[dhanushmenon]

Hi,
I am planning a trip from Cochin- Kollur- Chikmagalur- Mysore- Cochin.
Anyone who is knowledgeable, please suggest the best route from Kollur to Chikmagalur.
Anyone has any idea as to the state of roads in the route through Nagara- Thirthahalli- Koppa- Chikmagalur? If its mainly potholes, i will stick routing through shimoga even at the expense of being longer.

Please help. I intend starting my drive on 17th November from Kochi.

[hvkumar]

The Nagara route is still pot-holed, best avoided.
So the best route for you is to go via Sankarnarayana-Hebri-Agumbe-Sringeri-Jayapura-Balehonnur-Aldur to Chickmagalur

[dhanushmenon]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

The Nagara route is still pot-holed, best avoided.
So the best route for you is to go via Sankarnarayana-Hebri-Agumbe-Sringeri-Jayapura-Balehonnur-Aldur to Chickmagalur

Thanks a lot for the timely reply.
What is your take on the route via shimoga and then reach chikmagalur through the east?
Kindly also suggest any places to visit enroute which I shouldn't miss

[whitewing]

The route suggested by hvkumar is a real scenic route.

You have not indicated if you plan to have a stopover/interests.

Interesting things if you are travelling towards Sagara->Shimoga would be
- Jog
- Honnemaradu
- Ikkeri/Keladi
- Sigandooru - My friend was here recently, he said there was a mad rush, apparently some TV show showcased it. So avoid on a holiday.


If you choose to travel to Chickmagaluru from Shimoga via Tarikere OR Shringeri via Aldur
- Kemmanagundi
- BababudanGiri
- Mullayanagiri

Also Horanadu and Kalasa are other famous temples in the region you would be travelling.

Sorry no input on road conditions - been almost year since I drove in the Sagara region.

Have fun and drive safe!

[dhanushmenon]

Originally Posted by whitewing

The route suggested by hvkumar is a real scenic route.

You have not indicated if you plan to have a stopover/interests.

Interesting things if you are travelling towards Sagara->Shimoga would be
- Jog
- Honnemaradu
- Ikkeri/Keladi
- Sigandooru - My friend was here recently, he said there was a mad rush, apparently some TV show showcased it. So avoid on a holiday.

If you choose to travel to Chickmagaluru from Shimoga via Tarikere OR Shringeri via Aldur
- Kemmanagundi
- BababudanGiri
- Mullayanagiri

Also Horanadu and Kalasa are other famous temples in the region you would be travelling.

Sorry no input on road conditions - been almost year since I drove in the Sagara region.

Have fun and drive safe!

Thanks a lot white wing for the valuable input on the places to see. I think I'll give respect to what the travel guru (hvkumar) has said and follow his route.

My stay/stopover is at chikmagalur starting from kollur. After spending a day and two nights there,I'll be heading to Mysore. I haven't yet decided whether I'd stay at Mysore or bandipur. Thought I would take it as it comes.

And then I'll keep my fingers crossed for the state of roads 😃

[glenmz]

Bumping an old thread.
Whats the best route from Cochin to Chikmagalur? Google maps search returnd couple of options
1. Ernakulam - Kalpetta - mananthavady - Kutta - Gonikoppal - Hassan - Belur - Chikamaglur.

2. Ernakulam - Coimbatore - Chamrajnagar - - Srirangapatna - Hassan - Chikamaglore

Which is better? How is the road condition?


Thanks,
Glen

[dhanushmenon]

Originally Posted by glenmz

Bumping an old thread.
Whats the best route from Cochin to Chikmagalur? Google maps search returnd couple of options
1. Ernakulam - Kalpetta - mananthavady - Kutta - Gonikoppal - Hassan - Belur - Chikamaglur.

2. Ernakulam - Coimbatore - Chamrajnagar - - Srirangapatna - Hassan - Chikamaglore

Which is better? How is the road condition?


Thanks,
Glen

I am not much sure of the present road conditions in both routes.
The last I traveled was six months back and then the roads were good in both routes.
Both routes are scenic and you would enjoy a good drive on both routes.

However, the road is closed at night inside Banbipur forest. So plan your travel in such a way that you cross the check post before 5PM at least

[ampere]

Originally Posted by glenmz

1. Ernakulam - Kalpetta - mananthavady - Kutta - Gonikoppal - Hassan - Belur - Chikamaglur.
2. Ernakulam - Coimbatore - Chamrajnagar - - Srirangapatna - Hassan - Chikamaglore

As Dhanush mentioned both roads are equally good. The way to break the problem:

- Best option to drive to ghats
- Best option to cross ghats
- Optimum distance to drive in KL

From the above three:
- One options seems to be drive via Nagarhole side of the ghats while the other option is to go via Coimbattore.
- From that point of view both options are equally good.

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

However, the road is closed at night inside Banbipur forest. So plan your travel in such a way that you cross the check post before 5PM at least

Dhanush, Bandipur wont figure in both the options. The one via Sathyamangalam will go through Dimbham ghats.

[dhanushmenon]

Originally Posted by ampere

Dhanush, Bandipur wont figure in both the options. The one via Sathyamangalam will go through Dimbham ghats.

Oops. Sorry. Dimbham is what I meant.
Blame it on Mr Veerappan.