Current Condition of Road To kerala

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by kala

It is indeed Kalarkode and not Areekode. (Areekode is a junction that you pass on the Nilambur-Calicut route. Kerala does have its own share of duplicate placenames, but I can't seem to recall an Areekode anywhere in Travancore)

By the way, I think for getting to Thekkady from Kollam, the route suggested via Alleppey (almost) would be extremely roundabout in my opinion (longer by at least 50-60 kms). The best routes in the order of preference would be :

1) Kollam-Kottarakkara-Adoor-Pathanamthitta-Plachery-Erumeli-Mundakayam-Kumily-Thekkady (Shortest by a long way, but I'm not sure about the road conditions from Pathanamthitta to Mundakkayam via Erumeli. Normally this road gets a facelift around Sabarimala time, so it's very likely that it would be in good condition around this time of the year)

2) Same as above till Pathanamthitta, then use Pathanamthitta-Ranni-Manimala-Kanjirappally-Mundakkayam instead. This road is generally in decent condition all year round, but one may find it a little difficult taking the right deviations if not familiar with the road - Direction boards are a little bit sparse on this route. May be 10-15 kms longer than Route (1)

3) Kollam-Krishnapuram (deviate from NH-47 here : right rurn)-Mavelikkara-Thiruvalla-Changanacherry(byepass)-Vazhoor-Kanjirappally-Mundakkayam-Kumily-Thekkady. Going via Mavelikkara-Mannar-Thiruvalla to Changanacherry (instead of going on NH47 almost till Alleppey and turning at Kalarkode towards Alleppey) would save you almost 30 kms - the roads are pretty good all the way (except for about 3-4 kms between Thiruvalla to Changanacherry).

For a person who is not familiar with the region and does not know the local language, I would prefer to take a straightforward route - in this case NH47/SH20 instead of the smaller district and SH roads. Going via Kalarcode makes the route simple and difficult to get lost, hence this route has been suggested.

[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by aalokd

• Kollam to Thekkady

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Take NH47 from Kollam towards Kochi via Karunagapalli & Kayamkulam. Just before (<5 kms) Alapuzha, you will reach Areekode....Changanaserry-Kanjirapalli-Mundakayam-Kuttikanam-Peeremede-Vandiperiyar-Kumili-Thekkady.

Originally Posted by kala

1) Kollam-Kottarakkara-Adoor-Pathanamthitta-Plachery-Erumeli-Mundakayam-Kumily-Thekkady

I think we can combine these two routes and optimize a bit.

My suggestion will be Kollam - Kottarakkara - Adoor - Pandalam - Chengannur - Thiruvalla - Changanacherry Bye pass [almost 5-6 kms from Thiruvalla, you will see a BIG road towards right with signals right after a WIDE bridge. End of byepass, take a right again at a junction after railway station] - Kanjirappally - Mundakayam-Kumily-Thekkady. I believe there is very less chance of losing direction in this route. Most of the Trivandrum / Kollam - Kottayam KSRTC buses ply in this route

You just need to be careful with some narrow bridges, there are couple of them where at a time ONLY one HEAVY vehicle can drive thru. Otherwise nothing to worry about.

But if you LOVE a drive by the side of backwaters, stick on to Alappey route as suggested, it's an EXPERIENCE.

Edit:: Wherever you see "Elegance" restaurant, it's a safe bet! It's a hotel chain by some BIG shot in Kerala & ambience & food quality is guaranteed, NOT very expensive as well.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

But if you LOVE a drive by the side of backwaters, stick on to Alappey route as suggested, it's an EXPERIENCE.

Edit:: Wherever you see "Elegance" restaurant, it's a safe bet! It's a hotel chain by some BIG shot in Kerala & ambience & food quality is guaranteed, NOT very expensive as well.

Exactly. That is the main reason why I suggested SH20 between Kalarcode & Changanaserry, some 20 kms of "backwater drive".

I have suggested he drop in at Elegance in Kanjirapalli - which is an excellent place too, very convenient for all those who are going to Thekkady & MUnnar on the KK Road (NH220)

[swiftnfurious]

Slightly OT:

Originally Posted by hvkumar

I have suggested he drop in at Elegance in Kanjirapalli - which is an excellent place too, very convenient for all those who are going to Thekkady & MUnnar on the KK Road (NH220)

You always amaze me HVK! The way you remember routes & names of places. By the way I stay close to Elegance, Kanjirappally! Please do let me know if you come by this route, would love to catch up!

[binaiks]

Just traveled Thrissur-Shoranur-Pattambi-Perinthalmanna-Angadipuram-Mankada-Manjeri-Edavanna-Nilambur-Nadugani-Gudalur-Mysore-Bangalore yesterday.

Thrissur to Pattambi is excellent - the roads are in really good shape, well laid and marked. The works on the flyover at Wadakkanchery is progressing pretty well - the last span has been laid. They need to lay the road over it, and complete works on the side rails. The bridge should be opened in another month or so - going by the pace of the works.

Pattambi to Perinthalmanna is a mixed bad - there were no bad roads anywhere, but the surface is not great. Potholes have been patched up - but very crudely patched. The surface is not even, and would throw passengers around.

Perinthalmanna-Angadipuram-Tirurkad is great. Tirurkad to Manjeri was very crowded and surface is good at places and uneven is some places. Manjeri to Nilambur is good - but has to cross quite a lot of crowded junctions. Nilambur to Vazhikadavu was heavily crowded.

Vazhikadavu to Nadugani: Roads within Kerala were great. Well paved and well marked. The last few kms in Kerala were not in great shape - lots of potholes and roads washed away in some places. Roads get really bad in Tamilnadu - the roads get narrow as well. Some works, like culverts or embankments were in progress - so at some places hardly a lane was open. Toll collection in the section is still there - they seem to charge hefty rates for no reason. Cars pay Rs. 20, while Sumo/Innova types have to pay Rs. 25. What is the purpose of levying money on this section?

Nadugani-Gudalur is decent - watch out for people walking on the middle of the road. Gudalur to Bandipur is average - some bad patches here and there.

Bandipur to Gundlupet is also average. The roads were fairly good after Gundlupet. Mysore-Bangalore was heavily crowded.

[i.1979]

binaiks,
thanks for the update. for the perinthalmanna-nilambur route you could have selected the road via kalikavu/ melattur instead of manjeri to avoid all those crowded junctions. toll@ nadugani is still a mystery, they collect the toll but do/ provide nothing special in that route.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by i.1979

thanks for the update. for the perinthalmanna-nilambur route you could have selected the road via kalikavu/ melattur instead of manjeri to avoid all those crowded junctions..

Actually, Manjeri route was selected since we had a stop in a place on that route. From Perinthalmanna, we had to go to Angadippuram (Thirumandhamkunnu temple) and then to attend a function at a place near Manjeri.

[JoeMichael]

I am planning a trip to Wayanad from Bangalore (via nagarhole) next weekend - any updates on the road conditions. Also one of my friends was mentioning of unbearable temperatures..But the resort manager said its just pleasant to warm during day and cool at night - Could anyone help on this

[kala]

Originally Posted by JoeMichael

I am planning a trip to Wayanad from Bangalore (via nagarhole) next weekend - any updates on the road conditions. Also one of my friends was mentioning of unbearable temperatures..But the resort manager said its just pleasant to warm during day and cool at night - Could anyone help on this

I was there last weekend - days are indeed quite warm, especially since it has been threatening to rain every afternoon/evening and so it is quite cloudy. Nights are quite pleasant, though I wouldn't really call it cool.

Any particular reason why you're travelling through Nagarahole ? If a visit to the WLS is what you're after, please check with the Forest department if they have resumed safaris there (it was suspended 2-3 weeks ago due to the forest fire in Nagarahole). If not I'd recommend the Gundlupet-Batheri route, roads are in much better condition on that route.

[srikanthns]

Many people might have already written about this, but I thought I will add a bit of mine too: Went to Suchindram temple from TVM and came back. Went by NH route since I had doubts about other alternate routes which anyway merge into NH after some distance through Vizhinjam, Poovar etc.,. People call this NH? It is a torture to drive through this corridor! It took me 2 1/2 hrs to traverse the 68 km distance! One of my friend told me that from Chennai to Nagercoil , he took seven hours and from Nagercoil to TVM he took 2hrs 45 minutes! I did not believe him then, now I do!

[joecherian]

Does anyone have any updates on the road construction status on Dindigul-Theni section. ? I have a trip down to KL this weekend and hence was planning to take this route.

[lloydofcochin]

Bhpians,

I have a drive coming up to Calicut next week. I can start from Bangalore only after 7-8pm so the route via Bandipur is ruled out. I'm thinking of going via Hunsur - Gonikkopal - Kutta.

How is the road condition on that route? Is it safe for a night drive? How many hours should I budget for the drive? What time does the Bandipur WLS gates close at the Kerala side? Unfortunately I have to return the same day

Thanks in advance.

[coolclouds]

Did Kochi-Bangalore yesterday. The road is still bumpy near Walayar else everything fine. The diversions too are ok. The work is in progress between Krishnagiri and Hosur, expect traffic block at ghat section during peak hours.

There is a MOBO restaurant (did I spell it correct?) in L&T highway near Pollachi exit. The ambiance and food was very good.

Also, saw another restaurant after Toppur toll gate towards Bangalore in the left side (not A2B)

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by lloydofcochin

Bhpians,

I can start from Bangalore only after 7-8pm so the route via Bandipur is ruled out. I'm thinking of going via Hunsur - Gonikkopal - Kutta.
What time does the Bandipur WLS gates close at the Kerala side? Unfortunately I have to return the same day

Thanks in advance.

lloydofcochin, Its been a while I took Kutta road so not sure about current situation, though have heard that it is much better than what it used to be. However, I dont think it will bring down time much, Kutta route used to take around 3~4 hrs more than Bandipur route. I would suggest you make an early morning start from Bangalore; say around 3am or so. That way you can reach Bandipur as gates open and be in Calicut by 9am or so. Last month it took me exact 6 hrs in my Alto with a stop over of around 20 mins in CCD. This way you can avoid traffic on Mysore road.

Both KL and KA side gates closes at 9PM. However once you are in forest you dont need to worry about that. Ie, suppose you cross KL side gate at say 08:30 PM and reach KA side gate in forest past 9PM also no issues. They wont ask you to stay inside forest or return back

[A350XWB]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

Last month it took me exact 6 hrs in my Alto with a stop over of around 20 mins in CCD. This way you can avoid traffic on Mysore road.

I second this suggestion. Make an early morning start and you can easily reach Calicut without much fuss. I prefer it more than the stressful night driving via Kutta, which will not give you much gain. The roads are in very good condition and that is a bonus. I too am driving to Calicut this Friday (23rd) morning, on the same route. I've been on that route couple of weeks back and it drains you out a lot less. I would suggest this, as you have a return journey also the same day.