[sachinpk]

Originally Posted by shantanumishra

Is it possible to include Coonor in this itinerary?

A cursory check on Google Maps shows that Ooty<->Coonoor (is just 19kms apart). So if you specifically plan to goto Coonoor, I feel it can be accommodated.

I don't know the exact requirements you have for the pleasure trip, but I was just wondering if you could find accommodation in Coonoor area. Assuming that you leave Mysore by 0800 hours, you should be in Ooty by around 1400hrs (5 hours is what Google Map predicts, so add some buffer as well). Add another half an hour to reach Coonoor, so that is 1430hrs. If you book your place of stay in Coonoor, you could straight away check into the rooms and freshen up etc. Coonoor (as I remember it) is a small town, has got the various military establishments like the Madras Regiment Training Centre (where parts of movie Roja was shot). So you have the evening to relax at Coonoor. Next day start of early from Coonoor to Ooty town proper, and do the mandatory sight seeing of the lake, Doddabetta peak, the gardens etc. You could then come back to Coonoor on the evening (of the 4th).

Check out on 5th morning, and you are any way straight on the road to Bangalore (via Mettupalayam, Salem etc.). The advantage you have is that you are going by your own vehicle and can easily make minor adjustments.

[SunnyBoi]

Originally Posted by shantanumishra

1. Start Thursday,2nd July early morning @ 5 AM.

2. Reach Mysore by 10 AM and visit Chamundi Devi Temple and then the Zoo.

If you start at 5AM, it shouldn't take you over 3 hours (worst case cenario) to reach Mysore.

The Zoo requires a whole day since its very large. You can take a call once you finish Chamundi Hill tour, may I suggest you visit Karanji Lake instead of the Zoo? Its not as taxing as the Zoo with a beautiful aviary and butterfly park. You can wind up by 4PM easily.

Originally Posted by shantanumishra

3. If able to finish early, then off to Ooty, else take rest for the remaining of the day in Mysore.

4. Considering worst case scenario, start for Ooty on 3rd morning by 8 AM to reach there by noon.

You can make it to Ooty only if you skip the Zoo on 2nd July.

[mpksuhas]

Did Bangalore - Gundulpet section enroute to Calicut last weekend. Onward journey at 04:45 AM from Silkboard on Sat - 27 June. Return, reached Gundulpet around 06:00 PM on Monday 29 June.

Silkboard - NICE road - Kengeri exit - Mysore : 04:45 AM at Silkboard, traffic was sparse in NICE road and also on Mysore road. Reached Mysore around 07:00 AM, one of the fastest drive for me, thanks to removal of speed breakers. Rarely went over 100 KMPH but was a non stop drive.

Speed breakers till Chennapattana stays, past that most of the speed breakers are removed and barricades are placed. Couple of places around Maddur had newly laid speed breakers.

Mysore - Nanjanguad: Road work is yet to start fully, few places they have leveled either side of roads. However, not even one place saw actual work going on. Since this is a heavy traffic sector, they should have logically started work here first. Anyways, road condition has deteriorated, with potholes and rough sections at many places. With rains, in couple of weeks it would be real bad.

Nanjangaud: Gundulpet: Ongoing road work, many sections are done compared to my trip a month back. However, may be due to rains, did not see any single section where work was progressing either during my onward or return trip. Guess it will take atleast another 3 months for work to be done.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

Mysore - Nanjanguad: Road work is yet to start fully, few places they have leveled either side of roads. However, not even one place saw actual work going on. Since this is a heavy traffic sector, they should have logically started work here first. Anyways, road condition has deteriorated, with potholes and rough sections at many places. With rains, in couple of weeks it would be real bad.

Nanjangaud: Gundulpet: Ongoing road work, many sections are done compared to my trip a month back. However, may be due to rains, did not see any single section where work was progressing either during my onward or return trip. Guess it will take atleast another 3 months for work to be done.

Given this, do you think it still makes sense (even for an early start from Bangalore) to take the Kanakpura-Malavalli-Talakkad-Chamarajanagar-Gundlupet-Bathery route of going towards Wayanad/Calicut ? At least till the widening work is completed on Mysore-Gundlupet stretch.

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by NPV

Given this, do you think it still makes sense (even for an early start from Bangalore) to take the Kanakpura-Malavalli-Talakkad-Chamarajanagar-Gundlupet-Bathery route of going towards Wayanad/Calicut ? At least till the widening work is completed on Mysore-Gundlupet stretch.

I guess its just a matter of preference, one has low traffic and offers a relaxed drive. While other gives lots of food options and 4 lane road.

Even for an early morning start my preference is still (ie even after speed breakers are removed) Kanakpura - Chamarajanagar - Gundulpet route.

I rarely drive above 100 KMPH on Mysore road and around 80 KMPH on NH 209. With this, I take around 3:45 minutes from Hosur road NICE road entry to Gundulpet while taking NH 209.

While, on taking Mysore road it usually takes about 04:00 hours for the same.

However, this time may be due to removal of majority of speed breakers I was able to reach Mysore in around 2 hours 15 mins, I don't remember myself able to reach Mysore this fast anytime. Though I do not remember the exact time, I guess I was able to do Mysore in about the same time some ~7/8 years back when 4 laning was done and speed-breakers were not present.

May be once road work on entire Mysore - Gundulpet section is done and provided speed breakers on Mysore road are not rebuilt, it would be best to take Mysore - Gundulpet route. Say, if it is possible to do Silkboard - NICE road - Mysore in ~ 2:15 mins and Mysore - Gundulpet in ~1:15 mins. Till then I guess NH 209 is the best bet.

However, as you are aware the Kaveri bridge near Mallavalli is closed and the difference between time taken for both routes may be even less if driven faster than what I have mentioned.

[Safety is Param]

Originally Posted by Safety is Param

Hi All,

I have planned a trip with family to Ooty this Sunday. Am planning on taking the Masinagudi route to Ooty post crossing Bandipur (take left from Theppakadu).

Completed the trip as planned!

Didn't venture on the Mysore - Gundlupet section, either way!

Started on Sunday at 6:20 hrs and reached Hotel Lake View by 13:30 hrs.

Took the Masinagudi route while ascending the ghats and the Gudalur route while descending. Theppakadu to Masinagudi Coffee Day is a disaster, post which the route is excellent.

While descending, the route starts deteriorating 15 kms before Gudalur. After crossing the fork towards Sultan Bathery, the road towards Theppakadu has 3 major rough stretches of 200, 200 and 100 meters respectively. There is no tarmac on these stretches. There are other rough stretches too, that make you move diagonally across the road if there is no traffic in either direction. Average speed on these stretches is 15 kmph at max.

While going, Nijaguna was a disaster - taste wise as well as cost wise.

On our way back, we crossed Bandipur at 13:55 hrs and stopped at the Pug Mark restaurant for lunch. The food was good, homely taste and the veg buffet cost INR 250/- per person.

We started our descent from Ooty at 10:45 hrs and reached Bangalore at 19:00 hrs, with an hour's halt at Pug Mark and a 20-min halt at Hotel Sangam near Kanakapura.

Total distance traveled was 767 kms (2 nights - 3 days).

Places covered - Pykara, Dodabetta, Coonoor, Wellington Cantt., Avalanchi, Shooting Point, Ooty Market.

[subbu567]

Folks,any latest update on the Cauvery bridge reopening on the Kanakapura ,Gundulpet stretch ? Thanks much.

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by subbu567

Folks,any latest update on the Cauvery bridge reopening on the Kanakapura ,Gundulpet stretch ? Thanks much.

It was supposed to open on 28th June. I remember seeing an update couple of weeks back by someone in which the work was still ongoing. So I guess the opening is delayed.

This was the status in some 1.5 months back.

[mpksuhas]

Update:

TBHPian vrvarier updated in my travelogue link that bridge over Kaveri near Mallavalli on NH 209 is now open.

Link

[subbu567]

Drove through the bridge between Malavalli and Kollegal. It's open now picture attached thanks everyone

[ankan.m.blr]

Originally Posted by subbu567

Drove through the bridge between Malavalli and Kollegal. It's open now picture attached thanks everyone

Is there a giant hump just before the bridge starts? If so, it may pose a danger for motorists at night. Also, on the basis of this photo, I feel that the new bridge is narrower than its previous avatar.

[subbu567]

Originally Posted by ankan.m.blr

Is there a giant hump just before the bridge starts? If so, it may pose a danger for motorists at night. Also, on the basis of this photo, I feel that the new bridge is narrower than its previous avatar.

Hi,No it's not a giant hump.Its just a patch that looks like one in the picture. Yes it is so narrow that only one bus can pass at a time.

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by subbu567

Hi,No it's not a giant hump.Its just a patch that looks like one in the picture. Yes it is so narrow that only one bus can pass at a time.

I recall that before the repair work, there was a height barrier that prevented buses and lorries from using the bridge. I assume this restriction will no longer be there after the repair?

[subbu567]

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

I recall that before the repair work, there was a height barrier that prevented buses and lorries from using the bridge. I assume this restriction will no longer be there after the repair?

Yes it has been removed.However the warning sign board that says week bridge was still there when I drove

Originally Posted by ankan.m.blr

Is there a giant hump just before the bridge starts? If so, it may pose a danger for motorists at night. Also, on the basis of this photo, I feel that the new bridge is narrower than its previous avatar.

Originally Posted by subbu567

Hi,No it's not a giant hump.Its just a patch that looks like one in the picture. Yes it is so narrow that only one bus can pass at a time.

Yes noticed while returning it was a hump infact but not as monstrous as we would have experienced..sorry for the earlier post.

Here was my trip detail

Start at 5 15 am

10th-Home(Hennur Main road)-Yashwantpur,Outer ring road,Nice road,Kanakapura,Malavalli,Kollegal.Ch' Nagar,GundulPet ,break at Pugmark restaurant(1015),Masinagudi Bamboo Banks at 1130.

Return
12 noon start on 12th-same route on the reverse no stoppages,home at 530pm.The road was in general empty and a leisurely drive except after Kanakapura from Harohalli till the Nice road interchange.We should totally avoid mysore road to drive to Bandipur,Masinagudi and Ooty.

[ankan.m.blr]

NH-209 expansion to start soon. Notice in today's newspaper about land acquisition for this purpose.



source: ToI