Bangalore-Mysore-Sathyamangala-Munnar-Bangalore Trip

[ravi_hsrlayout]

Hello,

I am planning for a trip for about 9 days to Kerala in Apr 08. I have made arrangements to stay in Munnar for 4 to 5 nights. The rest I need to plan. Request your recommendations on

1. Condition of roads: many advised me to go to munnar via Sathyamangalam because it is downhill & is quite scenic. But, suggested me to return to Bangalore via Salem. Given that my Maruti Baleno has low ground clearance and driving in bad roads is really painful, I would like your suggestion on which route to take. Also, please tell me whether the roads via Sathyamanga are deserted or we can expect decent traffic.

2. Many are suggesting me to visit "Guruvayur"... Looking for suggestion to include it in my trip (should I visit Guruvayur in onward journey or return journey).

3. I am planning to drive a maximum of 3 hours (one way) on any day for sight seeing. Any "must" see places within 75KM around Munnar?

Regards,
Ravi

[hvkumar]

Route via Kanakapura, Malavalli, Chamarajanagar, Sathyamangalam is good.
Ghat roads up and down after Chamarajanagar.
Route via Sathy is preferred because that is the most direct and currently the best condition road.
Direct route is via Coimbatore, Pollachi and Udumalaipet.
You have to pass through Coimbatore City. Alternatives exist but this is the easiest route.
Turn off at Udamalaipet and climb the ghats through Chinar and Maraiyoor.
Expect wildlife after Udumaipet after dark.
All roads are good.
In and around Munnar, you can cover Mattupetty, Kundale Dam, Top Station,Eravikulam, Panniar.
100 km from Munnar is Thekkady.
If you wish to go to Guruvayoor, take Kochi road from Munnar (NH49) and go via Kothamnagalam, Perumbavoor to Angamali (instead of Kochi), and from there take NH47 till Trissur. Go into Trissur town (off NH47) and Guruvayoor is just 25 kms away.
To return from Guruvayoor to Bangalore, you have choice of 2 routes - first via Coimbatore (and from there same onward journey route back home), which means you must come from Guruvayoor to Kunnamkulam and take the road via Pattambi, Shoranur, Ottapalam and Palakkad. Other route is to go via Calicut and Gundulpet (Kunnamkulam, Kuttipuram, Calicut, Kalpetta, Sultan's Battery, Gundulpet, Nanjangud, Mysore).

[Maibaa]

@Ravi - I drove to Munnar from Bangalore a couple of weeks back and took the exact routes that you have planned.

The journey from Bangalore was via Mysore, Nanjangud, Chamarajanagar, Sathtyamangalam, Punjaipuliampatti, Annur, Avanashi, Palladam, Udumalaipettai, Chinnar, Munnar. I got these directions from MapMyIndia website. I suggest you take the Annur, Coimbatore, Pollachi and Udumalaipet route which is much better.

I am sure most of us are aware of the excellent road conditions from Bangalore to Mysore. The roads are very much drivable in Karnataka from Mysore all the way till you cross the Sathyamangalam Ghats and then onwards the roads turn excellent. The ghat roads are narrow but extremely enjoyable to drive. I had heard this section is very beautiful and scenic. Sadly it was very cloudy and raining when we crossed the ghats and we missed all the scenic views.

Once you are back in the plains, there is not much traffic on the state highways in TN and you can drive comfortable at 80-100 km/hr. The roads are definitely not deserted. The only inconvenience I faced was that almost all signboards and milestones are marked in Tamil and I had to stop at all major intersections and ask for directions to the next town.

I don't see any reason to worry about low ground clearance as the roads are good.

On the return route via Salem, the distance is shorter when compared to the Sathamangalam route and the roads are also wider which means you can drive much faster. However, this advantage is negated by the fact that there is a lot of road widening activity going on and you have to slow down a lot and take diversions. Even the traffic is more on these roads which adds to the frustration. Be wary of sudden increase/decrease in road layers at a few places that can take you by surprise.

To sum it up, I really enjoyed the journey via Mysore and I wished I had taken the same route back.

Happy driving!

[akroy]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Route via Kanakapura, Malavalli, Chamarajanagar, Sathyamangalam is good.

I would rather suggest you to take Mysore Road and take left from Maddur. Maddur - Malavalli is ok. malavalli onwards road to well laid and in TN side roads are great.

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Direct route is via Coimbatore, Pollachi and Udumalaipet.

You can BP Coimbatore. From Satyamangalam, take the coimbatore route, you will reach Annur. From Annur, ask for Somanur route. You will cross NH47 at Karumattampatti.
KMpatti to NH67 (4 km before IAF base, Sulur) via Somanur is about 10km and nice roads.
Take left on the main road NH67 (freshly laid and good). Another 10km will take you to Palladam. From Palladam take right for Udumalpet. Roads are all good.

I went to IAF base, Sulur on Mar2007 and NH67 was being upgraded. It was a nice drive then but it is even better now.

Abhi

[ravi_hsrlayout]

Thanks for the response.

I am pretty much close to finalizing the plan (see below).

1. Pls let me know if there are any risks with BLR-Guruvayoor route.
MapmyIndia - maps, directions, and local search across India - just search, print and go!

2. Suggestions for budget accomadation in Alleppy and Munnar

Plan -
Day-1: BLR-Guruvayoor journey. Halt in Guruvayoor .
Day-2: Guruvayoor-Kochi-Alleppey. Halt in Alleppey
Day-3 to Day-6: Alleppey to Munnar - 4 days
Day-7:Munnar-Mysore
Day-8:Mysore-BLR