Drove from Goa to Belgaum via Chorla ghat: Observations on route taken

The Chorla route is definitely slower than Ponda Mollem route owing to the narrow, continuously turning roads

BHPian ashkamath recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Guys, a short update on the Chorla ghat route from Belgaum to Goa.

My friend and I drove from Vasco Da Gama, Goa to Belgaum, yesterday to deliver some Christmas/ New year gift to some friends and we chose the chorla ghat instead of Ponda - Mollem route, as we were more familiar with Chorla route.

The road work is going on and much of the black top has been tarred and the road is in good driving condition except for a Kilometre or two between Jamboti and Kanakumbi where it's left unrepaired and in bad condition. But that's a very small stretch and no big deal. Other than that the road is good.

However, a note of caution. Chorla ghat is much narrower and has too many curves compared to Mollem.- Ponda route.. You could get stuck behind a slow moving truck for a long time.. People who have motion sickness (due to repeated turning) may avoid this route.

So, who can take this route from Belgaum to Goa?

• For the regular drivers, who enjoy a nice, narrow ghat.
• Drivers who wants much lesser traffic than Ponda Mollem route.
• The Chorla route terminates at Sanquelim - Bicholim town and approach Goa from Mapusa side and is much closer to Vagator, Siolim, Morjim, Ashwem, Arambol, Keri, Terekhol and such places, situated at northern part of Goa.

For people going to Panaji, Calangute, Candolim & Baga, the Ponda - Mollem route is still the fastest route.

Our distance one way from Vasco to Belgaum was 130 Kms and we covered it in about 3 hours 30 minutes.

Please do remember that Chorla route is definitely slower than Ponda Mollem route owing to the narrow, continuously turning roads, some road work going along the route and the possibility of getting stuck/ delayed behind slow moving truck with less option to overtake (unless you take that extra risk of blind overtaking). Again you get some straight stretches and opportunities to overtake, but you got to be very patient and disciplined driver here

It's a good road for two wheelers and there's a nice view point at Karnataka - Goa border on this road. You can stop for a few minutes and enjoy the western ghats view.

Again a disclaimer here. I have driven this road multiple times and hence know it pretty well as to where I can overtake or what traffic to expect, and this may not be the case with everyone. So, drive carefully and the road is in decent shape now.

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