route via Haveri-Sirsi-Banavasi. However I can see that there is a route via Harihar-Hirekekur-Soraba.
Is that route advisable? Or is there a better one?

-Prakash.

[Harry Iyer]

Originally Posted by prak_s

Does anybody know about the best route to directly go to Banavasi, as that is what I am leaning towards? Google Maps by default suggest the route via Haveri-Sirsi-Banavasi. However I can see that there is a route via Harihar-Hirekekur-Soraba.
Is that route advisable? Or is there a better one?

I don't know if you have already made the trip. I drove through this area on Christmas day. The road from Haveri to Sirsi is quite good. In fact, the first 30 Kms or so after you leave NH48 @ Haveri is butter smooth with proper signs & markings. IMHO, you should accept Google's suggestion and go to Banavasi via Sirsi.

There are 2-3 good restaurants in Sirsi town.

[prak_s]

Thanks Harry.

I just returned from the trip yesterday. We also took the road from Haveri to Sirsi and as you said it is in good condition for the most part.

From Sirsi we went to Yana via the Hegdekatta-Devanalli route. The initial stretch was quite good, but quite rough later on closer to Yana. After visiting Yana we continued on the same route towards Gokarna. That also was similar, bad stretches initially closer to Yana and gets better after some distance. In spite of the rough patches, the drive is overall manageable, even on low ground clearance sedans.

[Musaafir]

We four friends are planing to visit Sirsi and nearby areas mid-April. Can someone suggest a good 2-3 star hotel and home stays in Sirsi or Yellapur or nearby? Thank you.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by Musaafir

Can someone suggest a good 2-3 star hotel and home stays in Sirsi or Yellapur or nearby?

These are all small towns so I'm not sure about 2-3 star hotels, but there is one good place (no personal experience, but heard from folks who have stayed there) in Yellapur which is Banana county resorts you can check that.

[null]

Originally Posted by Musaafir

We four friends are planing to visit Sirsi and nearby areas mid-April. Can someone suggest a good 2-3 star hotel and home stays in Sirsi or Yellapur or nearby? Thank you.

Not familiar with any homestays, but old timers who goto Sirsi stay at Hotel Samrat (http://www.samratsirsi.com/) which is pretty decent for the town. It is not a star rated property, but neat & clean based on my last stay about 1 year back. You may want to consider them for an overnight stay.

[meetbadri]

Originally Posted by Musaafir

We four friends are planing to visit Sirsi and nearby areas mid-April. Can someone suggest a good 2-3 star hotel and home stays in Sirsi or Yellapur or nearby? Thank you.

There are no 2 or 3 star hotels for stay in Sirsi. You can check out for Hotel Panchavati or Samrat Hotel or Madhuvan Hotel which are inside the town. You can even find couple of homestay's on Sirsi - Yellapur Road first one being Areca Valley Stay and the other Guru Homestay.

[redballons]

Originally Posted by Musaafir

We four friends are planing to visit Sirsi and nearby areas mid-April. Can someone suggest a good 2-3 star hotel and home stays in Sirsi or Yellapur or nearby? Thank you.

We stayed at Pragati Homestay, Nagarakodi last april ( 2017 ) and it was absolutely brilliant. Very simple humble hosts and fantastic authentic local food, strongly recommend to stay there. It is the only house in that village. If you prefer to live with the locals and experience their life, then this is the place for you, if you prefer to hotels/resorts then am afraid it would not suit your preference.

Its a bit away from Sirsi town ( ~ 20KM ) but near to Uncholli Falls ( Lushington Falls ).

[sureshurs]

We are planning to drive to Goa with a visit to Yana caves in last week of August. Planning to start at 5:00 am from HSR lyt in Bangalore. Is the route through Haveri-Sirsi the best option?

[NPV]

What is the recommended route for Bangalore-Sirsi now ?

Last month, the Haveri-Sirsi route had lot of bad sections, so what are the alternatives ?

[Santoshbhat]

Originally Posted by NPV

What is the recommended route for Bangalore-Sirsi now ?

Last month, the Haveri-Sirsi route had lot of bad sections, so what are the alternatives ?

BLR - Haveri - Sirsi is still the best option. Bad sections were (October) only limited to the last 10 - 15 kms before Sirsi, otherwise rest of the route is fantastic. My guess is this last stretch also is likely to be patched up now since the rains have concluded.

Any route that involves BH road, robs you a lot of time because of undivided highway and high population density around Shimoga.