[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by bejoy

Try to start at 4AM and you can avoid the traffic around Selam. While in Selam, look out for the NH47 exit towards Coimbatore. (You can see the NHAI flyover from a distance). If you miss this exit, you may end up paying the next toll unnecessarily, if I remember correctly.

Around 25 kms after Selam, you will get Hotel Saravanabhavan on the left which is good for breakfast. You will reach here by around 8AM, if you start by 4AM.
Here is the map link for Saravanabhavan and the exit at Selam
http://goo.gl/maps/FZ4Va

And while you enter the nice 4 lane road from Trissur, watch out for speed traps. Speed limit is 90kmph.

Bear in mind that roads in Kochi are in a mess due to the Metro construction, and there would be very bad traffic jams. If you are going towards the MG Road or Marine Drive area, take the Container Terminal Road, from Kalamassery. (Avoid Edappaly, Palarivattom, Vytilla, junctions in peak hours)
Check this map link:
http://goo.gl/maps/olPKH

There is a detour to catch the Container Terminal Road from before Aluva itself, but I won't recommend for a first time traveler.

Pgupta, as Bejoy and others suggested, plan for a 4am start. You will reach Saravana Bhavan in 3 to 4 hours time from Silk Board. With a 4 am start, Bangalore - Alwaye can be done in 8-9 hours + breaks easily with 90-100 kmph. It will be slow traffic from Alwaye to City.

Keep left when you see NHAI overbridge across road/HP pump on your left/Ford Showroom on your right to enter NH47. Its well marked. Even if you miss exit to Coimbatore, take a U turn at next round about and take left exit to Coimbatore.

[pgupta]

Originally Posted by ampere

Bangalore-Salem-Avinashi-Palladam-Pollachi-Kollengode-Vadakkencherry-Kuthiran-Trichur-Bypass-Angamaly-Ernakulam



This is route most taken.

Beyond Avinashi towards Palladam Pollachi and thereafter, is the road well marked in terms of directions in English ?

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by pgupta

Beyond Avinashi towards Palladam Pollachi and thereafter, is the road well marked in terms of directions in English ?

As far as i remember while going through kollengode, alathur etc.. i did see stone markings on the left. Not sure whether they were in english but i preferred to stop and ask the locals the way to go forward.

[gajadonga]

Planning for Sabarimala trip next week.

Planning to go to Guruvayoor enroute to Sabarimala.

From Route-1 Pollachi-Kollengode-Alathur-Wadakkenchery-Kunamkulam-Guruvayoor.

Route-2 Pollachi-Kollengode-Vadakkancherry-Mannuty-Thissur-Eranellur-Guruvayoor


Which is best route to choose between the two routes taking the traffic and road conditions into consideration.

Thanks in advance.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by gajadonga

From Route-1 Pollachi-Kollengode-Alathur-Wadakkenchery-Kunamkulam-Guruvayoor.

Waddakkenchery any day. You dont need to go through Trichur in that case.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by gajadonga

Planning for Sabarimala trip next week.

Planning to go to Guruvayoor enroute to Sabarimala.

From Route-1 Pollachi-Kollengode-Alathur-Wadakkenchery-Kunamkulam-Guruvayoor.

Route-2 Pollachi-Kollengode-Vadakkancherry-Mannuty-Thissur-Eranellur-Guruvayoor


Which is best route to choose between the two routes taking the traffic and road conditions into consideration.

Thanks in advance.

No second thoughts. Choose Route 1 to go to Guruvayur. I have been on the above said route before. Post Pollachi you do have narrow roads in Kerala.

You can take a break in Alathur to taste the famous banana chips. The smell is too good not to be ignored.

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by gajadonga

Planning to go to Guruvayoor enroute to Sabarimala.

From Route-1 Pollachi-Kollengode-Alathur-Wadakkenchery-Kunamkulam-Guruvayoor.

Route-2 Pollachi-Kollengode-Vadakkancherry-Mannuty-Thissur-Eranellur-Guruvayoor

Route 1, eyes closed.

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

You can take a break in Alathur to taste the famous banana chips. The smell is too good not to be ignored.

Sir, SNR Chips, Alathur has lot their charm. They've jacked up prices and lost control on the quality. The best banana chips in town are from Hot Chips inside Palakkad town (beside the Head Post Office).

[pgupta]

Update from my recent trip. Since I missed the entry to SH 166 from Avinashi I continued in the usual NH 47 route and the road is very bad till you reach vadakencherry after which it improves. While coming back took the Pollachi-Palladam-Avinashi route and found the roads to be good all throughout.

[razeetg]

Hi BHPians,

Any problems in following the usual route to Kochi? I mean are there any troubles in going through Hosur -> Coimbatore for a KA registration vehicle?

I am considering taking the longer route via Mysore - Kalpetta. Advice?

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by razeetg

Hi BHPians,

Any problems in following the usual route to Kochi? I mean are there any troubles in going through Hosur -> Coimbatore for a KA registration vehicle?

I am considering taking the longer route via Mysore - Kalpetta. Advice?

No new issues reported. You may check following thread for more info

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by razeetg

Hi BHPians,

Any problems in following the usual route to Kochi? I mean are there any troubles in going through Hosur -> Coimbatore for a KA registration vehicle?

I am considering taking the longer route via Mysore - Kalpetta. Advice?

I came back yesterday completing Bangalore-Chennai-Bangalore trip via the state highways of TN and NH respectively. No issues whatsoever. Only after Oct 7th we will get to know how situation changes.

[razeetg]

Hey, thanks everyone. While going to Cochin, we decided to take the route via Mysore -> Sulthanbatheri because that was the day the bail plea was postponed. We had women in the car. Came back Sunday evening/night via regular route.

[PearlJam]

Hi, I am planning to drive from Bangalore to Kochi, with a halt at Nilambur for a few days. From Nilambur, there are 2 routes (almost same distance):

1. Nilambur-Perinthalmanna-Pattambi-Guruvayoor-Kodungalloor-Kochi
2. Nilambur-Perinthalmanna-Pattambi-Thrissur-Aluva-Kochi

Any idea which route is better as on today? Thanks!

[binand]

Originally Posted by PearlJam

1. Nilambur-Perinthalmanna-Pattambi-Guruvayoor-Kodungalloor-Kochi
2. Nilambur-Perinthalmanna-Pattambi-Thrissur-Aluva-Kochi

I have done #2 before; it is quite good roads with normal Kerala-levels of traffic. Passing through Thrissur city on a weekday could be problematic. Other issues are the major junctions at Perinthalmanna (NH 213) and Angamaly (MC Road) and the fubared Aluva-Kalamassery-Edappally stretch.

I have only heard horror stories of #1, especially the Chavakkad-Kodungallur-Edappally stretch. It is very rare that I hear of someone taking that route to Kochi willingly.

[PearlJam]

Originally Posted by binand

I have done #2 before; it is quite good roads with normal Kerala-levels of traffic. Passing through Thrissur city on a weekday could be problematic. Other issues are the major junctions at Perinthalmanna (NH 213) and Angamaly (MC Road) and the fubared Aluva-Kalamassery-Edappally stretch.

I have only heard horror stories of #1.

Thanks for the quick reply, binand! Looks like #2 it is, then. Thanks for reminding me about the Aluva-Edapally issues, I need to take the Container terminal road.