First I would like to thank you all for the wonderful Travelogues posted here in Team-BHP and especially the ones related to Hampi which inspired and helped me do this trip. Thanks to
Pjbiju for the suggestion and answering my queries.
Wanted to do a long drive to Hampi for quite sometime now, but due to some reason or the other it always got postponed. Finally me and my wife did this trip on 15th - 17th Dec`11.
Named this P`logue --> you may consider it as a PHOTOlogue or POLOlogue as this is my first real long drive (>500 kms in a day) in my car.
I am sure you are well aware of Hampi, for others, below is a short paragraph taken from one of Hampi websites -
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Hampi also known as Humpi or Hampe is both a historic and religious place in India. This was the capital of the Hindu empire, Vijayanagara, who ruled the south India during 14th to 16th century AD. The ruins of Hampi, as it is known today, are a vast open museum of history, architecture and religion. Spread over an area more than 25 square kilometers, Hampi ruins is packed with giant temples, palaces, market streets, aquatic tructures, fortifications and an abundance of other ancient monuments. The giant boulder strewn hills and the river that bisects make a bizarre landscape for this ancient metropolis. Together with its historic and mythological residues this rural area makes a perfect tourist spot. Hampi is in the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites.
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Day - 1 : Pune to Hospet, 15th
Filled up petrol the previous night and tire pressure to 32psi, cleaned the car the previous night to start early next morning by 6.30am. Ended up starting a bit late, exactly at 6:55am from my place at Hadapsar, Pune. Took the usual Race Course - Swargate - CityPride route to NH4.
Route -
* Hospet to Hampi is ~12kms
Connected to NH4 and crossed the first toll booth - Khedshivapur at 7:50am after a 10mins wait at toll gate. Toll paid 65/-. It was early morning but there was considerable traffic (mostly two wheelers) on NH4.
It was a smooth drive, noticed fog but visibility was never a problem though. Khambatki ghat had lots of truck traffic. Crossed the 2nd toll booth, Anewadi, after a 08mins wait at toll gate at 08:54am, toll paid 45/-. Crossed the third toll booth, Taswade again after a 7-8 mins wait at toll gate at 09:18am. The weather was pleasant with temperature between 13C - 16C till Satara and around 18C till Kolhapur.
Driving on NH4 is a pleasure and each City can be bypassed within minutes. ~10kms after crossing Satara the road till ~10kms to Kolhapur is fantastic concrete roads.
Traffic was comparatively less. There are sections of NH4 where road widening work is in progress probably 6 lanes. Crossed Kini toll booth at 10:25am. Total wait time in the four toll booths till Kolhapur would be approx. 35 mins.
Wanted to stop for a break, missed the Sai hotel on the left side before Kolhapur as I noticed this late and didn't want to brake suddenly or come back, continued further ahead, noticed McDonald and CCD on the right side, for KMs ahead no u-turn so went on driving till noticed Konduskar BP Petrol Pump on the left side at 10:50am.
Konduskar do not sell normal petrol (only speed if I remember correctly), didn't tank up. Took a 15mins break at the Jai Hind hotel inside the Petrol Pump complex.
Started for Belgaum at 11:05am. Crossed the next toll booth Kognoli in Karnataka at 11:26am paying 25/-. As soon as one crosses this toll booth, one can easily notice the difference, hardly any traffic, beautiful wide roads, noticed few public toilets on the left side in this stretch. The drive till Belgaum was excellent though sometimes a bit boring as for KMs it was open roads in front without any vehicles. Paid 15/- at Hattargi toll booth before Belgaum at 11:50am.
Total toll paid for the ~111kms from Kolhapur to Belgaum is only 40/- with total wait time at toll booths ~01 minute.
Where to have lunch, at Belgaum or at Hubli - decided for Belgaum. Took the left side exit from NH4 onto Belgaum City (had to turn right under the flyover). Headed straight to Hotel Sankam (read
Hvkumar mention this hotel name many times in other thread). The restaurant was really good, parked the car inside the hotel complex, time 12:24pm. Had Chicken biryani and Kadai chicken. Filled up petrol from the adjacent IOC petrol pump (19.07 ltrs, auto-cut) and started for Hubli at 01:27pm.
Crossed Ashoka Belgaum Dharwad toll booth at 01:36pm paying 65/-. Weather was pleasant, 25C - 27C till Hubli. Was consciously looking for the speed breakers after crossing this toll booth. From this toll booth till Dharwad there are three sets of speed breakers, though well marked but better to keep an eye to avoid last minute hard braking. The first set is ~4kms after crossing this toll booth. Road widening work is in progress in this stretch of NH4 too. The last ~28kms till Hubli bypass is undivided NH4. Paid 37/- at the toll booth, this receipt has to be shown at Hubli(NH4) to take a left turn to go straight into Hubli city.
Beautiful NH4 pics -
Long empty stretches of NH4 -
Some river -
Entered Hubli city at 02.37pm. Asked locals for way to connect to NH63 to Gadag-Koppal-Hospet. People were eager to help out with route, they were happy to reply in broken Hindi or English. Finally after driving ~30mins within Hubli city connected to NH63 and saw the first sign board to Gadag, it was ~3:15pm.
The road till Hospet via Gadag-Koppal is undivided two lane highway. Good roads with some section recently tarred are beautiful, except the last 15kms to Hospet.
There are many speed breakers that comes in all different sizes and forms (max. counted is 09 speed humps together, crossing these can be compared to boat ride during high tide) mostly marked but some of them unmarked and might come as a surprise.
Reached Gadag ~ 04:05pm and headed towards Koppal. Both sides of NH63 are farm lands with mostly Sunflower and Red Chilli plant with occasional sight Cotton cultivation and Sugarcane. Maximum temp. reached around Gadag - 30.5C.
NH63 pics (Hubli-Gadag-Koppal-Hospet) -
Sunflower -
Windmills -
Not sure why he suddenly changed lane -
Goods Train -
Reached Koppal at 05pm. Crossed Koppal Bus Station and stopped to enquire for the direction to Hospet. Started at 05:05pm, Was a bit worried as I was unsure about the road condition and how long it may take for the last 15kms to Hospet. Wanted to reach Hospet anyhow before Sunset. The road after Koppal is newly tarred and excellent to drive.
Fortunately didn't get stuck in any traffic jam in the last 15kms to Hospet, but the road in this last KMs is in very bad condition as there are lot of road
construction work in progress. Lots of diversion and 100s of trucks on roads. Good thing is the truck drivers was not trying to overtake each other and traffic even though very slow was moving at least. Last 15kms took ~40 mins and reached Hospet just in time before dark at ~6 pm.
Newly tarred beautiful section of NH63 -
Deceptive in size, as they actually occupy almost half of the other lane -
One of the speed breaker -
Another one, more dangerous -
Road construction and diversion towards Hospet -
Took the left turn at the round about and headed towards hotel Malligi. Didn't book room in advance as it was a last minute decision to travel on 15th to Hospet. Luckily got the room and checked in at 6:25pm. 24 hrs check-in/check out with secure parking inside hotel premises.
Total distance covered from home till hotel - 594.7 kms in 11hrs 30 mins including all break.
After some snacks, had dinner at one of the two restaurants at this hotel. It is a pool side restaurant with reasonably priced tasty food and very good service. Had chicken tikka lasooni, chicken rezala with Naan roti followed by Sweet/Salt lime soda. Each table had a mosquito coil burning to keep away the mosquitoes. Headed towards room for a good night sleep to start for the next day - Hampi tour.
Hotel -
Parking inside hotel premises -