Hyderabad to Chickmagaluru, Gokarna and Goa Road trip

[Kumsi]

"Lost and alone on some forgotten highway - Travelled by many, remembered by few"

Every December, it has become a ritual for us to go an long drive over 4000 kilometers. This year after multiple discussions and drop outs, every one agreed to drive down South.

For me it is always the drive that matters and I was never particular about the destination.

No matter where we go, our ultimate goal is to end up in Goa to celebrate new year.

 

Day 1: Hyderabad to Chickmagaluru

Day 2: Chickmagaluru local sight seeing

Day 3: Chickmagaluru to Gokarna to Goa

Day 4 : Goa

Day 5 : Goa

Day 6 : Goa to Hyderabad.

 

We split into two teams in two cars. Creta and Polo.

[Kumsi]

Day 1: Hyderabad to Chickmagaluru

 

Distance : 790 Kilometers

 

Route taken : Hyderabad --> Kurnool --> Nandi Hills --> Hassan --> Chickmagaluru

 

Road condition :

Most of the route is 4-lane except from Hassan to Chickmagaluru. One can cruise easily above 100 km/hr.We planned to meet at 5 AM near Hill park Restaurant on NH 7. I couldn't sleep properly thinking of the drive ahead.Fired up my German beauty on a misty cool morning and met the Creta at Hill Park restaurant as we started from different parts of the city.

 

Our goal for the Day 1 was to hit the pedal hard until we reach Bangalore as we had around 800 Kilometers to cover up in a single day.We've been sharp on time and waited for the Creta team to arrive. Hotel was not yet opened as it was still 5 AM in the morning. After a 15 minutes of wait Creta team joined us and we started our journey on the beautiful NH 7.

I quickly took the lead and Creta followed us. Morning traffic was less and we set a good pace during the drive which was quite uneventful and we liked it that way.

Came across these two lane roads while switching from NH 7 to Bangalore - Hassan highway.

My Polo leading the way.

Soon we switched on to the 4-lane Highway.

Coordination between Polo and Creta was excellent through out the drive and we haven't missed a single turn.

Soon our fuel tanks dried up and we stopped for a fuel break. They have offered us free service to clean our wind shields.

Creta waiting for Polo at the fuel station. We reached chickmagaluru by 5PM and checked into the hotel which was very decent and affordable.

After negotiating hard we got an amazing deal of 600/- per head per night.

[Kumsi]

Day2: Chickmagaluru local sight seeing.Acommidation details:Book in advance during peak season.

Hotel name : Giri InnRating : 10/10

 

Value for money.Today, we have planned to start early in the morning to cover as many places as possible.But If you travel in group there is always some delay.We had a free breakfast in the hotel.Finally, we started at 8AM in the morning to explore the hills

 

.Best places to visit in Chickmagaluru

• Mullayanagiri
• Baba Budangiri
• Hebbe Falls
• Kemmangundi

 

Visti below places, If you have extra time in hand.

Kudremukh PeakKudremukh National Park

 

Hills,Trees, Greenery and cars. It is time to click some pictures.

That is me posing.

Creta took the lead and we started following them. Finally our navigator got some rest.

Started experimenting with my new 300mm lens.

My favourite picture of the trip.

After few clicks, We started concurring the hills. Roads got narrower.

We found a place where we can stop for a break. We tucked in our cars into small walking path.

Enjoyed this amazing view.

 

[Kumsi]

"All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination." Inspired from the above quote, We started marching ahead.

 

Very less traffic, unlike commercial places like ooty.

 

If you hate the crowd and want to stay in peace, this is a must visit place.

 

After driving for some time, We took the next break at this amazing view point.

 

Hills in the back drop has amazing colours.

 

Beauty and the Beast.

 

"After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb"

 

To be cont..

[Kumsi]

Hebbe water falls is a must visit in chikmaguluru.You need to visit this place on foot or by 4x4 vehicles after parking your personal vehicles.Distance around 2.5 kilometers from the main road.

 

Jeep price: 800/-

 

We parked our cars and decide to Hire a 4x4 vechile.

 

Track is bumpy and narrow, sometimes it is tough to negotiate, if there is vehicle approaching from opposite direction.

 

I missed driving in my own car, but I enjoyed this beautiful view from the passenger seat.

 

This was waiting for us at a passage point.

 

We arrived to stop where the vehicles should be parked.

 

Walk for about 200 meters.

 

To enjoy the beautiful view of the waterfalls.

 

Rainbow, which stayed there forever.

 

[Kumsi]

After the jeep adventure, we started to kemmangundi.

 

 We took a quick break, Captured some pictures of our ride.

 

Newly laid roads

 

Beautiful roads cutting through the mountains.

 

Polo with its timeless design never stops to impress me.

 

After taking few more pictures.

 

We started progressing towards Kemmangundi.

 

 

[Kumsi]

We covered some distance and found another view point.

 

Rides posing.

 

We found a small off road track and decided to take it.

 

 

Creta goes first due to high ground clearance.

 

I started climbing the hill after the positive response from the Creta guys.

 

Soon we started to gain some altitude.

 

Look at the beautiful view. Some times it is worth taking tough routes

 

[Kumsi]

Soon we ascended to the hill top,

 

View from the hill top.

 

We parked our cars and started exploring the hills.

 

We spent around 1 hour and decided to visit Mullayanagiri.

 

Roads leading to Mullayanagiri were narrow and dangerous.

 

 

Had a tough time crossing this cow in this narrow path.

 

Sun started to set

[Kumsi]

Views started to get better as we moved up the altitude.

 

Few tourists found a small obstruction in the mid way and have parked their vehicles to walk futher.

 

We wanted to take our cars and after multiple failed attempts, we managed to cross the ditch

 

[Kumsi]

Few more random clicks at Chickmagaluru

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kumsi]

Day 3 to Day 6
We drove from Chikmagaluru to Gokarna, but all the hotels were fully occupied in Gokarna.
Chikmagaluru to Goa has worst of the roads. It is a continuous ghat section with never ending loops. Don't even dare to attempt it. I personally enjoy such challenging drives, but it is not worth it.

Out of frustration we headed towards Goa.
We celebrated the new year in Goa after few more friends joined us.

 

Few pictures of Day 6, Goa to Hyderabad.

 

Butter smooth toll road near Goa

 

Swift that joined us in Goa

 

Last picture of our roadtrip. The END.

[Gowtham]

Ah..Finally after two years, it is completed.

 

I enjoyed this drive a lot.

Yeah, Agree about the Gokarana accommodation.

 

We drove like maniacs from Gokarna to Goa.Night drive, less traffic and smooth Goa toll roads.I live in those memories.

Thank you for sharing.

[sagar]

Haha.. After quite a long time, the whole post of one of the best road trips we did gets finished. All the pictures have taken me back to my memory lane.

[karthik]

I somehow missed this post.
Excellent write up Kumsi.
You look like a perfect drive enthusiast to me.
I enjoy reading your logs. 

[ksa171983]

This is to the detail.. I am planning to drive down from hyd-chikmanglur-mangalore-udipi-murudeswar-gokarna-hyd  soon .. will follow your detailed info for sure..

[sahil]

On 5/23/2018 at 2:47 PM, ksa171983 said:

This is to the detail.. I am planning to drive down from hyd-chikmanglur-mangalore-udipi-murudeswar-gokarna-hyd  soon .. will follow your detailed info for sure..

mangalore-udipi-murudeswar-gokarna -- roaads are good and having some amazing views from the arabian sea and beaches..try to visit Jog falls and mookambika temple which are in the middle of forest in the high hills on the way to gokarna. All beaches in the stretch are super good and you never want to come back!

 

 

[sagar]

I have done this stretch before and it is so joyous. The drive is so much fun. But, I had done this almost 6 years ago  . Will need to dig in to my memory disk to find some good clicks. Please try to share some pictures of you drive if possible @sahil

Would love to seem them. I still remember the struggle we took to climb up those big number of stairs from the foot of the jog falls

[Naveen1]

Which is the best month to visit?
Is it safe during monsoon?
One of my colleague is planning to go down on this month end.
He is tensed about rains.
 

[sagar]

On ‎6‎/‎13‎/‎2018 at 3:55 PM, driveking said:

Which is the best month to visit?
Is it safe during monsoon?
One of my colleague is planning to go down on this month end.
He is tensed about rains.
 

 

Rains are hitting hard on this stretch as per the current update given by Mr. Shivanand. Will share the pictures soon... These rains are something more than enjoyable monsoon to do a road trip  It is better to plan after the July 3rd week.

November / December has been my best time to experience the drive to Chikamagalur.

[sagar]

Few pictures shared my Shivanand during his recent drive to Chikamagalur

 

[ksa171983]

On 6/15/2018 at 8:22 AM, sagar said:

 

Rains are hitting hard on this stretch as per the current update given by Mr. Shivanand. Will share the pictures soon... These rains are something more than enjoyable monsoon to do a road trip  It is better to plan after the July 3rd week.

November / December has been my best time to experience the drive to Chikamagalur.

 

Just back from the Hyderabad-Chikmangalur-Dharmasthala-Mangalore-Udipi-Murdeswar-Kumta-Gokarna vacation.

 

 Mullayangiri and kemmangudi  roads  are bad, due to the super heavy rainfall and sloppy and slippery roads the vehicles were stopped at the checkpost when we went at 7 am.

 

We tried again at 10 am and we were allowed but after that vehicles were again stopped and we were sort of stuck(cant say stuck as such- we were blessed to stay at the peaks for some more time).

Will share some pics soon.

 

Personally, I loved the challenge of driving on roads to Mullayangiri and kemmangudi but my heart went at 200 for sure.

 

After doing these two roads charmadi ghat was a piece of cake for me even though it continuously rained.

 

Roads from Udipi through Murdeswar through Kumta to Gokarna are under construction (would take 1 year minimum to complete and then it would be superb highway).

And as usual the road from Gokarna to hubli through the forest was excellent and from there till Hyderabad is back breaking.

[Gowtham]

16 hours ago, ksa171983 said:

Just back from the Hyderabad-Chikmangalur-Dharmasthala-Mangalore-Udipi-Murdeswar-Kumta-Gokarna vacation.

 

Thank you for the update.
Even I am back from Chikmagalur last week.

I was amazed by greenery,  did not expect much greenery since it is the beginning of the monsoon. 

We had a fun filled drive. 
Luckily there were no rains during our drive. 

Little drizzle and cloudy.  

 

16 hours ago, ksa171983 said:

I loved the challenge of driving on roads to Mullayangiri and kemmangudi but my heart went at 200 for sure.

 

Agree on it. 
Drive on these roads is very fun and scary. 

 

Did you visit Babu Budanagiri?

 

[ksa171983]

1 hour ago, Ranger said:

 

Thank you for the update.
Even I am back from Chikmagalur last week.

I was amazed by greenery,  did not expect much greenery since it is the beginning of the monsoon. 

We had a fun filled drive. 
Luckily there were no rains during our drive. 

Little drizzle and cloudy.  

 

 

Agree on it. 
Drive on these roads is very fun and scary. 

 

Did you visit Babu Budanagiri?

 

Yea after rains it would have been lush greenery everywhere ... 

no could not goto that peak of babu budangiri as the visibility was almost 0 and mine was the only car on that road .Though it may have been fun driving alone on the entire stretch but did not risk it .