Done Bangalore-Goa-Bangalore on 15-Aug and 18-aug in my Ertiga ZDI. Took the route Bangalore(AECS Layout)-Hebbal-Tumkur- Chitraurga-Hubli(Dharwad Bypass)-Alnavar-Ramnagar-Anmod Ghats-Ponda bypass-Old Goa-Panaji-Candolim for the onward journey and Candolim-Panaji-Margao-Karwar-Ankola-Kumta-Honavar-Jog Falls-Sagara-Shimoga-Arsikere-Tumkur-Bangalore. Some details are provided. Hope it helps
Onward Journey
Start time: 7.05 AM from AECS Layout
End time: 5.45 PM at Old Goa
Map:
http://goo.gl/maps/rIT84 Bangalore(AECS Layout) to Tumkur -The roads are good throughout. As it was the starting day of a long weekend, the roads were filled with cars/bikes who were moving out of Bangalore. Took around 1 hour to reach Yeswanthpur through ORR-Mekhri Circle-CV Raman Road. The traffic got reduced after crossing Nelamangala. Stopped for breakfast(8.30 AM) in Sri Kamadhenu Veg. before Dabaspete. It was crowded as 2-3 long route KSRTC buses stopped there. After the buses left, it was normal. The food was decent and affordable. Left from there around 9. After the Tumkur toll gate the drive became more smooth because of less traffic and 6-line roads. I wish I should have started around 5 AM to avoid the weekend rush, but the bus(from Chennai) in which my sister and BIL came, reached Madiwala by 6 AM only.
Sri Kamadhenu restaurant just before Dabaspete
Tumkur to Chitradurga - Excellent roads. The 6-line work is almost completed and only one diversion is there. We were able to cover this 130 kms in 90 minutes doing a sedate 100 -110 KMPH. Reached Chitradurga around 10.45 AM.
Excellent NH4
Some work in Progress sections
Chitradurga to Hubli-Excellent roads. The 6-line roads stops at Chitradurga and 4-line starts from there. Traffic was very less. Reached the Kamat Upachaar before Hubli (Tirumalakoppa) at around 1 PM. Spent around 30-40 minutes there to have lunch. Covered this 190 kms in 130 minutes with one small break near the Bankapur toll booth.
This got my attention, captured at Bankapur toll booth
Excellent roads near Bankapur
We breaks law even on an independence day
Rains started as we approach Hubli
Biking in Rain will be fun
Hubli to Dharwad bypass -This is a wonderful 2-line road with less traffic. Reached Hubli bypass toll booth around 2 PM. Took the toll for Alnavar exit from the Hubli bypass. Reached the Alnavar exit around 2.20 PM.
Dharwad Bypass to Ramnagar - The road is recently re-laid and the work is 80 % completed. There are some uncompleted sections near the railway crossings near Mugad railway station. The completed sections are really nice and the surroundings were really scenic. The forest section was really wonderful with good tarmac and complete greenery. Reached Ramnagar by 3.30 pm.
Caution: there are no petrol pumps on this route (There is one in the Alnavar town for which you need to take a deviation) till you reach Mollem which is around 100 kms from the Dharwad bypass. We missed filling from Dharwad and were forced to use 3 liters from the reserve. The reserve light came just after crossing Ramnagar and on enquir, got to know the next Fuel station is around 45 kms ahead. Reached the fuel without any hiccups with 5-6 liters diesel remaining in the tank.
The bad patched near railway crossings
One of them
Beautiful roads
Forest section
Ramnagar to Mollem-The roads are bit patchy in some sections. The traffic was less. Rest of the sections is good. There are 2-3 really bad sections with big potholes as you near the Anmod junction. The Anmod ghat section is in good condition. The view from the ghats were awesome. The roads condition improves as you enter Goa. In Mollem we paid Goa entry pass for 250 rs. If you are planning to leave Goa in 4 hours, this fee is not applicable and will be refunded while exiting the toll gate. Reached Mollem at 4.35 PM.
The roads after Ramnagar, NH4A
Some excellent sections also
Anmod Ghats
Mollem to Ponda -The roads are excellent with less traffic. The traffic increases as you approach Ponda. Took the Ponda bypass to reach the Panaji road. Reached Ponda bypass at 5.10 PM.
Ponda to Old Goa - Roads are good. The traffic was on a higher side. Reached Old Goa at 5.40 PM. We did not visit the churches this time, instead found a restaurant and had coffee/snacks.
Old Goa to Candolim - Took the NH4A bypass to reach Panaji. Took theVeram route to reach Reis Magos fort. Stopped there for seeing the sunset and reached the destination in Candolim at 6.45 PM.
Return Journey
Start time: 6.30 AM from Candolim
End time: 9.00 PM at HSR Layout
Map:
http://goo.gl/maps/NhcjV Candolim to Margao - The roads are excellent. Traffic was very less as we started around 6.30 AM. It was raining continuously. Reached Margao at 7.20 AM.
Margao to Karwar - The roads are all good with moderate traffic. Not much checking in the KA check post. Checked the boot by touching all the bags and let us go in 2-3 minutes. Stopped at Udupi restaurant in Karwar bypass for breakfast. Reached this place at 8.45 AM.
Excellent roads between Margao and Karwar
Roads are good as you enter Karnataka
Kali river brige
Karwar to Honavar - Good roads with moderate traffic. The views are awesome in Karwar-Ankola route. Reached the intersection at Honaver to turn towards Jog at 10.45 AM.
Between Ankola and turn-off towards Gokarana
Lucky to be at the right place at the right time
It was awesome
This guard is lucky
Honavar to Jog Falls - I was expecting bad/broken roads, but for my surprise the surface was really nice. The road is narrower in the ghat sections, other than that no complaints at all. It was very nice to see thick fog as we approach the ghats near Jog falls. The traffic also increased near Jog falls. Reached Jog falls at 12.10 PM. It was crowded, misty and drizzling. The falls were not visible for first 15 minutes. It rained heavily after that which cleared the mist and gave us magnifying Jog falls at full flow. We spent around 30 minutes there. Stopped near the river bridge and started from there at 12.45 PM.
Foggy roads around Jog falls
Full Flowing Jog. We are at the Jog falls in the best season
Another shot
The view from the bridge
Other side
The bridge
Jog falls to Sagara - Good roads with moderate traffic. Reached Sagara around 1.50 PM. Stopped for lunch in a Veg hotel near the New private bus stand. Thali meals was nice and cheap. Started from there at 2.10 PM.
Sagara to Shimoga - Excellent 2-line roads all the way. The traffic was on a higher side in Shimoga town. Reached Shimoga at 2.50 PM.
Excellent roads between Sagara and Shimoga
Shimoga to Arsikere - Excellent 2-line continues. There are some bad patches near Tarikere. Traffic was moderate. Stopped at the CCD before Arsikere for around 20-30 minutes. Reached Arsikere at 5.05 PM.
Excellent roads between Shimoga and Arsikere
Arsikere to Tumkur bypass - Excellent 2-line continues. The traffic increased after crossing Tiptur. The Tumkur bypass has lot of bad patches. Reached the tumkur toll in NH 4 at 6.40 PM.
Tumkur to Yeswanthpur - Traffic was really heavy after. People were driving so crazy to reach their homes after the long weekend. It took 30 minutes to cross the Nelamangala elevated toll. Reached in front of Yeswanthpur railway station 8.00 PM. Dropped my cousin there who then boarded a train to Ernakulam which left there by 9.00 PM.
Yeswanthpur to HSR Layout - The ORR traffic was normal. Lost some time in Nagwara junction. Even the tin factory was relatively empty. Reached HSR layout at 9.10 PM. Had dinner from there and dropped sister and BIL at Madiwala for boarding a bus scheduled to depart by 10.30 PM. Reached back AECS Layout at 11.00 PM.
The GPS logs can be seen below:
Bangalore Goa -https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B25K...it?usp=sharing Goa Jog -https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B25K...it?usp=sharing Sagara Bangalore - https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B25K...it?usp=sharing