Down the Shiradi ghat
NH 75 runs west from Hassan to Sakleshpur, among coffee and cardamom estates, then drops steeply through the Shiradi ghat's forests and hairpin bends to Gundya and the coastal plain, continuing through Uppinangady and B C Road to Mangaluru. At about 166 km, a household can usually be moved in a day when the ghat is open, but the descent is slow for a loaded truck.
When the ghat is closed
The Shiradi ghat has been closed or restricted to heavy vehicles at times for road works, and landslides in heavy monsoons can shut it for days. When that happens, trucks use the Charmadi or Sampaje ghats, which add distance and time. Ask the mover which road they'll use, whether your truck size is allowed, and what happens if plans change on the day.
Monsoon in the Western Ghats
From about June to September, the ghats get extremely heavy rain, with mist, slippery roads and landslides. If you must move then, ask for waterproof wrapping on everything, a covered vehicle and loading in a dry spell, and keep a back-up date. Mangaluru is humid all year, which is hard on wood and electronics.
October to February is usually the most comfortable window.
Leaving Hassan
Homes near the old market may need a smaller vehicle to shuttle goods to the truck; Vidyanagar and the newer layouts are easier. If you're moving from a coffee estate near Sakleshpur, give the exact location, since estate roads may need a smaller vehicle.
Arriving in Mangaluru
NH 75 brings the truck into Mangaluru from the east, past Padil and into Kankanady and Pumpwell. Bejai, Kadri and the central areas are close by, Hampankatta and the old market are crowded, and Surathkal to the north is a long drive. Many Mangaluru homes are on hilly, narrow streets, so tell the mover the exact address and whether a smaller vehicle may be needed.
Packing for hairpin bends
A steep, winding descent means braking and swaying, so ask for heavy cartons and furniture to be loaded low and tied, glass and mirrors double-boxed, and fragile pieces padded on all sides. Label each carton with the room it's going to, and keep documents, jewellery and medicines in your own bag.
Festivals and dates
Mangaluru's Dasara processions, Ganesh Chaturthi, Deepavali, Christmas and Eid keep crews busy, and the start of the academic year brings many students to Mangaluru's medical and engineering colleges. Book early around those dates.
Jobs, colleges and transfers
Many moves on this route are students and doctors heading to Mangaluru's colleges and hospitals, port and bank staff, or Hassan families moving to the coast. If an employer is paying, ask what documents they need; every mover we work with provides a GST invoice.
Settling in
Find out how water and power backup work in the new home, keep good ventilation for the damp, and book internet as soon as you have the address. Kannada and Tulu are widely spoken in Mangaluru, along with Konkani, Beary and English.