[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by UMe

Iam not sure if they are checking even for unvacinated kids.

For kids, there were mixed feedback during the last weekend. For some, they let go, for some they have asked Rs.100/- per kid to pass through.

The rule for kids is still not clear, whether RTPCR required or not. So they are taking the advantage of that and looting people.

[vinodvayyat]

Just wanted to know if there are any night time travel restrictions Virajpet-Makkotta(m)-Iritty-Kannur like the Gundlupet-Wayanad route. Please help if you have info.

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by vinodvayyat

Just wanted to know if there are any night time travel restrictions Virajpet-Makkotta(m)-Iritty-Kannur like the Gundlupet-Wayanad route. Please help if you have info.

No such restrictions on Hunsur - Gonikoppal - Virajpet - Makkuta route. It is open at anytime.

[ajishanand]

A recent video of the Makuta ghat - Kootupuzha stretch. The road is excellent throughout.

https://youtu.be/c3DRh1-Iu5Y

[rex_varghese]

See some update on the road conditions.

Wanted to check
1. Is it safe to take this route in the night, in terms of any wild life movements or wild people movement?
2. What are the Kerala entry requirements with respect to COVID (vaccination status, etc)?
3. How are the road conditions once you hit Kerala?

Thanks.

Regards
Rex

[ajithbr]

Originally Posted by vinodvayyat

Just wanted to know if there are any night time travel restrictions Virajpet-Makkotta(m)-Iritty-Kannur like the Gundlupet-Wayanad route. Please help if you have info.

No such restrictions, probably because Virajpet on the other side of forest (adjacent to Kerala border) needs to be connected 24x7 with Mysore and other parts of Karnataka...

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by rex_varghese

1. Is it safe to take this route in the night, in terms of any wild life movements or wild people movement?
2. What are the Kerala entry requirements with respect to COVID (vaccination status, etc)?
3. How are the road conditions once you hit Kerala?

It is usually safe at anytime of the day, but I would avoid driving between 1am-4am through the Gonikoppal - Hunsur stretch, yes - to avoid any wild people. No wild animals to be concerned of in this stretch.

No restrictions/requirements at all w.r.t Covid.

Road conditions are good through out.

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by rex_varghese

See some update on the road conditions.

Wanted to check
1. Is it safe to take this route in the night, in terms of any wild life movements or wild people movement?
2. What are the Kerala entry requirements with respect to COVID (vaccination status, etc)?
3. How are the road conditions once you hit Kerala?

Thanks.

Regards
Rex

As balenoed_ said, preferably avoid doing the Hunsur-Gonikoppal stretch between 1AM to 3 or even 4 AM. There have been stray incidents of robbery, but nothing in the last couple of years I heard. Still, better to be safe than sorry. The forest stretch is the outer periphery of Nagarhole tiger reserve and wildlife movement is very less. So nothing to worry on that part.

[rex_varghese]

Originally Posted by sandsun7

As balenoed_ said, preferably avoid doing the Hunsur-Gonikoppal stretch between 1AM to 3 or even 4 AM. There have been stray incidents of robbery, but nothing in the last couple of years I heard. Still, better to be safe than sorry. The forest stretch is the outer periphery of Nagarhole tiger reserve and wildlife movement is very less. So nothing to worry on that part.

Thanks, balenoed_ and sandsun7. Appreciate your quick replies.
We should be covering this stretch within 12. So, hopefully we are ok.

Any recommendation for a family accommodation for a night in Iritty town?
Clean/hygienic AC rooms, preferably not a 'BAR attached' place :-)

Regards
Rex

[ajithbr]

Originally Posted by rex_varghese

Thanks, balenoed_ and sandsun7. Appreciate your quick replies.
We should be covering this stretch within 12. So, hopefully we are ok.

Any recommendation for a family accommodation for a night in Iritty town?
Clean/hygienic AC rooms, preferably not a 'BAR attached' place :-)

Regards
Rex

Within 12 is nice timing... maybe just follow any KSRTC bus or private bus (slow down after Hunsur and before forest checkpost to let them catch up withy you) if you are new to driving in this stretch....

[MSAneesh]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

No wild animals to be concerned of in this stretch.

Usually, yes, no wild animals.

But once, 6 or 7 years back, I had to drive overnight due to an emergency. Started from Sarjapur rd around 9 PM. Me and brother in law took turns to drive while the other slept, as it was a night drive after a regular day.
I was at the wheel when i got to see an elephant by the side of the road. It was just before the Anechowkur check post.
Not sure if it was a wild elephant or a tame one from the nearby elephant camp.
Was a bit scary as I came to notice only as I was passing it. It was right beside the road on the left side and I was doing decent speed. That stretch did not have speed breakers every 500 m as it is today.

Originally Posted by rex_varghese

Any recommendation for a family accommodation for a night in Iritty town?
Clean/hygienic AC rooms, preferably not a 'BAR attached' place :-)

Regards
Rex

I don't have first hand info, but heard that Hotel White Gate at Uliyil (~5KMs after Iritty, towards Mattannur) is good. There seems to be more options at Mattannur.

[rex_varghese]

Originally Posted by MSAneesh

Usually, yes, no wild animals.

I don't have first hand info, but heard that Hotel White Gate at Uliyil (~5KMs after Iritty, towards Mattannur) is good. There seems to be more options at Mattannur.

Originally Posted by ajithbr

Within 12 is nice timing... maybe just follow any KSRTC bus or private bus (slow down after Hunsur and before forest checkpost to let them catch up withy you) if you are new to driving in this stretch....

Thanks, ajithbr and MSAneesh.

We did this last week and took a route that a regular on this stretch recommended. Bangalore-Channarayapatna-Aarkalagud-Periyapatna-Iritty was pretty decent. Mostly good roads and very scanty traffic. Started from Bangalore around 4pm and hit Iritty by 11pm with a tea/snacks break near Perambadi.

Wanted to mention that the small tea shop we stopped for snack also sell wines of various flavors. The owner aunty makes wines out of almost everything, looks like. They have a large display of their offerings. We picked couple of bottles, ginger, goosberry, birds eye chilly, etc. The birds eye chilly wine was pretty interesting. Could not take more than a small sip at a time due to the extremely hot flavor. Interesting place to stop by to pick few bottles, if you're inclined. They run a nursery as well by the side of the shop.

We stayed at M2H Residency at Iritty (Payancheri Mukku). Decent place, right on the main road. Have good enough parking. They have a restaurant, but was closed during day time due to Ramzan season. So, had breakfast from Indian Coffee House. Was visiting an ICH after a really long time. Refreshing experience :-)

Was very impressed by quality of roads in and around Iritty. Malayora Highway has come out excellent with well marked roads, especially on the edges. Night driving was a pleasure.

Regards
Rex

[SoulDrive]

Any information on the current road conditions in the Virajpet-Makuta-Iritty route? We have a travel plan to Taliparamba this Friday. Just got to know about heavy rains in Coorg, does anyone have information on the road conditions and if I should consider an alternate route?

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by SoulDrive

Any information on the current road conditions in the Virajpet-Makuta-Iritty route? We have a travel plan to Taliparamba this Friday. Just got to know about heavy rains in Coorg, does anyone have information on the road conditions and if I should consider an alternate route?

No issues, I travelled day before yesterday from Taliparamba to Bangalore. Even with rains it wouldn’t have gone any bad.

And if heading to Thaliparamba, you don’t have to touch Iritty, unless you have any work there. Take a right turn at a place called Vallithode which is 2-3kms after Kerala check post. Route it via Vallithode - Ulikkal- Payyavoor - Sreekantapuram- Thaliparamba. Good trafficless road, less winding, and bypasses couple of towns.

[SoulDrive]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

No issues, I travelled day before yesterday from Taliparamba to Bangalore. Even with rains it wouldn’t have gone any bad.

And if heading to Thaliparamba, you don’t have to touch Iritty, unless you have any work there. Take a right turn at a place called Vallithode which is 2-3kms after Kerala check post. Route it via Vallithode - Ulikkal- Payyavoor - Sreekantapuram- Thaliparamba. Good trafficless road, less winding, and bypasses couple of towns.

Much obliged, sir. Was concerned about any landslide risks in the ghat section. Your post is reassuring. Thank you for the route suggestion as well!