Yesterday (23/12/2011) I came from Hyderabad to Goa by our car (Ford Figo Diesel).
I took the following route:
Gacchibowli (Hyderabad)-->; Gulbarga --> Bijapur -->Athani --> Chikodi -->Belgaum -->Anamod --> Ponda (Goa)
View Larger Map
The drive till Bijapur is really smooth. The original route on my mind was Via Jamkhandi--Yargatti after Bijapur to get to Belgaim. However, locals advised me that Athani-Chikodi route is shorter and the road condition is better. Well, they are so wrong!
The worst part about getting from Bijapur to Belgaum via Athani is that there is loads of Sugarcane traffic. So in no time you are coming from 100 Kmph to 20 Kmph, very frequently!
I did the total distance of about 700 Kms in 12 hours 45 minutes. I left Gacchibowli in Hyderabad at 12:00 Noon on 23rd and was at my home in Ponda, Goa at 00:45 hours of 24th. There were 2 major (30 minute) breaks, one each at Bijapur and Belgaum. And there were 2 more 'butt breaks' of about 5 minutes each.
I had done the first 600 Kms in 9.5 hours and it took me 3 hours to get from Belgaum to Ponda. This is one of the most dangerous roads I have driven on in the southern ghats. The road condition (especially on the Karnataka side) is pathetic and add to it a ghat section with a drop in elevation of 2600m in 20 Kms road distance - that is definitely not for the faint hearted!
I took the following route:
Gacchibowli (Hyderabad)-->; Gulbarga --> Bijapur -->Athani --> Chikodi -->Belgaum -->Anamod --> Ponda (Goa)
View Larger Map
The drive till Bijapur is really smooth. The original route on my mind was Via Jamkhandi--Yargatti after Bijapur to get to Belgaim. However, locals advised me that Athani-Chikodi route is shorter and the road condition is better. Well, they are so wrong!
The worst part about getting from Bijapur to Belgaum via Athani is that there is loads of Sugarcane traffic. So in no time you are coming from 100 Kmph to 20 Kmph, very frequently!
I did the total distance of about 700 Kms in 12 hours 45 minutes. I left Gacchibowli in Hyderabad at 12:00 Noon on 23rd and was at my home in Ponda, Goa at 00:45 hours of 24th. There were 2 major (30 minute) breaks, one each at Bijapur and Belgaum. And there were 2 more 'butt breaks' of about 5 minutes each.
I had done the first 600 Kms in 9.5 hours and it took me 3 hours to get from Belgaum to Ponda. This is one of the most dangerous roads I have driven on in the southern ghats. The road condition (especially on the Karnataka side) is pathetic and add to it a ghat section with a drop in elevation of 2600m in 20 Kms road distance - that is definitely not for the faint hearted!
Comments
apsrtc online booking