[gadadhar]

Originally Posted by govigov

Requesting update on route condition. Is there anything to watch-out for in the regular route?

There was report on a 6 Hour traffic jam in Kuthiran stretch during yesterday's rains. This was reported by Manorama news channel

Another report on Manorama online, sharing for the benefit of all though I have never experienced anything similar on this stretch

http://www.manoramaonline.com/news/j...-palakkad.html

[govigov]

Thank you all! Any traffic choke points on day driving?

[drhoneycake]

Hi guys, need a little info.

Driving down to Kochi from JP Nagar. Been more than a year since I last did the drive. Just want some updates on the route and road conditions. Planning to stick to Salem-Coimbatore route. Also some good place to stay in Kochi (wife is accompanying me).

Thanks

[NPV]

Originally Posted by drhoneycake

Planning to stick to Salem-Coimbatore route.

Start early, say 4am and you will have a peaceful drive, you can easily cross Coimbatore and reach Palakkad by 10. After that roads are fine all the way but after Vadakkencherry, 4 lane ends and it becomes 2 laned till you cross kuthiran. Then 4 laned section starts again, beyond mannuthi it can get slower due to more traffic and signals.
I'm not sure if things have improved after the Kochi metro was launched, hopefully reduced construction activities.
Breakfast stop can be at Gowri Shankar or Aaryaas on the L&T Coimbatore bypass or earlier at A2B Salem bypass or Saravana inn sankari near Vaigundam toll plaza.

[drhoneycake]

Originally Posted by NPV

Start early, say 4am and you will have a peaceful drive, you can easily cross Coimbatore and reach Palakkad by 10. After that roads are fine all the way but after Vadakkencherry, 4 lane ends and it becomes 2 laned till you cross kuthiran. Then 4 laned section starts again, beyond mannuthi it can get slower due to more traffic and signals.
I'm not sure if things have improved after the Kochi metro was launched, hopefully reduced construction activities.
Breakfast stop can be at Gowri Shankar or Aaryaas on the L&T Coimbatore bypass or earlier at A2B Salem bypass or Saravana inn sankari near Vaigundam toll plaza.

Thanks a lot NPV, your directions were helpful to the T. Left 4 am sharp, took the route you suggested.

Vadakancherry all the way to Thrissur entrance is messy, roads are broken, tons of diversions and heavy construction work is ongoing. Added to all that was the rains which made it even more worse. Managed to hit Kochi (Edapally junction) at 1 pm. Thrissur onwards it is 4 lane all the way but the traffic was insane.

Return we went to Aleppy, TVM and Kanyakumari, so the return was via the standard NH7. Peaceful drive all through except at Krishnagiri & Attibele toll where it was a nightmare - 3km ques all through till the toll gate. Nice was relatively empty. Bypassing Salem was also hectic-way too much traffic.

Left Kanyakumari at 11:30 am, ate lunch at Burma Kadai (Virudhnagar)-2 pm and reached home at 10pm.


Sent from my iPhone 6 using Team-BHP

[pramodpk]

Update from my Bangalore - Vaikom drive.

Roads are generally in good condition except - Vadakkencherry - Mannuthy.
There are potholes in Kuthiran but no big craters. Traffic was low ( at 11:30 AM on 11th Aug and 7:00 AM on 15th Aug). Pace of work on this section seems to be slow. There is a potential bottle neck due to flyover construction at Vadakkencherry. Update on my Fastag experience can be found here.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street...ml#post4251322

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street...ml#post4252350

[yatin]

Originally Posted by binand

(Talking of Bangalore-Mysore-Gudalur-Nilambur-Perinthalmanna-Pattambi-Thrissur-Angamali)

Bangalore-Mysore-Nanjangud-Kalale is 4-lane, dual carriageway (MRR has 6 lanes). So is Thrissur-Angamali. Rest is all single carriageway.

Traffic is bad in Vazhikkadavu-Nilambur-Vadapuram and Shoranur-Thrissur (incl. crossing Thrissur town). Rest is all manageable.

Hi @binand. This is an interesting route . How are facilities on the way if travelling with family? Bangalore-Mysore stretch is fine, and we can't expect anything in the Bandipur area, so how about facilities in the Kerala portion, Nilambur onwards? Hoping against hope here ... how about a vegetarian hotel too?

[treadmark]

Originally Posted by yatin

Hi @binand. This is an interesting route . How are facilities on the way if travelling with family? Bangalore-Mysore stretch is fine, and we can't expect anything in the Bandipur area, so how about facilities in the Kerala portion, Nilambur onwards? Hoping against hope here ... how about a vegetarian hotel too?

Once you are into Kerala you'll get many options, a vegetarian hotel too if you are lucky enough.
I have been to this UNION HOTEL in Nilambur and was a good choice for a non vegetarian at least.

If not Nilambur then in Perinthalmanna I've had dinner here in MAZALI. The food and choice was pretty good for a town like Perinthalmanna.
Another advantage is you can also find Chillies which is on the other side of the road. Palakkad ~ Calicut bye pass is the landmark.

The other one I tried is Nila after Shoranur and just before the rail over bridge, I've been here multiple times. Only downside is they take more time to serve.

There are more restaurants all along but then I don't have a first hand experience and if you are particular about Vegetarian the locals will be the best bet. They know the place and food better.

Cheers!

[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by yatin

Hi @binand. This is an interesting route . How are facilities on the way if travelling with family? Bangalore-Mysore stretch is fine, and we can't expect anything in the Bandipur area, so how about facilities in the Kerala portion, Nilambur onwards? Hoping against hope here ... how about a vegetarian hotel too?

It will be difficult to find a Vegetarian Hotel between Nilambur and Perinthalmanna. Look for hotels with name like Arya Bhavan, Ananda Bhavan etc. Most vegetarian hotels in Kerala are owned by Tamilians.

[Altocumulus]

Will be travelling to Alleppey during this weekend via Kochi from Whitefield with wife. What is the best route and please suggest suitable stops for breakfast and lunch ?

[treadmark]

Originally Posted by Altocumulus

Will be travelling to Alleppey during this weekend via Kochi from Whitefield with wife. What is the best route and please suggest suitable stops for breakfast and lunch ?

Usual Krishnagiri ~ Salem ~ Palakkad ~ Thrissur ~ Kochi (AH43 / NH544) should be your best bet if you would like to cover in one stretch. Start as early as possible may be around 3 AM, you can reach Palakkad by 9 and around lunch at your destination.
Need not worry about road conditions also you'll get decent restaurants all along.

Post your queries IN THIS THREAD for immediate response.

Cheers!

[binand]

Originally Posted by Altocumulus

Will be travelling to Alleppey during this weekend via Kochi from Whitefield with wife. What is the best route and please suggest suitable stops for breakfast and lunch ?

In general, we recommend Bangalore-Krishnagiri-Salem-Bhavani-Coimbatore-Palakkad-Vadakkancheri-Thrissur-Aluva-Edapalli-Aroor-Cherthala-Alapuzha to the uninitiated. Beyond that, you need to be specific.

To recommend restaurants, we need to know your approximate start time. Though, in general the road stretch through TN has several good quality Tamil-style vegetarian restaurants all along - you are seldom more than 30 minutes away from one.

Within KL you are passing through a series of closely-located towns anyway; there is no dearth of restaurants.

Flyover construction on Salem bypass, the general rowdiness of Coimbatore bypass, the excruciating traffic in the Vadakkancheri-Mannuthi stretch where there is road widening and tunnel construction happening and the heavy traffic from Kalamassery till you are beyond Kochi are all things to worry about.

[nair]

Planning to drive down to Kochi on Thursday. Hopefully a full tank of petrol (45L in Polo TSI) should get me there. Still, can anyone recommend good petrol pumps on the Bangalore-Krishnagiri-Salem-Bhavani-Coimbatore-Palakkad-Vadakkancheri-Thrissur-Aluva-Edapalli route.

I am planning to leave at 1pm so that I can reach Kochi by 10-11pm.

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by nair

Planning to drive down to Kochi on Thursday. Hopefully a full tank of petrol (45L in Polo TSI) should get me there. Still, can anyone recommend good petrol pumps on the Bangalore-Krishnagiri-Salem-Bhavani-Coimbatore-Palakkad-Vadakkancheri-Thrissur-Aluva-Edapalli route.

I am planning to leave at 1pm so that I can reach Kochi by 10-11pm.

Tried and tested fuel stations on the route:

1. HP Shoolagiri (you have a CCD, McD and a hotel, in addition to a lot of parking space and good toilets)
2. KPN Fuel station after Salem - this one is also on the left side, about 6km after getting onto the NH544 exit at Salem
3. Reliance Petrol Pump, near Avinashi - about 15km after the Chengapalli toll booth, and on the right side of the highway, so you have to go under a flyover and take a U-turn. There's a hotel also attached to this fuel station. Toilets are only so-so. There's also a Bharat Benz showroom near by, with prominent hoardings
4. IOC COCO outlet near KG Chavadi, about 7km from the last toll booth on the L&T Coimbatore bypass (towards Palakkad)
5. IOC Outlet, near Kannadi, Palakkad - on the left side of the NH, about 20km after Walayar toll booth
6. BPCL COCO outlet, Chemboothara - about 7km after Kuthiran, on the left side of the road

[nair]

Thanks. How many tolls will I encounter? And what is the damage at these toll booths.