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Bangalore to Bekal by Road

[#car]You can select one of the two road routes to drive from Bangalore to Bekal. The first is via Mysore and Madikeri (Route 1), the second is via Hassan and Subrahmanya (Route 2). See the Bangalore-Bekal Route map shown further below.

Both the routes are comparable in distance (about 375km & 8 hours drive).  

Before finalising , consider your overall itinerary plan and your base location and pick the suitable route. Also do a few tweaks and detours. Heading by one route and returning by another is also a feasible option.

Some of these options are shown as Route 1a and Route 2a below.

Take a look at your overall Bekal  itinerary also to fit well one of these suggested routes and variations.

[#bar-a]Route 1 (Bangalore to Bekal via Madikeri : 365 km) : Bangalore − 100 km → Mandya - 27km → Srirangapatna (bypass Mysore city)– 20km → Yelwal → 28km → Hunsur →45km → Kushalnagar → 31km → Madikeri → 50km → Sullia → 9km → Jalsoor → 40km → Cherkala → 15km → Bekal.

[#bar-b]Route 1a  (Bangalore to Bekal via Panathur : 393 km) : Bangalore— 100 km → Mandya — 27km → Srirangapatna (bypass Mysore city)— 20km → Yelwal— 28km → Hunsur —45km → Kushalnagar — 31km →  Madikeri— 34km → Bhagamandala— 28km → Panathur— 80km → Bekal.

[#bar-a]Route 2 (Bangalore to Bekal via Subrahmanya  : 377 km)  : Bangalore— 30km → Nelamangala cross — 152km → Hassan (bypass)— 40km → Sakleshpur — 37km → Gundya— 21km → Subrahmanya— 42km → Jalsoor—40km → Cherkala— 15km → Bekal.

[#bar-b]Route 2a (Bangalore to Bekal via Kalladka, Vittala  : 386 km)  : Bangalore— 30km → Nelamangala cross — 152km → Hassan (bypass)— 40km → Sakleshpur — 37km → Gundya— 55km → Mani— 6km → Kalladka—11km →Vittala—40km → Cherkala— 15km → Bekal.

Why to go for Route 1? 
[#dot-b]This is the ideal route option if your itinerary includes Mysore and Coorg.

From Madikeri you can take another alternate route to Bekal via Bhagamandala and Panathur (Route 1a). This is a relatively lonely narrow road, especially the the section right through the Greater Talacauvery National Park. Nature fans will love this drive.

[#dot-b]Consider the Panathur route if you are staying at south of Bekkal (like Nalanda Resort near Nileshwar) or Houseboat in Valiyaparamba backwater or the wellness resort The Windflower Sattva.

[#dot-b]Also the Panathur route is apt choice if your itinerary include places like Ranipuram, Talakaveri or other Coorg destinations south of Madikeri.

Restaurants on Route 1: 
There are quite a few restaurants in the Bangalore-Mysore stretch of this route.

A2B at Bidadi is the right place to have breakfast, if you're started early in the morning. A2B appears on your left on NH 275 about 13km from the Mysore Road exit on the NICE road.
Kamath Lokaruchi (after Ramanagara on right).
Kadambam, Vaishali (non-veg), Mc Donalds & Kamath Upachar ( after Channapatna on left).
A2B food court (after Maddur on the right).
Empire Restaurant (non-veg) on right near Maddur.
Righr-O food court (after mandya on the left).

Cafe County (at the Y fork before Hunsur).
East End Hotel (Madikeri Town).
Santrupthi (as you exit Sullia town, on the left).

Why to go for Route 2?
[#dot-b]This is a well laid NH, most of the way. From Bangalore  all the way till around Hassan its 4 lane (toll highway). Driving is a breeze till Sakleshpur. That's roughly 60% (225 km) of the total distance in this route.

Beyond Sakleshpur, till Bekal, the road is in good condition, but 2 lane and curvy mostly.

[#dot-b]Sakleshpur to Gundya (where you'll make a diversion for Subrahmanya), is a ghat section, often you will find yourself tailgating slow moving queues of trucks.

Sakleshpur-Gundya-Subrahmanya stretch is right through the dense forest. Beyond which the route will be alternating through farmlands, villages and dense forests till you reach Cherkala.

Restaurants on Route 2: 
You'll see a reasonable number of good restaurants (A2B, Kamaths etc) till around Sakleshpur. Then these highway side facilities thin out.

Bellur Cross - Channarayapatna area:
Aadya's Royal Dine , A2B (After Channarayapatna, on the left).
Kamath, CCD ( After Channarayapatna next to HP Fuel station on the right).
Swathi Delicacy (Before Bellur cross, on the right).

Sakleshpur area:
The Ossoor (Just before Sakleshpur town, on the right ).
Surabhi's Nx ( as you come out of Sakleshpur town, on right).

Subrahmanya:
There are a few good vegetarian restaurants in front of the temple.

Bangalore to Bekal by Train

Take the overnight Kannur Express (Train Number:16517/16518) from Bangalore to Kannur. Get down at Kasaragod (Station Code : KGQ) or Kanhangad (Station Code : KZE) .

Reserve well ahead as Kannur Express gets overbooked usually.

There is also the weekly Yestantput-Mangalore Express (Train No:16565/16566).

Bekal is 14km north of Kanhangad and 16km south of Kasaragod.

[#dot]Fly to Kannur (CNN) from Bangalore (BLR). It's a 1 hour flight. From Kannur drive to Bekal (about 80 km & 2hours drive).
[#dot]Fly to Mangalore (IXE) from Bangalore (BLR). It's a 1 hour flight. From Mangalore drive to Bekal (about 70 km & 2hours drive).

Go for Kannur option if your base is south of Bekal. Or your itinerary include Wayanad as well ( located south of Bekal)