Train Karnataka coast Mangalore-Karwar? Scenic?

jparrot99

We are thinking about a holiday driving by car from Mangalore to Karwar along the coast of Karnataka. I'm also interested in travelling some of it by train - mostly just because I love trains. Maybe about a week, but we are flexible.

We will be a British/German family group travelling in the second half of September (ages 70 to 3!).

I've just spent most of the morning here in IndiaMike, so lots of ideas of where to stop and what to see along the coast. But I am not sure about the travelling itself.

The Konkan train line along the coast Mangalore-Karwar. Is this worth doing? Which parts? Everyone only talks about this line north in Goa/Maharashtra or south in Kerala - they seem to sleep through the Karnantaka bit!

We live in Bangalore and will start from there. Train, car or plane Bangalore - Mangalore? The train Bangalore - Mangalore only runs at night, so we'd miss the scenery, but it might be fun for the children.

How long would the journey Bangalore - Mangalore be by car? Too long for children?

Or we could fly. But that would be a pity, I've heard this route is very beautiful.

Too many questions!
Jose

srikanth131

Train or Car is your personnel choice as thereisnt anything special in a train journey in this stretch. (Except, Some bridges and waterbodies)

Places to visit in the bangalore to karwar stretch would be
Kaup Beach Before Udupi (Silent and Clean with a lighthouse)
Malpe Beach near Udupi
Murudeshwar
and Gokarna (4 Beaches)

If you consider visiting the above , a car would be a better option.

Its rainiy season and last month Water Sports in murudeshwar, Boat services to the 2 Island beaches in gokarna wasn't avaliable, however it might resume by the time you visit.

A relaxed Bangalore-Mangalore drive might take you approx 7-8 hours.
I dont remmember of anything specific to visit along the hassan route (roads are BAD too). however if you take the Bangalore-Mysore-Madikere-Mangalore route you could visit kushalnagar and madikere on the way.

How many days do you have? If its a car are you planning to self drive or rent?

jparrot99

srikanth131, thanks for your help.

I'm not too bothered about water sports not being available.

We will hire a car + driver, probably Innova or similar. I think maybe we just take a train one part, for a change. And I think won't drive the Bangalore-Mangalore journey. Either overnight train or flight. We have about a week.

Some of our party are a little particular about hotels. We do need clean rooms/sheets/bathroom, and good food. Simple is OK though, for example homestay standard.

Possible plan:

Mangalore - stay night at Goldfinch Hotel
En route: Surathkal - beautiful beach
Udupi - (pretty, and home of masala dosa?)
Malpe - pretty beach

Stay a couple of nights at Turtle Bay Resort, Maravanthe beach
- Kundapura, peaceful, beautiful temples, ancient ruins
- Maravanthe, beautiful kilometer long beach
- day trip to Jog Falls

En route: Murudeshwara town, largest Shiva statue
Gokarna, busy town, 4 famous beaches, temples, pilgrims, hippies

Stay at Devbagh Beach Resort, Karwar

I've also had another idea. We were thinking of going to Udaipur afterwards. Have I read somewhere that the train north from Karnataka is special? So we could go by train from Karwar or thereabouts and fly from Mumbai to Udaipur.

Jose

bonded

Here is one option of reaching Udaipur from Karwar

You could take 2431 Rajdhani from Karwar leaving at 10:40 and get down at Kota Junction 11:50 next day.

Then 2963 leaving Kota at 01:10 and reaching Udaipur at 07:00.

srikanth131

A good plan , No Doubt.

Please don't expect malpe to be clean

"bonded"'s Idea is good if you would want a train journey, But it would be a long one...

As the mangalore train is overnight you would miss the views, Its would be good to take a volvo to mangalore if you have a train journey elsewhere in mind during the trip. (as yous suggested)

bijapuri

well, if you have one week, and you have kids, your range without flying is rather limited. Udaipur is definitely out! The age of the kids is also a factor, so I will have to guess . . .


Here's a few suggestions for stops in the mountains before you get to the coast.

Have you visited Mysore area? Srirangapatnam is nice for kids because of the bird sanctuary, the fort and the river. Mysore has a zoo.

Have you visited Belur/Halebid?
They are incredible, but it's all art, kids might not like it as much as adults. Saravanbelagoda is lots of fun for fit kids who can climb 700 steps- they love the big guy!

Nagarhole is the best game park in the south and is a different way to the coast, but is an option. Kids of all ages will like it, as you ca visit an elephant camp. Highly recommended as a stopover, but needs its own full day apart from travel. So if you go there, it would take you three days to get to the coast. Worth it, tho.

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srikanth131

New Day Trains to Mangalore was introduced on sat. Its run tri-weekly - (number 6515/6516)

jparrot99

Thanks for replies!

Plan so far below. I'm organising the Mangalore/Karnataka coast bit.

I'm still wondering though about the journey Goa-Mumbai-Udaipur. Plan at the moment is to fly it. But is the Goa-Mumbai a good day time train journey, that me and the children would enjoy? Scenic Konkan coast?

We are travelling with 3 children ages 3, 6, 8. We live in Bangalore, and we've seen Mysore, Kabini/Nagarhole (must go back!), Belur/Halebid, Saravanbelagoda - the children enjoyed most of them, particularily Saravanbelagoda and the 700 steps. The 3 year old insisted on walking down them all!

Mon 21 Sept
Me and children:
Overnight train Sun/Mon night
Other adults, in the car:
Monday morning early, drive Bangalore - Mangalore
Stay night in Mangalore
Tues Morning, see Mangalore

Tues afternoon drive to Sai Vishram Beach Resort, stay 3 nights

Possible stops en-route:
Kundapura
Maravanthe beach
Udupi for lunch

Jog Falls, day trip Thur 24th

Fri drive to south Goa

Stops en route?
Kollur
Murudeshwara,
Gokarna for lunch
Yana beach

Monday fly to Udaipur via Mumbai
Fri fly back to Bangalore, via Mumbai

jparrot99

Just seen srikanth131's post about day trains to Mangalore. That's very exciting, will investigate!
Thanks!!!!!!

jparrot99

It runs Mondays, and there is availability, great.

jparrot99

I've booked seats on the Bangalore-Mangalore train. "3A" (AC sleeper) because that was the only availability. So the visibility of the view is not going to be good.

Any one have any tips what we can do to get a better view? Go looking for better seats in unreserved 2nd class?

The other seats on the train are:
CLASS-2S CLASS-SL
AVAILABLE-0296 REGRET/WL 1

Sitting by the open door won't be great with 3 small children

Jose

srikanth131

w.r.t tickets - congrats

Closed Shaded glasses in 3AC would surely play spoilsport especially of would like to get some good photos. If spending some money does not matter (only Rs.116 / ticket I suppose) you could get a few Unreserved Tickets or SS tickets and alternate. However most of the trains many not have a a passageway between SS and 3AC.

Why dont you just book some Sleeper Class (SL) tickets and see if they get confirmed before the day of departure. else you could always cancel them.

(No clear solutions)

srikanth131

On the train you could always request the TC (Ticket Collector) to allow you to use the SL Seats if any of the passengers haven't boarded,

If you travel on a Weekday. I doubt there would be many RAC Ticket holders on board (if not none) as this is a Day Train too.

jparrot99

Done the train ride now. Spectacular, highly recommended. more later.

jparrot99

Thanks to everyone's help on this forum. We had a great trip, and I won't forget it for a long time.
I've posted a blog entry here:
http://jose.typepad.com/jose/2009/10...d-udaipur.html

A few notes

- if you have 'extra' seat reservation that you are not using, they will sell them at the next station, even if you haven't cancelled them. Waste of money trying to keep them.

- best view is from the right hand side of the train (left coming out of Bangalore since the train reverses direction)

- all of the scenic part is between Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya Road, 2 and a half (timetable) to three hours (with delays)

- you *have* to go and sit in the doorway

- but even in AC, there is a reasonable view out of the windows. I seriously thought thought that it might have been worth bring window cleaner with you - is that a crazy idea?

- ask the conductor when to watch out for the crashed train under a bridge - towards the end of the section in the hill

Jose