advise regarding best route From Goa to Munnar

[pratt]

Hi folks, have recently been granted membership of this Group. Me and wife are planning to drive down in my Mitsubishi Outlander, from Goa to Munnar towards the end of November. I know a lot of folks here have travelled to Munnar, mostly from Bangalore.
I was wondering does it make any sense to go to Munnar by the coastal route from Goa i.e. Goa -Udupi-Mangalore -Kozhikode-Kochi-Munnar. Can anyone advise on the road conditions along this route, or would it make more sense to go via Bangalore?
Any information appreciated.
Pratt

[hvkumar]

The NH17 coastal route would be the best, but you can also drive down via Bangalore which means better roads.

NH17 would also mean travelling through the congested Kerala towns.

[kutlee]

but HV, how would you compare costal route from Goa till say Kannur? because if it is of same condition as that of Goa-Bangalore-Coimby, then it doesn't make much difference. does it? what's the difference in KMs between these two routes?

[hvkumar]

Let us look at distance comparisons:

Bangalore Route
Goa-Bangalore, via Shimoga, 670 kms
Bangalore-Munnar, via Udumalpet, 550 kms
totalling 1220 kms


NH17 Route:
Goa-Mangalore-Angamali, 820 kms
Angamali-Munnar, 120 kms
totalling 940 kms

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

The NH17 coastal route would be the best, but you can also drive down via Bangalore which means better roads.

NH17 would also mean travelling through the congested Kerala towns.

+1 to this,IMO,NH17 is any day better towards Munnar,
For an easy drive stopver at Kozhikode for the night.or else if you do an early morning 3am start then it can easily be done in 1 day.

[pratt]

I'm in Phuntsholing at present with limited access to email, and hence late in acknowledging the suggestions. Thank you all; Considering the difference in distances, NH17 does appear to be a more attractive alternative. And I plan to take it leisurely with plenty of time in hand, stopping, halting overnight and moving wherever we fancy ..a real holiday!! so getting up for a 3 am start would be extremely unlikely. Any idea of the road conditions on the NH17 route at this time of the year? Am keeping my fingers crossed, it won't be too bad. And HV, couldn't locate Angamalli on the map i had handy. Is it before Kozhikode or after?

[hvkumar]

Angamali is on NH47 between Trissur and Kochi, around 40 kms before Kochi. It is also the junction where the MC Road starts and goes via Kalady, Perumbavoor and Muvattupuzha to Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest towns to Angamali are Chalakudy (north) and Aluva (south)

[neel24neo]

I am driving to Munnar from Trivandrum on the 12th.the route i am planning to take is Trivandrum-kayamkulam-mavelikkara-thiruvalla-kottayam-muvattupuzha-kothamangalam-munnar. Please can someone give me an update on road conditions between kottayam and munnar.i haven't traveled along NH-49 yet, how good is that route.

[hvkumar]

Munnar road is good - update from last week

[RajaTaurus]

An Outlander owner here!
I am not aware of any other Outlanders here on team-bhp. Pratt, I am looking forward to your initial ownership reports and of course, your travelogue.
For that matter, there is not even a 'detailed' test drive report for Outlander by a team-bhpian here yet.

[pratt]

Hi Raja, Its a great car and I am looking forward to the drive. Will be the first time I'll be putting it to test on this longish trip. Will definitely put up my experiences here on my return. Am keeping my fingers crossed that the roads will be in reasonably decent condition after the recent heavy showers.

[gadadhar]

@ pratt, Since you have time at your disposal you can go via NH17 & plan to come back through Munnar -> Marayoor -> Udumelpet -> Dharapuram-> Kangayom -> Perundurai -> Bangalore (roads are excellent till Bangalore). Will give you a good feel of the ghat roads, Chinnar wild life sanctuary etc and will save you from boredom of taking the same road twice

[pratt]

thanks gadadhar; excellent idea, and I think I'll do just that. On the NH 17, still have to find out the latest condition of the roads between Karwar and Udupi, as I understand they can be in terrible condition !