Kodaikanal - Munnar - Waynad route queries

ampere · 7th March 2011, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by balan

As for Going to Pollachi from Kodaikanal, please drive down to Batlagundu - Sembatti - Ottanchatram - Palani - Pollachi - ETC (I have never gone to pollachi so i am not familiar with that route)

I see in google maps that the distance between this local road versus driving all the way till Dindigul by-pass is 11Km. Is the local road worth it? Any updates?

hvkumar · 7th March 2011, 23:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampere

I see in google maps that the distance between this local road versus driving all the way till Dindigul by-pass is 11Km. Is the local road worth it? Any updates?

There is no need to go upto Dindigul when you are going from Vathagundu to Palani. At Sembatti, take a left turn and take a very good road to Ottanchatram. I have driven that way many years ago, it was great then, it still is (based on updates from friends who have driven on it recently).

sumannandy · 8th March 2011, 00:37

Thank you all for your suggestions.

What is the condition of annur metupalayam route? Is it necessary to go through Ooty for going to Bandipur from Kodaikanal?

hvkumar · 8th March 2011, 00:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by sumannandy

What is the condition of annur metupalayam route?

Good

Quote:

Is it necessary to go through Ooty for going to Bandipur from Kodaikanal?

You can also go from Annur to Sathyamnagalam, Dimbam, Chamarajnagar, Gundulpet to Bandipur. That will be the shortest route from Anur.

sumannandy · 12th March 2011, 13:33

Thank you for the information.

We completed the trip.

Kodai-Palani road is officially closed, although according to the taxi drivers small vehicles may attempt to drive to that road.

There are a number of really nasty bridges and culverts in NH7. Some of the bridges are closed by the Government.

Facilities are also poor along NH7.

mykal shoemaker · 14th March 2011, 16:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by sumannandy

Thank you for the information.

We completed the trip.

Kodai-Palani road is officially closed, although according to the taxi drivers small vehicles may attempt to drive to that road.

There are a number of really nasty bridges and culverts in NH7. Some of the bridges are closed by the Government.

Facilities are also poor along NH7.

Is it closed from November till date?

Read about landslides in last november news reports:
The Hindu : Cities / Madurai : Kodaikanal-Palani ghat road closed

kala · 14th March 2011, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by sumannandy

There are a number of really nasty bridges and culverts in NH7. Some of the bridges are closed by the Government.

Facilities are also poor along NH7.

Which portion of NH7 are you referring to ? I thought NH7 south of Salem is probably one of the fastest highways in South India - I could average 100kmph+ on that stretch when I travelled that way in Jan and don't recall seeing any such nasties ?

Fauji · 14th March 2011, 21:21

Has anyone travelled on Kodai - Munnar forest road? Are we allowed to use this road? How is the condition?

ampere · 14th March 2011, 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fauji

Has anyone travelled on Kodai - Munnar forest road? Are we allowed to use this road? How is the condition?

Its a long story. I think only HVK and a handful of others have done that. The road is closed for ever now.

HVK had mentioned those wonderful stories, in some thread, which I dont remember.

Fauji · 14th March 2011, 22:23

Thanks Ampere. I just happenned to read that thread after i posted my question. Lucky they are. I rememeber when we went to Kodai for the first time and saw this board and the guide was explaining that it was built by British etc etc

vnabhi · 15th March 2011, 19:58

Folks,
I dont want to start a new thread, but I need info on the route to Kodai, Munnar and Ooty from Bangalore. We plan to visit those places in May.

What is the driving time, and the road condition? Do we need a 4-by-4, or will a sedan do? We are a team of 11 or 12 and plan to hire vehicles from Bangalore, perhaps two Innovas or Xylos.

Info on hotels and rates in each place will also help a lot.

Thanks for your help.

ampere · 15th March 2011, 20:21

Are you planning to do all three together?

If yes:

Sequence should be : Bangalore-Kodai-Munnar-Ooty-Bangalore.

Bangalore-Kodai :

BLR-Salem-Dindigul (NH7)
Dindigul-Batlagundu (NH45)
Batlagundu-Kodai (Ghat Road)

Kodai-Munnar

Koda-Batlagundu (Ghat Road)
Batlagundu-Theni (NH45)
Theni-Munnar (NH49)

Munnar-Ooty

Munnar-Udumalpet-Pollachi-CBE-Mettupalayam-Conoor-Ooty.

Ooty-BLR
Ooty-Gudalur-Masinagudi-Bandipur-Gundlupet-Nanjangud-Mysore-BLR

There exist some route optimization which can be done between Munnar and Ooty. (Like by-passing CBE via Tirrupur/Avinashi/Annur).

Here is the Bangalore Munnar thread:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...-route-12.html

No 4x4 is needed. Regular cars can easily do. These are GQ roads and very good SH.

As of hotels, all ranges exist. Depends on Budget.

vnabhi · 15th March 2011, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampere

Are you planning to do all three together?

If yes:

Sequence should be : Bangalore-Kodai-Munnar-Ooty-Bangalore.

Bangalore-Kodai :

BLR-Salem-Dindigul (NH7)
Dindigul-Batlagundu (NH45)
Batlagundu-Kodai (Ghat Road)

Kodai-Munnar

Koda-Batlagundu (Ghat Road)
Batlagundu-Theni (NH45)
Theni-Munnar (NH49)

Munnar-Ooty

Munnar-Udumalpet-Pollachi-CBE-Mettupalayam-Conoor-Ooty.

Ooty-BLR
Ooty-Gudalur-Masinagudi-Bandipur-Gundlupet-Nanjangud-Mysore-BLR

There exist some route optimization which can be done between Munnar and Ooty. (Like by-passing CBE via Tirrupur/Avinashi/Annur).

Here is the Bangalore Munnar thread:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...-route-12.html

No 4x4 is needed. Regular cars can easily do. These are GQ roads and very good SH.

As of hotels, all ranges exist. Depends on Budget.

Thanks a ton, @ampere. That surely helps a lot. I'll google for distances on those routes.

I am mighty tempted to drive, but depending on the number of people, I might leave my car in Bangalore and hop on to one of the hired cars.

Another piece of info that would surely help is whether it is advisable to hire vehicle(s) for the entire trip, or is alternate, decent mode of transportation available?

ampere · 15th March 2011, 21:20

Route Links

Bangalore Kodai

BLR-Kodai

You should be able to do in 6-8 hours as its 4L all the way till Dindigul

Kodai - Munnar

Kodaikanal to Munnar

Not much of a distance quite some ghats to do. But these are not as difficult as the Masinagudi ones in Ooty.

Munnar - Ooty

Route 1 Via CBE

Route 2 Via Avinashi

There are other combinations as well. But need to confirm with others about roads and ease of bypass of towns.
No need to mention about the road from ooty to Bangalore I guess. But still I would put it for completion.

Ooty to Bangalore

If you are starting and ending in Bangalore as a round-trip journey, I think then it makes sense to hire an Innova. That would be extremely comfortable and also makes travel that much easier. You can stop where you want, take snaps, take breaks and have absolutely no issues about time limits.

Only if you hire a cab in one place and drop it in another place, it becomes difficult and you end up paying more. I have seen a thread about fellow member hiring an Innova with decent pricing.

vnabhi · 15th March 2011, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampere

Route Links

Bangalore Kodai

BLR-Kodai

You should be able to do in 6-8 hours as its 4L all the way till Dindigul

Kodai - Munnar

Kodaikanal to Munnar

Not much of a distance quite some ghats to do. But these are not as difficult as the Masinagudi ones in Ooty.

Munnar - Ooty

Route 1 Via CBE

Route 2 Via Avinashi

There are other combinations as well. But need to confirm with others about roads and ease of bypass of towns.
No need to mention about the road from ooty to Bangalore I guess. But still I would put it for completion.

Ooty to Bangalore

If you are starting and ending in Bangalore as a round-trip journey, I think then it makes sense to hire an Innova. That would be extremely comfortable and also makes travel that much easier. You can stop where you want, take snaps, take breaks and have absolutely no issues about time limits.

Only if you hire a cab in one place and drop it in another place, it becomes difficult and you end up paying more. I have seen a thread about fellow member hiring an Innova with decent pricing.

Thank you very much for the detailed info, @ampere. Yes, we are having 2 Innovas in mind, in case I leave my car behind at Bangy. Or even 2 Xylos, as there are 4 of us in the group who are over 5'11" tall. I have read reviews on this forum that a Xylo is more comfortable on the last row than an Innova. All kids in the group are above 17 in age, hence the need for more legroom on the last row.

8th March 2011, 00:37	#18
sumannandy BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 840 Thanked: 975 Times View My Garage	Re: Kodaikanal - Munnar - Waynad route queries Thank you all for your suggestions. What is the condition of annur metupalayam route? Is it necessary to go through Ooty for going to Bandipur from Kodaikanal?
	() Thanks

12th March 2011, 13:33	#20
sumannandy BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 840 Thanked: 975 Times View My Garage	Re: Kodaikanal - Munnar - Waynad route queries Thank you for the information. We completed the trip. Kodai-Palani road is officially closed, although according to the taxi drivers small vehicles may attempt to drive to that road. There are a number of really nasty bridges and culverts in NH7. Some of the bridges are closed by the Government. Facilities are also poor along NH7.
	() Thanks

14th March 2011, 21:21	#23
Fauji Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,471 Thanked: 994 Times	Re: Kodaikanal - Munnar - Waynad route queries Has anyone travelled on Kodai - Munnar forest road? Are we allowed to use this road? How is the condition?
	() Thanks

14th March 2011, 22:23	#25
Fauji Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,471 Thanked: 994 Times	Re: Kodaikanal - Munnar - Waynad route queries Thanks Ampere. I just happenned to read that thread after i posted my question. Lucky they are. I rememeber when we went to Kodai for the first time and saw this board and the guide was explaining that it was built by British etc etc
	() Thanks

15th March 2011, 19:58	#26
vnabhi Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: DC -> DC Posts: 5,976 Thanked: 2,403 Times View My Garage	Re: Kodaikanal - Munnar - Waynad route queries Folks, I dont want to start a new thread, but I need info on the route to Kodai, Munnar and Ooty from Bangalore. We plan to visit those places in May. What is the driving time, and the road condition? Do we need a 4-by-4, or will a sedan do? We are a team of 11 or 12 and plan to hire vehicles from Bangalore, perhaps two Innovas or Xylos. Info on hotels and rates in each place will also help a lot. Thanks for your help.
	() Thanks

15th March 2011, 20:21	#27
ampere Team-BHP Support Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 18,133 Thanked: 13,276 Times View My Garage	Re: Kodaikanal - Munnar - Waynad route queries Are you planning to do all three together? If yes: Sequence should be : Bangalore-Kodai-Munnar-Ooty-Bangalore. Bangalore-Kodai : BLR-Salem-Dindigul (NH7) Dindigul-Batlagundu (NH45) Batlagundu-Kodai (Ghat Road) Kodai-Munnar Koda-Batlagundu (Ghat Road) Batlagundu-Theni (NH45) Theni-Munnar (NH49) Munnar-Ooty Munnar-Udumalpet-Pollachi-CBE-Mettupalayam-Conoor-Ooty. Ooty-BLR Ooty-Gudalur-Masinagudi-Bandipur-Gundlupet-Nanjangud-Mysore-BLR There exist some route optimization which can be done between Munnar and Ooty. (Like by-passing CBE via Tirrupur/Avinashi/Annur). Here is the Bangalore Munnar thread: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...-route-12.html No 4x4 is needed. Regular cars can easily do. These are GQ roads and very good SH. As of hotels, all ranges exist. Depends on Budget. Last edited by ampere : 15th March 2011 at 20:23.
	() Thanks

15th March 2011, 21:20	#29
ampere Team-BHP Support Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 18,133 Thanked: 13,276 Times View My Garage	Re: Kodaikanal - Munnar - Waynad route queries Route Links Bangalore Kodai BLR-Kodai You should be able to do in 6-8 hours as its 4L all the way till Dindigul Kodai - Munnar Kodaikanal to Munnar Not much of a distance quite some ghats to do. But these are not as difficult as the Masinagudi ones in Ooty. Munnar - Ooty Route 1 Via CBE Route 2 Via Avinashi There are other combinations as well. But need to confirm with others about roads and ease of bypass of towns. No need to mention about the road from ooty to Bangalore I guess. But still I would put it for completion. Ooty to Bangalore If you are starting and ending in Bangalore as a round-trip journey, I think then it makes sense to hire an Innova. That would be extremely comfortable and also makes travel that much easier. You can stop where you want, take snaps, take breaks and have absolutely no issues about time limits. Only if you hire a cab in one place and drop it in another place, it becomes difficult and you end up paying more. I have seen a thread about fellow member hiring an Innova with decent pricing. Last edited by ampere : 15th March 2011 at 21:22.
	() Thanks