Day 17: Gokarna to Bangalore

Leaving Gokarna

The morning began with breakfast at the hotel. Bags packed, a quick shower, and it was time to leave Gokarna behind and start the drive towards the next destination, Bengaluru.

Checked the route with one of the front desk manager who himself had travelled on scooty to Bangalore. The route advised would pass through the Jog Falls area, Shivamogga, Chitradurga, and Tumkuru before reaching the city.

Through the Western Ghats

The drive until Shivamogga was easily one of the most beautiful stretches of the entire trip.

The road passed through the forests of the Western Ghats. Thought of going to Jog falls however dropped the idea since the sight wouldn’t have been that great way past rainy season and neither was the time of the day. Past the forested stretch, the landscape kept changing almos tevery hour. Dense green forests gave way to lighter deciduous trees, and slowly the terrain began to dry out as the road moved towards Chitradurga.

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At the entrance of Chitradurga, stone hills appeared across the horizon, scattered across an otherwise dry and open landscape. It felt like driving through a living map of Indian geography: forests, hills, plains, and rocky outcrops all within a few hours of each other.

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Along with the terrain, the culture began to shift as well. The journey that had started in Goa and moved through coastal Karnataka now felt like it had entered the first real stretch of southern India.

Choosing the Countryside Road

From Chitradurga there were multiple routes to Bangalore. Asked for the route from the local shops and many people recommend the older highway because it runs almost straight till Bangalore. However, that road was under heavy widening and repair work. Decided to take the other route through the countryside instead. More undulating and slightly slower, yet far more pleasant for it.

Tall green trees lined the road in long avenues. Villages appearing at intervals, fields spread out on either side. The drive felt calmer and less pressured.

Since this was not a divided highway, it demanded complete attention. Oncoming traffic meant speed had to stay controlled. It was the kind of road meant to be enjoyed, not rushed.

Palm Country

Beyond Chitradurga, before the road connected to the highway toward Tumkuru, thelandscape changed one final time.

Date Palmtrees appeared everywhere. Plantations, nurseries, rows of palms in different sizes and stages of growth stretched across the countryside. As the evening sun began to drop, the scene turned almost golden. After seven hours of driving through changing terrain, it was exactly the right thing to arrive at.

The Final Run to Bengaluru

Hunger and a little tiredness of continuous drive finally forced a stop. Stopped at a newly opened roadside restaurant, right at the start of the Tumkuru Highway. The staff told it opended just 3 days earlier. The food came quickly, simple and sufficient. After the short break, the final leg began.

By the time dinner was done, night had settled in completely. From there it was a non-stop drive into the city.

The lights of Bengaluru hotel appeared around 10:30 PM. Checked into the hotel, dropped the bags, and called it a day.

The road had been long and a satisfying one too.