Team-BHP - Bangalore to Coimbatore : Route Queries

Hi Guys,

We were planning for a hill station holiday this April. Had booked Thekkady-Munnar earlier, but now dropped it due to KA-KL border restrictions. Since Valparai was on the cards from long time, thought why not go there this time. While discussing with elders in the family, one thing led to another, here's how the plan might look like. Most probably, we might do this mid-April.

Day 1 - Coimbatore at relatives home. Visit Isha yoga center in the evening.
Day 2, 3, 4 - Valparai. Talking to Sinnadorai for accommodation
Day 5 - Bathlagundu. Stay at relatives place
Day 6 or 7 - Back to Bangalore

Except Bathlagundu, this is the first time driving to these places. And also being summer, dont want to pack too much into the itinerary so as to keep it comfortable for the family folks.

Need few inputs to firm up the plan -

- One uncertainty is regarding rising covid cases - hoping no new border restrictions between KA & TN. How is the covid situation in Coimbatore region ? Still ok to do the trip with elderly people ?

- After reading few posts in this thread, understand that it would need 6 hrs and we can reach CBE by lunch time. After few hrs of rest, is it comfortable enough to go to Isha Yoga Center same evening?. What will be the good time to start to Isha Yoga center ? Any restrictions / permissions needed post Covid to enter the campus ? What are the things to do for few hours here?

- Valparai - Weather wise, doesnt seem to be in the same league as Kodai/Ooty. Is it pleasant enough to stay for 3 days during this time?

- Valparai to Bathlagundu - How long it might take practically ? Whats the good route among the options that gmap is suggesting?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mankuthimma (Post 5018774)

Isha is outside the city and you would take around 1.5 hours to reach it if you are starting from the city.

As per their website one has to register before travelling and it seems people over 65 and under 10 are not permitted currently. The visiting hours are also curtailed.

Regarding the COVID cases, your guess is as good as mine. ;)

Mask use is rare and the general feel is that Corona has been eradicated.

Coimbatore has covid cases not exceeding the earlier half of two digits and by April, it’s hard to say what the situation could be.

After a 6 hour drive, it may be difficult to do another drive to the Isha centre. I am saying this purely because of the dry heat that you’ll encounter at Coimbatore in the April evenings. That said, the time to visit may still be good for the evenings. The city can be quite hot in April.

Valparai - If the objective is to relax and unwind, and if you’re stay is at Sinnadorai, you can easily spend 2 nights there. You may also want to check Kodai or Munnar if you have a day or two to spare.

From Valparai, the route to Vathalagundu is fairly straightforward. Once you get down to the plains, it’ll take you about 3.5 hours. Valparai - Udumalai- Palani - Ottanchatiram - Vathalagundu.

Quote:

Originally Posted by batterylow (Post 5018852)

Regarding the COVID cases, your guess is as good as mine. ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj (Post 5019619)

Coimbatore has covid cases not exceeding the earlier half of two digits and by April, it’s hard to say what the situation could be.

Agree! not sure how the situation would turn out in next one months time. Will keep a watch. Also, trying to negotiate cancellation terms with Sinnadorai if need be.

Quote:

Originally Posted by batterylow (Post 5018852)

Isha is outside the city and you would take around 1.5 hours to reach it if you are starting from the city.

... it seems people over 65 and under 10 are not permitted currently. The visiting hours are also curtailed.

Just saw their website. Isha centre closes by 6 PM for visitors, which means, we will not have much time and also senior citizens in our group cant accompany us.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj (Post 5019619)

After a 6 hour drive, it may be difficult to do another drive to the Isha centre. I am saying this purely because of the dry heat that you’ll encounter at Coimbatore in the April evenings.

These are the things that only local knowledge can bring about! Thanks for these inputs! So I guess I need to rethink on the Isha centre visit, doesnt seem favourable to do it on the same day considering all these points.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj (Post 5019619)

Valparai - If the objective is to relax and unwind, and if you’re stay is at Sinnadorai, you can easily spend 2 nights there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by m8002? (Post 5019663)

I was in Valparai May couple of years back and it was very pleasant. Much cooler than Bangalore. May not be in the Ooty/Conoor league though.

Yes, objective is to try out some different place this time other than ooty/kodai to beat the heat. We will plan for 2 nights stay then!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj (Post 5019619)

From Valparai, the route to Vathalagundu is fairly straightforward. Once you get down to the plains, it’ll take you about 3.5 hours. Valparai - Udumalai- Palani - Ottanchatiram - Vathalagundu.

Alright! So its the default route which gmap is showing. thanks for confirming!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj (Post 5019619)

From Valparai, the route to Vathalagundu is fairly straightforward. Once you get down to the plains, it’ll take you about 3.5 hours. Valparai - Udumalai- Palani - Ottanchatiram - Vathalagundu.

Off Topic - You can try the Tea(with brown sugar aka nattu Sakkarai) at Hotel Apoorva in Oddanchathiram. Food is also quite decent with lots of shopping options that include organic products. They also sell some freshly made murukku.

It is exactly after you exit the 6lane Oddanchathiram bypass to your right when you travel from Palani.

https://goo.gl/maps/8EkqiES8DruDGfoH9

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvurride (Post 5020088)

Thanks ! Noted! Would love to try out such local favourites !!
My next set of queries were related to these once the plan is finalized. Keep them coming! clap:

Quote:

Originally Posted by mankuthimma (Post 5020105)

Thanks ! Noted! Would love to try out such local favourites !!
My next set of queries were related to these once the plan is finalized. Keep them coming! clap:

lol:Another good one is Kongu Mess in Karur. Good for both veg and non veg. Try the bun parotta here. Even Apoorva serves it, but Kongu's is way better.

Do note that Kongu Mess is marked wrong in GMaps. It comes at exactly half a km from the Coimbatore and Erode diversion fork once you turn left at the Karur-Coimbatore exit junction.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj (Post 5012198)

Yes this is the route. Pretty straight forward when going from Bangalore as the right turn is exactly at the check post. On the return may need to use maps just so as to not miss the exit from the highway and then the left from the Hosur-Bagalur Road.

I was planning to try this route when I was returning yesterday. However, seeing the pile up of vehicles at the exit from Hosur road all the way till the right turn at the GRT junction, decided to skip and continued onward to Attibele. Turned out to be a better decision since crossing Attibele was a breeze. Time was around 7pm.

I started at 1:45pm from Vadavalli and reached Whitefield at 7:45pm including a 45 min break at Thoppur.

Folks, I may need to travel from Bangalore to Coimbatore some time in the next 2-3 weeks.
I had taken Bangalore-Malavalli-Kollegal-Chamarajanagar-Dhimbam-Sathy-Coimbatore back in Oct 2019. The roads between Chamarajanagar and Dhimbam were pathetic at that time with monstrous potholes and I had posted about it in this thread (Post #1036).
From recent posts, I see that the roads are now better with only about 8-10km of bad section between Chamarajanagar and Dhimbham. How is the present road conditions between Kollegal-Germalam-Dhimbham? Which route is preferable - via Chamarajanagar or Germalam?

Quote:

Originally Posted by denver85 (Post 5002341)

Won't suggest it all the time. Crossing Hosur/Sarjapura towns is a pain in the peak hours. This can be an option if the situation at the Attibele toll is bad. This is the exact route: https://goo.gl/maps/oGNKsa1EEnsNUwBV8
You just need to take left at the RTO checkpost once you are out of the Hosur town, then continue on the main road till you reaches the Bagalur-Sarajapura road. It's a scenic route with some nice curves, so can be taken if you want a break from the boring 4/5 lane roads.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampere (Post 5002366)

It may be easy to go to Baglur and exit to take the road to Sarjapura. I think one may not save time by taking interior roads.

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvurride (Post 5009985)

If the BWSSB work at the entry of Sarjapura(where the Chikka Tirupati road forks) is not yet completed, better to stick to Attibele exit itself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj (Post 5011401)

Quoting some older posts... I always take the Sarjapur- Nallur(The road that turns right from the checkpost on Sarjapur Bagalur Road-As mentioned in the map link above) -Hosur route for any trips towards Salem. This is a scenic, well tarred road with minimal traffic. Absolutely no reason to go through Bagalur at all for anyone crossing Sarjapur. Have not encountered any major blocks crossing Sarjapur or joining the highway at Hosur. I don't see a point coming to Sarjapur and then taking the Attibelle route as Sarjapur-Attibelle is truck heavy, road work is always happening and you still have to pass through Attibelle toll and Hosur town.

On the BWSSB Works, did a trip yesterday. The work is completed and the whole stretch has been concretized, but they have not yet fully removed the blocks created by dumping mud, a part of it good enough for cars has been cleared at both ends which created a small jam when I was returning in the evening. I think it should be cleared out in a few days. Note that google thinks it is closed and does not route you through Sarjapur

On my return from Coonoor yesterday around 1 pm, with the aim to avoid the mayhem at Attibelle toll and the heavy traffic on entry to Bangalore, I tried out the route suggested by Denver85 as my destination was CV Raman Nagar. The road from Hosur (after a bit of town traffic) via Nallur upto the junction with the Bagalur Sarjapur road is super. But the minute one reaches the BS road it becomes terrible. Going thru Sarjapur town itself is a breeze as the road which was dug up last year has been concreted. Thereafter the Sarjapur road is in a bad shape, narrow, speed breakers and pot holes galore, and the heavy dump trucks:Frustrati
Probably would stick to the Attibelle mess hereinafter:unhappy

Quote:

Originally Posted by srvm (Post 5025471)

Did this last week. Barring a couple of Km of bad roads, it’s good all the way.

The Kolkegal-Germalam has started to break in some spots, closer to Kollegal, but still doable.