[DRIVE_ADDICT]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

The route is Bangalore - Srirangapatna - KRS Road (which bypasses Mysore city) - Hunsur - Gonikoppal - Ghat road - Koottupuzha - Iritty - Mattanur - Kannur.

On time!!. . Came to ask for route advice for Kannur.
How much time (avg) does it take from Bangalore to Kannur for a 5.30 am start on a Saturday.
I have had a very bad experience between Bangalore Mysore couple of times as if im driving on ORR.
Is it advisable to take the usual Channapatna route or Kanakapura route to reach Mysore?

Taking a Low GC hatch for the trip, hope no issues.

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by DRIVE_ADDICT

How much time (avg) does it take from Bangalore to Kannur for a 5.30 am start on a Saturday.
I have had a very bad experience between Bangalore Mysore couple of times as if im driving on ORR.
Is it advisable to take the usual Channapatna route or Kanakapura route to reach Mysore?

Taking a Low GC hatch for the trip, hope no issues.

Budget around 7-7.5 hours including breaks with sedate driving. If you can start a bit earlier, say by around 5 AM you can cover the distance in 7 hours. Expect heavier traffic once you cross into Kerala.
I would recommend regular Mysore road for a 5-5.30 AM start. Also, the Bangalore-Kanakapura road stretch is undergoing widening and there are many deviations which could rob time.

No issues with any car. Exercise caution in the WIP areas between Kootupuzha and Iritty.

EDIT: If you are planning to drive on this saturday (22nd dec) , expect much heavier traffic on Mysore road than usual. Long weekend+Christmas holidays means many would head out of town!

[Latheesh]

Has night bus services started via Makkutta ghat?

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by Latheesh

Has night bus services started via Makkutta ghat?

Yes, the road is open for all vehicles at night as well.

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by Latheesh

Has night bus services started via Makkutta ghat?

Yes, all kind of buses are now allowed 24x7. Trucks are still banned.
My parents traveled last week- the bus started at 8.55 PM from Kalasipalayam and dropped them at Kannur fort road at 3.30 AM. This by far is the earliest I have heard any bus reach Kannur in recent times.

[RSUDARSANAN]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

The route is Bangalore - Mysore - Hunsur - Gonikoppal - Makootta - Kuttupuzha - Vallithode - Ulikkal - Payyavoor - Sreekantapuram - Taliparamba - Payyanur.

I do this very frequently and the last being last weekend.

Headed towards Nileshwar.

Looking for a family friendly stop for refreshments and clean loos on this sector:

Vallithode - Ulikkal - Payyavoor - Sreekantapuram

Please suggest.


Thanks

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by RSUDARSANAN

Looking for a family friendly stop for refreshments and clean loos on this sector:

Vallithode - Ulikkal - Payyavoor - Sreekantapuram

Unfortunately, there is nothing on that sector. The next nearest place is 19 kms after Sreekandapuram which is hotel Bamboo fresh at Taliparamba. The rest rooms are only kind of okay but food is good.

See if you can time it to take a break at Coorg Gate at perumbadi check post and then drive non stop to Nileswar.

[swiftnfurious]

Planning to go to Kannur from Bangalore on Saturday, 12 Jan 2019 (Pongal holidays) . Looking at the distance, I guess I'd rather find an OYO at Madiwala than Hebbal (where I have to work). Please suggest the route - is it better to hit Bannerghatta and take the NICE road (or from e-City)?

Also, do 2 wheelers need to pay toll on NICE road (assuming 2 wheelers are allowed)?

The objective is to capture some "Theyyam" in action - if anyone knows the place and date or some pointers, would be helpful.

Also, I see just 2 OYOs at Kannur - any decent / budget stay options anywhere at Thalassery etc ?

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

Planning to go to Kannur from Bangalore on Saturday, 12 Jan 2019 (Pongal holidays) . Looking at the distance, I guess I'd rather find an OYO at Madiwala than Hebbal (where I have to work). Please suggest the route - is it better to hit Bannerghatta and take the NICE road (or from e-City)?

Also, do 2 wheelers need to pay toll on NICE road (assuming 2 wheelers are allowed)?

If you have work near Hebbal, no need to go again up to E-city unless you have something else to attend there. You could exit onto Mysore road via BEL Gorguntepalaya-Tumkur road-NICE-Mysore road.
Yes , two wheeler are allowed on NICE and they do need to pay toll.

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

The objective is to capture some "Theyyam" in action - if anyone knows the place and date or some pointers, would be helpful.

Also, I see just 2 OYOs at Kannur - any decent / budget stay options anywhere at Thalassery etc ?

You could refer to this calendar : http://www.theyyamcalendar.com/theyyam_calendar.html

http://travelkannur.com/theyyam-calender/

[swiftnfurious]

Does this route via Mysore road also go through Bandipur? If so, what's the gate opening time? I am thinking of pushing off early in the morning from Bangy (4 AM if required) to beat the holiday rush.

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

Does this route via Mysore road also go through Bandipur? If so, what's the gate opening time? I am thinking of pushing off early in the morning from Bangy (4 AM if required) to beat the holiday rush.

No. Bandipur is different route that takes you to Wayanad, a liitle south of Kannur.
No gate closings in Kannur route.

[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

No. Bandipur is different route that takes you to Wayanad, a liitle south of Kannur.
No gate closings in Kannur route.

Ok - I was hoping to ride thru Bandipur - what's the additional distance / time required if I take the Bandipur route?

Also, howz the usual Kannur route - scenic?

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

Ok - I was hoping to ride thru Bandipur - what's the additional distance / time required if I take the Bandipur route?

Also, howz the usual Kannur route - scenic?

Well, the usual route is not that scenic.

Then you should probably go via Hunsur - Kutta - Mananthavady - Iritty - Kannur.

The Hunsur - Kutta stretch goes through Nagarhole national park which might interest you. This stretch is closed from 6pm to 6am. Will be around another 50kms/1.5 hours extra.

[MSAneesh]

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

Ok - I was hoping to ride thru Bandipur - what's the additional distance / time required if I take the Bandipur route?

Also, howz the usual Kannur route - scenic?

It depends on what you describe scenic as! The regular Bangalore Kannur route is 'diverse' at least. It has 4 lane divided highway, undivided highway, village roads, a little bit of forest stretch, a ghat section and some heavier traffic kerala roads as you approach Kannur. The driving time is around 7 hours and traffic is usually sparse if you plan the Mysore road stretch time well.
Regular route is Bangalore - Srirangapatana (bypass Mysore) – Yelawala – Hunsur – Gonikkuppa - Bittangala(Bypass Virajpet) – Makkootta – Koottupuzha – Iritty – Mattannur – Kannur. Roads are good pretty much throughout till Kerala, except for a 7 KM stretch from Thithimathi to Gonikkuppa which has some potholes. In Kerala, roadwork is on, but nothing to worry about.

Alternate routes you can check out at are below. These have more forest stretches, but have night traffic restrictions. Map it out to check.

Alternate 1
Bangalore - Mysore – Hampapura – HD Kote handpost(Heggadadevanakote) – Bavali – Kattikulam - Mananthavady – Boys Town - (Periya – Nedumpoyil – Kannavam – Koothuparamba -Kannur)/(Kottiyoor - Peravoor - Iritty - Mattannur - Kannur)

Alternate 2
Bangalore – Srirangapatana (bypass Mysore) – Yelawala – Hunsur – Nagarhole – Murukal – Kutta – kattikulam – Mananthavady – rest as above

Alternate 3 - Longer, via Bandipur - Nothing much special here though
Bangalore – Mysore – Nanjangud – Gundelpet – Muthanga – Sultan Bathery – Panamaram – Mananthavady – rest as above

[MSAneesh]

Update from recent drive:
New speed breakers installed in the Rajiv Gandhi National park stretch between Alluru and Thithimathi - all 24 of them! One is present at least every 500 meters, sometimes even closer. Starts at Alluru, even before the welcome arch of the forest stretch. They are of the flatter type having flat top with concrete interlock blocks. The ones between Anechowkur and Thithimathi are marked in white lines, those before are not, but have speed breaker road sign. Please be cautious while driving in this stretch. One of the speed breakers is already broken and has created a dangerous ditch.
New road is completed between koottupuzha and Iritty and almost till Mattannur. There is still a stretch just before Mattannur where work is going on. Work is still happening between Mattannur and Kuthuparamba.

For the past couple of drives, have been stopping at 'Hotel Amrutha Bouffaye' just after Hunsur for food. Food is good and the place is usually not crowded. Tastes more homely than hotel. They have good options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For lunch and dinner lot of non-veg options also available. Toilets are decent too.
This hotel is after Hunsur, at the Y intersection where the last road from Hunsur town meets the by-pass. It is a house converted to hotel, so easy to miss.
This is the location -
https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/...2!4d76.2675116