[RajeshK]

Originally Posted by _raviShankar_

Planning to drive down to payyannur tomorrow morning (Sudden decision-so no time to prepare). Heard that the stretch after hunsur is in a bad condition.
Is it the same now ?
Hope its drivable. Will be travelling in a Fiesta . Hope it will not get swallowed up in giant potholes.
Any updates on the route will be appreciated.

@_raviShankar_, I couldn't make the last trip in car. Went and came back by Bus, so no detail info about the road. Still, I feel the road is drivable...( I was able to sleeep well in the Bus..!!)

From Iritty take direct route to Thalipparamba and Payyanur.

Thanks
Rajesh

[Rajith]

hey,
From road deviation to coorg , your night mare will start till you reach the ghat section top and then kerala will welcome you with hell till mattanur..
Basicaly if uer driving a SUV , it will be some what ok, else its a hell trip on road..
I driven back on 10th Dec in THAR.

[callmetarantula]

Originally Posted by Rajith

hey,
Basicaly if uer driving a SUV , it will be some what ok, else its a hell trip on road.

I'm planning on driving to Kannur from Bangalore in the 1st week of Feb in a Zen. How is the the road condition currently. Has any repairs been carried out after Dec, which was the last update. Are the road still pot-holed and would it be possible to reach in a day if I leave by 10 in the morning??

Thanks

[Fauji]

Originally Posted by callmetarantula

I'm planning on driving to Kannur from Bangalore in the 1st week of Feb in a Zen. How is the the road condition currently. Has any repairs been carried out after Dec, which was the last update. Are the road still pot-holed and would it be possible to reach in a day if I leave by 10 in the morning??

Thanks

We drove back from Kasaragod via Taliparamaba - Iritty - Virajpet - Hunsur yesterday to Bangalore. We took 8 hours and 30 minutes.

The road from Taliparamaba to Virajpet is fantastic and very scenic. It is also full of curves which will slow down. But wil enjoy the drive. From Taliparamaba Cannanore is just 25 KMs on NH 17.

Virajpet - Hunsur via Gonikoppal is bad. Road is broken throughout - except for two KMs near Hunsur - and is not advisable. It will be better to take Hunsur - Piriyapatna - Siddapura - Ammathi - Virajpet - Iritty route which will save you the hassle of driving on Hunsur - Gonikoppal - Virajpet road. It is an additional 10 KMs and is worth it.

[Latheesh]

Originally Posted by Fauji

Virajpet - Hunsur via Gonikoppal is bad. Road is broken throughout - except for two KMs near Hunsur - and is not advisable. It will be better to take Hunsur - Piriyapatna - Siddapura - Ammathi - Virajpet - Iritty route which will save you the hassle of driving on Hunsur - Gonikoppal - Virajpet road. It is an additional 10 KMs and is worth it.

Even Priyapatna route is not good comparing to Gonikoppal route, isn't it?

[Fauji]

Originally Posted by Latheesh

Even Priyapatna route is not good comparing to Gonikoppal route, isn't it?

I am not sure. I am suuming that this shouold be better than Gonikoppal as Guests to Oranage County take this route and should be better. I called up Orange County and they suggested that Piriyapatna - Siddapura is not great but better than Hunsur - Gonikoppal

[Latheesh]

1) Yes it is marginally better than Gonikoppal route. but if you drive carefully (especially around 20-25 KM stretch between Hunsur-Gonikoppa) Gonikoppal route is OK.

2) Piriyapatna route was better but now a days many vehicles take this route and road condition has gone bad. If you are driving in the night Piriyapatna route is better because of low traffic.

3) If you are concerned about the road condition - Drive all the way to Kushal nagar from Hunsur, after crossing Kushal nagar (around 5-6 KM) take left towards Siddapura. But this route will take another 30 min extra, but road condition is better than other two (not great!)

[unni_s]

Guys... I am planning to drive from Bangalore to Kannur on 26th on this route. How is the road beyond Virajpet?

How's the road from Itritti to Mattannur?Most people whom I checked with have reported that while the Ghats here are very beautiful, expect to do only about 30K.m.p.h due to bad roads and possible traffic backup around the bridge.

Is it still worth the attempt or should I take a complete different route via wayanad?
Thanks

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by unni_s

Guys... I am planning to drive from Bangalore to Kannur on 26th on this route. How is the road beyond Virajpet?

How's the road from Itritti to Mattannur?Most people whom I checked with have reported that while the Ghats here are very beautiful, expect to do only about 30K.m.p.h due to bad roads and possible traffic backup around the bridge.

Is it still worth the attempt or should I take a complete different route via wayanad?
Thanks

Virajpet-Iritti-Mattanur route is excellent. FAUJI travelled on it last week.

[Latheesh]

Originally Posted by unni_s

Guys... I am planning to drive from Bangalore to Kannur on 26th on this route. How is the road beyond Virajpet?

How's the road from Itritti to Mattannur?Most people whom I checked with have reported that while the Ghats here are very beautiful, expect to do only about 30K.m.p.h due to bad roads and possible traffic backup around the bridge.

Is it still worth the attempt or should I take a complete different route via wayanad?
Thanks

1) Ghat road is good except for few patches - Its 2 lane road so be careful and set the speed limit 50 max and follow proper lane discipline.

2) Kootupuzha-Iritty-Mattanur stretch is bad - but they did some maint. work last month and is much better than it was during monsoon season.
Mattanur-Kannur stretch is excellent.

[Rajith]

Originally Posted by callmetarantula

I'm planning on driving to Kannur from Bangalore in the 1st week of Feb in a Zen. How is the the road condition currently. Has any repairs been carried out after Dec, which was the last update. Are the road still pot-holed and would it be possible to reach in a day if I leave by 10 in the morning??

Thanks

Hi,
No signs of repair in KA stretch still.You can reach in a day, with some bend rims and rattling , if not driven carefully.

[Prasidhi]

I went to Iritty twice in December.

The first time I took the route Bangalore --> Hunsur--> Gonikoppa --> Virajpet--> Iritty.

The section between Hunsur --> Gonikoppa --> Virajpet was very bad with full of big potholes. Took a hell lot of time.

While coming back, we took the route Iritty--> Virajpet --> Madikeri --> Kushalnagar --> Hunsur --> Bangalore.

The road was good except for a couple of kms between Virajpet and Madikeri.

The second trip, I took the route on return Virajpet --> Sidhapura --> Chettalli --> Suntikoppa --> Kushalnagar --> Hunsur --> Bangalore.

The road till Kushalnagar from Virajpet was narrow, but good one. I would certainly recommend this route though its slightly longer.

[Fauji]

Originally Posted by Prasidhi

I went to Iritty twice in December.

The section between Hunsur --> Gonikoppa --> Virajpet was very bad with full of big potholes. Took a hell lot of time.

While coming back, we took the route Iritty--> Virajpet --> Madikeri --> Kushalnagar --> Hunsur --> Bangalore.

The road was good except for a couple of kms between Virajpet and Madikeri.

The second trip, I took the route on return Virajpet --> Sidhapura --> Chettalli --> Suntikoppa --> Kushalnagar --> Hunsur --> Bangalore.

The road till Kushalnagar from Virajpet was narrow, but good one. I would certainly recommend this route though its slightly longer.

I agree with Prasidhi. The stretch between Hunsur - Virajpet via Gonikoppal is not going to improve in near future. They have cut down the road side trees and the road is up for widening. As we have seen on earlier ocassions, the road will improve only with when widening is complete which will take a year atleast.

Hence aother options given here by Prasidhi is the best bet as of now.

[vista_qjd]

Did a trip few days back and took the usual Gonikoppal-Virajpet bypass. I was hoping to see terrible roads, but was surprised. The roads all are patched up and there are no big potholes until you hit the Virajpet bypass. It is not smooth driving, but very manageable uneven road. Only the virajpet bypass stretch is completely broken and in a very bad shape. Took me about an 1Hr 45 Mins to travel from Coorg cafe until the end of the virajpet bypass.

[Ranjani]

Am going from Bangalore to Thottada near Kannur in a couple of days. Has anyone an update on road conditions? I'm told that Blr-Srirangapatna-Hunsur-Nagarhole Road to Kutta- Manathavady-Nedumpoli-Koothuparamba-Thottada (join NH66 from SH38) is the best route. Thanks!