NH 50
Nanded–Chitradurga Highway
Also known as Vijayapura–Chitradurga section was part of the former NH 13 (old numbering)
751 km
Open
2 states
National Highway
Route
NH 50 runs 751 km from Nanded, Maharashtra to Chitradurga, Karnataka.
Crosses Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Through Nanded, Udgir, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Ilkal, Hosapete and Chitradurga.
Why it matters
NH 50 is the main road of the Kalyana-Karnataka region — the northern districts that historically had the fewest highways. It gives Bidar, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura and Hosapete a direct link both north into Marathwada and south to the Bengaluru corridor at Chitradurga, and it carries the region's cement, granite, sugar and pulses out to market. It is also the tourist road to Hampi, Bidar Fort, the Gol Gumbaz at Vijayapura and the temples of Aihole and Pattadakal.
History
NH 50 crosses the Deccan plateau from Nanded in Maharashtra to Chitradurga in Karnataka. Along the way it strings together the old fort cities of Bidar, Kalaburagi and Vijayapura, then runs south past Hosapete, the gateway to the ruins of Hampi. It ends at Chitradurga, where it meets the Pune–Bengaluru highway, NH 48. Most of the southern half was the old NH 13, a long-established route through northern Karnataka, and the rest was joined on in the 2010 renumbering. The road follows a line of history: Bidar and Kalaburagi were capitals of the Bahmani sultanate, Vijayapura (Bijapur) of the Adil Shahis, and Hampi of the Vijayanagara empire, so a drive down NH 50 passes forts, tombs and temple ruins from four different kingdoms.
Good to know
- About 641 of its 751 km lie in Karnataka.
- Passes Hosapete, the gateway to Hampi, a World Heritage Site.
- The Vijayapura–Chitradurga stretch was part of the old NH 13.
- Links three historic Deccan cities in a row: Bidar, Kalaburagi and Vijayapura.
- Ilkal, on the route, is famous across India for its handwoven Ilkal sarees.
- It meets NH 63 at Udgir, NH 65 at Humnabad, NH 52 at Vijayapura and NH 48 at Chitradurga.
- The road runs through the granite country of Hunagund, Ilkal and Kushtagi, one of Karnataka's biggest stone-quarrying belts.
Key junctions
- Udgir — junction with NH 63, the Daund–Koraput highway
- Humnabad — crosses NH 65, the Pune–Hyderabad–Machilipatnam highway
- Vijayapura — meets NH 52, the Sangrur–Ankola highway
- Hosapete — the turn-off for Hampi and the Ballari mining belt
- Chitradurga — southern end, at NH 48 — the Pune–Bengaluru trunk route
On the road
This is dry, open Deccan country — long straight stretches, few hills and very hot weather from March to May, so November to February is by far the best time to drive it. Nanded to Chitradurga is a long two-day trip; Kalaburagi and Vijayapura are the natural overnight stops and both have plenty of hotels. Watch for slow-moving granite and cement trucks around Ilkal and Kushtagi, and for bullock carts and sugarcane tractors near the smaller towns. Hosapete is the place to break the journey if you want to see Hampi.