Unlike the silky smooth  Mumbai- Pune or Bangalore – Goa Highways, most parts of the NH66 (Kanyakumari – Panvel) were challenging due to the narrow two lanes or maintenance works. We had done our homework by researching the internet and gathering information from friends who ventured the route before. The vehicle and documents were checked and the medical kit, water, and snacks were stored in the boot.  Pillows were kept in the rear seat for one person to sleep if needed, while the other two focus on the roads.

We started from Kochi after 8 pm, to avoid the heavy city traffic in the evening. I was at the wheels for the night drive. We took the longer Edapally-Thrissur-Calicut route (NH66) to avoid the bumpy roads near Ponnani. The traffic was moderate and in 4 hours we covered Thrissur and entered Calicut Bypass. The heavy rain and poor visibility made it difficult to drive past the speed of 50 kmph. The rain subsided once we entered Kannur District but the narrow roads and unmarked dividers limited the speed.  We refueled at Mahi and had a cup of black tea from there. The deserted ghat section roads from Talassery to Kanhangad helped in gaining speed. By 5 in the morning, we reached Kumbala, the last village in Kerala- Karnataka Border. We stopped near a safe place for a 20-minute nap before leaving Kerala. The late night drive helped in saving 4 valuable hours in the Kerala roads. We utilized this time later in exploring Bhatkal, Murudeswar, and Karwar.

We crossed the state border and entered the Mangalore Bypass by 6 am. The road condition deteriorated further after crossing the Netravati river and adding to the pain was a series of toll booths after every few miles. We reached Udupi, the Vegetarian food capital, in an hour. The restaurant we picked for having breakfast did no justice to the reputation of the town.  We finished the mediocre breakfast and resumed the drive in 30 minutes.

While traveling the longer distance, it is better to break the entire length into smaller milestones of 50 to 100 km and negotiate one at a time. The Google Map can be tuned in to the immediate first or second milestone instead of the final destination. This not only ensures accurate routing but also helps in keeping the spirit and focus high. Our first milestone after Udupi was Bhatkal and second Murudeswar.

 The remarkable spot en route to Bhatkal was the Marvanthe Beach. The crystal white beach run parallel to the highway on the west side and the Souparnika river on the other side of the road. The scene of the white sandy shores bordered by pine trees and the serene waters was breathtaking. With a cool tender coconut bought from the beachside shop, we sipped in the surreal beauty of the beach for a good 20 minutes before resuming the journey.

We took the deviation from the Highway to Murudeswar Temple by 11 am. After driving through the narrow zig-zagged village road for 3 km, we caught the first glimpse of the gigantic Siva statue and the crown of the world’s tallest Gopuram ( Entrance Tower).

The mighty statue, the Gopuram and the magnificent architecture built by the Industrialist Dr. R. N. Shetty, against the stunning beauty of Arabian Sea had transformed the typical fishermen colony into a renowned pilgrim spot.  ( Detailed blog on Murudeswar Here).  We utilized the neatly maintained pay and use toilet to get a bath and wash away the tiredness of previous night. After spending an hour exploring the place, we hit the road again speeding northwards.

For the next couple of hours, the drive through Honnavar was uneventful. Other than the bright textured red gravel hills and occasional herds of cattle there was hardly anything that catches the attention. We passed the town of Kumta and kept on speeding at around 100 kmph. We stopped for lunch at the Upahar Vegetarian Hotel en route to Ankola, near a Fuel Station. I would suggest this restaurant for anyone taking this route. The menu was Subtle but enough of options for food lovers to try the local Karnataka Cuisine. There is a souvenir shop near the restaurant, that sells the famous Channapatana toys.

After the sumptuous late lunch and refueling the car, we resumed the journey to Karwar. The landscape was magnificent. With the lush green slopes of Sahyadri on one side and the turquoise waters of Arabian sea on the other, the landscape was magnificent. On a cool weather, you could stop the car, get out and stay in the place forever.

We reached Karwar in less than an hour. The seaside town is strategic and one of the largest base of the  Indian Navy. Adjacent to the road is the naval facility, that stretches several miles and is protected by high walls and barbed wires. The view of the harbor and the ‘Rabindra Nath Tagore Beach’ was breathtakingly beautiful. We stopped at the Karwar beach for 30 minutes to see the INS Chapal warship Museum. By 4 pm, we crossed the Kali river, left Karwar and headed to our final destination, Goa.

 The quality of the two line road from Karwar to Goa was excellent and scenic. We entered the Old City of MarmaGoa ( Madgao) by 5.30pm. Our stay near Morjim Beach, which was at the northern end of the main city. With the help of Google Navigator, we reached the place in another 40 minutes. The 18-hour long journey tired us to the core.  After a light shower, frugal seafood dinner and couple of beers we retired to bed for a long comfortable sleep.

In the next couple of days, we explored the top destinations of Goa. With the adrenaline rides at Baga, Exotic seafood at Anjuna, historic beauty of the Bom Jesus Basilica and the Haggling at Dona Paula and numerous other things,  it was fun all around. ( Details of the Goan Escapades in this Post).

We started our journey back from Morjim to Kochi on the fourth day morning. This time we stopped less and stayed in the speeding car for most of the day. We crossed the Karnataka border to Kasargod by evening 6 pm and by midnight we reached Kochi. We covered around 1800 km in 4 days and brought back a much bigger load of sweet memories of 4 good days well spent.