[Fauji]

Originally Posted by mempheS.D

Bad as in, potholes? or rough roads? Has it been repaired after the monsoons by any chance? I plan on doing the same timing... At least, I have two route in mind now. Thanks mate.

It has potholes and rough patches. No they have not been repaired when i travelled a month ago. But driveable but very slowly. The road is being widened and tress on the sides are cut. Dont except any respairs in near future.

If you don't mind a detour of 40 KMs and want to have peacfeul drive go via Hunsur - Madikeri - Virajpet. From Viarajpet the road is excellent except on the Kuttupuzha bridge - a stretch of 200 mtrs - which is bad but can be managed.

[mempheS.D]

Originally Posted by Fauji

It has potholes and rough patches. No they have not been repaired when i travelled a month ago. But driveable but very slowly. The road is being widened and tress on the sides are cut. Dont except any respairs in near future.

If you don't mind a detour of 40 KMs and want to have peacfeul drive go via Hunsur - Madikeri - Virajpet. From Viarajpet the road is excellent except on the Kuttupuzha bridge - a stretch of 200 mtrs - which is bad but can be managed.

Thanks Fauji. I think I'll use the detour then. Any idea about the roads from Iritty till Mattanur? This was in a pitiable condition too last monsoon.

[Fauji]

Originally Posted by mempheS.D

Thanks Fauji. I think I'll use the detour then. Any idea about the roads from Iritty till Mattanur? This was in a pitiable condition too last monsoon.

I did not travel on this stretch as i was coming from Taliparamba. Seeing the conditions of the road in the area, i can vouch that Iritty - Mattanur should be in a very good condition as well unless someone in the forum can provide the actual facts.

[Latheesh]

Originally Posted by Fauji

Seeing the conditions of the road in the area, i can vouch that Iritty - Mattanur should be in a very good condition as well unless someone in the forum can provide the actual facts.

Sir, you are wrong. Iritty-Mattanur road condition is worst, they were doing some maint. work when I travelled last time (Dec first week). Hope it is in drivable condition now.

[Fauji]

Originally Posted by Latheesh

Sir, you are wrong. Iritty-Mattanur road condition is worst, they were doing some maint. work when I travelled last time (Dec first week). Hope it is in drivable condition now.

Thanks Latheesh for giving the ground reality. So the option is to go via Taliperamba where the raods are very good and may end up doing additional 25 KMs

[Latheesh]

Originally Posted by Fauji

Thanks Latheesh for giving the ground reality. So the option is to go via Taliperamba where the raods are very good and may end up doing additional 25 KMs

I do not think it is worth taking Thalipparamba route if you want to go to Kannur. Iritty-Mattanur stretch (around 14 KM) is bad (hope it is repaired now) but Mattanur-Kannur (27KM) is excellent! butter smooth drive.

[Fauji]

Originally Posted by Latheesh

I do not think it is worth taking Thalipparamba route if you want to go to Kannur. Iritty-Mattanur stretch (around 14 KM) is bad (hope it is repaired now) but Mattanur-Kannur (27KM) is excellent! butter smooth drive.

Thanks Latheesh. So the route is now clear!!

[kala]

Originally Posted by Fauji

It has potholes and rough patches. No they have not been repaired when i travelled a month ago. But driveable but very slowly. The road is being widened and tress on the sides are cut. Dont except any respairs in near future.

If you don't mind a detour of 40 KMs and want to have peacfeul drive go via Hunsur - Madikeri - Virajpet. From Viarajpet the road is excellent except on the Kuttupuzha bridge - a stretch of 200 mtrs - which is bad but can be managed.

Are you referring to the route that turns off from the Madikeri highway a little bit after Kushalnagar (via Dubare-Ammathi) or going right till Madikeri and then to Virajpet ? I've seen the former recommended here very often, and it adds only about 25-30 kms. Is the Madikeri-Virajpet road in much better condition than the Kushalnagar-Virajpet road ?

[unicorn_i20]

Hello everyone,

One of my colleagues is driving to Taliparamba this weekend and has a route query. He will be halting for a day at the Kabini River Lodge which is off Mysore Manathavady road (Karnataka State Highway 33). Could any of you tell me if the stretch of road inside Nagarhole National park to Mananthavady via Bavali is open to traffic and any tips for the road from Mananthavady to Irrity ? Thanks !

[Fauji]

Originally Posted by kala

Are you referring to the route that turns off from the Madikeri highway a little bit after Kushalnagar (via Dubare-Ammathi) or going right till Madikeri and then to Virajpet ? I've seen the former recommended here very often, and it adds only about 25-30 kms. Is the Madikeri-Virajpet road in much better condition than the Kushalnagar-Virajpet road ?

Going right till Madikeri as the road between Kushalnagar via Ammathi is also not great as given by some in this forum. That's the reason i said it will add 40 more KMs but peace of mind

[kala]

Originally Posted by unicorn_i20

One of my colleagues is driving to Taliparamba this weekend and has a route query. He will be halting for a day at the Kabini River Lodge which is off Mysore Manathavady road (Karnataka State Highway 33). Could any of you tell me if the stretch of road inside Nagarhole National park to Mananthavady via Bavali is open to traffic and any tips for the road from Mananthavady to Irrity ? Thanks !

Yes, the road from Kabini to Mananthavady via Bavali is very much open. And it was in pretty good shape except for the initial 4-5 kms from Karapur when I travelled last a few months ago.

To go from Mananthavady to Taliparamba, the shortest should be via Boys Town-Palchuram-Kottiyoor-Iritty. The Palchuram-Iritty stretch was just about average when I last travelled that way, but a message posted by another user (Ranjani) yesterday seemed to refer to that same road (Iritti-Kottiyoor temple-Mananthavady) and the poster indicated that the road was in good condition even though narrow.

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by kala

The Palchuram-Iritty stretch was just about average when I last travelled that way, but a message posted by another user (Ranjani) yesterday seemed to refer to that same road (Iritti-Kottiyoor temple-Mananthavady) and the poster indicated that the road was in good condition even though narrow.

Had read some newspaper reports last week about palchuram road being closed for around a week for maintenance activity. Please cross check whether that is completed or not. May be Ranjani has traveled after the maintenance work?

[Thunderbird]

Originally Posted by Latheesh

Sir, you are wrong. Iritty-Mattanur road condition is worst, they were doing some maint. work when I travelled last time (Dec first week). Hope it is in drivable condition now.

Friends,

I drove through Iritty - Mattanur - Kannur last Saturday. The road is in good condition now. I was covering it between 11 AM and 12 AM. Not much traffic either.

[sandsun7]

Bitumenized Macadem asphalting of the stretch from Koottupuzha state border to Telicherry via Mattannur, Iritty will commence from Friday the 2nd of March, as per a newspaper report in Mathrubhumi. The stretch is being developed in two phases, Phase 1 from Kootupuzha to Mattannur, and Phase 2 from Mattannur to Telicherry. The total allotted budget for the 55 km stretch is 16.5 crores.The report indicates that traffic on the stretch would be allowed to ply even when the work is going on. Around 7 bridges in the stretch would also be strengthened.
For all who can read malayalam, here is the link to the report:
Kannur District News, Local News,Kerala - Mathrubhumi

[Fauji]

This should make Kannur the nearest and most easily accesible beach to people in Bangalore!!! The drive is also very nice and mapilla cuisnie to die for for those who love sea food!!!